Real advice from our leaders

Leadership at Capital One is an ever-evolving journey. Some leaders join us with a wealth of experience from an established career, while others start here right after graduation. Every path is unique, and every leader has insightful bits of wisdom to share. We asked senior leaders to reflect on their time at Capital One; what makes it a great place to work, some lessons they’ve learned along the way and everything in between.

Find your support system

People are a big reason why associates choose to work and stay at Capital One. It’s not just about attracting great talent, it’s also about giving associates the space to form meaningful connections. Amanda Wesson, Head of the Office of the President and Chief of Staff, shares how she builds her network.

“For me it's the Business Resource Groups (BRGs). I have consistently been able to find ‘my people’ through BRGs. Finding and growing a community of people who care about the same things is huge. At Parents@Work, we've launched a mentorship program that supports associates on parental leave, invited speakers with different perspectives to support our working parents, and influenced the business to create policies that support caregivers.”

Be mindful

Every day we’re helping Canadians succeed with credit and building our own sense of purpose. Although the work we do is important, looking after our mental health is also a priority. Balancing professional and personal commitments is sometimes easier said than done, but we encourage everyone to find what works for them. Shawn Graham, Vice President, Compliance Officer, reflects on how he prioritizes what matters.

“The biggest lesson I've learned is that I need to have work-life balance. Work-life balance isn't about doing less. It's about being intentional. There are moments when I need to lean in and work hard, but sustaining impact requires setting boundaries, prioritizing what matters most, and taking care of myself, so I can show up fully over the long run.”

Lead with curiosity

We love to see leaders grow with us. Many count Capital One as their first job, starting as an intern or campus recruit and evolving their career over many years. Sherry Shen, Senior Business Director and Head of Customer Management, tells us what being a leader is really like.

“It's both fun and incredibly rewarding. I began my journey at Capital One as a junior associate and have grown my career into a leadership role. My job perfectly combines the things I enjoy: solving interesting and complex problems through data and analysis. Simultaneously, we leverage technology to quickly develop and deploy these solutions to market. I truly enjoy the rapid action cycle of understanding customer reactions and developing new strategies.”

Never stop learning

Leadership can be incredibly rewarding and humbling at the same time. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities to learn from, and being receptive to change is what sets great leaders apart from the rest. Amran-Ashley Issa, Senior Director and Head of Customer Channels, shares the biggest lesson she’s learned in her career.

“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is showing up matters just as much as what you deliver. Results are important, but lasting impact comes from listening, being open to feedback, and bringing others along with you. The strongest leaders build trust, stay grounded, and keep learning – especially when things get hard.”

Elevate each other

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again (because it’s worth talking about): People are the best thing about Capital One – but don’t take our word for it. Jonathan Lee, Director of Software Engineering, gives his perspective.

“The most common answer I hear for what makes Capital One a great place to work is the people and while absolutely true, I think it's more than that. I get to work with some of the smartest, most motivated, and friendliest people every day, but what makes it a great experience are the challenges we are able to tackle together. We put the best people into an environment with ambitious goals and access to the latest technologies, so each person is given an opportunity to bring their best qualities to solve the problem at hand.”

These are just a few of the many stories you’ll find behind our doors. Whether you’re pursuing a career at Capital One or just stopping by, we’re always happy to share more about what makes this place special.