Building Interest Podcast – Ep 38: Trusting the Process with Juliana Perez
In this episode of Building Interest, Juliana Perez, Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager at Leader Bank, shares her journey from Colombia to the U.S., highlighting her resilience and leadership skills. Born in a remote Colombian farm, Juliana moved to Boston at 11. At 17, she chose to stay in the U.S. while her family returned to Colombia. Juli credit's her career success to caring for others, leading by example, and trusting the process.
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Episode Transcript
Greg Farber:
Whether you're seeking inspiration, wisdom or a fresh perspective on leadership and entrepreneurship, the Building Interest podcast has you covered. Together we explore the successes of groundbreaking leaders, the triumphs, the challenges and the invaluable lessons they learn along the way. Our discussions go beyond strategic decision making and delve into the personal hobbies and passions that keep these leaders inspired and grounded in their work. I'm your host. Greg Farber, let's jump right in today. We're joined by Juliana Perez, Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of our Belmont branch here at Leader Bank. Juli started here as a teller 10 years ago, and has since worked her way up to being one of our most caring and inspiring leaders. Today, we will dig into the challenges she has overcome immigrating to the United States, as well as understand how her selfless nature has shaped her leadership style and success. Welcome Juli.
Juliana Perez:
Thank you, Greg.
Greg Farber:
How are you today?
Juliana Perez:
Very good, very happy to be here. Thank you for having me.
Greg Farber:
It is very exciting, and I'm really looking forward to hearing your story.
Juliana Perez:
Thank you.
Greg Farber:
So as I said, let's jump right in. Let's, let's go back to your roots a little bit. I hinted at, obviously you having immigrated here. So tell us a bit about where you were born and where you grew up.
Juliana Perez:
Okay, so I was born in Colombia, in a very remote place. So Greg, when I tell you remote, think about the most remote place. It's not there a little bit further.
Greg Farber:
So beyond the last dirt road.
Juliana Perez:
Exactly.
Greg Farber:
On a little trail.
Juliana Perez:
So we were- I was born and raised there until I was probably five, and it was a farm where we had all types of animals. It was a Milk Farm, so milk was the source of income. My dad will milk the cows, and my mom will grow the veggies, and I will help her grow the veggies.
Greg Farber:
you said on until you were about five you actually remember being there?
Juliana Perez:
Yes, I do. And I remember everything was very green and the mountains, and it was very quiet and very calm, the sound was the river that was passing by. So it was very, very nice memory of my childhood there.
Greg Farber:
And did you say it was in the mountains?
Juliana Perez:
Yes.
Greg Farber:
So I have to imagine you came away from that with a love of nature. I don't know. Maybe you hated it and just wanted something different. I assume that you have that love of nature, and then this opportunity came for your family to come here to the US.
Juliana Perez:
Yes. So for my mom, education was always very important. So from that little place that I was talking about, we moved to another place that was a little bit closer to the nearest town, and I went to school there.
Greg Farber:
Now, when you say, like, nearest, like, how far are we talking from, like, an actual city.
Juliana Perez:
Okay, from the actual- So the city is Medellín. And from there, it's about three hours. And to that place, you can even get to a in a car. You have to even walk, you know, you get to a certain place, yeah, and then you either take a horse or you walk.
Greg Farber:
Wow, okay, not even like a Jeep trail.
Juliana Perez:
Exactly. So we moved to that place, to another farm, same thing. My dad was a farmer, and my mom, will take care of the house and grow the veggies. And when I look back, you know, at that time, we didn't have the perks of the city, but now that I look back, we were very fortunate, because we had everything you know.
Greg Farber:
Well and it was the only world you knew.
Juliana Perez:
Exactly, but we did have, you know, we were growing our own food. We had milk, we had the eggs, we had the chickens.
Greg Farber:
You didn't have to rely on anyone else,
Juliana Perez:
Exactly,
Greg Farber:
That's cool in a way, but also kind of limiting, right? So then there was this impetus to move, and you ended up here in the US. How did that come about?
Juliana Perez:
Yes, so when I was 11, my mom says okay, guys, we're going to to U.S. when we came here. It was very hard as an immigrant. My mom and my dad had to work various jobs. My dad washing dishes, my mom being a housekeeper and cleaning at nights sometimes and it was very hard, because they had to come from the little town to a big city, which is Boston, because we came here. And the culture, you know, the challenge of the culture and the language.
Greg Farber:
Were they looking for a place to start over, or were they looking for a place for you to go, like be enrolled in school in a big city, rather than in the in the tiny town?
Juliana Perez:
My mom and my dad, working really hard, we went my brother and I went to school. We learned English and it was, we found, you know, our place on Earth. Missing Colombia. But we were happy to be here and have the opportunities to to go to school and learn the language.
Greg Farber:
Now, in this story, we come to a point that I find it seems kind of terrifying. At some point, your parents decided to move back, but you decided to stay. Now, first of all, how old were you when this happened? Because that changes just how terrifying it is, but still now all of a sudden, you're on your own. So how did, how did that all happen?
Juliana Perez:
Yeah, so I just finished high school, and something happened, very sad. My mom was diagnosed with clinical depression.
Greg Farber:
I'm sorry.
Juliana Perez:
Yes, that was a very, very hard moment in our family. And so my mom was diagnosed with clinical depression, and she was, she was very sick, you know, the strongest woman I knew, which she was a very hard worker, was little by little shutting down.
Greg Farber:
Right, it's very debilitating.
Juliana Perez:
Exactly. So it was, it was very hard, and she loved working, and because of the of the depression, she wasn't able to even get up or go to work. And so my dad sat with me and he said, Okay, I think it's time for us to go back. We really need the support of the family and and we need to go back to home,
Greg Farber:
And maybe being back in a place where she's from, there's that comfort level where you feel like you have your warm blanket and your you can be more yourself again.
Juliana Perez:
Exactly.
Greg Farber:
So did it work out for her?
Juliana Perez:
She's very good right now, yes.
Greg Farber:
I'm glad to hear that. Yeah, she is and but they decided to stay
Juliana Perez:
Yes. So my dad, okay, guys, it's time to go.
Greg Farber:
How do you even have that conversation with your family?
Juliana Perez:
It was really hard. My dad sat with me, and said, "Okay, we're going back. Say bye to your friends." And something in me was, I, I can't go back. This is, you know, by that time I was here for nine years, so most of my teenager days, years were all here, and so I I didn't want to go back. I, I, at that moment, I realized, am I from there? Am I from here? It was very, very hard to make that decision, but I told my dad, I don't think I want to go back. My mom was not even part of the conversation. She was extremely sick, but I told him, I don't think I can go back.
Greg Farber:
And this had become your comfort place where you would feel lost if you went back.
Juliana Perez:
Exactly. My dad told me I wasn't able to do it.
Greg Farber:
Because he didn't think you could, or because he didn't want you?
Juliana Perez:
Because I was too young. And he was right. I was I was just a little girl. So he, he said, "You're not gonna make it" and I'm making it.
Greg Farber:
You are making it, which is an interesting thing, right? Because maybe you would not give someone the same advice, because it is very early to be on your own at 17. On the other hand, something tells me you wouldn't change a thing.
Juliana Perez:
Yes, I was going to say that for a long time I was talking the what if or the should haves, I should have gone back, because my mom, you know at the time when we were going to go back, my mom said I had, I have all the college like you can go to college in Colombia, but I don't know, something inside me was no, you can do it. Do it on your your own. You can go with, with your life, without your parents. And that strength came from within, and I and I, and I stayed here, so after the years, going back to your your point. Yes, I don't. I wouldn't change a thing, the what ifs and should haves will eat your brain.
Greg Farber:
Yeah, you can spend a lot of time worrying about what should have been and come to where you are, really, in a way, by yourself, and that's really amazing and impressive.
Juliana Perez:
Yeah, no, but I always say, you know, when I say by myself, there was a lot of people that supported me, right? And without them, I it wouldn't be possible, and it was the hard decision of saying bye to my parents, you know, because they went back to Columbia, and it was me at 17, being, you know. Now this is life.
Greg Farber:
And you had no other family here, or anyone else. Just Juli only on her own.
Juliana Perez:
No, but I did have a friend, and she was the one. Her name is Lina. She came to me and say, stay, stay at my house. And I don't even think that she talked to her mom at that time,
Greg Farber:
She said let's do this.
Juliana Perez:
Yes, you can stay at my home like very you know, no problem. And she talked to her mom, the mom said, Yes, and I can't thank them enough, because without them, I wouldn't be able to stay. So that family took me as one of theirs. They had my friend and two younger daughters, and I became part of the family.
Greg Farber:
That's amazing.
Juliana Perez:
Yes, I'm so grateful for them. Without them, I wouldn't make it. That's it, I hope my mom says she's proud of me. I'm proud of myself. My dad still hasn't said it, but I'm sure he is haha. And I hope he is.
Greg Farber:
Maybe he's just not the type to say it out loud.
Juliana Perez:
Exactly, and that's fine.
Greg Farber:
I mean, in the end, it almost sounds like it worked out the best in both ways, because your mom's doing better, and you found your place, and you found your way. But obviously, now at the beginning, that's not not easy, and not unlike a lot of other young people starting out, you obviously worked a lot of different jobs, kind of at the beginning across different industries, to kind of find your way in the workforce, as you were exploring now, being a young adult and having to hopefully finish school, you're done with, you know, you're moving on to getting jobs and things. Was there any particular direction or job that stood out to you that kind of shaped you, whether good or bad? Just as you're exploring where you're going in life.
Juliana Perez:
So as soon as I left, I knew I had to work. I mean, life said, let me see what you're made of. And I started doing different types of jobs. My first job I remember, was at a Mexican taqueria where I was a helping clients with their orders, a cashier. So that was my first job, and that was customer service. So I feel like customer service came from from that job. After that, I went to work to a check cashing in place and selling cell phones. So all types of sales and customer service which ultimately I ended up in banking.
Greg Farber:
Where you started as a teller again, customer service, direct up front line, helping with the clients. So you really took a shine to this, helping, helping people out as your as your strength and your way to kind of move forward. Did you have a goal in mind when you decided to try a job as a teller? Or did you just, you just started and then realized this is where I fit, because obviously you haven't bounced around a lot since that day,
Juliana Perez:
I know.
Greg Farber:
Wait, were you a teller at anywhere else, or just you became a teller at Leader Bank, and now you're still here?
Juliana Perez:
No no. So I was at a different financial institution, and I was doing the same thing as a teller, and after one year, I wasn't happy. Honestly. I felt, you know, this institution was very sales and pushy oriented, and I felt I needed a change.
Greg Farber:
It didn't speak to what you were best at.
Juliana Perez:
Exactly. It didn't match my you know, my values or that. So I, I wanted a change. And then I started searching. I found Leader Bank, and I applied, and this was 10 years ago, so I went to the interview.
Greg Farber:
Congratulations by the way, that's a huge milestone.
Juliana Perez:
Thank you. It's actually this month. This month is my 10 year anniversary. Thank you. And I went to the interview at that time when I was interviewed, I didn't know that a brand, a new branch was going to be open, and happened to be Seaport, and I was hired to be the universal banker for the Seaport Branch. So I am very proud to be part of that. I was part of that opening of the new branch.
Greg Farber:
Really kind of came from nothing, no, nothing handed to you. You're staying with a friend. You start doing odd jobs around the place. You teller for a while, you realize customer service is where you want to be, and all of a sudden you have this opportunity, and you get to be part of opening a brand new branch at our company, and now we fast forward from there, and all of a sudden, here you are, you're, you're developing teams, you're, you're running your own branch. What is your approach to all of this? So you've come on this, you've obviously earned your way along, and now you have this opportunity to bring other people along with you. And this is kind of where we can start talking a little bit about different leadership styles and things, right? So what is that like for you to- Well, first of all, I guess let's talk a little bit about opening a branch brand new, right? Because that was, that was a whole new thing. This place didn't exist. Where we're sitting today doing this recording as part of you came on to be hired for this, and now, what was that like, being part of a brand new team and then sort of building that branch out with that team?
Juliana Perez:
So when I came to Leader Bank, it felt so I started to felt that sense of family, sense of unity. It was more as a we're a team, and that's how I always have felt here. Opening this branch was a very proud moment, because and especially the area and Seaport at that time, there were no buildings. So I saw everything grow, and as everything grew, I saw myself growing, personally and in my career.
Greg Farber:
It's almost metaphorically, this all used to be parking lots, right? And now it's fully grown buildings.
Juliana Perez:
Exactly it was. The buildings weren't there. It was just a hole. So every day I would come to work, I would see it grow. And I started. I really like this job. I like the people I work with. I was very fortunate to work with Savy. She was the manager at the time. From the beginning, she always saw something in me that I didn't see it. I unfortunately, sometimes the imposter syndrome goes in and she always she was, she's a great, she still is a great coach to me, mentor. And her support and her coaching always help me.
Greg Farber:
Sometimes that's the best way, right? Because you can be your own worst critic, or you can be blind to your own abilities and to have someone to see something in you and push that a little bit further. Now, I've heard you described as an over carer. You're always thinking of others and putting other people first and so forth. How does that fit into sort of the role of, you're still a leader at a financial institution, right? So you have to have certain specific metrics, but at the same time, your biggest strength is caring about people.
Juliana Perez:
Yes. So going back in five years ago, I was promoted to be a branch manager. I remember when I was told about this, I was extremely scared, because I again, I have to, it was another change for me.
Greg Farber:
But you didn't apply for that. You were asked to take this role on. So again, someone saw something in you and said, This is the next step for Juli,
Juliana Perez:
Exactly. And I just remember I was excited but scared, because now I'm the captain of the ship. And for me, it was, it was again, it was scary, but it was very challenging. I went to manage the Burlington branch where I had, now, I had my own team, and my approach has always and always in my mind, is, as long as the people that you work with and your team is happy, then everything else, it's gonna, it's gonna, it's gonna work. You have happy team, you have happy clients, and that's the ultimate.
Greg Farber:
People who want to be there, want to do the work.
Juliana Perez:
Exactly, people that want to be there. And I think at Leader Bank, we we do that very well. I think the interview process, it's meant to hire quality people, and you can see that in the culture here at Leader Bank.
Greg Farber:
How do you balance that leadership with and now we're going to go back, obviously, a little bit in time too. You've had so many different moments of sort of struggle throughout your life, also finding time to overcare for yourself?
Juliana Perez:
I know. Yes. The thing is that in order for you to motivate others and have a happy team and motivated team, you have to motivate yourself. You you can't pour from an empty class.
Greg Farber:
I like that.
Juliana Perez:
But that's true, right? You can't.
Greg Farber:
It's obvious once you say it, right, you don't think it, but as soon as you said it's very obvious.
Juliana Perez:
Exactly. So I try to motivate myself. I stay very positive.
Greg Farber:
Does it come naturally or do you have any tips on how to motivate yourself? Sometimes I could use a little extra motivation.
Juliana Perez:
Well, I have this thing that in the morning, mornings for me are important. Whenever I'm driving to work and I get traffic, you know, the stress, the moment I go inside the office, everything is out, you know. We are here to have a great day, and I do that for myself and for my team.
Greg Farber:
So just a little reminder, I'm here now, this is what I'm doing, focus yourself back in. That's really cool. Now we just obviously mentioned a minute ago that you've been here for 10 years now. And I'd ask you what you're most proud of in your journey, but I feel like the whole journey might be the answer, but I kind of want to know what's what's next? What's your next? Big, proud moment that you want to see in the next 10 years?
Juliana Perez:
In the 10 years, I definitely want to grow within the industry and continue to be my best self. Stay positive and give my best.
Greg Farber:
Now outside of work, you've got a lot of other passions. You mentioned early on that you obviously lived in this very lush, green, peaceful, mountainous area, and you said that you had a love of nature with that. Do you still do, like the fitness, the nature, the hiking, these kind of things?
Juliana Perez:
Yes, whenever I'm not in working, you will find me going out for a walk. When the weather gets nicer, I always go on hikes. I love again. Love the mountains and nature, outdoors. It inspires me. It does and it brings me back to my roots and, that's what I I really enjoy.
Greg Farber:
Any favorite hikes around here?
Juliana Perez:
I want to say, Mount Willard. Do you know it in New Hampshire?
Greg Farber:
Yeah. Is it Crawford Notch?
Juliana Perez:
It's called Mount Willard.
Greg Farber:
It does sound familiar, for sure.
Juliana Perez:
It's very nice, it's not hard at all. It's very easy. It's less than three miles, and he has a very nice view, because that's what I love. You know, once you go up, you see the view, perfect, beautiful.
Greg Farber:
I also love hiking. That's why I asked, because I'm always curious to hear where-
Juliana Perez:
What's your favorite one?
Greg Farber:
Oh God, I don't know that I could give you a favorite.
Juliana Perez:
I know it's really hard, but if I think about one, it's that one?
Greg Farber:
I mean, I think for me, the favorite thing. So there's two things that drive me with the hiking. One is just that, that being in the woods, that smell you just walk in there, you smell the earth, you smell everything around. It's just there's a calming about that somehow. But then it is the, definitely the destination for me. It's getting to the top and having the view like you described. I would much rather hike up hill for eight hours to have a great view than I can circle for two hours and have no view.
Juliana Perez:
Exactly. Yeah, you do it for the view.
Greg Farber:
So then, with this love of nature, and we've already established that you care about a great many things. You also love animals and plants and things. Tell us a little bit about that. And you think this is all this all goes back to your very early childhood and what you were surrounded?
Juliana Perez:
I believe. So yes. I love all living things. Honestly, I right now my house, I have over 60 plants. I am a plant lady, and also a cat lady, okay, I have a cat.
Greg Farber:
60 cats too? No, not that many?
Juliana Perez:
No, no, yet.
Greg Farber:
Or more?
Juliana Perez:
No, no, just one. Just one. He's 11 years old. He's big. He's 20 pounds. Yeah, it's a big cat. And you know, the caring, again, inspires me. Goes back to to nature.
Greg Farber:
And this may be a difficult question, but is there any way you could describe what about the caring is inspiring to you?
Juliana Perez:
Very good question. I think with plants, I looked at them and I looked at how ourselves, right? If you don't water a plant. You know you need to care for it, and by caring for it you, you make it grow.
Greg Farber:
I think I know exactly what you're trying to say. Is it fair to say that the caring, it's not necessary that you're caring, because the result is the end goal, but the result of seeing it growing and whatever is provides some fulfillment that you've had a hand in making something else get better.
Juliana Perez:
Correct and trusting the process
Greg Farber:
Sounds like exactly the same way that you approach your work. So we're going to go. To a segment now that we we call what would you choose? It's a little bit of a rapid fire round. After talking to you for a little bit here, I feel like I have some idea of how you're going to answer, but maybe you'll surprise us. Okay, so let's see how you feel about these. Okay, I'll give you this or that, and you tell me which one you would choose. Okay, exciting. Okay, well, we'll start with an easy one. Okay, I think it's easy anywhere. Okay, mountains or beach.
Juliana Perez:
Come on, Greg.
Greg Farber:
I didn't write the question.
Juliana Perez:
Mountains.
Greg Farber:
I kind of figured, but you never know, right? I like both. And so that's, that's the thing. If I've I do one recently, I want to go to the other but I do think mountains.
Juliana Perez:
And that question has come like I heard that question before. And whenever I think about a house, you know, most people a beach house. Okay, good. I want a house that I can see green the mountains.
Greg Farber:
I'm with you with that, and the little com stream running through the back. Absolutely, I'm there with you. Well, maybe not next question, okay, solo adventure or group outing?
Juliana Perez:
Um, group, okay, the team oriented orientation comes there.
Greg Farber:
Okay, so you like, you like the group you like to experience these things with others?
Juliana Perez:
Yes, together. Yes, however, I do would like once to do a solo trip, but I don't know. I'll figure it out.
Greg Farber:
Into the mountains or a solo trip, just in general?
Juliana Perez:
A trip, a trip, I love traveling too. So maybe I'll do one that's on my my wish list.
Greg Farber:
You should, yeah, never know what you might learn about yourself, right?
Juliana Perez:
Exactly,
Greg Farber:
Okay, structure or flexibility?
Juliana Perez:
Flexibility.
Greg Farber:
Good, because you didn't need it to go on that solo trip. You can't be too structured if you go on a trip by yourself.
Juliana Perez:
Yeah, I want to be flexible, you know,
Greg Farber:
Learn and explore.
Juliana Perez:
Learning and explore, yes.
Greg Farber:
Would you say that you would prefer to lead by example or guide from behind?
Juliana Perez:
Lead by example, yes.
Greg Farber:
You want to be the strong voice at the front. And show the right way forward.
Juliana Perez:
Yeah. And I, because I think I admire that from whoever I, I look at as as my my leader like I, I want to follow that. And I think that happened, you know, going back to my story, to my mom, my mom being a strong person, hard worker, like you, I saw that, so I follow it.
Greg Farber:
And it's interesting, right? Because you mentioned just a second ago, you had a leader that you follow, and that's where you're not in the front, but then to have that same impact on someone else, you maybe have to be in the front,
Juliana Perez:
Correct.
Greg Farber:
All right? Last one, well, this is interesting, right? Because, again, we work in an industry that's very metrics driven. Heart first leadership, or results driven leadership?
Juliana Perez:
What's the first one?
Greg Farber:
Heart first.
Juliana Perez:
Hard?
Greg Farber:
Yeah, you lead with your heart, your passion,
Juliana Perez:
Oh heart.
Greg Farber:
Or do you lead with the results in mind?
Juliana Perez:
Passion, always, always with the passion, always with the passion. Yes.
Greg Farber:
Like you said earlier, if you have enough passion, the results will come.
Juliana Perez:
Yes. I strongly believe in that when you give passion on anything that you do, you're gonna see results.
Greg Farber:
And I think that's a message, regardless of whether it's personal or business, regardless of whether you're in banking or any other industry. If you put the effort into it because you feel it, not because someone told you to, but because you feel it, it makes a difference. All right, now it's your turn to inspire if you haven't already inspired us enough. This was the segment where we asked you to do a little homework and think of something, a person, a memory, an object, something that you wanted to share with us that brings you special inspiration and tell us a little bit about it.
Juliana Perez:
Um, I, here's my object.
Greg Farber:
Shocking a plant. Let me get very do you care for it?
Juliana Perez:
Very predictable. So again, plants, it symbolizes nature, it symbolizes caring, and also trust in the process. So this is my plant. I actually got it from. I have the mother. This one was a little baby from it, and I planted. And as a token of appreciation, I wanted to bring it to you.
Greg Farber:
Me?
Juliana Perez:
Yes, for hosting me!
Greg Farber:
I get a little piece of Juli?
Juliana Perez:
Yes, correct.
Greg Farber:
Oh my God.
Juliana Perez:
And the compromise is that when this one it starts popping babies, you give that to people. Yes, pass it along.
Greg Farber:
I love what you said a second ago. Trusting the process. Can you elaborate a little bit on what you mean by
Juliana Perez:
Trusting the process. Things might not happen that? at the moment for you, but again, going back to the passion and caring, and if you really want to, the universe has an amazing way to help you achieve your things if you really want to. So it's put your thoughts, your energy, and things will happen if you really want it.
Greg Farber:
You're gonna think it's just because you gave me something. But this is perhaps one of the most inspiring things that we've gotten. Because I love the inspiration angle of not just that you thought of this and nurtured this and are passing it on, but that implicit expectation that I also nurture it and that I pass it on. I think that's really cool, because that keeps that inspiration going. I think that's very unique. I love that anything else you want to share with us today, or any specific thoughts or comments you might have to any any of our listeners or anything, we should know about Juli. Something that I didn't ask that's really important?
Juliana Perez:
No, I I just wanted to say thank you for this space. I think you guys, the podcast has been doing an amazing job of you. And no, I am honored and very happy to be
Greg Farber:
I think we're honored to have someone of your here. caliber and your personality. It's awesome, like you mentioned, you know, just our culture in general, but to have this kind of humility and passion and excitement surrounding us on a daily basis at work, it's a great place to be. Don't forget to subscribe and rate our show the Building Interest Podcast is live on all podcast platforms and YouTube, we want to hear what you think of each episode and encourage you to submit any questions that you want us to cover. So please find us on YouTube or Tiktok and comment your thoughts. All opinions expressed by Juli Perez are her own and not the opinions of Leader Bank NA. For more information on today's subject, visit leaderbank.com in addition to past episodes, you can also find our Learning Center blog for more insights, this podcast is a production of Leader Bank, an equal housing lender member FDIC, NMLS number 449250.
