Leadership isn’t always about making the final decision or seizing the reins, says Judson Snyder, regional president of BMO Wealth Management and BMO’s senior executive for Southeast Wisconsin. Instead, being a strong leader is often about finding and developing other leaders in your organization, Snyder said.
“And then, often, it’s about getting out of their way and empowering them to make decisions and lead,” Snyder said. “There are some decisions a leader must have the courage to make themselves, but more and more, leaders need to be confident enough to set the direction and then allow and empower their teams to execute.”
BMO, where Snyder has worked for the last 28 years, is the eighth largest financial institution in North America in terms of assets. “We provide personal and commercial banking, wealth management and investment services to more than 12 million customers,” the company said. “We’re proud to be fueling progress for individuals, families and businesses across North America.”
Under Snyder’s leadership, BMO’s Equipment Finance practice grew from a regional mid-market business to a national practice portfolio over a 10-year period, from $500 million to $2.4 billion. During this period, Snyder also led BMO’s entry into Equipment Finance in Canada. In 2015, he was part of the team that led BMO’s acquisition of BMO Transportation Finance from GE Capital, resulting in a significant new business for BMO.
In his role in wealth management, Snyder oversees the strategic development and delivery of BMO’s personal wealth management platform to high-net-worth individuals, families and organizations, including closely held and family owned businesses, endowments and foundations throughout Wisconsin, Minnesota and Colorado.
Snyder has provided commencement remarks at both high school and college graduation events for the Boys & Girls Clubs and is an annual speaker at various United Way events. He is also an active mentor in the Boys & Girls Clubs Graduation Plus program, often working with first-generation college students to provide career mentoring. Snyder also serves on multiple nonprofit boards in the Milwaukee community, including United Way, Boys & Girls Clubs, Teach for America and Froedtert Health Systems.
“The biggest difference a leader can make is to have a positive impact on their clients, their employees and their community,” Snyder said. “I will continue to remain deeply engaged in mentoring, coaching and supporting people across both our company and our community. I also will continue to serve through nonprofit board leadership and advocacy toward a more equitable and sustainable future for all of our Wisconsin communities.”
