Page 31 - CCCA 243725 Magazine_Winter 2015

{ FeatuRe }

In our book, Breaking Through: Tales from the Top Canadian
Women General Counsel, we focused on not only women lawyers
across Canada who moved into the general Counsel role but
also some who moved from general Counsel roles into senior
operating roles. We called this latter group our “Stepping Stones.”

now, in 2015, we are following up with some talented women
who have since become Stepping Stones. JennIFeR WaRRen
is one such example. When we interviewed her for the book in
2013, jennifer was Senior Vice President and general Counsel
of CIBC (Canada). In january 2014, she moved to new York to
become Managing Director – Head, U.S. region of CIBC.

the Move “CIBC took a chance on me,” recalls Jennifer. “I had not served
Jennifer started at CIBC in February 2006, a year before the frst in a CEO role previously. However, leadership had seen me in
rumblings of the global fnancial crisis. But, she notes, “out of motion during and after the crisis. I also had a track record of
every crisis comes opportunity.” leading a large legal group with some other accountabilities.”
Over the ensuing three years, Jennifer worked closely with
management across the bank’s capital markets business. She her previouS experience
gained broad exposure to senior leaders, helping them navigate “You have to be broadminded about your accountability,” says
industry changes and implement creative solutions. This en- Jennifer. Having worked alongside Ted Rogers for almost 10
abled her to demonstrate her broad understanding of business years as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Rog-
and operational issues, and add value beyond pure legal advice. ers Communications, she saw how the visionary and self-made
By the time the banking industry was emerging from the billionaire built his empire during a time of extreme change in
crisis, Jennifer had “developed an appetite for the business side the industry.
of the modern, technology-driven banking environment.” She Notwithstanding the tremendous learning opportunities
voiced her interest in a move into the business side of things with Jennifer had at Rogers, she had been contemplating a return
talent management executives and her direct legal bosses. Shortly to private practice. She was in her late 30s at the time and con-
after, a leadership role in the United States arose: the U.S. Region sulted a career coach. He ran her through a number of tests and
Head was stepping down to serve in another capacity with the said she was a suitable candidate for management but should
bank. This was the opportunity Jennifer was looking for. have picked up an MBA earlier in her career.
Her husband of 20 years was supportive of the move and, Unfazed, Jennifer was confdent in her commercial acumen
as she puts it, “all the stars aligned.” He joined a private equity based on her corporate experience frst at Blake, Cassels & Gray-
frm in New York while maintaining a part-time law practice in don LLP and then at Rogers. Her confdence was reinforced by
Toronto. They were both committed to this journey. her subsequent experience at CIBC, where she provided legal

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