LaRae Orullian - Infinite Women

Born: 13 May 1933, United States
Died: NA
Country most active: United States
Also known as: Bessie or B. LaRae Orullian

American banker and executive Bessie LaRae Orullian also served as First Vice Chair of the World Board (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) and as National President and Chair of the Girl Scouts of the USA.
Hired as a secretary at Guaranty Bank in Denver, she wanted to become a bank officer – a job reserved for men at the time. She spent 14 years attending night school and earning three certificates from the American Banker’s Society, then studied real estate finance at Ohio State University Graduate School of Banking. Returning to Guaranty Bank, she quickly moved up the ranks, including training new bank presidents and repeatedly serving as acting president until she finally asked the board president why he didn’t just give her the job. He responded that Denver wasn’t ready for a woman bank president, and she didn’t have grey hair. Although she eventually reached the status of vice president, she was still forced to make coffee for the male board directors. She would later become vice chairman of the Guaranty Bank board of directors, among other board positions she held. She was also part of The Velvet Hammer, a Denver women’s group whose members would ask male CEOs why there were no women on their boards, then give those men resumes of qualified women.
Orullian was the founding president and CEO of the Women’s Bank of Denver from 1977 until 1997, the second women’s bank in the U.S. to receive a national charter. At the time, many banks would not allow women to take out loans without a husband’s co-signing. Within the first three months, the Women’s Bank of Denver accepted $12 million in deposits, and made its initial investment back within its first 10 months.