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Purpose-Driven Leadership
U.S. Bank Executive Vice President and Head of Branch and Small Business banking, SEKOU KAALUND has two decades of Wall Street experience and is a highly regarded authority on strategic leadership and targeted, sustainable impact. His leadership launched Advancing Black Pathways, and his insights on strategizing growth, developing talent, and forming inclusive teams have a major impact on organizations of all kinds.
Today’s Trends in the Economy and Finance
U.S. Bank Executive Vice President and Head of Branch and Small Business banking, SEKOU KAALUND has two decades of Wall Street experience spanning leadership in institutional and retail businesses, and previously led the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Citi. He’s a highly regarded authority on how to approach today’s challenges and opportunities with strategic leadership and targeted, sustainable impact.
Leading for Sustainable Community Impact
U.S. Bank Executive Vice President SEKOU KAALUND oversees 1,000 branches with over 10,000 employees and over $350B in deposits and investments, equivalent to the 4th largest bank in the U.S. While managing complex firmwide relationships, Kaalund prioritizes leadership based on proximity to community and maximum sustainable impacts.
Diversity and Inclusion in the Corporate Sector
U.S. Bank Executive Vice President and Head of Branch and Small Business banking, SEKOU KAALUND has two decades of Wall Street experience and launched Advancing Black Pathways, the first global corporate initiative that leveraged a data-driven strategic framework to develop scalable programs to reduce the racial wealth gap. Kaalund is a highly sought-after speaker for his insights on strategizing growth, developing talent, prioritizing innovation, and forming inclusive teams that have a major impact on organizations of all kinds.
Sekou Kaalund shares his vision for an inclusive economy in a powerful interview for Forbes
While titan of industry SEKOU KAALUND may describe himself as an “accidental banker,” his powerful rise to his role as U.S. Bank Executive Vice President and Head of Branch and Small Business banking is no fluke. In a recent interview for Forbes, Kaalund shares powerful insights about his journey to launching and leading Advancing Black Pathways (ABP), and what his work means for himself and his community: “my life’s purpose has always centered on service to others.” He was a Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase at 31 and achieved success across leadership roles in institutional businesses and made an unusual pivot to focus on ABP – in the opportunity, he saw the alignment of his passion and purpose: “ABP’s goal is to strengthen the economic foundation of the Black community, to reverse the historical legacy of segregation, housing discrimination, disenfranchisement and wealth disparity.” Kaalund shares his inspiring vision and the strategies for realizing it, both in this interview and in his highly sought-after keynotes and conversations: “My vision is the same ― creating growth for an inclusive economy. (…) You have to have an active presence in communities. You have to show up and ask: How can we do more to serve you? And you have to listen. That’s how you invest in people.”
Kaalund’s work goes beyond financial equity – he is profoundly committed to connecting with people, and his brilliant strategic leadership is infused with empathy. He regularly receives rave reviews from hosts as well as audiences, such as: "Thank you to Sekou for speaking at the 11th Annual Global Fund Finance Symposium! It was just a delight to have you speak and share your experience with the attendees during the Diversity in Fund Finance Keynote Address. Thank you for taking the time to speak with our group. It was a joy to work with you and your team for an active and engaging discussion." (Global Fund Finance Symposium)
Read the Forbes interview with Sekou Kaalund >>
Watch Sekou Kaalund’s profile for the Beloved Community Awards >>
Success Story: Sekou Kaalund receives rave reviews for his panel at a major finance symposium
When the Fund Finance Association (FFA) gathered for their 11th Annual Global Symposium, they tapped U.S. Bank Executive Vice President SEKOU KAALUND to offer a keynote on his impactful financial initiatives, including Advancing Black Pathways – a global corporate initiative leveraging a data-driven strategic framework to reduce the racial wealth gap. The audience of over 800 bankers, lawyers, and fund managers were blown away by Kaalund’s insights from his decades in leadership on Wall Street, and the FFA raved about Kaalund’s contributions in a video shared on LinkedIn, saying: “Sekou Kaalund definitely stole the stage” and “all the credit goes to Sekou, Sekou crushed it!” The host went on to say, “It was just a delight to have you speak and share your experience with the attendees during the Diversity in Fund Finance Keynote Address. Thank you for taking the time to speak with our group. It was a joy to work with you and your team for an active and engaging discussion."
As Kaalund wrote in a LinkedIn post that received numerous glowing responses, the symposium “reinvigorated me with a greater sense of optimism on how our industry can continue to make progress on the journey to inclusion.” He touched on the themes of his fireside chat, which resonated with audience members long after the event ended, emphasizing that “change begins with a small step,” and commended the FFA for featuring a diversity conversation as part of its mainstage program rather than as a side topic. Audience members were enthralled with Kaalund’s panel, sharing on social media: “’this experience has definitely been one of my top professional highlights!’ … ‘Bravo! And well said Sekou!’ … ‘One of the major highlights of the conference. Excellent conversation.’ … ‘Truly inspirational, down to earth and relatable conversation. Great to see leadership by example.’”
Conversations with Sekou Kaalund
U.S. Bank Executive Vice President and Head of Branch and Small Business bankingSEKOU KAALUND helps organizations define “The Future We Want” by addressing how we can all advance progress on Sustainable Development Goals and tackle local issues with global implications including economic success and the empowerment of underserved communities.
Kaalund launched Advancing Black Pathways, the first global corporate initiative that leveraged a data-driven strategic framework to develop scalable programs to reduce the racial wealth gap. The success of this initiative—which included hiring thousands of black students, providing millions of dollars in capital to black businesses, and reaching over one million individuals with financial health content—led to a historic five-year firm-wide $30B commitment to advance racial equity.
Sekou’s contributions have been recognized by Ebony Magazine’s 2020 Power 100 list, “Titans of Industry”; SAID Institute 2020 Mark of Excellence; World of Money 2019 Wall Street Legacy Award; and Face2Face Africa’s 2019 “30 Black Stars”. He has been featured in publications, including BBC, Forbes, NBC, CNBC, Black Enterprise, and Essence. Sekou serves on non-profit and corporate boards, including CLMBR, INROADS (Vice Chair), Duke University School of Public Policy, and America Needs You. He is also a member of the Executive Leadership Council. He was honored by the All Stars Project in 2017 for leadership and community impact and by the Council of Urban Professionals in 2015 as a Catalyst and Change Agent in Finance for “achieving professional success while making significant and impactful contributions to the community through volunteerism, philanthropy, board service, and mentorship.” The Harlem YMCA also honored him as a “Black Achiever in Industry” in 2012, and the Boys and Girls Club of America inducted him into the Hall of Fame in 2011.
His leadership initiatives have included “Advancing Black Entrepreneurs” and other partnerships in tech including StartupBus, a hackathon on wheels. Additionally, Sekou held leadership roles at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Citi.
He has spoken at the Milken Global Conference, National Urban League, Council of Urban Professionals, The Harlem Times, CUNY, Urban Financial Services Coalition, the Whitney M. Young Jr. Memorial Conference, and has led engaging conversations at Chase Talks with Kevin Hart, Grant Hill, Dominque Wilkins, among many others. Here's Sekou talking about his work and speaking at the Congressional Black Caucus panel on Building Economic Power in Black Communities.
With more than two decades of Wall Street experience, Sekou Kaalund has a proven track record of achieving revenue growth and developing highly profitable client relationships in start-up, turn around, and scale businesses. His unique background spans leadership experiences in staff and line roles across institutional and retail businesses. He has developed market strategies, managed strategic business transactions, and led complex organizations.
Kaalund joined U.S. Bank in December 2022 as Executive Vice President and Head of Branch and Small Business banking, overseeing the organization’s 2,200+ branches across 26 states. Prior to joining U.S. Bank, he spent the last 15 years at JPMorgan Chase in a variety of leadership roles across institutional and retail businesses, most recently serving as Head of Consumer banking for the Northeast division.
As head of Consumer Banking at Chase for the Northeast Division, Sekou oversaw 1000 branches in five regions with 10,000 employees and over $350 billion in deposits and investments. He runs the largest division in Consumer Banking, which as a standalone is the equivalent of the 4th largest bank in the country. Sekou has a strong track record developing talent, forming inclusive teams, and leveraging a vast network to connect people with opportunities.
Sekou has established key connections across client segments and industries. As part of JPMorgan’s Corporate and Investment Bank, he managed some of the largest, complex firmwide relationships with Asset Managers and Hedge Funds. He also was the Americas Head of Sales for Public & Corporate Pensions and significantly grew the business, achieving four-years of record revenues. He joined JPMorgan as Head of Private Equity Fund Services Business Development and built a global team, winning new clients in countries previously unpenetrated.
Because of Sekou’s commitment to impact and experience building businesses, he was tapped to launch Advancing Black Pathways, the first global corporate initiative that leveraged a data-driven strategic framework to develop scalable programs to reduce the racial wealth gap. The success of this initiative—which included hiring thousands of black students, providing millions of dollars in capital to black businesses, and reaching over one million individuals with financial health content—led to a historic five-year firm-wide $30B commitment to advance racial equity.
Sekou’s contributions have been recognized by Ebony Magazine’s 2020 "Power 100" list, “Titans of Industry”; SAID Institute 2020 Mark of Excellence; World of Money 2019 Wall Street Legacy Award; and Face2Face Africa’s 2019 “30 Black Stars”. He has been featured in publications, including BBC, Forbes, NBC, CNBC, Black Enterprise, and Essence. Sekou serves on several boards, including INROADS (Vice Chair) and America Needs You.
Additionally, Sekou worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Citi.
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