JoAnn Neau

Head, Digital Channel Strategy, RBC Wealth Management and Director, Marketing & Communications – US Wealth Management
Wealth Management

As a successful business woman what are some of the challenges and/or opportunities you face in your career or line of business?

The biggest challenge I face is dealing with the scarcity of time. It’s not easy to juggle a career, a family of four, and a passion for community work. While I feel great about being a well-rounded person; I often find myself wishing I could give more to all aspects of my life or just take the time to have a cup of coffee and read a magazine. I have no wisdom to share on this one so I’m open if anyone has words of advice!

What’s been the greatest challenge of your career to date and how did you deal with it?

The biggest challenge in my career was making a bad job choice many years ago. I took an opportunity with a company for the wrong reasons and was profoundly unhappy in that job. Although it was a painful ordeal, in hindsight, I learned a lot about myself and what I wanted from a career, which helped me make better choices later. I realized that in a career, there will be bumps in the road, but it’s how you deal with them and what you learn from them that really matters.

What advice would you give a younger woman who is at the start of her career?

I’m often asked questions about how to build and develop a career and my advice is always . . . be thoughtful but don’t over think it. The decisions you make early in your career will shape your experience and ultimately bring you opportunities and career growth. So, being thoughtful about what you choose to do is very important to make sure you are growing in a direction that suits your skills and interests. But, you don’t need to over think it because if you choose things that you love and that give you energy, you’ll be rewarded in your career.

If you weren’t doing what you do now, what would you be doing instead?

Writing a blog with millions of followers

Tell us about a situation where you have contributed to your community – personal or professional. What impact did it have on others and yourself?

About six years ago, I was asked to represent RBC Wealth Management on the board of a local non-profit that the RBC Foundation–US supported for over 15 years. At the time I accepted the assignment to support the goals of our organization, but shortly after getting involved I realized that my involvement had a profound impact on me personally and professionally. Since then, I’ve chosen to be a part of several non-profits and industry associations because I get much more out of it than I put into it. I learned that being thoughtful about selecting opportunities of how I give back is a key to my personal and professional happiness.

Who has been the most inspiring woman in your own life and why?

My mother was the most inspiring woman I’ve ever known. Through her own actions, she showed me how to work hard, to love what you do, to be genuine and kind to others, and to prioritize that which matters most in your life. She showed me that life is precious and sometimes too short so you need to live for the moment with no regrets.