Tell us about yourself.
My name is Joanna Chan and I support the Interac Verified team with all things product marketing related. It is a unique role in that I report into the Product team and work closely with our awesome Marketing & Communications team. Outside of the office, I enjoy running, travelling and visits to the local library (TPL is such a fantastic and underrated organization!).
What makes Interac a unique place to work?
The people make Interac a unique place to work! I joined the Interac team recently in March and have been so impressed with how friendly and helpful people have been. It truly feels like people care about each other not only as co-workers but also as fellow humans.
I also think the Quiet Hours initiative here is amazing and so unique. At previous organizations, I often found myself in meetings all day and struggled to find working time. With Quiet Hours, I feel empowered to take the much needed time to thoughtfully think through feedback on marketing materials or analysis I’m working on.
With the recent launch of Interac Verified, what is your favourite part of being on this team?
I think I joined Interac and the team at the right time – the work for the Interac Verified launch was already underway when I joined but there is still exciting work to be done on how we position the suite and its messaging.
I have the pleasure of working with both the Product and Marketing & Communications teams to develop the messaging frameworks/positioning and marketing assets including webpages and video assets. On a day-to-day basis, I collaborate with the Marketing & Communications, Legal and Business Development teams and our external agency to align on our approach and execution.
In your opinion, why is it important that Interac recognizes and celebrates Asian Heritage month?
In 2021, a McKinsey Women in the Workplace study surveyed more than 400 large organizations across the United States and found that Asian Americans account for 9 percent of senior vice presidents but only 5 percent of promotions from senior vice president to C-suite. Asian American women make up less than 1 percent of these promotions.
I think when organizations recognize and celebrate Asian Heritage month (and other similar initiatives), it firstly shines a spotlight onto marginalized groups in the workforce and the gaps that exist (like the one above). Secondly, it is an opportunity for organizations to profile individuals and showcase who they are and their value-add – and as a marketer, I know change must start with driving awareness.
How do you connect with your Asian heritage in your daily life?
This might sound overly simple but the most important thing I do to stay connected is call my mom every day. We speak Cantonese together – practicing my first language is a great way to stay connected with my heritage. Additionally, getting dim sum in Chinatown helps me feel connected to my grandparents who had immigrated here and opened a store that was a staple in Chinatown for over 30 years.
Interac is committed to supporting small businesses across Canada. Are there any Asian-owned businesses that you would like to highlight?
A good friend of mine is the proprietor behind the small batch chili oil brand Da Jiujiu. Made with Sichuan peppercorn, kelp and shitake mushrooms, Da JiuJiu chili oil is a great condiment for traditional Chinese foods like dumplings and noodles, and even on western foods like pizza. The brand aims to help change the narrative and stigma around Asian food and enforce how Asian products can be premium products made with premium ingredients.
This year’s theme Asian Heritage month is “Stories of Determination”. What does that mean to you?
I immediately think of how hard my grandparents and parents worked to ensure there was food on the table and how much my parents sacrificed to put my sibling and I through school. Neither one of my parents had the opportunity to complete school so they had limited opportunities when they came to Canada – my mother’s first job here was at a toy factory where my dad had to help negotiate her pay to $7 an hour.
My own story is more so focused on navigating microaggressions as a young child and through my corporate career. Did you know that a 2017 University of Toronto study found that for every 100 calls received by applicants with Anglo names, applications with Asian names got only 72 calls? Today, I am part of a mentorship program through my alma mater, and I’m determined to help the next workforce generation navigate through the barriers that unfortunately still exist for racialized people within the workplace.
