"Lattice over ladder” career path: Distinguished Changemaker Veni Iozzo

Learn more about the Alumni Changemaker Achievement Awards. 
 

It’s fitting that Veni Iozzo is one of the recipients of Royal Roads University’s Alumni Changemaker Achievement Awards. During a 38-year career with the banking giant CIBC, she has not only led change, she has lived it. 

Iozzo will soon retire from her position as CIBC’s executive vice-president, workplace transformation and enterprise real estate — a job that included overseeing the design of CIBC’s workspace and opening of its global headquarters in Toronto. But her previous executive roles have included everything from personal and business banking to communications and public affairs, from products and payments to marketing and strategy. 

“I decided to take a ‘lattice’ approach to a career rather than a ‘ladder’ approach,” says Iozzo. She explains that instead of building her career one rung at a time, she chose many lateral moves to gain a breadth of knowledge, skills and experience in multiple disciplines. 

“I needed the money, so that's how I ended up in banking. And I realized once I was inside the bank that I could have 10 careers within one organization. And that's what I set out to do.” 

All her career moves involved leading transformations, which in large part led to her Distinguished Changemaker honour – an award that recognizes an alum who exemplifies a lifetime achievement of leading change in the world. 

In a letter supporting Iozzo’s nomination, Sandy Sharman, senior executive vice-president of people, culture and brand with CIBC, called her colleague “an instrumental leader at our bank and a role model to many.” 

“Veni is a strong advocate for inclusion and supporting the next generation of leaders,” says Sharman. “She has helped create pathways to success for women by promoting and participating in organizations like Catalyst, where she sits on the advisory board. She is also a Founding Visionary of the Prosperity Project — an organization with a mission to mitigate the economic impact of the pandemic on women.” 

While learning, growth and joy are at the centre of everything she has done, Iozzo is also passionate about sharing what she’s learned. 

A daughter of Italian immigrants, and granddaughter to a Nonna who baked bread to help support her eight children, Iozzo credits her family’s sacrifices, which instilled in her “the belief that with strength and courage and dreams, you can overcome challenges.” 

A 2013 graduate of the Master of Business Administration in Executive Management program, she describes it as “a transformative experience.”  

“I appreciated the different perspectives shared by my peers in diverse industries, which I would say challenged my thinking and ultimately taught me the most valuable lesson that I took away: to be curious and remain a student of my work,”  she adds.

Iozzo is now preparing to transition out of her full-time executive vice-president role to a senior advisory position. 

As for being a Distinguished Changemaker award, she says: “For me, this recognition comes at a poignant time. After a rewarding 40-year career, it allowed me to appreciate the emotional significance of my journey and the impact that I aimed to create throughout my life. ” 
 

The Alumni Changemaker Achievement Awards showcase the diverse talents and accomplishments of RRU's alumni network as they advance the university’s vision to inspire people with the courage to transform the world. The awards reception will be held during the annual Alumni Weekend.