Sun Life Financial
Sun Life boss makes a life in Nova Scotia
Matt Whitman is the first to admit the term “networking” has problems. It sounds much too big-city slick for our part of the world. Not to mention that undeniable whiff of schmooze about it. Strip that away, however, and you have something that is as Nova Scotian as a kitchen party.
“In Nova Scotia it’s all about connections and relationships. It’s who you know and helping each other out. That’s what matters to us. And that’s networking,” Whitman said.
Watching him in action, it’s no surprise Whitman’s been dubbed Halifax’s king of networking. He works his local Starbucks — which doubles as his satellite office — like a pro. He breezes through the door in a pin-striped suit and bright pink shirt, and immediately starts joking with the baristas, greeting other customers like old friends and doing on-the-spot introductions without missing a beat.
If he didn’t seem so darned genuine it could feel like schmooze, but he manages to carry it off with ease.
As sales manager at Sun Life Financial in Halifax, Whitman recruits, trains and mentors new financial advisors. While it’s good to know a thing or two about the financial service industry, he says the key to doing a good job can be found in the age-old art of creating and maintaining relationships.
“You have to be open and accessible; all the time. People have to be able to get to you so you can help them,” Whitman said.
Whitman turns to technology to help accomplish this. With his trusty BlackBerry in hand, he makes sure he’s always accessible. Send him an email and a reply comes back within seconds, telling you he’s received your message and will reply in full as soon as possible. And he does.
Along with his position at Sun Life Financial, Whitman also works as the director of community outreach for StoneRidge Fellowship. On top of those two jobs he is involved with Ark Outreach, the Nova Scotia Leadership Prayer Breakfast, Halifax Club, JesusAtlantic, The Gideons International, Habitat for Humanity and Spirit Nova Scotia. He regularly hosts “networking socials” and either founded or helped several networking groups and organizations get off the ground, such as Bconnected, HFX Lunch, Halifax Junior Chamber International and the Purpose Driven Lunch.
On top of his busy work life, he’s also a devoted husband to his wife Cathy and father to two children, Kirk, 11, and Morgan, 8.
And he runs. Not just short five-kilometre circuits either. He’s done three full marathons and lots of half-marathons.
How can one guy do so much? And, more to the point, why does he do it?
“I like to help other people. I want the people I come into contact with to benefit from having met me. So I do my best to do my best, every day,” Whitman said.
In the financial service industry Whitman’s “can-do” attitude is pure gold. Even during this past year when the catchphrase “uncertain economic times” peppers the daily news, he’s got a positive outlook on things.
While much of Whitman’s optimism is intrinsically who he is, he views himself as a product of Nova Scotia through and through. Growing up in Halifax’s Dingle Park area, he learned the value of good neighbours early on in life, after his father died when he was just nine years old. He went on to study geography at Saint Mary’s University and although he considered moving away from his home province —as most of his friends did — after graduating in 1992, he knew this was where he was meant to be.
“I love the pace here. I love the people. I love that I’m able to walk into a coffee shop and I know most of the people there. It’s just not like that in other places. This is where I belong and I’m not going anywhere. Ever.”
