We recognize and celebrate brave female leaders. The women we are featuring in our Brave Women Leaders blog demonstrate resiliency, bravery, and the ability to radiate their light brightly. They have gifts to share with the world and take tiny steps of bravery each day to share them with the world.
It is my honour to introduce you to Jordana Pourian. Jordana is the SVP Operations and Chief of Staff at Aritiza. She is a Board Director for One Girl Can, Business in Vancouver Forty Under 40, mother of two and extraordinary human.
What does bravery mean to you?
To me, it means being completely open and self-aware, admitting when you need to learn and grow. That’s the hardest thing, being open to feedback and doing something about it.
What is one of the bravest things you have ever done?
Very early on in my career, I held a job at a major consulting firm, what I thought was my dream job. I got the role after being selected from 600 university candidates, I couldn’t have been more excited and proud of my accomplishment. My father spent his entire career in consulting and ultimately became CEO of the same firm he started as an analyst in, naturally, I thought I would follow suit – I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I spent a couple of years working there and over time came to realize that I was not a culture fit and that it wasn’t going anywhere. I can’t tell you how disappointed I felt when the day came that my two peers were promoted to consultant and I wasn’t.
Fast forward six months. One day I got lucky and I met someone who worked at Aritzia. I submitted my resume and was called in to meet with their head of IT and now President, Jennifer Wong. When the offer came, I was reluctant – walking away from my dream career, but I had to do something to get back on track. So, after some negotiating, I accepted the role. Within a week, I knew I was in the right place, I was navigating the business as if it was my own home. It felt like home then and it still feels like home today.
While this was years ago now, it still sits with me. The idea that without self-awareness, and the courage to change, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
What benefits have come from leaning into bravery?
I’ve become more whole. I know myself better, I’m learning every day, and I’m growing – what more can you ask for?
