NEA C-Suite: Tommy White

How would you describe your company? First National Bank is a $2.4 billion community bank with 23 locations in Arkansas and Tennessee. With 325 employees serving thousands of customers with their banking needs.

What is the best business advice someone has ever given you? Think of your business as a three-legged stool. One leg represents your stockholders, one leg your employees and one leg your customers. Treat each one with equal weight — if you don’t the stool will get off balance and if it gets too off balance, it can topple over.

Which skills do you think are most important when it comes to leadership? Great leaders tend to be good listeners who listen to their employees, customers and stockholders and care about their opinions, needs and concerns. They appreciate feedback and use that feedback to strengthen their leadership, their team and their performance. They surround themselves with good people and let them do their jobs. This requires the ability to recognize talent and help them learn and grow on the job. It requires being able to put a team together with a common goal and to work as a team. Great leaders care about their employees, care about their customers and care about the results you deliver for their stockholders.

If you could change one thing about your leadership style, what would it be and why? I would like to strive to be more vocal to my staff and fellow employees on how much I appreciate all they do for me and the bank.

How significant to you is developing a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) culture within your organization? It’s very important. Action speaks louder than words. You need to have a policy but the results are far more important. How are you seen by your customers and your employees?

If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be and why? Elon Musk. I just want to see what his normal day is like. I would hope it’s the day he is working on a new rocket.

What are your thoughts on working from home? Working from home can be a valuable option for your employees and your company.  It can work well for certain people and certain positions. The bank has several employees who work from home. They need to be self-motivated, organized and have good communications skills. They have to be reliable and work well with others.

What is the most used app on your phone? The app I use most often is the Weather Channel. I am an organized person who likes to plan out events and activities. Part of my routine is to check the weather forecast before planning any activities, both from a work perspective and a personal perspective. I am really just your typical old person who is fascinated with the weather.

Do you think Artificial Intelligence (AI) can take jobs in your industry? Not at this time. I do think AI can and will enhance our customers and employees experience and productivity over time.

If you had $1 million to give, what would you support? There are a lot of great causes out there, so I would spread it out over several organizations. The Food Bank, Red Cross, Wounded Warriors and the United Way are just a few.

What’s your favorite movie or television show? The “Andy Griffith Show.” It’s really funny with some great characters.