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Jen Scharien

Jen Scharien

Chair, WCM Victoria Steering Committee

WCM Victoria Chapter

In line with WCM’s national mission, WCM Victoria aims to create a female-focused network of finance professionals to drive change and advance women in our city and beyond. This can happen if we work hard to cultivate a pipeline of talented, professional women on the Island by providing a network of support, education and advocacy to help propel them forward in their careers. Our Victoria chapter provides women in all stages of their careers with professional development opportunities, including mentorship and topic-specific training, and opportunities to expand their professional networks locally and across the country.


We think Victoria is truly unique because we can do the work we love from an intimate and stunning West Coast setting, while being a part of a fast-paced, global industry. We welcome your ideas and collaboration so we can cater to the regional needs of professionals working here, and effectively advocate for women seeking leadership roles in their professions. We hope to see you at upcoming WCM events in Victoria!

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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WCM Vancouver | Profiling Professionals in Capital Markets
Thursday, October 14th 2021
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM PST

Past events

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WCM Victoria in the media

Tamara Bonn's was Interviewed on CFAX Victoria Regarding the Launch of WCM's Victoria Chapter

Tamara Bonn's was Interviewed on CFAX Victoria Regarding the Launch of WCM's Victoria Chapter

CFAX Victoria | November 21, 2017

Programs

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Since 1995 WCM has been designing and evolving our professional programming to meet the needs of professionals in Canadian capital markets. With programs curated for each level of your career, our programming provides the resources, knowledge and skill development that will propel and advance your career. Designed to support your professional development journey, discover our programs for entry, mid and executive level professionals. 

Mentorship Program | Professionals

Mentorship Program | Professionals

Be paired with a mentor outside of your firm who can guide you in establishing career goals and advance your career.

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MORE ABOUT WCM VICTORIA

Founded in late 2017, WCM Victoria's initiatives support WCM's national mission to accelerate gender diversity across the financial industry and corporate boardrooms of Canada.  In Victoria, 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 recently launched 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 Victoria 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 Victoria, 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 Victoria?

    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 2,000 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 Victoria?

    Yes. Our Victoria 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 Victoria 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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