Thomas M. O'Brien '81MBA

Thomas M. O'Brien '81MBA is a veteran financial services leader with more than four decades of executive experience across major regional and national banks.  He served as Chairman, President & CEO of Sterling Bank & Trust and held top executive roles at Emigrant Bancorp, Sun Bancorp, State Bancorp, Atlantic Bank of New York, and North Side Savings Bank.  O’Brien is widely recognized for guiding financial institutions through transformation and growth.

Why did you choose Iona to pursue your MBA?  

I chose Iona for its ideal location, strong reputation, and exceptional faculty.

How did your MBA help you in your career?  

The MBA broadened my horizons and exposed me to some truly great professors. I even had to learn about computers as a condition of admission, which became an unexpected benefit. Altogether, the program expanded my knowledge and prepared me for the next stage of my career.

What is your advice for current students?  

Focus on what truly fascinates you — the things that challenge your mind and spark your curiosity. When you follow what genuinely interests you, you set yourself up for a fulfilling path forward.

What is your proudest professional achievement?

My proudest achievement is creating opportunities for my colleagues to get deeply involved in problem-solving and watching them grow in their skills and self-confidence. Seeing their development has been incredibly rewarding.

What is your fondest memory/favorite faculty member at Iona?  

Without question, the late Martin Zweig was an exceptional professor and an invaluable resource. Over the years, we became friends and colleagues — he was truly a Wall Street legend.  

What is your favorite movie, book, TV show or podcast?

The Power Broker Robert Moses and the Fall of New York by Robert Caro is my favorite book.

What do you feel are your secrets to success?

One key to my success is the ability to honestly assess the reasons behind failure.  I’ve also always made it a priority to recruit people who are much smarter than I am into management roles. I never want to be the smartest person in the room — that would scare.

Did you have a mentor/role model? If so, what impact did they have on your career?  

I lost several close friends on 9/11 and came close to losing my own life and that of my middle son. That experience forced me to reassess what is and isn’t important in life. In the end, character and reputation are what stay with you. Everything else is unimportant and will be forgotten with time.