From South Africa to St. Louis: A Commerce team member's path to leadership and impact.
Samir Tayob, a senior vice president and managing trust counsel at Commerce Trust, appreciates what Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month represents. Not only does it offer an opportunity to share his story and talk about AAPI cultures, but it also reminds him of the values his family instilled in him.
“Those values — like being focused on education, hard work, and honesty — have always been a part of me,” Tayob says. “I think about what my parents endured and had to overcome, putting everything on the line so they could give my brothers and me a better shot in life. It puts day-to-day challenges in perspective, and it’s inspiring.”
Tayob’s parents are Indian and were both raised in South Africa during apartheid. Tayob himself was born in South Africa - but was raised in St. Louis. “By the time I was born, my parents had already decided to move to the U.S.,” he explains. “They moved here and never looked back. I’ve never done anything that courageous in my life. Sometimes if I’m struggling with something, I’ll think about how my father was forced to go overseas to Pakistan for his medical education and then to the U.S. for residency training, only to find that he couldn’t get a job as a doctor in South Africa all because of the color of his skin. Or I’ll think about how my uncle for that same reason wasn’t allowed access to the law library in Johannesburg during daylight hours when he was studying to become a lawyer. I draw strength from that.”
As a blend of Indian, South African and American cultures, Tayob appreciates his heritage. “When I was younger, I struggled with trying to understand who I was,” he says. “I eventually figured out I don’t have to pick — I can be all three. I’m a mix of east and west, and there are a lot of people just like me.”
Tayob’s father always impressed upon him the importance of learning, and that outlook carries over to his working style today. “My dad always said that nobody can take away your education,” he says. “He encouraged me to learn everything I can and share it with others, and I try to do that.
I learn, I ask lots of questions, and I try to build connections with people. That’s why I love to collaborate — it’s a great way to learn and solve problems together.”
Peggy Rowe, Commerce’s general counsel, says Tayob’s collaborative style is part of what makes him effective in his role. “He leads with collaboration and enjoys working together with others to address matters,” she says. “He’s a good listener and is always focused on using teamwork to reach solutions. It’s an approach that helps him build relationships, and it’s why he’s often seen as a go-to resource for problem solving.”
Tayob says that helping others is a core element of his role. “At the end of the day, it’s about helping all of us at Commerce to reach our goals,” he says. “I have a variety of risk-related responsibilities, and one of the best ways to describe my job is to say what it isn’t. And my job is not to just say no. Instead, I identify risks and make recommendations. I help to find solutions that encourage our growth in a responsible way.”
He also enjoys being a manager. “I want to make sure the members of my team are engaged and finding fulfillment in their work,” he adds. “That helps to ensure the team is providing consistent guidance to the groups we support.
Managing my team is very rewarding. It’s a great group of people who work well together, and we all learn from one another. It’s the best thing about my job.”
Outside of work, Tayob is very active in the community. He’s been involved with the Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis for more than 20 years, the last 10 of which have been spent on its board of directors. “Early in my career, some of my friends were on the Institute’s junior board, and they invited me to a fundraiser,” he explains. “I was pretty much hooked instantly. Once I learned about the school and what they do there, it felt like a magical place. I wanted to get involved right away.”
Much like he finds motivation from the challenges faced by his own family, Tayob is inspired by the students at the Institute. “The resilience of the children who go to school there, and the resilience of their parents, is amazing,” he says. “I am frequently thanked for being a board member, and it’s funny, because I feel like I should be the one saying thank you.”
Tayob’s dedication to his work, his team, and his community is a testament to the values his family instilled in him — values that continue to shape his perspective and drive his passion for making a difference. Whether he’s guiding his colleagues at Commerce Trust, mentoring his team, or supporting students at the Central Institute for the Deaf, he approaches every challenge with a mindset of learning, collaboration, and resilience.
For Tayob, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is not only a time to celebrate his cultural roots but also an opportunity to honor his predecessors. “In a way, I feel a responsibility to the members of my family who paved the way for me,” he says. “I want to use what I’ve been given because of the sacrifices of those before me. That’s a big part of what drives my positive energy and outlook today.”
Commerce Trust is a division of Commerce Bank.
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