Jean Brinkmann

Jean Brinkmann is energized by helping clients identify and pursue rich, rewarding opportunities. After serving more than 30 years as an executive at global financial institutions, Jean now draws from her wealth of knowledge and experience as a Project You Advisor, helping college students explore, identify, and pursue rich and rewarding opportunities. Having taken on new assignments more than 15 times in her career, she offers her unique insights and her top-notch people skills to help students build confidence, create a competitive edge, and ultimately realize there is no better risk than taking a risk on yourself.  

Throughout her career, Jean has been a change agent serving in client-centered roles. She was with Bank of America for more than 25 years, during which she led the Midwest and California Middle Market Regions. She was also Chief Operating Officer for Bank of America’s private and commercial banking businesses. Jean then joined RBC Bank (USA), where she headed the commercial markets organization through the bank’s acquisition by PNC and continued on as a corporate banking executive. 

Beyond her corporate work, Jean has shared her skills to positively impact several not-for-profits. She currently serves on the board and chairs the grants committee of the Women’s Impact Fund of Charlotte, NC. She is a tutor with the Augustine Literacy Project and has volunteered for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district. She has also served on multiple boards: for Hospice and Palliative Care in the Charlotte Region—a charity with special significance to Jean, because of her family’s experience with Hospice—and for the Los Angeles Sports Council, the San Francisco Business Arts Council, and the Executive Committee and board of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.