VersaFi (formerly WCM)

Are you ready to level up and compete for senior roles? Attention all ambitious women in finance with 5-10 years of experience! If you have aspirations of senior leadership, our prestigious Emerging Leaders Program is designed just for you. What’s in store: 🔹A transformative six-month journey to catapult your career  🔹Exclusive personal and group coaching sessions with our renowned partner, Felix Global 🔹A unique opportunity to network and learn alongside other ambitious professionals Hybrid Format: Accessible to women from all across Canada Applications close on August 12 — take the next step towards your professional growth today: https://lnkd.in/eB9Czhi8 This program is exclusively for VersaFi members. Learn more about membership at versafi.ca/join. #WomenInFinance #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalDevelopment

💻 We are excited to introduce VersaFi LinkUp: a dynamic series of virtual networking sessions where professional women and gender-diverse individuals, and their allies from all finance sectors across the country can connect.  These member-only sessions will provide a unique opportunity for you to engage, share insights, and foster meaningful connections with industry peers. Our virtual member meetups will take place the third Tuesday of every month, the first being July 16, from 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. EST. How it Works: Three rotations of 8-minute conversations, allowing you to connect with peers across the finance sector nationally. 👥Your participation in VersaFi LinkUp will enrich the discussions and help to create a powerful network of women in finance — We look forward to your participation! https://lnkd.in/eY_3mjVC

Happy 3rd anniversary to Tarah McMaster, our absolutely amazing Senior Director of Events, Program Strategy & Stakeholders. From building and supporting our regional Steering Committees, to delivering top-notch events, to adapting our program strategy to best reflect the barriers and career goals of women in the finance sector, Tarah is a dynamic driving force of VersaFi. "'People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it' is a quote from Simon Sinek that has always inspired me, particularly in this role at VersaFi. I feel grateful to be part of a team that works to create a sense of belonging for those in the finance industry. I believe in the possibility of change and a future where we see more women leading teams and organizations. From Job Shadow Day to Executive Leaders and every program and event in between - I am surrounded by women/gender-diverse professionals and allies who believe in the same vision. I am fortunate to work with stakeholders across the country who show up each day to work together toward our 'why'.” We’re so grateful to have you on the team, Tarah!

“Everyone has to try and make that first move. Don’t wait for someone to say ‘can I be your mentor?’ You first need to identify your goal. What do you actually want to achieve? Is it career advancement? Is it a new skill you want to learn? Or just learn more about the industry itself? When you are able to identify that goal, then you are now set up to get that mentor… But one key thing about this is never stop. Especially when you get the ‘no’s’ and no response. You have to continue doing it and showing up for yourself, and advocating for yourself, because eventually someone will respond.” — Bunmi A., Program Manager, Scotiabank, during our webinar with Fix The Broken Rung Mentorship plays a crucial role in making the financial sector more equitable for women through personal coaching, skill-building, and confidence-building activities. As encapsulated in this quote from Bunmi — having clear goals can help you self-advocate and find a rewarding mentorship relationship. Are you looking for a mentor, but don’t know where to start? VersaFi’s Professional  Mentorship Program has provided more than 1,000 women and gender-diverse finance professionals with formal mentor relationships in the finance sector. Applications will open this fall. You can learn more here: https://lnkd.in/eVczk6XE

Women on Boards are vital. The lack of women in these roles undermines the sector's ability to effectively serve its customers, manage risks, innovate, and maintain strong governance practices. It also limits the sector's potential for growth and competitiveness, which can have broader economic implications. As Tanya van Biesen noted - "Our sector can do better."

VersaFi is pleased to welcome CI Financial as a new Silver Partner! CI Financial offers global asset management and wealth management advisory services and recognizes that embracing diversity in all forms cultivates a culture of innovation, creativity and collaboration that drives their success. Learn more about their focus on diversity, equity and inclusion here: https://ow.ly/KarR50SvyKv Join us in welcoming them to the VersaFi community!

Today, we are celebrating our incredibly talented Senior Graphic Designer, Kristie Jones. As an integral member of our rebrand from WCM to VersaFi, they designed our fresh, new brand image that you see on our social media, website and at our events! Today is special, as it marks their two-year anniversary with VersaFi! Here’s some insight into VersaFi’s new brand image, straight from the designer: “VersaFi’s brand symbol is representative not only of this new chapter in the organization’s history, but of the continuous cycle of acquiring/implementing knowledge — and the continued strides we're taking towards an equitable financial sector. The new branding aims to represent this direction, without forgetting its roots: maintaining bold typography and sky blues, while bringing in sunny colours to further visualize the view beyond the glass ceiling.” Happy VersaFi Anniversary — We are so grateful to have you on our team! 

To everyone who attended our 2024 Champions of Change Gala: our photo album is now available! Thank you to everyone who attended who made it such a vibrant and celebratory night — including the event staff at the Fairmont, our photographers Mark and Anastasiia from Indigo Events Photography & Videography, and our DJ, Triple A Sounds. See all the photos here, and feel free to share. https://lnkd.in/egXG7cRT

🌈 Celebrating Pride Month: The Power of Language and Inclusivity 🌈 As we come to the close of #PrideMonth, it’s essential to remember the importance of language. Why? Because language is powerful. It shapes our perceptions, influences our interactions, and has the potential to either include or exclude individuals. Using correct and respectful terms when addressing others is not just a matter of politeness — it's a fundamental aspect of recognizing and validating their identities and experiences. We are committed to educating ourselves and to working with our vibrant community to ensure we are all continuously working towards inclusion. It’s a small but significant step towards creating a world where everyone can thrive.  With this in mind, our Research & Advocacy team have created both an Intersectionality Guide, which includes a gender-inclusive language tip sheet, and a Glossary to facilitate learning and understanding of language. Thank you to everyone who is helping drive this change and ensuring that our conversations are inclusive and respectful. Let's continue to celebrate diversity and champion inclusivity every day! Intersectionality Guide: https://lnkd.in/gfKxiFXf Glossary: https://lnkd.in/gemXmvb9 #PrideMonth #Inclusivity #Diversity #2SLGBTQ #LanguageMatters #Intersectionality #Respect

And that’s a wrap on our 2024 Champions of Change Gala! Last evening, we brought together 20 award winners from 10 of our platinum partner organizations and over 500 attendees from across the finance sector. We thank each of you for the work you do to help advance equity, diversity and inclusion in finance. We hope this award serves as inspiration to everyone, regardless of age or stage of career, to continue advocating for equitable culture and policies, and keep equity initiatives as a top priority in their organizations. It is through collective action, engagement, and accountability that we drive lasting change. Tonight's celebration would not be possible without our Presenting Event Sponsor: EY, and our Platinum Partners: BMO, CIBC, Manulife, National Bank Financial, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, PwC, RBC Capital Markets, Scotiabank, TD; Thank you for your continued support, and your efforts to advance the careers of women. We are so grateful to our talented and dedicated team at VersaFi — and our amazing event volunteers! As our biggest event of the year, and our Events & Programming team continues to deliver such incredible experiences for our members.