True modernization requires steady leadership and the ability to adapt as conditions shift. Erin Weissinger, VP of Digital Solutions at Peoples Bank, has built her career from the teller line to digital strategy, shaping how her bank approaches technology-driven processes with clarity, discipline, and operational agility.
In this conversation with Fortimize COO Vicky Smith, Erin reflects on her experience in the Salesforce ecosystem, managing scope, supporting teams, responding quickly to economic shifts, and how her team is strengthening its data model before expanding into AI.
EARLY FOUNDATIONS
From the Teller Line to Salesforce Admin
Erin’s career began on the teller line, where she saw how systems shape daily work and customer experience. Grounded by her farm-raised work ethic, she credits a former leader who encouraged her to explore new roles within the bank, opportunities that ultimately led her to the Salesforce implementation and reshaped her career.
In Erin’s Words:
- “I like to say I’m an accidental banker. What started as a summer job turned into a career.”
- “When our bank implemented Salesforce, that’s when everything clicked and a discovered my passion for solving complex challenges with technology.”
Takeaway:Top leaders earn the right to improve systems by first understanding how work actually happens on the front line, then giving their teams the guidance, trust, and space to evolve it.
COLLABORATION
Prioritizing Clear Communication
Erin has seen banking leadership become more collaborative and connected, strengthened by strong professional networks, including the growing representation of women in banking and technology.
That leadership evolution shows up in how she manages large-scale initiatives like dealer and trust onboarding: defining scope early, encouraging shared ownership, and reframing out-of-scope requests.
In Erin’s Words:
- “I think that there’s a lot of power in the way that women collaborate and the way that they listen.”
- “Ground yourself to the project goal. We can only accomplish a finite amount of things in this project, so there will be times that we need to have pushback and this isn’t going to fit in scope. And we defined that well from the start.
Takeaway: When teams communicate openly, own outcomes together, and stay grounded with the project goal, complex change becomes manageable.
BUILDING SOLUTIONS THAT STICK
Engage Early. Decide Together.
User adoption improves when teams are involved during the build, not just at training. Erin values partners who bring structured options, outline trade-offs, and collaborate on design decisions.
In Erin’s Words:
- “Engaging end users early by having them hands-on throughout sprints helped them see what they truly wanted once the solution took shape, because when you’re building something new, needs inevitably evolve.”
- “I like to say about three or four different ways to do just about anything in Salesforce, which is wonderful and terrible all at the same time.”
Takeaway: Engage users early, demand clarity on options and trade-offs, and treat design as a shared responsibility; that’s how adoption sticks.
THE NEXT ERA OF BANKING
Data First. AI Thoughtfully.
Looking ahead, Erin is energized by how Salesforce’s evolving object model and flexible hierarchies are reshaping the way banks structure and access portfolio data. As data foundations strengthen, she sees a powerful opportunity in putting the right information in front of the right people.
In Erin’s Words:
- “I think the power of the tools to get information into the right places and to be making those data-driven decisions is really critical.”
- “How can we then use AI to make that individual’s job easier? I think that’s going to be something that we’re going to take a little bit slower path on and dip our toes into.”
Takeaway: Get the data model right, deliver the right information to the right person, and let AI act as the lens, not the replacement.
BUILD THE RIGHT TABLE
Growth Comes from Perspective
Erin’s advice to the next generation of women in banking is simple: build a strong network. Surround yourself with peers who challenge your thinking, offer different perspectives, and push conversations beyond easy agreement.
In Erin’s Words:
- “Build your network. Find those peers you can debate ideas with and grow alongside.”
- “You don’t want to surround yourself with people who just agree — different perspectives create the best solutions.”
Takeaway: The best leaders surround themselves with perspective, not agreement.
RESPONDING IN REAL TIME
Agility as Salesforce Strategy
As conditions shift — from tariff impacts to new commercial priorities — Erin relies on Salesforce to respond quickly. Targeted updates can be deployed in days, giving leadership real-time visibility and reinforcing an iterative approach over large, rigid projects. With strong partner support, ideas move quickly from concept to clear, informed decisions.
In Erin’s Words:
- “Salesforce lets us be nimble. We were able to put those changes out in a week, communicate to the team, and leadership could immediately see the impact.”
- “I may have a concept that I think would work, but I don’t always have time to build the proof of concept. Having a partner who can outline the pros and cons and give me a clear summary helps me make informed decisions quickly.”
Takeaway: Agility isn’t just about tools, it’s about building a model that adapts with the business.
Good Leadership Stays Practical
Across every theme, Erin’s approach remains steady: build strong data foundations, involve the right people, and adopt new capabilities in ways that genuinely make work easier.
As banking continues to evolve, that practical lens is what turns innovation into impact. We’re grateful to Erin Weissinger and the Peoples Bank team for sharing their perspective.
To learn how Peoples Bank translated Customer 360 from concept into operational data that teams actually use, connect with us. We’re happy to share behind-the-scenes insights tailored to your institution’s structure and goals.
