VersaFi Program Increases Readiness of High Performing Women for Leadership Roles in Finance

2024 Program Participants Named

TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, VersaFi is pleased to announce that 61 women from 18 different Canadian firms have been selected to participate in its 2024 Emerging Leaders Program, bringing the total number of participants to 310 since its launch in 2014. This professional development program is designed for high potential women five to 10 years into their careers, who are on a path to senior leadership. 

Over seven months, each participant receives a personal and professional assessment through the globally-recognized Facet5™ personality assessment, as well as group and individual coaching sessions, skill-building workshops, and networking opportunities.  The Emerging Leaders Program is facilitated in partnership with global coaching expert Felix Global.

"At this stage of their career, many women face unique barriers that have the potential to hinder their advancement," notes Tanya van Biesen, president and CEO, VersaFi. "Our Emerging Leaders Program was created to help equip these talented women with the skills and strategies needed to overcome these challenges, while simultaneously preparing them for more senior leadership roles. By investing in these women, firms are not only supporting their professional growth but also benefit from higher job satisfaction, improved retention, and a stronger, more engaged workforce—ultimately preserving key talent and reducing turnover."

To be selected, these women have already demonstrated outstanding ambition and skill, as well as a commitment to fostering equitable work environments. Many have also overcome significant challenges on their path to success, including excelling in male-dominated environments, navigating the often difficult return from career breaks, and balancing work and family care responsibilities.

VersaFi congratulates its 2024 Emerging Leader participants for successfully being accepted into the Program:

Bella Ainani, CPP Investments	Kelly Alvarez, CIBC Capital Markets	Rachel Amirault, CPP Investments
Abirami Ayyaluswamy, Manulife	Ragini Barrenkula, Manulife	Keren Beletsky, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
Carla Bolingbroke, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets	Tala Bushnaq, RPIA	Samantha Chan, RBC Capital Markets
Phoebe Cheung, PwC Canada	Tina Chou, TD Securities	Evelyn Chow, CPP Investments
Sanam Dhaliwal, ATB Financial	Fiona Fan, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets	Charlène Fontaine, National Bank Financial Markets
Alicia Garbarino, Manulife	Claudia Garner, RBC Capital Markets	Kathleen Glofcheskie, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Ritika Goel, RBC Capital Markets	Andréanne Grégoire-Boudreau, Desjardins Global Asset Management	Shawna Griffin, RBC Capital Markets
Stéphanie Hamel, National Bank Financial Markets	Angie Han, TD Securities	Monica Heysel, CIBC Capital Markets
Rebecca Hoffer-Kahansky, OPTrust	Jennifer Israel, CIBC Mellon	Manroop Johal, BMO Private Wealth
Ana Juncu, CIBC Capital Markets	Kayla Keim, RBC Capital Markets	Molly Kong, IMCO
Jacqueline Kopemond, RPIA	Jillian Lam, ATB Financial	Eni Lamllari, CIBC Capital Markets
Cherry Li, BMO Capital Markets	Helen Liao, CPP Investments	Madi Lott, RBC Capital Markets
Vivian Luu, RBC Capital Markets	Adrienne Macdonald, National Bank Financial Markets	Amelia Meng, CIBC Capital Markets
Sydney Milgrom, CPP  Investments	Anh Nguyen, CIBC Capital Markets	Kerry Nield, Alberta Investment Management Corporation
Ebuni Vivian Okonkwo, CIBC Private Wealth	Cristina Oliveira, Manulife	Tuyet (Katie) Or, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Joanna Pollock, RBC Capital Markets	Easha Rai, SLC Management	Samra Ramzan, TD Securities
Andrea Scarlato, BMO Private Wealth	Marina Su, CPP Investments	Victoria Suitor, BMO Private Wealth
Tiffany Sun, CIBC Capital Markets	Vanessa Taylor, RBC Capital Markets	Claire Townsley, CIBC Capital Markets
Lovelyn Toyo, RBC Capital Markets	Julia Vriend, CIBC Capital Markets	Daphne Wallace, RBC Capital Markets
Mengqi (Grace) Yang, Manulife	May Yeung, Global X Investments Canada Inc.	Sara Zgheib, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
Tongtong Zhou, ATB Financial

The Emerging Leaders Program is open to VersaFi members with five to 10 years of experience from all areas of finance. Learn more: VersaFi's Emerging Leaders Program

About VersaFi
VersaFi is a national, not-for-profit organization focused on accelerating equity for women in the finance sector. Founded in 1995 as Women in Capital Markets (WCM), the organization rebranded in 2024 to empower and advocate for women and gender-diverse individuals across the finance sector, at all stages of their careers, nationally.  It does this by fostering a pipeline of talent at all levels; being the leading voice and advocate for gender equity in the sector; and by working with finance sector leaders to implement impactful and lasting structural and cultural change. Its community has grown to more than 4,000 members across the sector, representing Canadian bank-owned dealers and wealth managers, independent and foreign-owned dealers, asset managers, insurance companies, pension plans, regulatory agencies, exchanges, and advisory firms. To learn more, or to become a member, visit www.versafi.ca. 

About Felix Global
Felix is a North American-based talent and organizational advisor with over 30 years of successful client engagements across numerous organizations of global reach in a variety of verticals including financial services, healthcare, industrial/manufacturing, technology, professional services and more. Felix offers a partnership with a team of thought leaders who deliver integrated solutions for achieving excellence in talent and organizational performance. We are experts in developing effective behavioral change & skill growth among executives and leaders with significant experience across multiple industries and functions.

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