Cool Careers - Regional Director (Canada) and Entrepreneur

Interview with Jennifer Krueger:  Regional Director, Global Corporate Challenge, Toronto, ON

1.  How would you describe what you do? 

 As the Regional Director for Global Corporate Challenge (GCC) and the Global Children’s Challenge in Canada, I am responsible for all operations of the business.  I inform companies and schools about the GCC, help them register, and support their employees in this fun initiative. Essentially I am the “Chief Ticket Seller” in Canada for the best healthy workplace event in the world. 

2.  How did you get started?

After choosing to leave the workforce for two years to focus on family, I spent the time thinking about exactly what I wanted from a job and a career.  With that knowledge, I was able to target positions of interest.  I found this job by replying to a posting on Monster.

3.  What do you like and dislike about what you do?

This job combines everything that I believe in.  It’s fun, healthy and focused on making the world a better place.  I have freedom and flexibility to make my own hours, and running the Canadian business ensures that I learn something new every day.  My success depends entirely on how hard I work. I work with an incredible group of people across the globe. 

That same freedom and flexibility of running a business comes with intense responsibility. I don’t know what I don’t know.  The same thing I love about what I do- my success depends on how hard I work-can also be what I dislike at times!

4.  How do you make money/or how are you compensated? 

I bill a set fee to the Global Corporate Challenge on a monthly basis and earn commissions and percentages based on business performance.

5.  What education or skills are needed to do this? 

Traditional sales skills are most important to inform new organizations about the GCC.  We must be able to speak to several levels within an organization.  First I discuss the financial benefits of the program with the CFO, VP of HR and other executives, as well as how this fits into their Health and Wellness programs, and/or their Corporate Social Responsibility.  We then work with Team Captains and employees to get involved.

6.  What is most challenging about what you do?

The biggest challenge is typical: that work-life balance. I always want to spend more time doing what I need to do to see the business grow, but sometimes my expectations are not realistic to still be able to focus on my family. 

The other challenge is finding the right person within an organization who has enough enthusiasm and professional clout to lobby for involvement in the GCC.   We provide independent research to support involvement and investment in the program, and we have a 94% return rate. However, sometimes dealing with closed minds is frustrating and denies a whole company a real opportunity to have fun. 

7.  What is most rewarding? 

I love the “dropped jaw” effect in a meeting after I’ve presented, and the boardroom “gets” that our program is as good as it sounds!  Watching companies realize as teams register that this is the most popular event that Human Resources/Health & Wellness has ever put on is very rewarding.  I also love hearing about the buzz in offices during the event when everyone is wearing a pedometer: that the GCC was the most talked about topic at the water cooler is amazing.  End-of-Event presentations can be very emotional when participants share how the GCC has changed their lives for the better.  

8.  What advice would you offer someone considering this career?

I’m not sure how I would offer advice. It’s a pretty specific thing that I do. It’s not one “career:” it’s a mix of a sales career and a health and wellness/HR career. It’s a combination of the sales skills and belief in the product.   One thing that is very important is energy: have the energy to be a chameleon to focus on that in which individuals or companies are interested, but stay true to yourself all the time. 

9.  What is a common misconception people have about what you do? 

That the GCC is a regular pedometer-program that anyone could start. 

10. What are your goals/dreams for the future? 

Build the business. Get media exposure. Hire some great people. Work with more of the best companies in Canada.  Work with some of the best medical schools and universities in Canada to have Canadian-centric data.  Run North America some day. Make the GCC a household name. Get a house overlooking Grenadier Pond in High Park, that has a hot tub on the hill! 

11.  What else would you like people to know about what you do?

I’d like people to know that if they see me getting a pedicure at 3pm on a Friday (happens less than I’d like!), it’s because I’ve worked Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights, plus gotten up and worked from 2:30am to 4am at least one night that week. When I schedule a meeting with you, I’ll be in a suit, not yoga gear. 

Finally, finding the “right” career/job is empowering, and has positively affected all aspects of my life. And, the GCC will be a household name in the next 3 years, so you might as well get on board now! J 

Interested in learning about other careers?  Check out our other Cool Careers interviews!