Life Lessons in Resilience and Adaptability help Chief Credit Officer Misako Stewart lead With Strength and Confidence
At a young age, Misako Stewart quickly learned the art of adaptability; a skill that has served her well throughout her career and life, in general.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, Stewart’s family moved to Toronto, Canada, when she was just a toddler. She would return to Japan nearly a decade later, but not before learning a valuable lesson in inclusion and belonging. “I don’t have many memories of that first move,” recalls Stewart, “but I vividly remember feeling out of place. My sister and I stood out; we were the only non-English speakers at school and our lunches were so different from everyone else’s. The Japanese foods that are cool now weren’t so cool then.” That was her first lesson in resilience and adaptability.
Her second lesson came a few years later when the family would move one final time from Japan to the Bay Area where she attended an all-girls Catholic high school.
Stewart attended UC Santa Barbara where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics. “I chose a path that would provide a good future. I was analytical, liked numbers, and was good at math. Pursuing a degree in business economics was the logical choice for me.” Unsure what lay ahead, Stewart applied at big banks, accounting firms, and investment banks after graduation. It was an 18-month commercial banking training program at Union Bank that caught her attention.
After working nearly eight years as a commercial banking lender and portfolio manager, Stewart took the adventure of a lifetime: a one-year hiatus traveling through Asia. “I always planned on taking time off to travel,” she says. “What I didn’t plan on was meeting my future husband toward the end of my trip, extending it by two more years, and exploring the world with him.” Together, the pair traveled throughout Australia, India, Nepal, Laos, Malaysia, and Indonesia, to name a few.
Saying goodbye to her now-husband who returned to his native England was the hardest part of the trip. Again, she found herself leaning on adaptability and spontaneity. After a year-long, long distance courtship, the two found themselves—on a whim—eloping in Vegas. They have been married for 24 years, share two college-aged children, and have two dogs.
Upon her return, Stewart restarted her career at Comerica Bank where she served as relationship manager and credit administrator for a combined 13 years before joining Bank of Marin in 2013 as commercial banking manager. Five years later, she was named senior credit manager and, in 2021, was promoted to chief credit officer. “I’m fortunate to have had an extremely rewarding and gratifying career and am grateful for all the opportunities and to all the people who have been part of my journey,” says Stewart.
While reflecting on her more than three decade-long career, it’s the last four years—”the most unpredictable years in her career,” according to Stewart—that stand out. “No one could have fully prepared for everything we faced: a pandemic, a banking crisis, and the impact of rising interest rates. Yet, my team did a phenomenal job of collaborating with our colleagues in commercial banking, remaining focused on our mission, and delivering nothing short of excellence,” says Stewart who leads a team of about 35. “I appreciate their resilience and how hard they worked during some of the most unprecedented times.”
Resilience and adaptability have been guiding themes throughout Stewart’s life, shaping her approach to both personal and professional challenges. As chief credit officer, she draws on these qualities daily, leading with strength and a forward-looking perspective that empowers her team and supports the Bank’s commitment to its customers and the community.
