Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • April 6, 2020 • Hartford Business Journal 27 WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS 2020 B of A's Hutensky bridges the intersection of business and community By Wendy Pierman Mitzel Special to the Hartford Business Journal B ank of America's Se- nior Vice President Jill Hutensky has an enviable job. As the Hartford mar- ket manager for enterprise busi- ness and community engagement, Hutensky has appeared on televi- sion celebrating the Hartford Camp Courant junior leaders program and also on the radio promoting Turkey Tuesday food collections. Hutensky is right where she wants to be, fulfilling a goal she de- termined in her early 20s when she attended Yale's School of Organiza- tion and Management. "I was fascinated by the intersec- tion of business and community; the private, nonprofit and public sector," she explained. "I went back to school to open my mind, and open my world." That led Hutensky to a 15-year period at United Technologies Corp. in a variety of roles ranging from corporate responsibility and com- munity giving to sales force devel- opment, manufacturing operations and web communications. At both UTC and now Bank of America, Hutensky has identified, advised and funded community non- profits from the arts and community development, to education and social services. She is the steward of the Bank of America Charitable Founda- tion in Hartford, which contributed more than $2 million in 2019. In her role, she leverages the depth and breadth of Bank of America's national and international portfolio of assets to amplify local partnerships and investments. One such example is the Bank of America Student Leaders Program, a paid summer internship for high school students at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford and instruction in fi- nancial literacy and job-skills training. The program culminates in a week- long leadership summit in Washing- ton, D.C., where interns mingle and network with 300 of their peers. When any of the now 80 Hartford- area participants goes on to use those skills in a career setting, Hutensky is reminded of Bank of America's goal. "When someone you mentor gets a job, or a good program is copied by others, it's great," she explained. "It's the little things that happen along the way, there's no single job or award, it doesn't have to be overt." The priority for the bank is sup- porting economic mobility for indi- viduals, families and communities. Hutensky said when considering pro- grams, she looks at supporting not just a cause, but finding great leaders who can execute programs and add value by connecting organizations together in complementary ways. "We can introduce and put people together in ways that can be help- ful," she explained. Joe Gianni, Bank of America's market president for Greater Hart- ford, said Hutensky is a role model for women in the company. "She understands that business and society are interdependent, and she explores and finds the intersec- tion in order to advance ideas and programs," Gianni explained. "She is thoughtful, open-minded, asks tough questions, and synthesizes seemingly disparate ideas to come up with forward-thinking solutions." Hutensky continues her mission outside work volunteering in the community. She serves on the board of trustees at The Bushnell and is a member of the board of ambassa- dors for the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. She's also involved with the Connect- icut Coalition to End Homelessness, MetroHartford Alliance and Workforce Solutions Collaborative. Jill Hutensky Senior Vice President, Hartford Market Manager Bank of America What's been your biggest profes- sional accomplishment so far? Throughout my career, my abil- ity to connect with people and de- velop relationships has defined me. My work experience and nonprofit service in the Greater Hartford area over the years has afforded me the opportunity to meet many people from various industries and organizations. Maintaining these personal connections has been helpful in navigating complex business situations and forging effective partnerships. What's the next big goal you want to accomplish professionally? At Bank of America, we ask the question: 'What would you like the power to do?' I would like the power to help the city of Hartford and all of its residents reach their full potential. The city of Hartford will celebrate its 400th birthday in 2035 and my goal over the next 14 years is to make connections between the public sector, private sector and nonprofits to make a material difference in the com- munity and region. What legacy do you want to leave after your career is over? Honest friend. Devoted mother. Loving spouse. Dependable daughter. Loyal sibling. Trusted colleague. Compassionate citizen. Thoughtful neighbor. What are your keys to maintain- ing business success? Success is not an individual sport. I surround myself with great people, treat them with re- spect and listen to what they have to say. I try to identify solutions instead of problems and synthe- size seemingly disparate ideas to come up with a path forward. What are your keys to maintain- ing work/life balance? My work/life balance is differ- ent today than it was 10 years ago. What hasn't changed, though, is the importance of being totally present in the moment whether I am at work or in the world. The ability to focus has given me space to pursue my career and all of my personal interests. PHOTO | J. FIERECK PHOTOGRPHY

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