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WCM Vancouver Chapter

Catherine Heath

Catherine Heath

Co-Chair, Vancouver Steering Committee

Kirsten Kennedy

Kirsten Kennedy

Co-Chair, Vancouver Steering Committee

A Message from the Co-Chairs

We are fortunate to work in such a fast-paced, interesting field as capital markets. Yet, we are always surprised at how few young women are entering the industry. One of our goals with WCM Vancouver is to encourage young women to enter this exciting industry through university and high school outreach programs, and to support junior women in the industry by providing mentorship and networking opportunities.


WCM Vancouver is a platform to connect, coach and advocate for women in Canadian capital markets and related industries. We aim to provide the skills and support our members require to excel at every stage of their career. WCM allows us create a community of local female professionals, while also providing a bridge to regional and national forums.  We hope to see you at upcoming WCM events in Vancouver!

Meet the steering committee

Upcoming events

Develop professional skills, learn about relevant industry topics and trends, strengthen your network and make new connections to propel you to the next stage in your career.

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There are currently no upcoming events

Past events

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WCM Vancouver in the media

More women wanted for financial leadership roles

More women wanted for financial leadership roles

Business in Vancouver | August 01, 2017

Programs

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From mentorship, to executive career coaching, to connecting women with top-notch opportunities in the industry, our programs provide women with practical skills and knowledge to propel them in their careers and move into leadership roles.  Find a program to help take your career to the next level. 

Mentorship Program

Mentorship Program

Be paired with a senior mentor outside of your firm to help you establish career goals, overcome challenges, and advance in your career!

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MORE ABOUT WCM VANCOUVER

Founded in 2016, WCM Vancouver's initiatives support WCM's national mission to accelerate gender diversity across the financial industry and corporate boardrooms of Canada.  In Vancouver, we offer professional development events and programs for women at all career levels and work with local firms to increase awareness of WCM and ensure gender diversity for our future generation. 

Our popular Mentor Lunches are roundtable opportunities to get up close and personal with an esteemed senior leader in our industry and to learn from her experiences. Our Mentorship Program pairs female protégées with a mentor either in Vancouver or elsewhere in Canada for a one-year period to provide support and guidance, help to establish career goals and discuss strategies to overcome challenges. Our various social events provide a platform for women to build strong professional networks and to solidify our community here in Vancouver, and our topic-specific skill-building events, such as our Careers in Motion series, equip women with the skills they need to excel in their careers. 

We also focus on building the pipeline of female talent for our industry. Our annual SheBiz event for female high school students, and our UniConnect event series for female university students serve to educate these young women about the rewarding career opportunities in business and finance and dispel stereotypes about these career paths.

Succeeding in our mission and effectively driving positive change in our industry requires a concerted effort from us all - firms, government, male and female professionals included. There is great strength in numbers - progress lies in the collective actions of individuals. We invite you to get involved and join our movement to leave gender parity as a legacy to the next generation. Together, we can make gender inequality history. 


Joining WCM is a vote for diversity, inclusion, equality and change.

Become a part of the fastest growing network of professionals in capital markets in Canada.

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FAQ

  • + × How do I join WCM Vancouver?

    Joining WCM is a vote for diversity, inclusion, equality and change. Click on the orange 'Join Now' button in the main menu at the top of the page.  You can join as a professional, university student, high school student, or as a WCM Ally.  To learn what a WCM membership can do for you and for full details on membership options, visit our Get Involved page.  Membership is effective for 1 year from the date your payment is processed.


    Our 1,500+ members are diverse professionals at all career stages and in all segments of the capital markets and related financial services across Canada. WCM membership unites all of our voices to accelerate gender diversity. There is strength in numbers. Join our movement to ensure gender parity for the next generation.

  • + × What can WCM do for me?

    WCM can help you achieve your career goals, expand your network, plan your next career move, and stay informed on gender diversity topics. It also provides an opportunity for you to give back to your local community and provides recognition as being committed to gender diversity. For details, visit our Get Involved page. Joining WCM is a vote for diversity, inclusion, equality and change. Please join our movement - we need you. 

  • + × Can I volunteer for WCM Vancouver?

    Yes. Our Vancouver Chapter is run by a steering committee of dedicated volunteers. On occasion, they need assistance planning or delivering an event or program. If you are interested in getting involved, please email [email protected] expressing your interest in volunteering for WCM's Vancouver Chapter. We will add your name to our database and contact you when volunteer opportunities become available. If you have a preference, please also specify in which capacity you would like to volunteer  (High School/SheBiz, UniConnect, Mentorship, General) and any other details you think we should know. 

  • + × Can I speak at a WCM event?

    We are always looking for inspiring and successful professionals to speak or be panelists at our events. If you are interested, or if you know someone who would be great, please email [email protected] with details.

  • + × How else can I support WCM?

    Succeeding in our mission and effectively driving positive change in our industry requires a concerted effort from us all. Here are a few ways you can show your support:


    1. Join WCM and encourage colleagues to join. Our strength lies in our membership.
    2. Attend WCM events in your city and encourage colleagues to attend.
    3. Promote WCM events, research and media coverage to your network - help us build awareness.
    4. Encourage your firm to become a WCM Partner. Diversity is no longer a 'nice to have'. It's a 'must have'.
    5. Share your feedback and thoughts with us at [email protected]

  • + × How can I encourage my firm to become a WCM Partner?

    Succeeding in our mission and effectively driving positive change in our industry requires a concerted effort from us all. WCM’s Corporate Champions share our vision and urgency for accelerating gender diversity in the workplace. Our partners recognize the business case for having more women in leadership roles and support our advocacy efforts to drive change and develop the talent pipeline of future female leaders. 


    To learn more and request information about how your firm can support us, visit our Partner with Us page. 

  • + × Can men get involved?

    Yes. Research shows that everyone benefits when men lean in for equality -- starting with men themselves. Men can support us in our mission by joining WCM as a 'WCM Ally', encouraging colleagues to join, spreading awareness of WCM gender diversity internally at their firm, and encouraging their firm to become a WCM partner.  Going forward, we plan to offer tips, videos, and other resources that engage men in the discussion and help them to do their part toward achieving gender equality. We encourage you to distribute them to your employees and/or integrate them into existing training programs for managers.

  • + × How can I learn more about WCM?

    Visit the About WCM page of our website - it has everything you need to know!

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