Humor, humility and honesty with bank executive and podcast host Owen LaFave

June 4, 2026

Owen LaFave has been with The Bank of Tampa for 13 years and in the banking industry for more than 20 years. He also hosts The Bank of Tampa’s The Money Market Podcast. On this episode, Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Owen talked about how he got into banking, his key leadership lessons — they revolve around the three Hs: humor, humility and honesty — and why being a dependable leader matters to him, a lot. And listen for how Owen became known as the “banker with sign” guy.

3 Takeaways

(08:50) Employees come first
(15:10) Leaders need humility, honesty, and humor
(15:45) You don’t always need to have the answer

Timestamps

(00:00) Introducing Owen LaFave, Pinellas County Market President, The Bank of Tampa
(05:30) What did you learn about leadership from team sports?
(06:10) Owen’s career path
(08:50) The Bank’s leadership philosophy
(10:25) Creation of “Banker with Sign”
(13:15) The success of The Money Market Podcast
(15:10) Leadership characteristics
(15:45) Leadership lessons you wish you knew
(16:30) How do you help employees make a decision?
(18:15) How do you lead with certainty?
(19:45) Best leadership advice
(22:30) Bank of Tampa in 2026

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