Voices of Experience: Christine Bazanowski Scaffidi, First Vice President of Commercial Lending Services at Commerzbank

by Jessica Titlebaum (Chicago)

The Glass Hammer recently spoke with Christine Bazanowski Scaffidi, First Vice President of Commercial Lending Services at Commerzbank, who, refreshingly, cites her parents as her most important professional role models. From her corner office overlooking the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, she recalled dinner conversations from when she was growing up during which her father discussed the staff he managed and the challenges they faced. She also remembered her mother reminding her to “bloom where you are planted” when Christine voiced frustration at being limited to an administrative role when she started with Commerzbank 20 years ago.

In 1994, Mrs. Bazanowski Scaffidi learned the value of that advice. She was promoted to Head of Commercial Lending Services as the bank consolidated the operations side of their Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles offices, to New York. When she underestimated the number of staff she needed in New York, she ended up working long hours to make up the difference. Her managers stood beside her, but let her work out the issues, enabling her to find her own way, and building her confidence.

As Mrs. Bazanowski Scaffidi’s department grew, the bank evolved. In fact, when she first began her career, Commerzbank primarily sent over male delegates from Germany to run the U.S. offices. Now, the gap between the opportunities given to men and women has narrowed with equal opportunity for all.

Fourteen years later, the department has gone from three to 30 people and transactional volume has grown 2000%. Many of her senior staff are working parents, she said, and were hired because they’re good cultural fits to the organization in addition to being the best in their respective fields. She handpicks her staff members, keeping in mind their ability to contribute to both a supportive and successful group. Her staff works as a team, covering for each other when personal responsibilities necessarily supersede work responsibilities.

In addition to her outstanding team at work, Christine credits her home team – husband, two daughters and their daytime caregiver – for helping her to balance all the aspects of her career and home life. Based on her own experience and the observed experience of her colleagues, Christine has learned, and would advise those just starting out in their career, to “think about the type of life you want. When you have that figured out, then think about the type of job which will blend well with that lifestyle.”

The Glass Hammer asked her if she had any advice for women moving up the ranks. Mrs. Bazanowski Scaffidi said she doesn’t like the term ‘glass ceiling’ because it plants the seed in everyone’s head that there is one. She prefers to believe that this is a process and that times are continuously changing. She compared Commerzbank’s evolution to that of a female professional’s climb to the top. “My mother taught me that it doesn’t matter what job you are doing. If you do it well, opportunities will come to you.”