Jyotsna “Jo” Heckman was raised in a close-knit family of Indian descent. Her parents emigrated to the US from India in 1975 to make a better life for her and her two siblings. With the exception of two years where she lived in different parts of the state, Heckman has lived in Fairbanks for 47 years.

Her father Dr. Banarsi Lal set high expectations for her, preparing her for a career as a doctor. But early in her academic journey she decided to forge her own path in business despite strong family pressure to do otherwise.  She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Business Administration from University of Alaska, Fairbanks.

She started working in banking after graduating from UAF and has never worked in any other industry. She started at the very bottom, as a management trainee. Her tenure in banking encompasses three decades, she enjoyed every aspect of her engagement in the banking industry.

Her father counseled her that she would be subject to two kinds of challenges, being a woman in business and being an Indian American. He advocated that Heckman would have to work twice as hard as anyone else to overcome the two challenges. Hard work, strong work ethics, and continuous work in advancing knowledge, teamwork and strong people skills would be necessary to succeed. She understood that and went to work. Heckman exemplifies those values to this day. She set the example of professionalism as a woman and as a banker in management roles.

In the 1970-80’s’s era, when Heckman’s banking career began, women still had difficulty getting their own bank accounts, credit cards and financing. In the banking industry, women were largely working in entry level positions. Today women easily represent over 70-80 percent of banking leadership. She helped chart that course for young women today entering the banking field.

Heckman has helped the role of women in banking by encouraging them to aspire to hold senior level positions in the bank. Gender was irrelevant; however, the knowledge and skill set was important. She created opportunities for continuing education.

Heckman developed a reputation as a servant leader and continues to this day in mentoring others.

Heckman is a community and a state leader. From her early years in Fairbanks, she has invested her time and energy in making the community and the state of Alaska a better place to live. She has been active in improving the business climate, and in promoting community development, philanthropy, and education.

Heckman was honored as Distinguished Alum by the University of Alaska Alumni Association in 2006. Shortly after that, she was chosen Business Leader of the Year by UAF School of Management in 2008 and her philanthropic work through the bank garnered the bank Outstanding Small Business Philanthropy Award in 2009 from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She has served on the board of the University of Alaska’s Foundation. She has co- chaired the United Way Campaign in Interior Alaska. She is one of a very few people who have received both the Farthest North Girl Scouts Woman of Distinction 2004 and the Midnight Sun Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen award in 2018.

Heckman’s focus on education has been lifelong. In 2011, she was appointed by Governor Sean Parnell to the Board of Regents of the University of Alaska for an eight-year term, where she served as Chair for two of those eight years.

Heckman actually never set out to be a role model or elevate any one group or person. She believes before you can be anything, you must be a good person, a collaborator, and a good listener. She believes that hard work, dedication and continuous improvement of oneself and of one’s knowledge is essential for a person’s success. However, she also believes that her position as a female CEO of a financial institution, has brought visibility to her success and has inspired women to also work hard to achieve senior level positions, not only in banking but in all industries.

Food is such a basic and necessary ingredient to all Alaskans and as 95% of our food comes from outside Alaska, Heckman believes, it’s imperative that we do something to reduce dependency and grow our own. Recently she has launched an advocacy effort to bring awareness to food security issues in Interior Alaska and work towards sustainability in food production and food storage.  Her work has highlighted the farmers and growers that are involved in these efforts. She shares the journey of farmers and those engaged in food security, via her podcast, Jo’s Table Alaska.

Heckman is close to her family and especially to her two sons. She often states that she learns so much from her sons. Both her sons were born and raised in Fairbanks and make it their home. Both her sons are career professionals. Heckman’s husband Steve Heckman is a retired State Trooper who post-retirement, taught Junior and Senior High School for 16 years. He volunteers in Fairbanks with Rotary, Fairbanks Retired Teachers Association and Alaska Peace Officers Association.