Stunning stories of leadership and twitter

 By @okieprof

Stunning. I've run out of adjectives and superlatives to tell the stories @JillCastilla, president and CEO of @CitizensEdmond in Edmond, and other speakers in #clarkclass, but that word comes close, especially for her.
She brings a refreshing can-do attitude based on hard work, honesty and humility, "owning her own story," as she puts it. 
Right before Christmas break was the third time she's spoken to my unique Twitter for Media class at UCO, #clarkclass, and every session she brings something new and inspiring. In the intense eight-day winter intersession class of 27 mostly graduating seniors, she becomes a vibrant and positive role model for success, especially to my 22 female students. 

Citizens just opened its tradition-breaking "You've-never-seen-a-bank-lobby-like-this" downtown that exemplifies what she and her team have accomplished in turning a back around in just seven short years, much of which was accomplished through social media. She's built a national reputation and garnered national awards and honors for her work in community banking--and advises others on the use of social media in business.

You can read about previous visits at these two links: Vibrant Influence  ;  Creativity from adversity
Her  marketing director, Ann Chen, @AnnJ_Chen accompanies her, running the visual and live tweeting during our class. 
@okieprof's comment: I can't type fast enough on my little phone to keep up with Jill's constant stream of advice and wisdom. Then it takes this old journalist time to decipher notes and process. I just know our students, our program, our university is blessed to have her as a friend. 
Oh, the group shot at the top of my page, and below, was Jill's idea two times ago. It's become a tradition, as this class explodes in possibilities, thanks to her, our other speakers, and our great students.
What follows are some of our students debriefing comments after Jill left,  recorded by @johngardener358.

• Creativity can’t happen in a no fail environment
• When you shine the light on others it will come back to you.
• Doesn’t matter where you get your degree from as long as you apply it.
• Find out what your weaknesses are, own those weaknesses and learn how to make them your strengths
• If you handle convicts with machetes and chainsaws, you can handle the Fed.(Her personal experience)
• If you do good, you’ll do well as a result
• CEO should be accessible and accountable
• Cherish the times that you struggle in darkness that’s where the greatest light comes from
• I’m not going to die if I fail
• I am a pro at feeling insecure
• Being in the Army was almost shameful time in my life , but ultimately what landed me my dream job
• Start owning your story ; there’s a lot of strength there
• Shows CEO is involved when response personally
• #clarkclass is one of the most relevant classes that you can take in college
• Your changes in life can often can be your incentive to change
• Started from the bottom to the top
• Moving to a small town she didn’t know anyone and social media created that intimacy with people you just met.

The esteem of my students showed in their own hashtag, #chillwithjill. Here are a few of the students' live tweets during class:

• @JillCastilla can take 33 credit hours in a semester, and I can barley manage 12 credit hours in semester. #Goals #ClarkClass @UCO_MCOM
• "Your challenges in life can often be your incentive to change." -@JillCastilla @UCO_MCOM #clarkclass
• "Character is built in the valley" -@JillCastilla #clarkclass @UCO_MCOM
• Cherish the times that you struggle in darkness, because that's where the greatest light comes from. @JillCastilla @UCO_MCOM #clarkclass
• As a leader in your community, your community is your product. @JillCastilla #clarkclass @UCO_MCOM
• If I had to describe @JillCastilla in one word it would be RESILIENT. #clarkclass @UCO_MCOM
• "It doesn't matter where you get your degree from; it's about the hard work and dedication you put in" -@JillCastilla #girlboss #clarkclass
• If I worked hard and paid attention I could do just as well or better than they did." -@JillCastillia #clarkclass
• Social media can help individuals make connections in new environments and with new people. -@JillCastilla #clarkclass
• If I worked hard and paid attention I could do just as well or better than they did.-@JillCastillia #clarkclass
• "My community is my product in many ways ... you are able to showcase it." -@JillCastilla @UCO_MCOM #clarkclass
• “Social media is going to be woven into any pursuit that you have.” - @JillCastilla #clarkclass @UCO_MCOM

#clarkclass 7.0--Twitter for Media, UCO Mass Comm, & @JillCastilla, center, & @Okieprof, far left

Creativity comes from adversity--life lessons and twitter

@JillCastilla of @CitizensEdmond with newest version of #clarkclass

@Okieprof

Jill Castilla, vibrant president and CEO of Citizens Bank in Edmond, brought her experiences and passion for success and community to the UCO Twitter for Media class, #clarkclass, yesterday.

In an hour and a half session, she told of turning around a bank in crisis in 2009 to the success it is today. She and it are nationally recognized, much of it due to the use of twitter and other social media. The bank has more than 30,000 followers in social media.

She was named “Most Admired CEOs in Oklahoma", “Most Innovative CEOs in Banking”, "Community Banker of the Year" and "Most Powerful Women in Banking" in 2015

She joined twitter in one day after hearing about it at a national conference. Now she and her bank are models of its use; she speaks at conferences around the country, and via Skpe, internationally, about its use and community banking. 

"Owning our story," Jill Castilla with Ann Chen at right

Of course there's more to the story, and the one theme that stood out was  how adversity spurs creativity and courage. There was no PR gloss coating of what the bank had been through from Jill. "We own our story," she says, speaking frankly of its travails and those in  her own life.

Now as Edmond's smallest, and oldest, and only community bank, it sponsors the wildly popular @HeardonHurd music and food festival once a month, donates $50,000 a year to Edmond Public Schools (more than any other much bigger bank in Edmond), and is rejuvenating downtown Edmond including it's renovation of  the original building.

She was assisted yesterday by her chief marketing officer, Ann Chen, who she convinced to come to Edmond after meeting her in Washington D.C.

After each speaker, the class debriefs, and here is a compilation of student comments, noted by @AshleyNapier21.

@JillCastilla Debrief

• Quick bank turnaround is impressive and  social media was a key.
• A little bank received lots of recognition and anyone can do it.
• Jill took it upon herself for all of her social media efforts. She didn’t have anyone else do it.
• She likes to read about people dealing with failure rather than uplifting information.
• She didn’t quit and had many reasons to quit, but never did. Her fearlessness equated to much success for her, her bank, and her community.
• She experienced many trials and it never stopped her. She kept going.
• HeardOnHurd is not profitable, but is done anyway to build value in the community.
• She isn’t all about the bank. She is all about the bank AND the community and she is using social media to back that up.
• Her framework for social media  is GAP (Genuine, Accurate, Positive)
• Evoke Coffee, built goodwill by letting them use CBEdmond’s internet.
• She got banned on Twitter, rebuilt a bank, and didn’t let that stop her.
• She is a positive influence on a personal level.
• She is personally invested in her bank and community because of her mom and stepdad. That made her self-reliant and achieve greatness.
• She is self-taught in social media.
• She doesn’t think she is creative, but really is and has found how to be productive. Not only is she creative, she has created long-term success.
• She has held every position in the bank. It helps her to be able to relate to many different positions and people.
• Failure is an option.
• She is trustworthy because she is so open about her problems.
• She is relatable and has given us permission to be ourselves. Seeing a female in a position of power is motivating.
• Twitter is more than a tool, it is a way of life. 

Student comments before class about the class:

• Past students have changed. Is this class a cult? What is in store for our class and what can we expect to change after we finish this class?
• When you retweet things it makes people feel special and feel like they think they are doing something special.
• Twitter is different on a computer than it is on a phone.

Vibrant influence in media and community

@okieprof

Jill Castilla is the vibrant president and CEO of Citizens Bank in Edmond, this year named one of the top three community bankers in the country. 
 She spoke to my Twitter for Media class in late December, opening --perhaps boggling--  our minds to the changing and growing influence of twitter in business. 

Jill Castilla engaged the class every minute.

She readily agreed to speak to the twitter class, and enthralled students for an hour and a half with her comments, conversation, stories and advice. 
 Returning to Edmond in 2009, she became an immediate force in the community, and has become a model for using "social" media in business. Castilla received the Woman of the Year award by the Edmond Chamber of Commerce and was named by Independent Community Bankers Association as a top social media influencer.
She's used twitter to help the bank actively become involved in Edmond, saying it helps her learn about the audience, engage in the customer base and community.

@JillCastilla introduced by @okieprof

Best example is how she and the bank are the sponsors of the wildly successful food truck-music event, "Heard on Hurd," promoted by social media.
And as with many of our speakers, much of her advice had to do with far more than just social media, but life success. 
Called an important role model by other faculty in our department, her influence was palpable among the female majority (22 students, six men) in the class. She says only two percent of the country's banks are led by women, and she is determined not to "look" like a banker. Most of these students will graduate in May, so they got valuable advice into their futures.
It's significant to me that this laid back class coined a hashtag for her and the class, #chillwithjill.
Hint, you can get a lot of these comments on twitter by hitting #clarkclass.
(All of this should have been posted much earlier. The fault all belongs to @okieprof. Sorry.)
Here are some of her comments, with the help of @cassjack12:

• You have permission to be different
• Twitter is a way to engage your customer base and community
• Own who you are
• Social media rewards that--when you are transparent you can connect
• It helps you be accessible and grounded
• "Your ego is not your amigo."
• Think about the greater good
• "A lot of social media is just listening."
• It helps you know what is needed in your community
• It's all about listening to the community.
• "Put the fertilizer in, plant the seed, make sure there's water and see how it grows"--Heard on Hurd
• Don't over plan, let it happen
• It's not about Citizens--more about fostering community events, helping revitalize downtown Edmond.
• Be an advocate and a catalyst for making something better.
• "If you do good, you'll do well."
• Social media allows faster growth
• GAP--be absolutely Genuine, Authentic, Positive.
• Follow the light, blog negativity 
• Be humble and accessible
• If you are just saying things on social media for yourself, don't say it
• Make sure others benefit
• You have greater authenticity when people are talking about you on social media rather than you promoting yourself
• "Elevate where you're at."
• If you take a general interest in others, rewards will be there.
• Millennials want to be in a social cause, they're inclined to make a difference.
• "Community banking is compassionate capitalism"
•  Want to use social media, don't think of it as a necessary evil.

Student debriefing comments

• It's not always about money, do what you enjoy 
• know when to say no to ensure the authenticity of what you do 
•  it's all about listening to the community
• whether they need help or just want to communicate/learn 
• be consistent in what you say and what you do
• keep your ego out of it
• build community through small businesses
• don’t complain all the time 
• elevate the people around you and what you do
• keep your faith, keep goingbe inspiring, uplifting
• embrace and show difference
• use favorites more than retweets
• if people aren’t responding think about what you’re retweeting
• if people aren’t buying your newspaper, rethink what you’re writing