MY CAREER IN SIX SPOTLIGHT

JENNIFER MA

Director, Scene Products and Portfolio

Scotiabank

Sharing her career journey by answering the six questions below.

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

My parents both took the leap to come to a new country and start their own businesses. As their lives evolved, so did their careers—and they eventually stepped away from those businesses to embrace new opportunities. Their resilience in navigating through change has shaped how I approach my own career.

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

Luck brought me incredible leaders, mentors, and sponsors who recognized my potential, but it was hard work and dedication that transformed that potential into progress.

What is the driving force behind your career aspirations?

I’m driven by a desire to be continuously challenged and intellectually engaged.

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

A career is a long journey, and I’m enjoying the ride. Every experience has taught me something valuable about myself and what I’m capable of achieving. I wouldn’t change a thing.

What was your most favourite job/role and why?

My first internship at BBDO on the account management team. It’s where I developed many of the foundational skills that still serve me today, and it sparked my appreciation for work that leads to tangible, real-world results.

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

Everything happens for a reason; sometimes it just takes time to understand why. I try to remind myself of this whenever I face an obstacle in my career growth.