Emily Abbas, who became  Bankers Trust Inc. President and CEO Suku Radia’s chief of staff last year, has added chief marketing officer to her nameplate. In promoting her, Radia may have taken note that Abbas has a story that is as Des Moines-centric as his bank’s. She has worked for Strategic America and the former Aviva USA. Just as noteworthy are her various roles in the community, including serving as president of the Des Moines Community Playhouse board and on the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.

Why did Suku Radia decide he needed a chief of staff?
Suku not only serves Bankers Trust as CEO and president, he also serves tirelessly in leadership roles on numerous community boards. Because we cannot clone him, and because he needs at least three to four hours of sleep a night, my job is to increase his capacity by handling as much as I am capable of handling alongside him or on his behalf.

What do you do as chief of staff?
If you were to ask him — and you know his sense of humor — he would likely say COS doesn’t just stand for chief of staff, it also stands for chasing only Suku. Seriously, though, my role is threefold:

 1. Take anything I can off Suku’s plate. This may mean attending meetings on his behalf, preparing him for speaking engagements or handling his meeting takeaways.

 2.  Ensure the continued strength and strategic continuity of the bank’s charitable giving, community sponsorships, employee volunteerism and helping match leadership opportunities for our employees to grow and serve on community boards.

 3. Finally, I get to work on projects that typically start with Suku saying, “I’ve always wanted to do X, but haven’t had someone to lead the effort.” Many of these projects include developing and enhancing long-term business and community relationships.

Is it a challenge to market a name like Bankers Trust?
As a marketing professional it’s the best possible situation. Over the last five years, the company has been rewarded with less than 4 percent voluntary employee turnover, assets have increased 32 percent, and earnings have more than doubled.

How do you start your day?
My alarm goes off at 5 a.m., I make coffee, and then it’s off to the races. My children just finished fifth and seventh grades, and their favorite breakfast includes toaster waffles, so we go through them by the box. We usually powwow quickly on who needs to be where after school and for evening activities. Then my husband and I figure out a plan for logistics, which often includes our secret weapon, my mother, Artis Reis. She is a retired judge, lives just down the street, and is helpful in every possible way. 

How do you end your day?
My favorite way to end the day is catching up with my husband, Cory. Even if it is just for 15 minutes, we do our best to talk through the highs and lows from our day. We laugh, we commiserate, and we always end up on the same page regarding how we can best support each other and our boys. 

You grew up in Des Moines, attended college in Des Moines and launched your career in Des Moines. Why did you stay?
After graduating from Roosevelt High School I actually wanted to get away, so I attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., for my first two years of college. We were an odd match, as I wasn’t a business major, wasn’t from a suburb of the Twin Cities and wasn’t Catholic. I decided to transfer to Drake the summer between my sophomore and junior years and have been connected to the university ever since. My experience growing up in Des Moines and as part of the Des Moines Public Schools was phenomenal — I wouldn’t change a thing — so I wanted my boys to have that same experience. We wouldn’t live anywhere else.

Is there something in your experiences as a Des Moines native and successful professional that translates to a marketing message to draw other people to Des Moines?
When I was growing up, I remember the pitch line for Iowa was that it was a great place to raise kids. A spin on that for Des Moines is that it’s a great place to raise adults. Whether you are a young professional or a seasoned executive, you can have an impact beyond your wildest dreams and will be surrounded by people who want to help you make a difference.