First Bank Celebrates Donielle Bacon During Women's History Month

Donielle Bacon, First Bank’s Area Retail Manager, is driven to overcome the societal and cultural expectations set for an African American woman. Starting out in the hospitality industry, working many years as a wait staff trainer and bartender, Bacon was able to develop exceptional customer service and cross-selling skills, aiding her as she began her unexpected career path into the banking sector.

Because the job roles she held were seasonal due to the venues, Bacon began searching for a side job, which led her to work as a part-time teller for a credit union in San Diego almost 20 years ago. Throughout her time as a teller, Bacon found a passion for assisting customers with their financial needs.  Over the years, Bacon has led by example and managed teams full of individuals with various backgrounds. As a branch manager for First Bank, Bacon has exemplified true leadership and courage by stepping out of her comfort zone, into a new role and successfully learning how to balance the talents and strengths of the individuals on her team.

Growing up, Bacon was particularly influenced by her mother both personally and professionally. “From a young age, she always tried to push me out of my comfort zone” stated Bacon. Her mother inspired her to dream large and live life to the fullest against all odds, instilling in her the importance of being independent and embracing the gender and racial differences that she represented, instead of allowing them to hold her back. When asked about her role as a woman in a leadership position, Bacon emphasized “I used to be offended by these kinds of questions.” As she viewed herself as equal, she preferred to be asked as an individual not as a woman. While still acknowledging that we are all equal, Bacon has learned to recognize and welcome the differences. Through her experiences, she has seen first-hand how a woman’s perspective and diversity within the workplace can benefit the morale and enhance performance. As her mother’s words encourage her daily to maximize the role she plays in her team’s career, Bacon has used her values and growth mindset to employ her team to their fullest extent, fostering an environment surrounded by support and appreciation.

By cultivating an inclusive workspace, Bacon aspires to encourage women to realize their value and pursue leadership roles, especially in predominately male industries. As a woman who is likely to shy away from the spotlight, Bacon was hesitant to be publicly recognized for her accomplishments and contribution to the bank. While trying to decide whether to accept the acknowledgement or not, she quickly thought “how can I encourage others to step out of their comfort zones, if I can’t do it myself?” By embracing this challenge, Bacon hopes to bring attention to women to alleviate the fear of the uncomfortable as it is vital to not be afraid of failure, but to be afraid of not trying in the first place.

In addition to her passion for work and taking the opportunity to cultivate those around her, Bacon takes time outside of the office to travel, eat enticing food, and spend intentional time with her family and fur babies. Manifesting each moment and opportunity to the fullest in both her personal and professional life has allowed Bacon to enjoy the little things, as she stated that “one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things.”