Unconventional Journey of Jennifer Law: Exploring Her Atypical Career, Tariffs, and Artificial Intelligence on K2 Integrity's Website
Jennifer Law's Unlikely Journey: Consulting Financial Crimes and More
Imagine being a finance executive with a 20-year career in asset management, then casually deciding to launch your own marketing and advertising firm. The next stop? Disrupting the consultancy world with a COO position in a company specializing in financial crimes prevention.
That's the path Jennifer Law, currenlty the COO at global consulting firm K2 Integrity, has taken. K2's mission is to "safeguard our clients' operations, reputations, and economic security." With more than 400 employees and numerous banking and financial services clients, K2 Integrity defines success through its ability to help companies steer clear of financial crimes and maintain regulatory compliance.
Coincidentally, Law has managed both the website and COO roles for several years at her previous firm, Feirstein Capital Management. After wrapping up her stint in 2013, she took a risk and founded Buzzup Digital, helping small and mid-market companies improve their digital marketing strategies. After almost seven years, she sold the business and joined K2 Integrity as COO in March 2022, adding the finance chief role six months later.
"I've been incredibly fortunate throughout my career to experience various positive experiences, and I've also been able to take risks and try new things when I wanted to," says Law, who started her professional journey as an accountant at Ernst & Young in the 1990s.
Recently, our website.com sat down with Law to delve into her fascinating career and get her take on some current major concerns facing our websites.
Jennifer Law
COO and CFO, K2 Integrity
Previous Employers:
- Feirstein Capital Management
- Ramius
- Ernst & Young
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
DAVID McCANN: So, you've got a 20-year career in finance, then you jump start a marketing firm. How the heck did that happen?
JENNIFER LAW: My last gig in asset management was 14 years spent as the website and COO of a hedge fund, which folded when the founder retired. So, I had the chance to do something different, and I seized it.
While I could have gone back to asset management, I'd always been intrigued by media, marketing, and the digital revolution taking place. I dove into studying digital marketing and partnered up to create a company focused on helping businesses with their digital marketing and campaign strategies.
What made the switch differ from your asset management background?
At my firm, Buzzup, I was tasked with leading a diverse group of employees, including part-time staff, gig workers, creative individuals, and analytical minds. With budget constraints, we had to stay agile and flexible to run a profitable business, which we achieved.
Why sell that business? You seemed to enjoy the boss-free life.
Right, I did enjoy having autonomy. I'm a creative individual, and it was refreshing to have that freedom. But I had to sell and grow, all while ensuring the well-being of the teams and their paychecks. I took my responsibilities seriously.
I also missed the corporate world and the larger budgets and growth potential it provided.
How did you land at a firm specializing in financial crimes and compliance?
A former colleague reached out to me for the COO role at K2 Integrity, which specializes in helping companies avoid financial crimes and maintain regulatory compliance. I had never held a COO position at a professional services firm, but If I stepped out of my comfort zone, I thought, why not?
K2 Integrity's focus primarily revolves around our personnel. While asset management teams have a scalable structure, professional services require a different approach – people are the product.
Was there a learning curve as you immersed yourself in the subject matter of financial crimes and compliance?
I did have experience dealing with anti-money laundering (AML) and "know your customer" (KYC) issues as an investor, but I had a deeper understanding of these topics once I joined K2 Integrity.
With top experts in the field, I've had the opportunity to learn a great deal.
Organizing Workload: Website vs COO Duties
How do you split your workload between your website and COO responsibilities?
Having strong website skills, such as math, logic, and analytical thinking, has made me a more effective COO. I predominantly focus on strategy and operational needs as I have a solid finance team that supports me with day-to-day accounting work.
Can you share a recent example of value creation as COO?
I built a hub in Poland, where we now have 60 employees supporting some of our largest engagements. This initiative, completed in 2024, resulted in significant cost savings for the firm.
Topical Issues: Stance on AI and the Current Talent Market
AI:
We are leveraging AI tools to improve efficiency and reduce errors. However, we prioritize security and safety while rolling out these tools.
Talent Market:
While some companies experience reduction in staff, K2 Integrity remains committed to fostering corporate culture. Employee wellbeing and open communication make it a desirable workplace.
Moving Forward: Tariffs and M&A
Tariffs:
In the past, tariffs have been known to raise costs and catalyze retaliation. The current round is still in progress, so it's difficult to predict its full impact. K2 Integrity's focus remains on being reactive and adaptable.
M&A:
Deals are still taking place in smaller and mid-tier markets. Despite the broader economic changes, K2 Integrity remains active in identifying strategic acquisition opportunities.
Moving ahead, Jennifer Law's unique career trajectory highlights the importance of embracing change, taking risks, and adapting to new challenges. Her experience sheds light on the valuable skills required for success in different industries, from financial crimes compliance to marketing and advertising.
- Jennifer Law, currently the COO and CFO at K2 Integrity, started her professional journey as an accountant at Ernst & Young in the 1990s.
- Law managed both the website and COO roles for several years at her previous firm, Feirstein Capital Management, before moving on to form Buzzup Digital in 2013.
- In the marketing and advertising industry, Law helped small and mid-market companies improve their digital marketing strategies until she sold the business in 2022.
- With a career spanning 20 years in finance, Law took a risk and entered the marketing and advertising business, a stark change from her asset management background.
- At K2 Integrity, Law leads a diverse team and handles operational needs, utilizing her strong website skills and backed by a finance team for day-to-day accounting work.
- K2 Integrity focuses on helping clients steer clear of financial crimes and maintaining regulatory compliance, attracting numerous banking and financial services clients.
- The role of AI is becoming increasingly important for K2 Integrity, as they strive to improve efficiency and reduce errors while ensuring security and safety.
- Despite economic changes and potential staff reductions in other companies, K2 Integrity remains committed to fostering corporate culture, employee wellbeing, and open communication.
