Carol Venn: Member Spotlight

A Pioneer of Faith, Perseverance, and Purpose

This month, we are honored to spotlight Carol Venn, a woman whose life story reflects courage, resilience,
and unwavering faith. Her journey—from a determined young swimmer in Detroit to a trailblazer in business and banking—reminds us what is possible when we follow God’s call with commitment and conviction.

Facing Barriers With Grit and Ingenuity
Carol’s time at IU was marked by both challenge and creativity:
• In a business law class, male classmates rigged their group meetings to take place in a non co-ed study
hall in the boys’ dorm, hoping she wouldn’t be able to attend.
• When she sought help from a professor, she was told, “You chose this career… go choose another one.”
• She once cried after failing a class, but she did not quit.

Her father offered a simple but brilliant strategy:
“What do guys like to do?” Carol answered, “Eat.” So, he gave her extra allowance to buy food for her male classmates. She gathered them at the student union before closing time, fed them, and—while they ate—she led the study project, organized tasks, and drove the work forward. It worked. Through every obstacle, Carol held onto her faith and her calling.

A Groundbreaking Career in Banking
Carol spent 28 years in banking, eventually being recruited by Bank One in Dallas and later serving as Vice President of Cash Management. In 2001, after being downsized, she made a bold decision: “If I owned a bank, I could be in control.”
She began raising capital—asking high-net-worth clients for $500,000 each. To receive authorization, she needed $6 million in seed money and approval from Ohio for insurance. It took time, persistence, and prayer, but she succeeded.
Carol built a diverse board representing construction, real estate, and multiple faith backgrounds—Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, and even atheist. She believed in people having “skin in the game,” and she invested her own funds as well.
Her bank operated for 25 years, until she sold it on May 1, 2025.

Lessons From a Trailblazer
Carol’s wisdom is rooted in lived experience:
• Have faith.
• Be organized.
• Be committed and follow through.
• Do not give up, even when you are the only one.

She double-majored in Business and Economics, with minors in Music (Flute) and Physical Education (Swimming), and later spent 20 years in healthcare sales. She worked 48 consecutive years, even after the passing of her husband, David, whom she met during Christmas break of her senior year.

Spiritual Roots That Sustained Her
During college, Carol often rode her bike to visit a local pastor for spiritual support. Those conversations grounded her through academic and social challenges.
Her father’s humor also stayed with her. When David told him, “She is my future wife,” her father replied: “She wants to be a CEO, not a Mrs.” A moment Carol still laughs about today.

A Legacy Younger Generations May Never Fully See
Carol sometimes feels sadness that younger women may not understand or appreciate the hard road of being a pioneer—what it costs, and what it can impact. But her story stands as a testament to perseverance and faithfulness in the face of barriers many will never encounter.