Wanting to further his professional education, Jordan Swerid looked to the Chartered Marketer designation to add to his marketing repertoire.

Being Consistent with Higher Education

I’m a big believer that if you want to carry yourself as a professional, you should have the education and experience to back it up. I completed my university education in the United States graduating from the University of Maine. From there, I moved back home to Winnipeg where I found a great opportunity with IG Wealth Management.

IG has been big on professional development, and I’ve been blessed with outstanding leadership throughout my career journey there. Each of my leaders have great and unique styles, and thanks to that, I’ve been able to pick up many important tools. All of which have brought me to where I am today.

When I started my CM journey, we weren’t in the middle of COVID and life wasn’t as crazy as it was when I was finishing my designation. Finishing the program with an eight-month-old baby girl, another baby boy on the way, in the middle of the pandemic and a new workplace dynamic… it’s a time in my life I’ll never forget. My wife had a lot of patience as I worked my way through the journey!

A High Professional Standard

In the financial services industry, the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation is the gold standard for financial advisors, and in my role I work daily with financial advisors across midwest and Western Canada. It was important to me to hold myself to that same professional standard and so, I pursued the CM designation.

I want to continue pushing myself professionally and not settle for being just “good enough”. This is a focus that my leaders at IG have encouraged since day one. Having said that, the CM program is a great measuring stick for where you are in the industry. Within marketing, many of us get specializations and lose touch with staying up to date with new trends or other marketing skills. The CM program ensures you are a well-rounded marketer keeping up with industry trends. The other great part of the CM program is that it’s new – so all the materials are fresh and are continuously improving.

As marketers, we are constantly having to adapt and change with the industry. The CM designation is a statement that you’re a professional that not only can adapt and change but that you are driving that change. The CM designation holds you to a high standard and it’s a commitment.

Surrounded by Growing Professionals

The learning environment is much different than say a university course. You are networking and working with top-tier industry professionals from both the instructor side and peers. Your instructors are actively working in the field and your peers are like you, looking to advance their skills and careers.

The core courses were great foundational pieces. From there, I chose the Media elective and then finished with the Summit course which was heavily team-focused with real-world applications. I had the great opportunity to work with two superstars in the Summit course who I will stay connected with as we develop our careers. I’m their biggest fan!

Being a good team member and putting others in positions to succeed are signs of a true leader. The CM program not only focuses on strategical and tactical marketing but also leadership. I’ve been able to take my learnings and bring them to my Mid-west and Western Canada team at IG. My three team members are developing their already impressive careers and it’s been a benefit to pass on my learnings to them as they continue to grow.

Onward with a CM designation

Don’t sign up for the CM designation program just to get a couple of letters next to your name. It’s going to take time (evenings, weekends, you name it) and of course, hard work but if you jump in with both feet you will get a lot of value out of the program. Don’t “just do it to do it”. Do it because you want to become a better leader and more skilled professional.

I take a lot of pride in being one of the first twenty in Canada to complete the full program, alongside peers I worked side-by-side throughout the journey. I’m looking forward to what’s next!

Jordan Swerid
Director of Field Marketing, Mid-West and Western Canada
IG Wealth Management

Jordan Swerid, CM, earned his Chartered Marketer designation this past Spring 2021.

Tags: CM Graduates