Millennials Advancing Female Representation in Boardrooms

Jennifer Reynolds, president and CEO of Women in Capital Markets, and Julia Moynihan, managing director and head of Money Market at CIBC Capital Markets, join BDPM to discuss the path of the C-Suite and why millennials and technology are playing a big part in the advancement of women in the financial sector.

"I think that when I started on the trading floor, and speaking from a woman's perspective, when I looked at the women who were at the time, in senior leadership positions, I didn't really feel a connection with them. It felt like they were trying to be what they felt a powerful women was supposed to be. I think that millennials expect you to be a little more authentic and genuine. They don't buy into the 'you can have it all' thinking. If you are realistic and say: 'look, it's going to be tough, especially after you have your first child and it may become a bit overwhelming. But, that's life and you just need to keep going cause it will get better as it generally does." - Julia Moynihan, Managing Director and Head of Money Market, CIBC Capital Markets

"I think in terms of the millennials, it becomes interesting. I don't think we can just say that the millennials are going to fix everything. Women have made up more than 50% of university graduates for decades so it's not an educated workforce of women that we've lacked. However, one thing about millennials that I do think is changing things is that their view on life is very different. When I got my job in investment banking, I thought that it was fantastic and I was willing to grind away but it's different today. I think that we are losing a lot of talent, both men and women and I know that because there are studies that show it. Millennials today, want to end up in smaller companies, start their own businesses so their view in the world and what  'success' is, is very different. I think the corporate world has to evolve as well as the corporate culture." - Jennifer Reynolds, President and CEO of Women in Capital Markets