In The Bustle Booth With Lorraine Chow Hansen, Chief Marketing Officer Of Chase Consumer Bank

When influential women hang out with Bustle editors, we want to give them the chance to leave their mark. Literally. So we hand them a pen, a piece of paper, a few questions, and ask them to get creative. The rest is up to them. In this special edition, we partnered with JPMorgan Chase to showcase women who are finding success on their own terms. Here, Lorraine Chow Hansen, Chief Marketing Officer of Chase Consumer Bank, leaves her mark in the Bustle Booth.

When you’re in college, or even at the beginning of your career, it can be scary to think that your path has already been determined for you—whether by your major or your first entry-level role. But listening to Lorraine Chow Hansen, Chief Marketing Officer of Chase Consumer Bank, will fill you with hope if your dreams are tugging you in a different direction from what you initially planned.

While she’s a marketing maven now, Hansen started out as a chemical engineer, knowing that she had a talent for math and science. As a first-generation Chinese American, and a third-generation chemical engineer, she steered herself to a practical field that would "likely lead to good career prospects.” But to make sure she didn’t pigeonhole herself, Hansen took her first job out of college at a chemical company with a rotational program, so she could try out roles in all different areas. In doing so, she discovered an unexpected passion. “I fell in love with technical marketing, then opted to go back to business school to focus on marketing,” she says. “This notion of [blending] pragmatism and passion has really served me well.” This pivot from chemical engineering to marketing, while subtle at first, eventually opened up the doors for Hansen to shine in a completely different field.

For those of us considering a career shift, Hansen assures us it doesn't have to be a drastic transition. Identify the "one or two degrees of separation" between what you're currently doing and your goal, and take incremental steps from there. That way, Hansen explains, "it’s not as anxiety-producing, because you realize, 'I actually do have something to contribute."

As someone who has pursued her passions, Hansen is proud that JPMorgan Chase supports lateral movements to help employees succeed. Specifically, JPMorgan Chase's Women on the Move program empowers female employees to take opportunities to grow their career interests. "What JPMorgan Chase is doing differently is that we’re becoming more overt and deliberate about the amazing opportunities we have for women," Hansen says.

Keep reading to learn more about Hansen and her inspiring career at JPMorgan Chase:

This article is sponsored by JPMorgan Chase.