Momentum Financial Services Group

Dawn Snoddon

When I reflect on my career, one theme has always guided me: people come first.

I began my journey with Money Mart/Momentum 23 years ago as a Customer Service Representative. From day one, I was determined to make the most of every opportunity to learn. I worked hard, asked questions and made sure my leadership always knew about my career goals. One thing I learned early on is that you can’t sit and wait for opportunities to come to you. You have to put in the effort, stay curious and go after them.

Growing Through Retail Operations

The first 18 years of my career were spent in retail operations, where I had the privilege of learning the business inside and out. During this time, I was also pursuing my studies in social work and human resources, which gave me the chance to apply what I was learning directly to my work. This balance allowed me to develop a unique skill set, which is a combination of operational expertise and people-centered insight that has shaped my leadership approach ever since.

From Branch Manager to District Manager

As I grew within the company, moving from Branch Manager to District Manager, I kept one focus at the heart of my leadership: creating healthy and positive work environments. Success, to me, wasn’t just about meeting business goals. It was about watching people thrive.

“Leadership is not about control. It’s about serving your team, inspiring others and creating environments where people feel respected, supported and valued”

There has been nothing more rewarding than seeing employees achieve goals they once thought were out of reach, stepping into new roles and advancing their careers through hard work and dedication. Being part of those journeys has been one of the greatest privileges of my career.

Moving into HR Leadership at Momentum

When I transitioned into the HR Department as the Retail HR Manager for North America Operations, I brought with me both my retail foundation and HR knowledge. This has allowed me to approach my role with a balance of structure and empathy, focusing on career succession planning, employee development, and workplace culture.

Much of my work involves assisting with implementation of policies and procedures, as well as evolving processes to meet the needs of the business and its people. But I’ve always believed policies should be more than just rules. They should provide a foundation of fairness, security, and opportunity for employees to grow.

Leadership Beyond the Title

One lesson I’ve learned is that anyone can be a manager, but true leaders are rare. Leadership is not about control. It’s about serving your team, inspiring others and creating environments where people feel respected, supported and valued.

I’ve always embraced servant leadership: putting the team first, removing barriers and empowering others to grow into leaders themselves.

The Legacy I Carry Forward

Looking back, I’m proud of the journey I’ve taken from a Customer Service Representative 23 years ago to leading HR retail operations across North America. Every chapter reinforced the belief that with hard work, openness to learning and the courage to pursue your goals, anything is possible.

As I continue forward, I hold fast to the idea that leadership is not about being in charge. It’s more about being there for others. That is the legacy I strive to carry into every role I take on. Just as my own leaders supported me, I now strive to help new leaders adopt the same mindset of embracing growth, leading with empathy and creating opportunities for others to succeed.