Rona Rafal is a dynamic Shopper Assist Specialist and Advisor Assistant with iA Personal Wealth from Vancouver, British Columbia. She has constructed a profession centered round forming robust, long-lasting relationships, and her dedication to understanding her purchasers on a private degree has change into a pillar of her fame.
On this interview, Rona shares her secrets and techniques for turning her ardour for serving to folks right into a profession in finance, providing insights on how girls can empower themselves to construct careers they love.
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Q: Are you able to inform us a bit about your early profession and the way you developed your ardour for serving to others in customer support?
Rona Rafal: I’ve at all times had a pure potential to attach with folks, which I feel comes from genuinely having fun with these interactions and in search of them out. Whether or not it’s a easy dialog in regards to the climate, or a deeper dialogue about their wants, I like creating a private bond. My expertise in customer support and client-support roles throughout numerous sectors gave me the instruments to really perceive folks and tailor my strategy to satisfy their wants. Now, at iA Personal Wealth, I take advantage of a client-centered strategy, actually attending to know every particular person I work with. By constructing belief and understanding their monetary targets on a private degree, I will help help them in ways in which transcend simply numbers—it’s about serving to them really feel safe and assured about their future.
Q: Many ladies face self-doubt when turning their hobbies or passions right into a profession. Did you expertise that? How did you overcome it?
Rona Rafal: Oh for positive I’ve had self doubt! Who hasn’t? Once I determined to change into a full time wellness skilled and rework my love of make-up and styling right into a profession, there have been moments the place my confidence shook, the place I’d marvel if I may actually make it work, particularly with so many gifted folks already within the business. However these moments of doubt by no means lasted lengthy, as a result of deep down I knew I used to be good at what I did. Constructive suggestions from purchasers was an enormous confidence booster. Their belief in me was a reminder that I used to be on the proper path, and that helped me shake off any lingering doubts. I discovered to give attention to my strengths and let my ardour prepared the ground.
Q: Societal expectations usually restrict how girls pursue their skilled targets. Did you encounter any of those obstacles, and in that case, how did you navigate them?
Rona Rafal: Being a mother is tremendous vital to me and spending time with my daughter brings me a lot pleasure. However as a mother, and an expert, these two halves of my life have butted heads on just a few events. I’ve had experiences the place I felt that I wasn’t reduce out to be a full time working mother, the place it was difficult to seek out sufficient time to be there for my daughter and my purchasers equally. What helped me overcome my doubts and resolve these kinds of conflicts was a call to be clear. I’m open about my schedule and the place the road of labor and residential begin and cease. I be sure after I’m at work I’m absolutely tuned in and likewise, after I’m with my household that point takes priority over any stresses of the day. It’s not at all times so easy, however I really feel that exhibiting that degree of dedication to the totally different features of my life can be a consider my profitable fame.
Q: What recommendation would you give to girls who’re contemplating turning their hobbies or private passions into careers?
Rona Rafal: I’d say to belief your instincts and take that first step, even when it feels intimidating. Many ladies second-guess whether or not their ardour is ‘ok’ to construct a profession on, however the reality is if you happen to’re genuinely keen about one thing and it brings you pleasure, that enthusiasm will resonate with others. I attempted my hand within the Nonprofit realm as a result of I had a want to provide again to my group. I labored in a client-facing position within the household providers division of The Salvation Military. That was a very rewarding expertise, and as soon as once more, I favored the interactions, however on the time, it wasn’t the proper step for me professionally. I took my love of magnificence and wellness to the subsequent degree and labored at a magnificence salon for some time, however, wanting opening up my very own store, there wasn’t a lot room for development. That’s after I selected a profession within the monetary providers business, and inside that framework, discovered the perfect place for me as a consumer help specialist, contemplating my work historical past and my knack for fostering interpersonal relationships.
With something price doing, it received’t at all times be simple, so it’s vital to remain affected person and be keen to study and take bumps alongside the best way. You don’t must have the whole lot discovered earlier than you begin—simply start.
Q: How vital has group and mentorship been in your profession improvement? What position do you assume girls can play in supporting one another professionally?
Rona Rafal: I feel supporting girls is significant to our collective skilled development and that it’s a ravishing and highly effective expertise if you could find your village. All through my profession, I’ve been lucky sufficient to have robust, feminine, mentors in my nook. I bear in mind after I was simply beginning as a supervisor of a Tim Hortons franchise and the whole lot appeared so overwhelming, with a number of new duties on my shoulders alone to make sure my crew supplied the perfect service – but in addition there was strain to make sure that my workers felt supported and rewarded by the group. I reached out to a feminine buddy of mine who had been efficiently managing her franchise for a while at that time and requested her for recommendation on prioritizing competing wants and coping with excessive expectations. She gave me a number of the finest recommendation I’ve ever acquired – she stated “Nobody will bear in mind the precise particulars of on a regular basis with you, or if you happen to posted the shift schedule at precisely 9 am on the day you stated you’ll. However they may bear in mind the way you made them really feel. They are going to bear in mind if you happen to welcomed them with a smile, if you happen to took the time to essentially take heed to their considerations and if you happen to took motion afterwards to enhance their scenario. Attempt to depart a long-lasting constructive impression and the whole lot else will fall into place.”
Q: What’s one piece of recommendation you’ll give to girls who need to pursue their ardour however really feel held again?
Rona Rafal: Be daring, and I imply this in life and professionally. Willingness to take dangers is a attribute that I feel has usually been downplayed in girls, but when we will begin to embrace this outlook I actually imagine we’ll reap the advantages. Apply for a job you aren’t 100% positive of, step out of your consolation zone in a board assembly, volunteer to steer a committee – no matter you select to do, simply do it with full dedication and take an opportunity on your self.
