After nearly 18 incredible years, I made the bittersweet decision, last week, to step away from my role at CIBC to pursue a new endeavor. It has been a journey filled with challenges, triumphs, and lessons I’ll carry with me forever.
Over nearly two decades, I had the privilege of working across three countries and seven businesses, partnering with some of the most talented, driven, and inspiring people in the sector.
Together, we built a winning U.S. franchise poised for growth, stability, profitability, and market resilience; I couldn’t be prouder of the team’s accomplishments.
Leadership and building a new business are full of lessons—some hard-earned. As I reflect on my time, here are four that stand out:
1. You work for your team, not the other way around. Great leadership is about enabling others to do their best work—not about titles or hierarchy. When you focus on serving your team, the results take care of themselves.
2. Don’t just manage problems; model resilience. Challenges are inevitable. Leading with transparency and optimism makes it possible to tackle the tough moments and come out stronger.
3. Be attuned to your team—both what’s said and unsaid. Leadership requires listening, empathy, and truly understanding what your people need. Sometimes the most important signals come from what isn’t spoken in a meeting, and those are often the ones that matter most.
4. Great client experiences come with deep care-whether through innovative solutions or simply showing up consistently, putting the client at the center of every decision ensures lasting trust and success.
To my colleagues: thank you for your trust, your friendship, your resilience during the early days of our U.S. build, and for making the last 18 years unforgettable.
To my clients: thank you for the opportunities to collaborate and support your growth ambitions - I look forward to working with you in my next chapter.
This decision wasn’t easy, but I’m excited for what lies ahead. For now, I’m taking a moment to reflect, recharge, get some quality time with my lovely wife Michelle and daughter, and prepare for the next chapter.
Former Walmart SVP, Chief Counsel Regulatory & Specialty Legal Former Walmart SVP, General Counsel Health & Wellness
3moCjiganti