Courtney Taylor ’11

Courtney Taylor began her career as a disaster housing case manager and served communities affected by Hurricane Ike. She credits this professional opportunity as a building block for her career and educational pursuits. “This position taught me how social service agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the affordable housing sector operated.”

Ms. Taylor chose TWU for its Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) program because of the university’s strong reputation for a high-quality education, flexible course options, and affordable tuition. It was through her research and conversations with alumni that moved Ms. Taylor to confidently choose TWU. 

Now serving as the Vice President and Community Development Officer at Veritex Community Bank, Ms. Taylor is putting the knowledge-base she developed at TWU to work and leading groups of employee volunteers. As an extrovert, she enjoys working with collaborators to create opportunities that lead to the development of stronger communities. For example, she has organized a number of projects focusing on hunger, affordable housing, and financial literacy. “Knowing that I had some type of impact on a life is a feeling like no other.”

I believe communication and flexibility are essential for effective leadership. In leadership roles, we work with many individuals and experience different personalities and working styles, so having a diverse toolkit of communication methods is essential.”

Ms. Taylor’s dedication to community development efforts and nonprofit organizations inspired us to ask her about how she defines leadership. She shared, “I believe communication and flexibility are essential for effective leadership. In leadership roles, we work with many individuals and experience different personalities and working styles, so having a diverse toolkit of communication methods is essential.” She also emphasized that flexibility and relationship building are important factors to thriving professionally. Relationships can take you to new heights and open doors that you may not have realized were there.

When she is not developing programming and partnering with local organizations, Ms. Taylor is trying new foods! The COVID-19 pandemic has limited her ability to “professionally brunch,” but she has been creative in the kitchen with her own at-home dishes.

What advice would this leader give as you prepare for your next steps after TWU?

“Be yourself. Take chances. Have an open mind.”

Page last updated 1:26 PM, July 26, 2022