Spotlight On: Leila Tooley, Market Executive, Wells Fargo

Key points:

• • Wells Fargo is pairing AI with relationship banking to support Tampa Bay’s growth.
• • Businesses are investing in expansion, technology, and talent despite ongoing challenges.
• • The bank is expanding its community impact through workforce and financial education initiatives.

July 2026 — In an interview with Invest:, Leila Tooley, market executive for Wells Fargo, discussed Tampa Bay’s relationship-driven business environment, the impact of technology on commercial banking, and the importance of developing talent. “My goal is to lead the team into this tech and AI-enabled age while keeping our top priority of being a relationship-driven business,” Tooley said.

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What have been your key priorities during your first months in this role?

Stepping into this Florida Gulf Coast market executive role is a really exciting chapter for me. In my prior role, I led originations across Florida, working closely with our bankers and partners to drive new client relationships and stay connected to the pulse of businesses across the state.

That experience gave me a broad perspective on Florida and a deep appreciation for how dynamic and fast-growing it is. Now, as market executive for West Florida, I’m focused on leading Wells Fargo’s commercial banking presence in the Tampa Bay region.

It’s a market I know well and care deeply about, as it’s where I’ve lived and worked my entire career. We have a strong team, culture, and approach to serving clients. My goal is to lead the team into this tech and AI-enabled age while keeping our top priority of being a relationship-driven business.

How would you describe Tampa Bay’s business environment?

There’s an aura around Tampa Bay right now. We are fielding inquiries from people all over the country asking about opportunities in our market. Nationwide, people are attracted to the beaches, quality of life, business friendly climate, goldilocks size, and a diversified economy. But rapid growth also creates pressure points. Despite some concerns around housing affordability, the speed of infrastructure investment, and the competition for talent we continue to see companies investing in growth because they’re confident in the region’s long-term future.  

How are Wells Fargo’s relationships with businesses evolving as the region grows?

As Tampa Bay continues to grow, we’re growing alongside it. We’re expanding our commercial banking team to support both the companies that have long called this market home and the many businesses choosing to invest here. We’re also adding specialized bankers in sectors where industry expertise matters, such as healthcare. Last year, we created a dedicated healthcare banking role covering healthcare companies throughout Florida, and that banker is based in our Tampa office. It’s a reflection of both the opportunities we’re seeing in this market and the increasingly sophisticated needs of our clients. 

How are technology and AI shaping commercial banking?

We are still a relationship business. We leverage AI to help our bankers show up prepared, more informed, and ultimately more valuable to clients. Our clients rely on us to help them operate efficiently. The innovation on the product side is tremendous. One example is treasury services that use technology and AI to bring a company’s payments into a single intelligent system that automatically matches invoices to payments in seconds and reduces manual work. 

What trends are shaping commercial banking and middle-market finance?

One of the biggest trends shaping commercial banking in Tampa Bay right now is the return of confidence around growth and investment. While interest rates remain higher than the ultra-low levels we experienced several years ago, businesses have largely adjusted to the current environment. Many CEOs and CFOs are no longer waiting on the sidelines for significant rate cuts – they’re moving forward with strategic investments, acquisitions, equipment purchases, and expansion plans because demand and growth opportunities are there.

We’re also seeing a more active capital markets environment. Companies that postponed transactions during periods of uncertainty are revisiting those opportunities, and lenders are competing to support well-positioned businesses with strong fundamentals.

The other trend that continues to accelerate is technology and AI adoption. Those conversations come up regularly with business owners and finance leaders across virtually every industry. Companies are evaluating how technology can drive efficiency, improve decision-making, strengthen risk management, and enhance customer experience. While we’re still in the early stages of understanding AI’s full potential, there’s a growing recognition that these tools will become an important source of competitive advantage. The companies that are thoughtfully investing today are positioning themselves well for the future.

In a growth market like Tampa Bay, those trends are especially impactful because businesses are balancing rapid expansion with the need to scale efficiently. Access to capital, talent, and technology are increasingly interconnected, and that’s shaping many of the strategic decisions we’re seeing from our clients.

What challenges are companies facing in the current economic environment?

Cost pressure is certainly one. Companies adapted to tariff impacts by broadening their supply chain relationships and determining whether to pass through costs or absorb more of those cost increases themselves. Some of that has stabilized, and clients are increasingly focused on investments in technology and AI, cybersecurity, and cost pressure. Those three issues come up often, along with an extremely competitive landscape to attract and retain talent.

What is your leadership philosophy when it comes to developing talent?

We have a formal talent development path called the Early Talent Program that guides college students through a four-year rotational program. It teaches the technical foundations of financial analysis paired with exposure to real-world client problem solving. Beyond that, I personally am focused on removing obstacles, coaching rather than pushing through KPIs, and creating conditions that allow the team to perform at their highest level.

What are Wells Fargo’s priorities when it comes to supporting local communities?

This matters to me not just professionally, but personally. I sit on the board of an organization called Starting Right Now, which helps break the cycle of poverty for homeless, unaccompanied youth. My husband and I have mentored several of those students, and my focus at the Board level is to expand our reach beyond Tampa Bay to the rest of Florida and nationally.

From a Wells Fargo perspective, we’ve supported University Area CDC’s Invest to Advance program, which helps provide financial education and resources to low-income residents transitioning to stable housing. That may mean helping them save for a down payment on their first home or having enough to cover first and last month’s rent and a deposit for safer rental options. The program aligns with our pillars around financial opportunity, housing access, and affordability.

We’re also excited about funding for St. Petersburg College. We provided funding for immersive personal finance simulation technology for students and scholarship opportunities. It will be incorporated into SPC’s personal finance course, with Wells Fargo branding and real-world banking scenarios that provide practical experiences for students. In addition, 100 students each year will receive $500 scholarships for completing the program successfully.

We’re also proud to support organizations like the Centre for Women’s Business Center and the University of South Florida’s Small Business Development Center. Each of these groups does tremendous work offering business training and technical assistance to local entrepreneurs.

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