When Gabriela Martinez first learned about BankWork$ at A New Leaf from her cousin, who was a BankWork$ graduate, she was working as a waitress in Phoenix, Arizona. “As a waitress, I was trying to help my mom with bills, but it wasn’t enough, so I knew I needed a career change,” said Gabriela. She wanted a more stable career to support her family and more fulfillment for herself.    

Although her cousin assured her that BankWork$ would help her succeed in financial services, Gabriela was still nervous about beginning class and credits her instructor for helping her feel prepared. With only slight familiarity with cash handling from the food service industry, having a program like BankWork$ in which she learned about both the industry and possible roles helped her understand her professional options and find a path that felt right. “I had no idea what working as a teller would entail, but my instructors taught me so much about the role, and the more I learned, the more I realized it’s what I wanted to do.” 

Gabriela feels immense gratitude towards Cheri Foschi and Lorraine Alvarez, BankWork$ staff at A New Leaf, for their encouragement and guidance. “They changed my life forever, but more importantly, they helped me not to think of myself as someone who didn’t deserve respect. I was very insecure as a waitress, and they helped me push through that,” said Gabriela.  

“When I did my first mock interview, I felt blindsided by the questions, but the more my instructors coached me, the more I felt confident in my answers. On the day of my actual interview, I was incredibly sure of my responses and felt like I did a great job,” said Gabriela. 

Cheri remembers Gabriela as a star student in her class. “She had perfect attendance and has always been goal oriented,” said Cheri. “With a focus on assisting others, she is a natural leader and leads with integrity and sincerity.” 

Wells Fargo, a long-time supporter of the BankWork$ program, was hiring tellers for a branch close to Gabriela’s home.  After graduating from BankWork$ in September 2021, Gabriela, like all BankWork$ or CareerWork$ Medical graduates, attended a hiring fair with local financial institutions and connected with the Wells Fargo hiring team. 

“When I learned how close the Wells Fargo position was to my house, I wanted it so much,” said Gabriela. “A day after my interview with them, they gave me a call and offered me a position. I ecstatically accepted! Now, my coworkers are like one big family to me, and I can’t believe I get to work with them every day.” In her role as a teller at Wells Fargo, she enjoys assisting her customers and providing a positive experience to anyone in her branch. 

Gabriela feels thankful for the people in her life who encouraged her to reach for a financial services career with stability and opportunity, including her mother, who has always been her biggest inspiration. “My mother works harder than anyone I know and has given me many opportunities; I want to do my part to give back to her. She gives me the energy to keep going every day.” 

Gabriela encourages anyone considering getting into the financial services industry to try BankWork$. “When I was a waitress, I never thought I’d have the kind of career that I do now. I’m much more financially stable, I don’t have to deal with long commutes, and I can give back to my family. No matter your background, with BankWork$, you can find a way to succeed.” 

Click here to learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with A New Leaf.  

Makayla Kayhill-Walton always knew that she wanted to help people. After working as a Certified Nursing Assistant for five years and garnering a reputation for excellent customer service skills, Makayla decided she wanted to enter the financial services industry. When she found the BankWork$ program at Goodwill of Colorado in September of 2020, she felt like the program was made for her, and describes signing up as one of the best decisions she has ever made.  

“Helping people is my greatest passion,” says Makayla. “However, as I’ve gotten older, being on the healthcare front lines was no longer the right fit for me, and I wanted to find a role more on the administrative side. When I first discovered BankWork$, I knew nothing about banking, but learning financial skills came easily to me. What surprised me about the program was learning how to stand out in interviews and make my resume memorable. I learned how to do an elevator pitch, which has helped me to present the best version of myself, and I still use it today! I wouldn’t have learned that without this program.” All BankWork$ and CareerWork$ Medical participants learn how to present themselves in an elevator pitch, where they give a 30-second testimonial showcasing their abilities and personality.  

Makayla attended Candice Sporhase-White and Barbara Colwell’s BankWork$ class from September to November 2020 and feels sentimental when reflecting on her class experience. “I had personal issues that could have prevented me from getting a job, and they helped me overcome those obstacles. They were a shoulder to cry on, and I’ll forever be grateful,” says Makayla.   

Instructor Candice describes Makayla as an exceptional participant who always went the extra mile to help others. “Makayla took all she had learned while in BankWork$ to become a successful team member and leader within US Bank,” says Candice. “Her journey is both inspiring and so genuine, as is her passion to help others like her find success in the financial services industry. She was an inspirational alumni speaker at one of our graduations earlier this year, and expressed to our graduates that if they put into practice all that they have learned and believe in themselves, that their futures know no bounds.” 

After graduating from BankWork$, Makayla, like all CareerWork$ graduates, interviewed with local financial institutions looking to hire immediately. She accepted an offer from US Bank as a Client Relationship Consultant. “I felt like I connected so much with the district managers at US Bank,” says Makayla. “I’ve been here a year and a half now, and have already been promoted twice! In my current role, I work in a combined teller and banker position. I get to do basic things like notarizing documents, creating accounts, making deposits, and selling business credit cards. However, my favorite part of my job is helping elderly clients who often have difficulties with online banking. It reminds me of my nursing days, and it’s so refreshing to see how much they value a human relationship.” 

At US Bank, Makayla has had many opportunities to grow professionally. “I was able to participate in a US Bank LEAD group (Leadership Education Agility and Development), which is a five week program to meet my peers with different goals. My district manager also added me to the McKinsey Black Leadership Academy Experience, which has taught me so much about my influence and leadership as a Black woman.” 

Makayla encourages anyone considering BankWork$ to give it a shot. “You can continue doing what you’re doing now, or you can take that step and see what it’ll do for you. It may change your life as it did mine.” 

With an 83% career placement rate, Goodwill of Colorado has helped place hundreds of BankWork$ graduates into stable, lasting careers. To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with Goodwill of Colorado, click here.  

Goodwill of Colorado BankWork$ is hosting an online information session on Monday, Sept. 12, beginning at 12 PM/Noon: Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85442152820?pwd=SE45SkRpVUFjZmM5MHd1dzhiWEt2QT09  

(Meeting ID: 854 4215 2820 Passcode: 457735) 

After getting laid off at the start of the COVID pandemic, Nesha Price wanted a career that could financially support her and her daughter. She got a job at a grocery store, but realized working twelve hours a week wasn’t enough to take care of her family. Nesha had always been interested in healthcare and knew she was a hard worker with great adaptability and organizational skills, but she had no healthcare experience and assumed she would not be able to find a career in the industry. “I wanted to get into healthcare and help make a difference, but I knew I didn’t want to be on the clinical side,” says Nesha. Initially apprehensive about signing up for CareerWork$ Medical because she’d never done a career readiness program, she took a “leap of faith” and says it turned her “whole life upside down”—in the best possible way.   

Nesha was easily able to fit attending Diana Monge’s class at JVS SoCal into her schedule while working at the grocery store on the weekends. “I was on the fence about signing up because I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t even know if I would get a job, but I figured that I have nothing to lose. I can only gain by signing up. In class, we learned a lot of technical parts of working at an administrative job, but what I didn’t expect was that the class would give me a new sense of confidence. Before this class, I would look at a place like Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and never think I’d be able to work there since I have no previous healthcare education or experience. But this class taught me to trust my abilities and find my confidence.”

Diana, Nesha’s instructor, speaks highly of her former participant. “During our time in CareerWork$, Nesha highlighted her leadership skills by always being the first to participate and lead in discussion, in other words, she helped me run the class. I had no doubt that she would be the first to get hired. She is not only a role model to her beautiful daughter but a role model to all our candidates. Every opportunity I get, I share Nesha’s story and notice this glimpse of hope in our students as they realize ‘I could be the next Nesha!’ I always say ‘with the right drive and level of motivation, you all can get there too!’ Not only is Nesha a hardworking go-getter, but she is also kind, compassionate, and always willing to go above and beyond to help those around her, which is rare to find. She certainly deserves all the promotions, and I would not at all be surprised if one day she is the lead in charge.”

Upon graduating, Nesha, like all CareerWork$ Medical and BankWork$ graduates, Nesha interviewed with local healthcare institutions looking to hire now. She completed four interviews with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, for a role as a Senior Administrative Assistant. “When I Interviewed at CHLA, I knew this was the right fit for me. My recruiter was so encouraging and welcoming. As I’ve gotten to know my supervisor, I have been so moved by the level of love and support she’s shown me. She helped support me when my daughter got COVID, she helped me find an apartment, and even sent me care packages when I was sick. Although my work atmosphere is mostly remote, we all take care of each other.” In her role as a Senior Administrative Assistant, Nesha’s main responsibilities are calendar management, scheduling travel plans for CHLA, and other administrative duties. In June 2022, she was promoted to Executive Assistant at CHLA.

“Sometimes I’ll have imposter syndrome, and feel like I don’t deserve this job, but I know I do. CareerWork$ helped show me that I am capable, smart, and deserving of success. This program taught me to chase what I want and that it’s not out of reach. I’ve always wanted to get into project management, and once I mentioned that to my supervisor, she’s helped me jump in on lots of new projects. To anyone who’s thinking about changing their career, seek out training. The application took less than five minutes to complete, and now I’m in a career where I can support my family —all it took was a leap of faith.”

Congratulations, Nesha, on your career growth and success, and we can’t wait to see what you accomplish next.

To learn more about CareerWork$ Medical and our partnership with JVS SoCal, click here. Their next class begins on October 17, 2022.

As a newly single mother just laid off from a retail job in fall 2017, Barbara Jimenez was feeling very discouraged about the future of her career. She was determined to get a position to help support her and her family, and knew stable scheduling, a chance to use her customer service experience, and opportunities for growth—along with a consistent paycheck and full benefits—were priorities. When she discovered BankWork$ in January 2018, she realized the program could be her pathway to success.  

Barbara, a native of the San Francisco Bay Area, applied for instructor Michelle Branner’s inaugural BankWork$ class, then at JVS Bay Area. She faced obstacles from the beginning, when she couldn’t afford the business professional attire required in class—but got a push to go. “That first morning I wanted to go, but I didn’t meet the dress requirements. My mom encouraged me to attend anyway,” says Barbara. “I met Michelle, and she encouraged when I felt like I was completely alone and underprepared. She helped me find a thrift store where I could find professional clothes I could afford.” 

Barbara appreciated the diversity of her classmates, which included a wide range of age, gender, and nationalities: “We had lots of people coming from different countries, and several of them had degrees. I became friends with Sandy, a fellow single mother. We helped encourage each other. By the end of the class, I was giving students rides. All of our stories were different, but our goal was the same—to get a job in this field.”  

Upon graduating, Barbara, like all BankWork$ graduates, interviewed with several different financial institutions looking to hire following a job fair hosted by the program. She felt most connected to Bank of the West, where she accepted a job as Relationship Banker. “I had a great connection with that manager. I knew that I wanted to work with him. He hired me as a banker, and I was so terrified—but excited!” 

Barbara has continued to grow in her career—and has her sights set on even more growth. “Now, years later, I’m the Senior Relationship Banker, and we’ve been meeting our goals. I’m proud of myself. When I first got hired, I read everything. I learned how to process everything. I felt like I knew a lot more than some of the older bankers did. For example, I learned how to process international clients. My managers have told me that I’m going to be a manager someday. I know I’m not ready yet, because I still have some growing to do, but I’m excited to go down that path.”  

Barbara is thankful for the support of her instructors and the skills she learned in class. “BankWork$ helped give me the confidence to walk into a bank and know all my abilities. The banking side of things was just a little bit of it. Michelle taught me how to put numbers on my resume, stand out as a candidate, and negotiate a counter-offer. She is just phenomenal; she talks like your mother, sister, or friend. She gets to know you on a personal level. She gets to know your good and your bad. She will say things like, ‘this may not work for you, because you’re better than that and you should do this other opportunity.’ Michelle is a truly special and unique woman.” 

Michelle, who is now the BankWork$ instructor at Fremont Adult and Continuing Education (FACE) also spoke highly of Barbara, saying, “Barbara was the first person I interviewed at BankWork$. I saw her potential from the first day I met her. She was eager to start a career in banking. She showed up every day with enthusiasm and a willingness to help others to learn. All of her hard work has paid off and now she’s been in banking for almost five years. I am so proud of her accomplishments.”  

When Barbara reflects on her time with BankWork$ and her life situation prior to applying, her advice to anyone in a similar situation is clear. “It took a lot of guts for me to apply, but I knew I had people counting on me. Good people want to help you. Programs like this are flexible and understanding, and want to help you become a better version of yourself. Be honest about your situation, I know that’s what I needed to do.” Barbara excels in perseverance and her willingness to learn; throughout her career, her success will only continue to grow. 

To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with FACE, click here. 

Lisa Baldwin was feeling professionally stuck. In October 2021, she was working full time in a warehouse, but neither that nor her previous roles were helping her achieve her personal goals. While looking for an opportunity to start a new career, she found the Bankwork$® program at YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish.

“I saw this program as a chance for a career that wouldn’t lead to another dead-end job. I felt like I could do something with this, that I could go somewhere,” she says. While BankWork$ (and all CareerWork$ programs) are scheduled so participants can work while taking the course, Lisa was so ready for her next step that she quit her job to pursue BankWork$ with all her energy.   

Lisa’s favorite part of being in class was getting to know her instructors and fellow participants: “My instructors were a great support system, and I continue to stay in contact with them.” Her instructors at Seattle YWCA, Tracy Hinman and Melanie Wheeler, noted that Lisa had a strong determination to succeed despite her busy schedule. “Whenever I think about Lisa,” says Tracy, “a smile immediately comes to my face. She has had to overcome many personal challenges, but she bravely chose to use those challenges as her motivation for success, rather than as an excuse for stagnation or failure. Lisa projects positively, kindness, grace, and professionalism. It was truly a blessing having her in class.”  

After completing the BankWork$ program, Lisa connected with local recruiters from BECU at the post-graduation hiring fair. In December 2021, she accepted an offer from BECU and started her job by working in their call center. She describes her new position as a perfect match. “They give me the ability to work from home, which has been amazing for my schedule. I had already been a BECU member for several years and had a great experience with their service, and it has only become better as an employee.”  

In her new position, Lisa is looking forward to learning many different aspects of the banking industry to figure out where she wants to be long-term. “They encourage job shadowing, and I think I want to shadow a couple of different departments. I want to absorb all the knowledge I can, so I can decide which department is best for me.” 

Lisa’s dedication isn’t a surprise to instructor Melanie, who was struck by her drive from the beginning. “Lisa is such a strong woman! She had some clearly set goals for herself and her future, and she remained focused in order to reach those goals. I was so proud and grateful to be able to watch Lisa graduate, begin her new career at BECU, and reach so many of her goals despite so many obstacles that were in her way. She was so much fun to work with, and I hope she knows how proud of her we truly are!” 

As Lisa looks into the future for her career, when she reflects on her time in BankWork$, she encourages anyone thinking about signing up to “take the plunge and go into it with an open mind. I’m thankful for BankWork$, it gave me the reset I needed. We all have our ups and downs and have to reset life a couple of times, and I feel like the stars aligned because everything has worked out perfect with my new position.”  

To learn more about BankWork$ and our partnership with Seattle YWCA, click here.