Behind every thriving community of women entrepreneurs are powerful partnerships driving connection, confidence and access, and the collaboration between NAWBO and KeyBank’s Key4Women program is a shining example. Together, we’re breaking down barriers and building bridges for women-owned businesses across the country.
KeyBank—one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services institutions headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio—launched Key4Women in 2005 to support women in business in meeting their professional and financial goals through advocacy, connections and empowerment. Two decades later, the program has grown into a dynamic community of more than 11,000 members across 27 markets in 14 states and even internationally.
At the national level, NAWBO’s relationship with KeyBank has opened doors for expanded programming, visibility and resources. In fact, KeyBank and the Key4Women program are a proud sponsor of the NAWBO Institute’s Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) and Minority Women’s Business Enterprise (MWBE) Certification program that gives customers confidence that they’re buying from a legitimate woman-owned business.
At the heart of that connection is Vanity Bryant, Key4Women’s national program manager. Vanity’s journey with KeyBank began in the retail branch segment five-and-a-half years ago, but her passion for uplifting women in business led her to co-chair the Key4Women program in the Connecticut/Massachusetts region.
“That role gave me the opportunity to get out into the community, attend and host events and connect with businesswomen and it caught on like wildfire,” Vanity says. “Soon, women were coming up to me constantly asking, ‘How do I get involved?’”
Today, she shapes the vision and roadmap for Key4Women nationally from her home base in Cincinnati. “This initiative has allowed me to evolve personally and professionally,” she reflects. “As I learned more about the barriers women face, from access to capital to lack of networks, I knew I had to be part of the solution.” That meant going to bat for women, connecting them to certification opportunities and resources and building a stronger ecosystem around them.
As the Key4Women program celebrates its 20th anniversary, Vanity is energized by how it’s grown internally and externally. “More KeyBank teammates than ever are stepping up to get involved, and more organizations are reaching out to collaborate,” she shares. “There’s power in numbers, and we’ve made a lot of our offerings accessible at no cost, from national webinars to local forums. We want to break down the barriers that too often stand in the way of success.”
That commitment to showing up in meaningful ways also plays out at the local level, thanks to leaders like Erin Ressa, Key4Women’s Columbus market co-chair and business banking relationship manager. Erin has been a passionate NAWBO advocate since 2019, when KeyBank became a NAWBO Columbus corporate partner and Erin joined the chapter’s Membership Committee.
“NAWBO is a phenomenal organization,” says Erin. “We’re a corporate sponsor, and I’ve built incredible relationships with the chapter board and members.” In fact, she has been involved in creative event collaborations like the popular Women, Wisdom and Wine series.
When Erin stepped into a leadership role with Key4Women, she helped forge even deeper ties between the organizations even during the time of COVID. “We moved everything online for a while, but after the world reopened, attendance skyrocketed at our joint events,” she says. “Now we have male allies attending, too—we call them the NAWBROS!”
As a branch manager, Erin frequently introduced women business owners to both NAWBO and Key4Women. “I told them: Your banker should be just as important as your CPA or attorney. Having a trusted partner who’s proactive about resources, from SBA lending to cash flow strategies, can make all the difference.”
One year, at least 10 of Erin’s branch clients became NAWBO members. “I’d invite them to a NAWBO lunch to check it out,” she shares, “and introduce them to the roundtables to help with their growth and so that they could meet and speak with people who understood the journey.”
Erin beams when recalling one success story. “One woman I introduced to NAWBO told me it changed her life. She’s now chairing the Columbus chapter’s Public Policy Committee and running for local office.” That’s the ripple effect of a strong network.
Together, Vanity and Erin are helping to bring KeyBank’s mission to life, not just through financial solutions, but also by creating safe, supportive spaces where women entrepreneurs can thrive. For NAWBO members, tapping into Key4Women is simple and transformative.
“Our missions are so aligned,” says Vanity. “From free webinars to personalized banking support and pathways to certification, we’re here to help you grow.”
Explore everything Key4Women has to offer and join a growing community committed to your success. Sign up here.