Tracy Barnas defines leadership as a combination of three factors: driving actions, setting an example and inspiring trust.
"Being one who drives change and action is critical to both corporate and personal performance," says Barnas, the senior vice president of private banking at UMB Financial Corp. in Springfield. "There must be those who are willing to make courageous decisions and then effectively execute them to keep a company moving forward."
Prior to joining UMB, Barnas spent 20 years with Bank of America N.A. and Banc of America Investment Services Inc., where she worked in retail and collection management and as a premier client manager within the Global Wealth and Investment Management division.
"My leadership was demonstrated in maintaining morale while driving actions and influencing changes that ultimately generated record revenues for the company," Barnas says.
Setting an example, which includes "being fair and having a strong work ethic," is also part of Barnas' approach to leadership, something she learned early from her father, who died nearly five years ago and is still greatly missed.
"I've never asked my associates to do anything I'm unwilling to do or inexperienced in doing myself. ... I have a genuine commitment to excellence that was instilled in me at a young age," Barnas says. "My dad always told me if I was going to do something halfway, that I might as well not do it at all. It stuck. I work hard, and I think people recognize and respect that."
Barnas says inspiring trust is always an important part of leadership, but it has been especially critical in asset management during the recent economic uncertainty and volatility.
"People can sense when someone genuinely cares about their best interests," she says. My client retention and growth are indicative of my ability to inspire trust. Since joining UMB 18 months ago, I've helped develop a private banking practice consisting of approximately 125 clients representing more than $57 million in loans, deposits and assets under management."
Barnas started UMB's private banking group for southwest Missouri, which now includes eight local professionals and 12 throughout the region.
She believes demonstrating honesty and fairness and identifying avenues for growth are ways she has influenced other people's success.
Barnas is a Springfield native who supports the community. Some of the organizations that have benefited from her efforts, both in time and financial support, include Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Public Schools Foundation, Developmental Center of the Ozarks, American Diabetes Association, Family Violence Center, Community Blood Center of the Ozarks and Ozarks Food Harvest.
"I believe giving back to the community where I live, work and raise my children is extremely important," she says. "Personally, I am passionate about children, education and my faith."[[In-content Ad]]
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