Who
Angela Santone, Chief People Officer at Regions Bank.
What
The annual awards highlight women who have established themselves as key leaders in their companies or organizations and have reached career pinnacles. The women were recognized at the annual Women’s Summit on Sept. 18.
Why
As Chief People Officer at Regions Bank, Angela Santone leads the Human Resources team and helps shape the company’s people strategy in support of the bank’s business goals. A member of the Executive Leadership Team, she joined Regions in 2025 with more than 20 years of Human Resources leadership experience.
Santone’s leadership is grounded in creating opportunities for associates to grow throughout their careers. Under her leadership, the team has expanded opportunities for professional development and internal career growth while helping prepare associates for the changing needs of the workplace. Through this work, Santone has remained focused on strengthening the associate experience and supporting a culture where all people can thrive.
Before joining Regions, Santone held leadership roles at Turner Broadcasting and AT&T, where she helped guide workforce and organizational initiatives during periods of significant change. Active in the community, she serves on the Florida State University Student Affairs Board and is a former member of the board of The Jed Foundation, supporting efforts focused on student wellbeing and mental health.
In Her Own Words
Throughout her career, Santone has embraced opportunities that pushed her beyond her comfort zone, an approach she credits with helping shape her leadership journey.
“I’ve tried to stay open to opportunities that stretched me, even when they felt a little uncomfortable,” Santone said. “The biggest driver of my growth has been a willingness to keep learning, raise my hand for new challenges, and trust that I didn’t need to have everything figured out before taking the next step.”
When asked about the most important quality in a leader, Santone pointed to self-awareness.
“Leadership starts with understanding your own strengths, blind spots and impact on others,” she said. “People don’t expect perfection from their leaders, but they do value authenticity, clarity and consistency.”
The biggest driver of my growth has been a willingness to keep learning, raise my hand for new challenges, and trust that I didn’t need to have everything figured out before taking the next step.
Angela Santone, Chief People Officer at Regions Bank
Reflecting on advice she would give her younger self, Santone encouraged people to embrace opportunities that challenge them and trust their own journey.
“Don’t put so much pressure on yourself to have everything figured out,” she said. “Lean into opportunities that challenge you, even when they make you nervous. Looking back, I’ve realized that the experiences I once thought made me different are actually what prepared me for the opportunities that came later.”
Careers at Regions: Empowered to Thrive
Associates are Regions’ most valuable asset. We are building the best team by empowering our associates to connect, belong, grow, achieve and thrive.
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