Tanya Mimms graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1993, looked around at Northwest Arkansas, and decided she wasn't leaving. Back then, most people had to. There weren't a lot of jobs. The first people willing to take a chance on her were a car dealership. She got a job. She stayed in finance. And she never looked back.

Now she's the Fayetteville Community President at First National Bank of NWA, a role created specifically for her, overseeing lending, retail, marketing, business development, HR, and as she puts it, sometimes cleaning and buying toilet paper. Because that's what leadership actually looks like.

In this episode, Sami sits down with Tanya to talk about 30-plus years of building a career and a life in one community, what she learned in the seasons that felt impossible, and the question she asks herself when everything gets overwhelming. In this episode, we get into:

• How she ended up in finance completely by accident and why she never left
• The advice she gives herself and others when the enormity of something feels impossible: what's the next right thing?
• What she learned early in her career about women supporting women, and how she sees that changing
• Why she says yes to uncomfortable things, including this podcast
• Her take on the glass ceiling, and why she'd rather talk about solutions than problems

Tanya talks about the early days when there were women around her who had fought hard to get where they were and didn't feel generous about sharing what they knew. She talks about how different it feels now, and about the men who stepped up to mentor her when other women didn't. She's honest about all of it without being bitter about any of it.

She also makes a case that is worth writing down: if your employer isn't investing in your growth, invest in yourself. The library is free. There are successful women in NWA who will give you their time if you ask. The resources exist. The question is whether you're willing to use your off time to grow.

The Women of All Generations event is June 16, 2026, 3 to 6 PM at the Fayetteville Town Center. Grab your tickets at fayettevillear.com/woag.

Mentioned in this episode:

• First National Bank of NWA: fnbnwa.com
• Fayetteville Public Library (free resources for career development)
• Arkansas Fair Housing Commission (Tanya serves as commissioner)
• Women of All Generations event: fayettevillear.com/woag

Connect with Tanya:

• First National Bank of NWA: fnbnwa.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tanya-mims-a0338a34

Mentioned in this episode:

Women of All Generations | June 16, 2026

The Women of All Generations event is almost here. Join us June 16, 2026 from 3 to 6 PM at the Fayetteville Town Center for an afternoon of real conversation, connection, and celebration. Tickets and sponsorships are available now. You belong in that room. Grab your spot at fayettevillear.com/woag.