Careers

Interview written and conducted by Anne Orr,  Former Campus Talent Attraction Lead - Enterprise Functions and Strategy

Daniel, is a fantastic student who is working on the Scotiabank Hockey Sponsorships team this semester. He is having an incredible experience in this unique role! He’s currently working on a few awesome initiatives, projects, and campaigns that any hockey fanatic would love.

Intrigued? Keep reading!

Anne: I know a bit about what you do and where you are working, but give me the details about yourself and your time at the Bank.

Daniel: Well, I’m a fourth-year business student at Wilfrid Laurier University, and here at Scotiabank I work as the Marketing Coordinator for the Hockey Sponsorship team. I grew up in a hockey family and have always had a passion for the game, so when I first heard about this job I knew I needed to work here! Previously I had never really thought about a career in sponsorship, especially for a bank, but since working in this role, I have a greater appreciation for the amazing projects and campaigns the sponsorship team executes. 

Anne: So, which hockey team do you support…that’s the question!

Daniel: (*Daniel laughs*) My favourite NHL team is the Calgary Flames actually… and in my first week on the job I had a call with the Flames – so right from the beginning,  I knew this job was going to be just as great as I had imagined!

Anne: What is a day in the life like for someone who might be considering this role?

Daniel: I guess there is no typical day but I have had a blast because of that! In my previous co-ops, I would support my direct supervisor within a specific part of our marketing department, whereas in this role I get to work on all facets of our hockey portfolio. This has allowed me to have a greater understanding of our overall impact. Everyone on the team is so friendly and tries to involve me in as many things as possible, so each week I could be working on a different facet of hockey sponsorship.

For example, Luca and Matt work on the digital/social and community hockey side of the hockey sponsorships portfolio. Luca works on promoting and showcasing our involvement within the kid’s community through our social and digital platforms. Matt leads our Hometown Hockey activation, which is essentially a hockey festival that travels across over 25 cities in Canada to celebrate the game of hockey and its ability to bring communities together. I have also been given the responsibility of helping to manage our activation at an upcoming tour stop in Aurora, which involves coordinating our activations such as alumni signings, our ball hockey rink activation and various other things going on at the festival. The other side of the hockey portfolio I get to work on has to do with our partnerships elements such as working with our five partner NHL teams (Toronto Maple LeafsMontréal CanadiensCalgary FlamesEdmonton Oilers, and Winnipeg Jets). I’m apart of weekly status calls with each of these teams, and I find this a really interesting part of the job as each team partnership is different, so there’s an opportunity to leverage each partnership in a unique way!

Anne: Do you ever visit the Scotiabank Arena with your role?

Daniel: Yeah, absolutely. I first visited the Scotiabank Arena when I helped with the planning for the launch of the arena and the start of the Leafs season. When I was there doing the walkthrough preparing for the home opener, I was amazed at the transformation that had occurred in such a short time. It was quite an interesting experience planning for our various Leafs home opener activations such as giveaways, on-site brand ambassadors, and the integration of our kid’s community hockey players. This integration occurred when one of our kid’s community hockey teams got to drop the puck at the beginning of the game, and after they did this, I was lucky enough to get to watch the home opener (as long as I watched over our kid’s community hockey team during the game)! I think the addition of the Scotiabank Arena to our hockey portfolio will really pay off in the long run, especially if the Leafs get to  raise the cup there!

Anne: What has really stood out to you during your time here at the Bank?

Daniel: What has really stood out to me is how young and passionate the team is. I can really see and feel the passion that this team has for their jobs, and it’s so clear that everyone is trying to reach one unanimous goal. Another thing that has stood out to me is the culture; our team makes a conscious effort to socialize outside of the office. The team really gels well together and I think this stems from the entire team enjoying each other’s company and wanting to foster relationships with one another, which as co-op is quite valuable.

Anne: You’re working in an Ecosystem as well, right? How is that in terms of shaping your experience?

Daniel: It’s awesome! It’s a new space and an open environment where I can sit next to anyone I like and it gives me the opportunity to pick people’s brains, even if they aren’t on my team. In the beginning, I did find it difficult to adjust from the standard office environment, but after a couple of weeks, it became quite natural for me to be moving around the office depending on the type of work I need to complete.

Anne: Based on the few months you’ve been with us so far, how would you sum up Scotiabank in just 3 words?

Daniel:

  1. Exciting – There are so many great projects and various marketing assets that Scotiabank has to utilize and we are relatively flexible in terms of how we execute in order to meet the overall objectives of projects and campaigns.
  2. Welcoming – Right from the get-go I felt as though I was part of the team, and it’s been like this ever since! I’ve been able to go on coffee chats with both my team and colleagues on other teams. The one common thread between all of these chats has been how they could help me make the most out of my 4-month co-op. The culture here is awesome and I really appreciate how much the Bank fosters mentor and mentee culture. It’s so valuable!
  3. (*Daniel thinks about it for a while…!*) Motivated – People are constantly doing more than what their job description entails. There is a focus on learning and employees are encouraged to learn something outside of their comfort zone and really work towards something. I’m constantly encouraged, and feel comfortable, putting my hand up for different opportunities. I’m always invited to sit in on various meetings to understand more about what Scotiabank is involved with.

Anne: The role is fantastic and gives you so much great exposure! How is it different from what you initially expected? 

Daniel: At first, I had a high expectation of what the role was going to be like before I went into it! I didn’t want to let myself down, but the role has surpassed all of my expectations! I hadn’t originally expected the sheer scope of hockey assets and programs Scotiabank has in its portfolio. I’ve learned that we really touch hockey from the grassroots level all the way through to the NHL. I also hadn’t expected to meet so many great new people outside of my team. In previous co-ops it felt like I was isolated to my own department, but I think it’s really important to see what others are doing in different roles at the Bank!

 

Anne: So tell me… what are your thoughts on going back to school (or joining the workforce) after your co-op placement here with us?

Daniel: Well, I’m actually going to Paris for 4 months on exchange, so I’m really excited to live in a new city and be able to travel Europe every weekend! I’m really going to miss the ability to work on so many cool projects, but I’m excited to travel and learn through immersion in a new culture!

Anne: What piece of advice would you share with an incoming co-op student?

Daniel: Meet as many students and employees as possible! Go into any role with an open mind and give it your all as time flies! Hit the ground running from the beginning and try to get involved in as many projects as possible to make the most of your experience. People are extremely approachable so don’t be afraid to reach out to individuals of any level! Also, I think incoming co-op students should use their placement as a learning opportunity but also as an opportunity to contribute to their team.

Anne: Who is the coolest person you’ve met for coffee with during your time at the Bank?

Daniel: When I first started at Scotiabank, my manager Luca suggested that one of the best ways to learn things that you otherwise wouldn’t is to grab coffees with people who are more senior in their careers. So I made this a focus of mine. I’ve had some fantastic coffee chats, but the two most interesting coffee chats I’ve had would have to be with Clinton Braganza & Jim Tobin. Clinton was very approachable, and it was interesting to hear his approach to Scotiabank’s long-term marketing strategy. It was extremely valuable to get his advice and insights into what he did in order to reach senior leadership. Jim Tobin and I also had a great chat. I learned about Scotiabank’s exciting football strategy in Latin America, where they are engaging with sports fans in Latin America similar to how we are in Canada. I have always been a fan of soccer/football growing up, so it was really great to hear about all of the interesting football programs and projects that the Bank is involved with around the world!

Anne: What do you think you’ll miss the most about Scotiabank and your awesome role?

Daniel: Obviously I’m going to miss the great team that I’ve gotten to work with, but I’m also going to miss getting to contribute on all of the exciting hockey campaigns and projects we execute! Additionally, I’m going to miss all of the connections that you get exposed to a Scotiabank, since it is such a large organization with ties to various organizations. There are not many jobs out there like this one, so I feel fortunate for the many valuable experiences and learnings that I will be able to walk away with after this fantastic work term.

Interested in learning more about co-op/internship or new grad programs at the Bank? Learn more here.