From $8B to $38B: The Leadership Discipline Behind Remarkable Growth with John Asbury

In this episode of Better Experiences by Design, Susan Quinn sits down with John Asbury, CEO of Atlantic Union Bank, to explore what it takes to transform a regional bank into a high-performing challenger brand in a rapidly consolidating industry.When John joined the bank in 2016, it faced a defining choice: grow with intention or be acquired. Instead of playing it safe, John and his board pursued what he calls “escape velocity” — scaling strategically to compete with large national banks while preserving the responsiveness of a community institution.But strategy alone doesn’t sustain growth. Culture does.Better Experiences by Design is a podcast series produced by circle S studio that highlights leaders across a variety of industries dedicated to delivering exceptional brand, employee, and client experiences. © circle S studio, 2026.