Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | October 17, 2022 | Worcester Business Journal 23 Diane Giampa Executive vice president – human resources, marketing & retail banking Bay State Savings Bank, in Worcester Residence: Millbury Education: Bachelor's degree from College of the Holy Cross; MBA from Anna Maria College What are the keys to success for women in the workplace? Women need to speak up often and not be afraid to share a different perspective. Demonstrate empathy and honesty. But probably the most important thing is to build a trusted network and use it. What is the biggest obstacle you had to overcome? Finding an appropriate work-life balance, especially when raising my family. Women are still expected to be able to do it all. Who inspires you? I have never really looked to others for inspiration; I have always lived my life unapologetically as my authentic self. I hope I can inspire younger women to do the same. O U T S T A N D I N G W O M E N F O C U S I N B U S I N E S S Giampa is a volunteering powerhouse By Susan Shalhoub Special to WBJ "I hope that I've made a little bit of a mark," she said. And with leadership roles in a full slate of local charitable orga- nizations, it would be a safe guess to say Diane Giampa of Bay State Savings Bank has done more than a little bit. Her calendar is full, just the way she likes it. Finding Giampa volunteering at a weekend event in her spare time isn't un- usual. She enjoys working and keeping busy, especially for a good cause. e community causes she champions range from children's welfare to cultural performances to history preservation to educational fundraising, and that's just for starters. e bank's executive vice president of human resources, marketing and retail banking, Giampa's work in the community spans myriad organizations, such as McAuley Nazareth Home for Boys in Leicester; Worcester Historical Society; Quinsigamond Community College Foundation in Worcester; and Worcester Police Department's Mounted Police Unit. She's an ambassador for the Hanover eatre in Worcester and a corporator for Worcester nonprofit Children's Friend, among many, many other endeavors. With so much going on, she admits she's accidentally double-booked meet- ings and events before, but the collective community good she accomplishes out- weighs the occasional schedule reshuffle. Besides, she finds work fun. "Growing up, my dad owned a pharmacy, which I worked in from the time I was 10," she said. "I always had a part-time job at the store. I didn't know anything different. I don't do well with sitting still." Bank President & CEO Peter Al- den said Giampa is well known in the community, in demand from boards and committees. "She has touched a lot of organiza- tions and is a main face of the bank, con- tinuing to bring us business," Alden said. e bank has grown from three to six branches since Giampa came aboard in 1997, with assets up from $133 million to more than $500 million. Giampa has seen so many productive partnerships forged based on personal or professional relationships. Nothing can replace knowing someone, their skills and industry, and other factors about them, she said. She advocates for the personal touch, face-to-face time, grabbing a cup of coffee. "With so much automation, we tend to lose sight of the importance of networking and people. Leverage them to help you. Women that compete with other women? It's destructive and doesn't do anyone any good. Everyone has their talents, and we can comple- ment one another," Giampa said. "I am always excited to hear about other peo- ple's backgrounds, because through our shared experiences, we rise together." Years of local networking and a keen understanding of area nonprofits, their missions, and growing pains puts Giampa in a perfect position to play matchmaker to organizations looking for volunteer leadership. Her own charity work and position as clerk of Bay State Savings Charitable Foundation empower her to link those in her network with causes that matter to them, and where they'd be best suited to make an impact. "We encourage our officers to be on at least one board," said Alden. "If they need help choosing one, they know to reach out to Diane. She knows the characteristics of each group and in most cases, knows how they function. She has a good feel for the pulse of the community." ese bonds take time, said Alden, and are the result of years of forging and maintaining relationships. "Without relationships with people, everything falls apart. Everything I do is about people," Giampa said, whether it is addressing human resources issues or helping to meet societal needs through serving one's community. Both, in their own way, benefit people in Central Massachusetts. W PHOTO | MATTHEW WRIGHT

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