Name:  Pansy Johnson |  Age:  23 |  Hometown:  Fordyce |  Alma mater:  University of Central Arkansas |  Major:  Public Relations  Job title:  Treasury Management Sales Specialist |  Employer:  Arvest Bank

Why did you choose a career in this field?

You know how the saying goes “I didn’t choose it, it chose me.” I was fortunate enough to be a part of the Arvest Internship Program, which in turn redirected my whole career path to the banking industry. This allowed me the opportunity to do two things I love – communicating and helping people.

Did you always plan to go this route?

No. Based on my collegiate studies I was focused more on public relations and marketing. My intern experience at Arvest piqued my interest in banking and made me see that I could easily apply what I had been learning in public relations and marketing to a long-term career in banking.

What is your money motto?

Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready. Save money, educate yourself and set personal financial goals. This will keep you prepared to respond to unexpected life events.

What natural abilities should someone have to succeed in banking?

Being a strong communicator; being empathetic – which lends itself well to providing good customer service – being a strategic problem solver and having an affinity for math and money management are traits that will make a person successful in this field.

What is the most surprising thing about your job?

The learning opportunities have been the most surprising thing for me. As a TM sales specialist, I serve as the gatekeeper for the treasury management sales division, assisting with sales-, departmental- and account-related requests. This has given me the opportunity to learn and gain knowledge of each division of the bank and further deepens the well of knowledge I draw from when solving problems for customers.

What are some common misconceptions about your job?

That my work is all mathematical. Although mathematical functions are a portion of what I do each day, my work also consists of administrative, analytical, and problem-solving functions.