An Interview of Mentor Jay Blury by Protégé Lauren Riley
February 23, 2014
Lauren Riley
Jay Blury
Vice President of Marketing, Northrim Bank
Where are you from and how did you decide to pursue a career in Alaska?
[ I'm ] originally from interior Alaska and moved to Anchorage [ when I was ] 19. [ I've ] always preferred working for Alaskan companies and [ have ] strong ties to the state.
What did you study in college and was it an easy choice?
[ I ] began [ my ] studies at University of Alaska Fairbanks as a business major and ultimately graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a journalism degree. During [ my ] time as an undergrad, [ I ] wrote for UAA’s literary magazine and The Northern Light and also hosted several radio shows at UAA and UAF.
What is your current position? How would you describe your path to your current position? Did you have anyone you relied on for mentorship/solid career advice?
[ I'm ] the Vice President of Marketing at Northrim Bank. After graduating college, [ I ] found a job in journalism as a calendar editor and also wrote articles for the entertainment section. [ I ] soon learned that financially it would be difficult to make a living in that industry and moved into an entry level position at Nerland Agency (now Spawn). Through several jobs in marketing management, sales and production, [ I ] learned that [ I ] was most interested in coordinating marketing projects and teams. When an old boss offered [ me ] a marketing position at Northrim, [ I ] took it and [ have ] been there for nine years.
When did you know you would be a leader?
[ I ] first felt a passion for leadership when [ I was ] hired [ at ] Northrim. Before [ my ] promotion to Vice President of Marketing, [ I ] saw that being truly engaged and involved made a difference in the overall success of [ my ] team. [ I ] received the President’s Award and was invited to the corporate retreat. Soon after, [ I ] was offered the promotion to [ my ] current position.
Was/Is there ever a time when you felt/feel discouraged by obstacles? How did you/do you address that?
[ I find ] it most difficult to be a leader when [ my ] team isn’t particularly motivated or engaged in an initiative. [ I ] learned to take a step back and learn what motivates each person as an individual to get the best out of everyone.
It is important and beneficial for CBPP and Anchorage’s business community to collaborate and invest in the next generation of leaders. What do you think should be conveyed to our next generation of leaders?
Yes. Leadership skills are what will propel CBPP’s graduates’ careers and help them on a day to day basis. When someone is a good leader they are able to facilitate those around them to achieve more and this will help the overall Anchorage business community excel in the future.