CBIA BizCast: KeyBank Empowers Women

KeyBank market retail leader Elona Shape credits her mother for giving her a passion for helping women in business.

“I moved to the United States when I was 12 and a half years old,” Shape tells the CBIA BizCast. 

“My mom was one of the very few women during communism that was able to get educated and earned her bachelor’s degree in history and geography.

“She’s one of those women that continues to inspire me today, but really instilled the value of what women in business or women in leadership bring to the table.”

Key4Women

Shape is co-chair of KeyBank’s Key4Women program for Connecticut and Massachusetts.

“It’s a program that really helps our women entrepreneurs motivate, empower and advocate around the things that can help their businesses thrive,” she said.

Shape said that during COVID, a lot of women pivoted to starting their own businesses. 

“It’s a program that really helps our women entrepreneurs motivate, empower and advocate.”

KeyBank’s Elona Shape

She added it’s important that women get the support and guidance they need. 

“As women probably more than our male counterparts, you don’t typically go into a bank and say, ‘Hey, I need some advice, I’m starting this new business, this is my vision, this is my business plan, I really need your help,’” she said. 

Shape explained that a one of the program’s main features is bringing women together for networking events.

“It’s like the gift that keeps on giving, you kind of continue building up, and I love hearing their stories, because they’re so impactful,” she noted.

Empowering Women

Shape said supporting and empowering women in business is a big reason she joined KeyBank. 

“It’s exciting to see their own growth, year over year,” she said. 

“When women lead, incredible things happen!” As we near the end of #WomensHistoryMonth, we want to thank the record crowd who joined for our 2024 When Women Lead summit. We are grateful to the leaders who shared their personal experiences, insights, and perspectives. #WWL24 pic.twitter.com/4ea5fCpIEs

— CBIA (@CBIANews) March 27, 2024

“One of the things I always see, especially for women entrepreneurs, is that they love their business.”

KeyBank and Key4Women sponsored When Women Lead, CBIA’s annual women’s leadership summit March 20. 

“I love the work that we’ve done,” Shape said. “I think it’s really critical to keep building that up—to help elevate women-owned businesses is going to be critical.”

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