_{Shannon Lazare, New Jersey Regional President, M&T Bank}

Shannon Lazare’s rise to President of M&T Bank’s New Jersey region comes as no surprise to those who have followed her extensive career. Her journey, marked by dedication, mentorship, and leadership, has been years in the making.

You may be surprised to learn that the seeds of her success took root long before her path led her from Valley Bank’s management training program to Wachovia and then to Chase before joining M&T Bank in 2013.

It all started as a result of her being born as the oldest of three children. She undertook the responsibility of being a role model and setting an example for her two younger siblings. In those early years she was always known as the big sister who was expected to do the ‘right thing.’

Her mother instilled optimism, empathy, and a positive outlook, while her attorney father encouraged ambition, goal-setting, and a strong work ethic. These lessons would later guide Lazare in her professional journey.

A Strong Desire to Help Others

Lazare’s leadership style is deeply rooted in her desire to help others. She set a goal early in her career to secure a management position by the age of 30. By 40, she had made significant strides toward her overarching mission: to have a meaningful, positive impact on those around her.

As a true Jersey Girl, born at St. Barnabas, earning her MBA at Montclair State, and pursuing roles within New Jersey banking institutions, Shannon is well respected for her genuine commitment to helping all those around her attain their goals and pursue their dreams, including her family, the bank and its customers, her team, and the New Jersey corporate and nonprofit communities.

Sports and Leadership

Lazare credits her involvement in sports for shaping her leadership skills. Through athletics, she learned the importance of teamwork, competing with intensity, and keeping a sense of humility.

She quickly understood that the collective strength of a team outweighs the efforts of individuals – a lesson she applied directly to her work at M&T Bank.

A Community Approach

Replacing a narrow perspective while assuming a broader vision has enabled M&T to serve its customers more efficiently.

Leveraging this philosophy, Shannon has been able to promote the seamless integration of different aspects across the bank, bringing together a range of business lines to address all the customer’s needs. The results speak for themselves.

M&T Bank has done well in applying the community bank model. So, when a local New Jersey Foundation serving the healthcare sector received an influx of unexpected cash, its leaders turned to M&T Bank for guidance. From the connection with their relationship banker, they gained access to all the bank’s relevant resources.

Introductions were made and valuable conversations revealing fresh insights took place as the bank assembled a team that included the relationship banker, the neighborhood branch manager, a Wilmington Trust endowments advisor, a representative offering volunteer support, and even experts from the healthcare practice. Assembling this multi-faceted group gave the Foundation leaders all the tools and resources they needed to help them address their cash flow challenges while turning a potential obstacle into an exciting opportunity.

Shannon leads by example, encouraging everyone at every level to connect resources across the bank to foster a culture that celebrates the collective accomplishments of all.

Words of Wisdom

When asked about the most important lessons she’s learned in her life, Lazare offered some simple advice:

• Work hard
• Always do the right thing
• Pursue what you’re passionate about
• Be your authentic self

By aligning her values, goals, and purpose, Lazare has fulfilled her lifelong aspiration of making a positive impact on others. 

A True Advocate for New Jersey

As a leader in New Jersey’s banking sector, Lazare has become a champion for her community. Her commitment to making a difference is evident in every aspect of her work, and the Garden State is fortunate to have her as an advocate.