Nicky Mezo is the Head of Marketing for PayPal Canada, the online payment service that is so popular, a Canadian uses it to send money every second. 

What does a typical Thursday look like for you, starting from when you wake up – to heading to bed?
I am typically the first one up in the house. I have two boys who are 10 and 7 who normally get up soon after me and then my husband is often still sleeping when I leave with the boys for school and work.

I am generally the first one at the office around 8am which allows me to have some “thinking time” before others arrive. My team is relatively new so I always like to ensure I am available for them if they need me.

The morning is generally filled with work and meetings with others in the office. Since most of my colleagues are in California, discussions with them are always in the afternoon._

The evenings are generally spent with the family, either at various sports events or spending time together at home. We always try to eat dinner as a family which is important to both my husband and me.
 

What was your first job out of school?
My first job out of school was account executive at a small marketing company. I had a very diligent manager who was a stickler for grammar and planning. Being small, it was a wonderful way for me to learn several different marketing disciplines at the same time and also allowed me work on several different initiatives, which I would not have had the chance to do at a large corporation at this level.  

What are the 3 skills you require most to do your job well?
The ability to focus on what is important for the business to be successful
The ability to drive results in an ambiguous environment
The ability to build and leverage relationships that will allow you to collaborate and create strong strategies. 

What do you love most about your career?
It has always been very important in my career to work with people I respect, to learn and to add value. I have been very fortunate to have generally been able to achieve this throughout my career. 

Do you have any warnings?
If possible, do not settle on a job that does not excite you. Stay true to your guiding principles when making decisions on your career. There is nothing worse than being in a role that you are not interested in.

If you could try a different career on for a year, what would it be?
Some kind of job that works with or analyzes the lives of whales or dolphins. I love whales and dolphins and would find it extremely interesting to have the chance to work with them for a year.