John Ward
Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing & Product Officer
American Savings Bank
John Ward is a Mentor Hawaii Cohort 10 mentor. Learn more about the program here.
About John
John Ward is Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing & Product Officer at American Savings Bank (ASB).
John has more than 20 years of experience in digital strategy and marketing, business development and product management in financial services and technology.
Prior to joining ASB, he held executive-level positions at digital marketing agency iQuanti Inc; Sallie Mae, the nation’s leading student loan company; and First Union National Bank, where he oversaw online banking. John also served as Chief Marketing Officer and President of Upromise, helping millions of families save for college, and Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President of IDT Corp.
John has mentored and developed future leaders and entrepreneurs by leveraging his financial and technical background and is passionate about increasing the next generation’s participation in STEM-related fields.
He is an engineering graduate of the University of Nebraska and holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Question and Answer with John
What is your preferred communication style when mentoring (in-person, video conference, phone, informal check-ins, structured meetings, etc.)?
Mostly video with a couple in person and pau hana or two 😊
Why do you want to become a mentor in this program?
I had great mentors earlier in my career now it’s my turn.
What specific skills, knowledge or experience can you share with your mentee?
35 years of experience in finance, tech, and digital.
What are your expectations for a mentor-mentee relationship?
Open, honest and flexible.
How do you approach problem-solving and conflict resolution?
I dive in, I usually see conflict as an opportunity.
How do you envision success for your mentee, and how will you measure it during the program?
My last 2 mentees were (are) awesome and it gives me joy to see them grow and soar. Both had significant job changes during our mentorship (just coincidence), but was helpful to have someone truly on the outside and unbiased to hear what is going on and give perspective. We’ll start with discussion on what they want to achieve and brainstorm how I can help. Sometimes I’ve found just being there, listening and sometimes advising is unpredictable and just happens.
