Throughout her career across Collections, Customer Solutions, Credit Solutions, Operational Risk, Business Support and now as Vice President, International Operations at Scotiabank Peru, Paola Comitre Miranda has learned that meaningful career growth rarely follows a straight line. Each move stretched her perspective, strengthened her judgment and gave her an end-to-end view of how people, processes, risk, technology and client experience come together to create sustainable business opportunities.
“I learned that career growth is not defined by a title alone. It is built through curiosity, resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to continuously learn.”
Paola joined Scotiabank as an intern, drawn to the Bank’s focus on development and continuous improvement. Collections taught her how to balance client needs with business realities. Credit Solutions sharpened her decision-making. Operational Risk deepened her appreciation for governance, while leading the Business Service Centre reinforced how disciplined, efficient operations directly shape the quality, consistency and ease of the client experience. She also led and participated in strategic projects that transformed processes, strengthened risk management and improved efficiency.
“I learned that decisions are rarely isolated; they create ripple effects across clients, employees, processes, risk, and business performance.”
That broad view also shaped Paola’s leadership. Leading a large organization requires clarity, structure, consistency and accountability, but she believes those standards are strongest when grounded in trust, active listening and human connection. For her, understanding the business, staying close to employees and keeping the client experience at the centre of operational decisions always go hand in hand.
“Discipline and empathy are not opposites; they reinforce each other. People want more than information from their leader; they want connection, visibility, and the confidence that their voices matter.”
This commitment comes to life in a monthly coffee series she launched with employees across Operations. The sessions give employees a forum to share ideas and challenges, while helping Paola stay close to the business. They also reflect a core belief in her leadership style: trust grows when people feel seen, heard and safe to speak openly.
“Psychological safety is critically important to me for my team – I want everyone to feel comfortable speaking up, sharing ideas, asking questions, challenging assumptions, and even acknowledging mistakes without fear of negative consequence.”
Supporting others’ development has become one of the most rewarding parts of Paola’s career. After benefiting from mentors herself, she has connected employees across Operations through Scotiabank’s Mentoring program, reinforcing how much both mentors and mentees gain from new perspectives and shared problem-solving. That belief also shapes how she leads transformation: change is more sustainable when people are invited to participate, learn and see themselves in the future being built.
“Mentoring has shown me that organizations can create opportunities, leaders can provide direction and mentors can share valuable insights, but each individual must take ownership of their own growth.”
The same mindset led her to champion Swaps, an initiative that has given more than 110 employees exposure to different roles across Operations. It reflects a lesson from Paola’s own path: working across functions builds adaptability, resilience and confidence in navigating change.
“Growth does not always mean moving upward; sometimes it means moving sideways to gain new experiences and capabilities that ultimately prepare people for larger opportunities in the future.”
This people-centred approach is especially important as Paola leads the adoption of artificial intelligence within Operations. For her, AI is not simply a technology trend; it is a shift in how teams work, make decisions and create value. Her focus has been to make that transition accessible and empowering, helping employees see AI as a tool to augment human capabilities rather than replace them. The goal is not for everyone to become an AI expert overnight, but for teams to feel confident exploring its possibilities.
Her advice for women looking to grow their careers reflects that same belief in intentional, self-directed development.
“I would encourage women early in their careers to take ownership of their development, seek mentors and sponsors, remain curious and keep investing in their learning. Growth rarely happens by accident; it requires intention, courage and a willingness to evolve,” she says.
“Most importantly, lead in a way that feels authentic to who you are. There is no single formula for leadership. The most effective leaders are those who understand their values and remain true to them, even as their responsibilities increase.”
For Paola, that is the power of a growth mindset: the courage to keep learning, the humility to learn from others and the responsibility to create opportunities for the people around you. “At the end of the day, your legacy will not be defined by the title you held. It will be defined by the lives you influenced and the impact you leave behind. That is what I believe truly matters.”