WCM’s Return to Bay Street Program sees most successful year yet, brings 19 women back into finance industry

By WCM | July 21, 2021

TORONTO | July 21, 2021 - WCM’s 2021 Return to Bay Street (RTBS) Program has had the most successful year yet, with a record number of applicants and recipients. RTBS is an industry-wide collaboration that provides an on-ramp for experienced women returning to careers in capital markets. Since 2010, RTBS has relaunched the careers of 92 women in Canadian finance. This year, the program has on-ramped 19 women back to mid-level roles in the finance industry.

Congratulations to the successful WCM 2021 RTBS recipients:

Bunmi Alao, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Krishnaveni Anantharaman, TD Wealth
Yamiko Chanje-Nkanza, Manulife
Grace Efezokhae, BMO Capital Markets
Naina Garg, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Zahra Hussain, RBC Capital Markets
Aileen Lim, BMO Capital Markets
Sheri Liu, BCI
Nishar Nwanozie, BMO Capital Markets

Yemi Obigbesan, BMO Wealth
Morayo (Mo) Olujobi, BMO Capital Markets
Ahudiya Osiri
, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Alix Quashie, Mackenzie Investments
Kenya Shaimanova, BMO Wealth 
Hao Tian, CIBC Capital Markets
Nicole Turnbull, TD Wealth
Mirella Villela, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Nicole White,  BMO Wealth
Sara Zheng, BMO Capital Markets

“The Return to Bay Street program continues to provide high calibre, high potential professional women a pathway back to successful careers in Capital Markets.  This year’s broader outreach across various networks attracted candidates that will give sponsors a competitive edge in the advancement of workplace equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives,” said Mary Ann Mendes, Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets and Co-Chair of the RTBS Working Group. “As the founding sponsor of the WCM RTBS award, BMO is very happy to welcome a record eight recipients this year. ”

Launched in 2010 by WCM and founding sponsor BMO Capital Markets—through funding from BMO’s Equity Through Education program— WCM's RTBS program is designed to facilitate the return to the workforce of experienced women who have previously held mid-level and senior positions in capital markets, have taken time away from their careers in finance, and are now interested in returning. Each recipient named above receives a paid work contract at an RTBS partner institution, an education grant, mentorship, and a one-year WCM Membership. By offering this program, WCM and its 2021 RTBS partners — BMO, CIBC, Mackenzie Investments, Manulife, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, RBC Capital Markets, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets, and TD Wealth—are proactively accelerating women’s representation in the capital markets industry.

“We are delighted that the Return to Bay Street program will bring 19 women back into the capital markets workforce in Canada this year. The ongoing success of this program is a testament to the support of the sponsoring organizations and speaks to the experience and talent of the women who are ready to step back into the workforce after pausing their careers. Scotiabank is pleased that three of these capital markets professionals will join our team in 2021 and proud to be among the organizations that support the important WCM Return to Bay Street program,” said Daniel Dorenbush, MD & Head Prime Services Canada, Co-Chair of the RTBS Working Group.

“WCM is thrilled to see a record number of qualified women returning to the industry through the RTBS program. We are grateful to our sponsors for their support of the program and their work in helping the program grow beyond traditional capital markets roles. We wish all the 2021 recipients the best of luck in their new roles.” said Lara Zink, President and CEO of WCM.

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About WCM

Our mission is to accelerate equity, diversity and inclusion in finance. We work to grow the pipeline of women, build the industry’s equity and inclusion literacy, and unite firms to drive change on an industry-level. We do this through advocacy, research, programming and recruitment.  As a not-for-profit founded in 1995, our community has grown to 3,500 professional and student members, and our initiatives have impacted the careers of countless students and professionals across the country. Support our movement towards equity and diversity in finance by joining WCM at wcm.ca/join.

For further information, please contact:

Lara Zink
President & CEO, WCM
[email protected]

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