MY CAREER IN SIX SPOTLIGHT

MEREDITH SPATZ

 SVP, Strategic Accounts and Network Relationships

Fiserv

Sharing her career journey by answering the six questions below.

Who or what has been your biggest source of inspiration throughout your career?

The ultimate measure of success for me is the impact I have on people. I’m inspired when someone on my team gets a win, I’m inspired when a client is delighted, I’m inspired when a peer asks for advice. Seeing my work have a positive impact provides me purpose. I’ve also loved being part of the change to extend benefits to new parents. When I had kids, maternity leave was 12 weeks, and my partner didn’t have any time off. I love how far we’ve come. I’ve had supportive leaders who have not made me choose between my career and being a parent and I model that flexibility for the countless parents who have worked for me.

Would you say your success is primarily due to luck or hard work?

I know it isn’t really an answer, but I think it is a combination of both. For me, I’m lucky to have been born healthy, into a family that valued education and to have a decent gene pool. That said, I never thought I was good enough and recognized early on that I could get results when I put in the work. I wouldn’t have achieved A grades without studying and doing extra credit, and I wouldn’t have had a 90+% free throw percentage if I didn’t shoot 500 baskets every day after school. I’ve carried that discipline into my career, so I am ready when I get the ball.

What is the driving force behind your career aspirations?

I grew up with financial uncertainty. It created a lot of stress so it was important to me, at the time, to have a career that would eliminate my financial burden hence my first job in Investment Banking. At the time, I thought success and financial success were the same thing. What I very quicky learned is that you can’t be truly successful unless you are fulfilled. I tell the young people to follow their passions and the success will come. I’m now driven by the learning. Financial technology moves at warp speed so I am forced to keep up to remain relevant.

If given the chance to do one thing differently in your career, what would it be and why?

I would have trusted my voice sooner. For too many years I was concerned that my questions or insights would give others a reason to judge me. I stayed relatively quiet and only felt safe using my voice in small groups or 1:1s. About 10 years ago, a company career coach asked me “what is the worst that can happen when you speak up?” I don’t know why it was so freeing, but it was. Is everything I say worth others hearing? Absolutely not but it is better than never getting it out there.

What was your most favourite job/role and why?

Hands down being a mom to my three teenagers. Yes, even though they are teenagers, I’ve loved mostly every minute of it. My favorite thing is that I am learning and growing every day. I’m exposed to things I never would have sought out on my own. They love to sail, ski, and read Harry Potter – all things I have now done, and they fill up my heart and soul.

Do you have a favourite motto or quote that guides your professional life?

There are so many “ifs” in life. We can only control what we can control so don’t let the uncontrollable slow you down.