Inspiring Women: Celebrating Women’s History Month with Jenni Roudebush, Associated Bank

To commemorate Women’s History Month, Strauss Troy is proud to spotlight several exceptional female clients who have made significant strides in their respective careers and industries. These remarkable women have not only achieved success but have also graciously shared insights into the advice they’ve received and shared, the influential women who have inspired them, and their dedication to mentoring and motivating other women.

Today we are highlighting Jenni Roudebush. Jenni is the SVP and Market Manager, Commercial Real Estate at Associated Bank. She has been in the banking world since 1991. Jenni's current responsibilities include managing the Ohio CRE office for Associated Bank. The team of five has grown the portfolio to over $1 billion with many long standing relationships and the continued growth of new ones. Jenni is a former Board Member and still active with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati as well as a volunteer for Cancer Free Kids. She was the first woman elected to the Board (served two 6 year terms) and first woman (and only so far) who served as President for Hyde Park Golf & Country Club in it’s 100+ year history.

Jenni currently lives in Hyde Park with her husband, Derek and two children, Lily and Elena. Jenni is also an avid pickleball player.

1) What does Women’s History Month mean to you and why is it important?

‍I look forward to Women’s History Month each year because I learn about the impressive achievements and contributions made by women, many of whom are largely unknown or overlooked. I learned several years ago, for example, that the Brooklyn Bridge (our local Roebling Suspension Bridge was its prototype) was actually finished over a period of 10 years by Emily Warren Roebling, an engineer, not her husband, Washington, who became ill during construction. By shining a light on the many accomplishments made over the years -- and being made daily -- by women across the globe, it reminds us that the impact each of us can have on our communities is not determined by gender.

‍2) How have things changed for women in the industry?

‍In terms of Commercial Real Estate (CRE) banking, I was extremely lucky in my career to have been recruited into the specialty by a woman 25 years ago. It was a very male dominated line of business at the time, so her excitement for the field cemented my decision to make the change from general corporate banking. I was then fortunate to have been recruited and subsequently hired 5 years later by another strong woman who served as a wonderful role model and mentor to me. But, while I have been surrounded and mentored by highly successful women in the industry, it is still largely dominated (65%+) by men. With the rise in overall DE&I programming and cultural awareness, however, it is great to see most players in the field all really focusing on gender equality, both in roles across the organizations and in pay.

‍3. Tell me about an influential woman in your life and how they have impacted you.

‍While this may sound cliché, it really is the women in my family. I had (and have) so many strong women to look up to and learn from. Both of my grandmothers were the glue that held their families together in farm towns in North Dakota and taught us all the value of honesty and hard work. My mother, an outspoken feminist and educator, taught my kids the words to Helen Reddy’s “I am Woman” (definitely look up the lyrics if you aren’t familiar with them) and handled a debilitating illness with a grace that was inspiring. My ivy league educated sister has used all of her intelligence and grit to run a highly successful non-profit in Nashville, helping people resolve conflicts outside of the legal system. All of this has helped shape me, and I see our generations of strength in my daughters, who both mastered high school and college with a degree of dedication and calm well beyond their years, each ending up with degrees in Engineering. I continue to learn and draw strength from all of these special women.

‍4. What is the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received or like to give?

‍The head of my line of business for most of my career always said that it is very important to be respected, not necessarily liked. I would go a step further now and say that it is also incredibly important to work for and with people whom you respect. As someone who connects quickly with people and knows how good it feels to be liked, it took me a long time to understand the complexity of the difference, but it is so important! With respect comes trust, safety, and well-being. It means that you see everyone for who they are and value their input, even if you don’t agree. It means that you make informed decisions that are right for the organization or team even if it doesn’t make everyone happy. It builds long term, meaningful relationships. And if you do it right, guess what? At least some of those people are going to end up liking you.

‍5. Is there anything you do to help mentor or motivate other women or young girls?

‍I have always tried to lead by example, so I have intentionally and actively supported women around me and within my organization. I also am a member of an internal women’s network at my bank, and I have served as a liaison to the DE&I counsel, furthering support of women in the workplace. I trust that other positions of leadership that I have held, whether it be on nonprofit boards or serving as Hyde Park Golf & Country Club’s first woman President in over 100 years, motivate other women/girls to understand that leadership is something to which they can aspire and enjoy.