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From Navajo Reservation to Finance Degree to VP at Bank of America, Driven by Family, Mentorship, and Service: Meet Nate Lee
Join us as we celebrate the resilience, creativity, and enduring spirit of Native American and Alaska Native peoples. Together, let's work towards a future where Indigenous voices are heard, honored, and amplified.
Nate Lee is a Vice President at Bank of America Commercial Banking. He is responsible for leading a team of specialists focused on understanding each client's unique needs to deliver strategic financial guidance and solutions. Nate has over 17 years of experience in the banking industry and has served mid-sized companies throughout the U.S. Southwest area to support their commercial banking needs. He is a graduate of Fort Lewis College and New Mexico State University.
What is your personal/professional story?
My professional life is shaped by my exposure to small businesses and my Native American upbringing. Raised in an entrepreneurial environment, I grew up watching my father run an autobody and repair shop. I was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation, my ancestral homeland. I worked with my father in the shop, gaining valuable experience as a laborer and an office worker.
In high school, I was part of Business Professionals of America (BPA). I applied my two years of accounting knowledge to the Financial Analyst category. This was bolstered by my experience in bookkeeping and payroll for my father’s business. I competed in the BPA national competitions in my junior and senior years. For the first time in my life, I flew in an airplane, learned dining etiquette, and purchased dress clothes. While this may seem insignificant to some, it was a life-changing experience for a young person from the reservation. My experience at BPA Nationals convinced me that college was the path for me.
I earned a BA in Finance from Fort Lewis College and an MS in Economics from New Mexico State University. I credit my mentor, the late Claudine Riddle, for helping me secure my first job in commercial banking in Kansas City. I learned about Junior Achievement and continue to volunteer to this day. I eventually found my way home, and I am now working as a commercial banker in Albuquerque near my Navajo homeland. Following my banking career, I plan to run for Tribal Council to represent my people and continue to volunteer.
Where does your passion to serve come from?
Early in my life, I had seen the damage of substance abuse and addiction. I have witnessed the devastating impact it has had on my community. These experiences fortified my decision to live a principled life based on honesty, hope, faith, and service.
I draw strength from my passion to serve my communities, where many talented young people face adversity and simply need a second chance, a mentor, or a glimmer of hope.
What key moments in your life led you to where you are today?
I had mentioned above two key moments in my life — participating in the BPA student organization that opened my eyes, and my first mentor whose network led to my banking career. I also want to reemphasize the importance of my father’s business, which instilled in me the values of hard work and humility.
Lastly, my early life was filled with Navajo prayer and ceremony, taught by my mother and uncles, and I have come to rely on this faith today to walk in harmony, hózhó.
How can GlobalMindED help you realize your goals?
GlobalMindED can help me realize my goal of reaching first-generation college students of Native American backgrounds and other minority students from underserved communities who need mentors and role models. I want to continue to give back to my community by sharing my experiences and knowledge gained through personal and professional successes and failures.
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