From Refugee to President: A Story of Perseverance and Gratitude

Marta Codina was born in Cuba. She and her parents came to the United States as refugees in 1962, shortly after the Cuban revolution ended. A 39-year veteran of the financial services industry, Marta started her career as a teller during high school in Houston, Texas. She moved to Iowa in 1992 to join US Bank and worked there for 10 years, then joined Wells Fargo in 2001 working her way to her current position as Region Bank President for Wells Fargo Bank. A graduate of the University of Houston, she is a founding member and executive sponsor of the Wells Fargo Central Iowa Diversity and Inclusion Council. She is an active volunteer in the central Iowa community and serves on many nonprofit councils and committees. Mata's passion is around “making a difference” – primarily in the areas of early childhood development and diversity and inclusion.

"I am a Cuban Refugee – I am proud of my heritage and culture. I am also a proud American – I am thankful for the opportunities and blessings I have been afforded. Being Cuban s a bit of a mystery to people in the Midwest. My story is about about my parents, and their courage in giving up a comfortable life in their homeland to start over from nothing in a new country. They did that for me, and I am forever grateful. The sacrifices they made and the lessons I learned from them have helped me to achieve a level of success that I have never taken for granted."

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