Voice of Experience: Tarazeta Huntley, Managing Director, Audit & Risk Review, Citi

By Melissa J. Anderson (New York City)

Tarazeta (TJ) Huntley, Managing Director of Audit & Risk Review at Citi had three pieces of advice for professional women – all equally inspiring.

On Believing You Belong:

“Regardless of the level of people you’re dealing with [at the table], at the end of the day, everyone has a vested interest in making the company successful and your voice counts. Never feel intimidated when engaging with more senior individuals. Believe that you’re there to contribute, and you will be successful.”

On Knowing Yourself:

“Early in my career, someone told me never be afraid to stand up for what you believe in. Acknowledge who you are and your background. Regardless if those around you have a different background or perspective, don’t lose sight of who you are as an individual or your values.”

On Values:

“Stay true to your values. Never compromise them. As you grow in your career, management and influential people will appreciate that.”

Sculpting a Career

“My career has been sculpted out of a combination of upward and lateral moves,” Huntley began. “I started out of college in the consumer finance business.”

“I’ve been fortunate to engage with good mentors and work with managers who were able to identify talent and create opportunities for talent to grow. I was identified as a person with talents beyond the individual contributor, but also for managing people and processes. I’ve taken advantage of those opportunities.”

Huntley has made sure to gain a wide range of experience at Citi. She said, “I’ve made inroads in the middle and back office consumer finance operations, including centralized, account processing, quality assurance, compliance for credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, and auto loans. This strong career foundation has allowed me to branch into many different areas. With Citi, I joined the internal audit department ten years ago, and have had a tremendous amount of growth and increasing responsibilities in the U.S. and internationally.”

She continued, “When I reflect back, I wouldn’t have said seventeen years ago I’d be where I am now. It’s the result of good decisions and considering possibilities with your eyes wide open. When you do, you’ll find yourself sculpting a career you enjoy.”

Huntley said several notable professional achievements come to mind that bring her pride – “winning moments when you delivered or executed on critical projects.” But she is also proud of the company she works for. She said, “One of the critical things that I have personal pride for is being part of an organization with a great commitment to diversity, giving back to the community, and developing talent.”

She continued, “It really is the people – the ability to identify talent and bring people in, develop them, and move them into greater responsibility.”

Looking forward, Huntley, who is recently married, said she hopes to advance with increased, global responsibilities. “I do enjoy living and working abroad, but I also want to make time for my family.”

Currently, she is working on an exciting global initiative to redesign Citi’s internal assessment processes. “I have the opportunity to build a team and stretch my boundaries,” she said. Additionally, Huntley has made a personal commitment to a program Citi is sponsoring with Big Brothers and Big Sisters. “It’s excited me more than I expected,” she added.

Advice for Women in Banking

“The challenges women face come down to perception and perseverance,” Huntley said. “We will always be challenged to prove we can compete and execute at the same level as our male colleagues. And we will always strive to break down the perception that we can’t [perform at the same level].”

“As more women are in positions of power, this perception changes. It’s getting better,” she continued. “On the perseverance side of the equation, as individuals facing limiting perceptions, you must continue to have a strong face and exhibit a high capacity for execution.”

“You have to overcome that perception through your personal will, your personal perseverance and continue to make inroads.”

“Talk to young girls, talk to students – and tell them they can do more. It’s not enough to emulate your mentor or someone you look up to. You can be better.”

For women entering the financial services industry, Huntley continued, “I would tell any new person to come to the table prepared with a complete tool kit – assemble all of the things you need to make your project or meeting, or career a success.”

She also advised young women to seek out a mentor. “Find individuals who you respect. It helps you in various stages of your career and personal life. Nurture relationships for that.”

Women should also not be afraid of stretch roles, she said. “Avoid setting yourself up for failure, but don’t be afraid to stretch your boundaries. You’ll find you want to challenge yourself. Stretch assignments are where we truly grow and see different dimensions of ourselves.”

Additionally, she said, it’s important to get a handle on work/life balance issues early.

“Create your own work/life balance formula before you get into a routine. Having that discipline early in my career would have helped me a lot.” She continued, “Today there are so many ways to find balance with flexible strategies and different technologies. Citi is great at providing the ability to balance multiple priorities simultaneously.”

Huntley said Citi has a number of programs to support the advancement and retention of women, including a program, the Citi Women’s Leadership Development Program, that it sponsors with UCLA’s Anderson School of Management for high potential women in the company – with a focus on director level women. “Over a three day session, we focused solely on self-development.” Huntley attended the April 2009 session and Citi has held six sessions to date. “Even as the company looked to reduce expenses, Citi stayed committed to the program. That is very critical and will always stand out to me.”

In Her Spare Time

“I love to travel,” Huntley said. “Traveling for work, I get to experience interesting places. And of course I enjoy spending time with my family. I have a large family back in Texas.”

She continued, “And of course, I enjoy relaxing on the beach – just to decompress.” She’s also taken up skiing lately. “I’m not that good at it yet. It’s something you should learn when you’re young!”