From would-be senator to ‘accidental banker’

Black executive at U.S. Bank has one core mission: service By Darlene Donloe “U.S. Bank is anchored on a simple mission: We invest our hearts and minds to power human potential. We are anchored in the power and potential of communities.” Sekou Kaalund was not your typical toddler. While most boys his age were romping in playgrounds, splashing in watercolors, or dreaming of becoming a superhero, Kaalund was plotting his campaign for Congress. Sekou Kaalund “At age five, I was going to run for Senate to help make laws that would have a positive impact on poor communities,” Kaalund recalls with a laugh. “That’s where I started my life’s journey. I was anchored on a journey of impact. I wanted my life to have impact.” Kaalund did not run for Senate, but he figured out how to make an impact. His path toward politics veered when he realized that a leadership role in the private sector could be as impactful as being a senator. Turns out, he may have been right. Today, he is one of the highest-ranking Black executives at U.S. Bank, the nation’s fifth largest financial institution. As executive vice president and director of Branch and Small Business...