Kathy Cureton

The first day at a new job is always exciting, but for Kathy Cureton, VP Compliance Consultant, it meant following in the family legacy. When she joined Northern Trust in 1997, Kathy became a third-generation Northern Trust employee.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Kathy’s grandmother, Isabelle Brown, and her mother, Denise Cohn, were both Northern Trust employees before her. “One of my favorite memories is walking through the doors of Northern Trust and knowing that I was a third generation in my family,” Kathy shared.

Working in the HR Service Center when she started at Northern Trust gave Kathy the unexpected opportunity to connect with her grandmother’s former manager. Isabelle had worked in the mailroom. “He remembered her and asked how she was doing. That was a great memory,” she said.

Kathy’s mother worked at Northern Trust as a teller before the family moved to California. After joining Northern Trust, Kathy met a partner who had worked as a teller with Denise. “She remembered me because my mother was pregnant with me,” said Kathy. “So, you can say I was born here at Northern Trust.”

Quarter Century of Service

Over the past 25 years at Northern Trust, Kathy has built her own legacy. She was recently inducted into the Quarter Century Club (QCC) honoring employees who have contributed 25 years of dedicated service to the company, clients and colleagues. This year’s class inducted nearly 200 partners into the QCC with more than 2,000 members in total.

Kathy has worked in several business units throughout her career, spending time in HR, Investment Management and in the Global Family Office before joining Compliance. The resources available to her and the relationships she has made have kept Kathy at Northern Trust. “I find the opportunity is right here. If you take the time to connect with people, your colleagues are willing to help you navigate your career and assist with determining the next role.”

The More Things Change

One shift that Kathy has appreciated in recent years is an increased investment in diversity and inclusion. “Diversity is very important. We all must get along and just be respectful of one another,” she said. “If someone is an introvert and you see their potential, encourage them. Maybe they need that little push from someone who sees their potential.”

What has stayed the same? “Northern Trust has a strong culture, and I can say that has not changed. We truly care about our clients. Our coworkers feel like family. When you let people into your life, it feels good to come to work."