Ontario Steering Committee

Why I'm Involved with WCM

I joined WCM as a way to give back- to help young women entering the capital markets industry, as well as to educate students about career opportunities and skills needed to succeed in the industry. While I continue to serve as a mentor to many students and young professionals, in the process I became a champion, advocate and sponsor for several colleagues and peers. Through my volunteer involvement with WCM, I built a vast network of like-minded individuals, whom I rely on immensely for my own professional development. Together we share ideas, work collaboratively and push boundaries to improve gender diversity at all levels in the capital markets industry.

Why I'm Involved with WCM

Mentorship and guidance were and continue to be paramount in my ability to navigate my career. WCM allows me to give back and help young women entering their careers and also collaborate with like-minded people to see how we can educate, push boundaries and ultimately, get more females entering the field.

Why I'm involved in WCM
I first joined Women in Capital Markets in 1995, and over my career have been highly engaged as an advocate of the advancement of women, championing young professionals, by acting as a mentor and coach.

Why I'm Involved with WCM

To inspire young women across Canada to pursue studies in science, engineering, technology and math, and to educate them about the various rewarding opportunities for a career in finance.

Why I’m involved with WCM
Many women ahead of me in banking have had to deal with inequalities and unconscious gender bias in the workplace. Sadly, many of these same inequities still exist.  I believe that I am giving back to all of those women who have come before me by volunteering with WCM to strive towards equality between men and women. I have also had my fair share of excellent women mentors and role models along the way and would like to give back in the same capacity.

Why I’m Involved with WCM:
To promote gender diversity, support equal opportunity, and facilitate career development for the next generation of women in leadership in the capital markets industry.

Why I'm involved in WCM:

I joined WCM in 2008 while I was in high school and had no idea what ‘capital markets’ meant. The High School Liaison committee was instrumental to my foray in the industry by opening my eyes to career paths outside of the math and science streams. I’ve remained involved in the organization ever since, volunteering on various committees because I’m passionate about increasing awareness of careers in the industry and advancing women in their careers.

Why I'm involved in WCM:

Mentorship and the ability to envision and navigate a path as a woman in this industry was critical for me in my career.  WCM represents an extraordinary platform for me to make a positive contribution and to share my experiences with young women who are either contemplating, or have started, a career in the industry.

I hope with my passion for mentorship and promoting both diversity and inclusion in the workplace, can inspire and empower women as they navigate their own career paths

Why I'm involved in WCM:

WCM has played an active role in promoting not only women in the Capital Market industry, but also in supporting equity, diversity and inclusion. The WCM events, initiatives and programs provide an opportunity to network with a diverse group of industry professionals and to learn skills that can promote personal and professional career growth.Through my involvement with WCM, I have benefited from the programs and mentorship and look forward to supporting others and giving back.

Why I'm involved with WCM

I relaunched my career in the Canadian capital markets through WCM’s Return to Bay Street program. WCM provides valuable support to women, like me, to build networking connections, elevate professional development and realize career passions in the capital markets. I am very excited and happy to give back to WCM through volunteering and work collaboratively with students and young professionals to promote gender equity and inclusion in the capital markets.

Why I'm Involved with WCM

While in a casual conversation, a woman murmured to me curiously: ‘why don’t we just help other woman, I mean, help them for no reason?...’ The thought was left hanging in the conversation as we went on to discuss other topics, but the question lingered.  As I pondered how I could answer this adequately, I realized I couldn’t and at that very moment I felt empowered and motivated to change that.  So in response, I eagerly set out to share my life with others and leveraged being a first generation female business owner, a successful woman, a mother, a daughter, a singer, a professor, a certified yoga instructor and a good friend.  My capacity to contribute continued to grow and I felt moved to help others and immense gratitude for the opportunity.

I have so many women who have helped me in my life from highly accomplished business women, to dear friends, to sisters and two daughters.  I am involved with WCM for a variety of reasons, but the first and foremost is to be a part of a community that creates an empowered atmosphere for woman to think, change and grow.

Why Am I involved with WCM

“Find yourself some girlfriends”. This was advice given to me after I graduated from university and joined the financial industry. I am involved in Women in Capital Markets so that I can share ideas with like minded women while building a support system and advancing our place in the industry.

As a woman of colour, I have faced and overcome many barriers. I was raised in such a way that it was expected of me to put my head down and work, but a successful career involves so much more. At a young age, in my first full-time position, I was able to meet my mentor who took me under his wing and provided me with the guidance needed to succeed. Given that my mentor was so influential in my career path and still is, my involvement in the WCM mentorship program is a way for me to pay it forward by providing the same support for other women. Having shared experiences is the best way to build connections and develop an environment of support with shared goals and this is what WCM is for me.

Why I'm Involved with WCM

Empowering female professionals is critical to their personal development and career success. WCM encourages me to widen my perspective on new ways in which we as professionals can make a long-lasting impact and enables me to raise awareness across the industry. By challenging the narrative, I believe that I can help drive positive change in gender diversity and advocate for the women of the future.

Why I'm Involved with WCM:

I've been thinking very long and hard lately about how I would like to contribute back to my community. I've been fortunate as a FinTech Consultant with Capco in Toronto to make the switch from working in the office at the First Canadian Place to working remotely with Global Financial Services Clients around the world, and now working in a hybrid environment. Working remotely has allowed me to pause and reflect on the importance of giving back to the community, and to find ways to double down on building and maintaining working relationships with a real (albeit, at times, virtual) sense of belonging and purpose. I was able to find that by fulfilling my consulting duties to my Clients, and as a Postgraduate at Harvard University in the Harvard Business Analytics Program.

With Toronto beginning to slowly get back on its feet again, I'd like to continue to find ways to give back to my hometown and be part of (re)building a great in-person community. When I saw the opportunity to join the WCM Ontario (Toronto) Steering Committee as an Ambassador, I felt immediately compelled. It's an honor to put forth my organizational and leadership skills in the Professional Development & Events track because it was actually some of the WCM Events that sparked interest in the Toronto Financial Services Industry for me in the very early days of my career many years ago.

I've lost count of how long I've been a Member with WCM (10+ years?), but it's been great to see WCM evolve throughout the years. Like the WCM, I've always strived to find ways to support equity and diversity, and it was this initial mission that drew me into supporting the WCM. I know that institutional norms and behaviors surrounding equity and diversity are driven by history, perspective and a series of choices. I've studied it with intense academic curiosity and a very discerning mind as a Women's Studies Minor in Undergrad at the University of Windsor, and I've both welcomed and challenged my experiences as a Woman. I also know that the future will always hold great promise for those who value equity and diversity, and are willing to take a stand and make some relevant and informed decisions. I look forward to contributing back with my time as an Ambassador with WCM's Ontario (Toronto) Steering Committee, and hopefully to see you in person at the next WCM event!

Stephanie Quan completed her post-graduate from Harvard University with the Harvard Business Analytics Program (HBAP). She graduated from Queen’s University, Smith School of Business with a Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence (MMAI), specializing in Natural Language Processing, and from the University of Windsor, Odette School of Business with both a Master of Business Administration (MBA), and a Bachelor of Commerce, Honors (B.CommH), specializing in both Management Science and Marketing Strategy. Stephanie is a Certified SAFe 5 Lean Portfolio Manager.

Why I'm involved with WCM

What modest success I have had (or will have) through this stage of my career I owe, in large part, to female mentors – both those more senior and peers. I would like to pay that experience forward by not only serving as a mentor, but also helping to further strengthen the community of women in finance so that we all can lift and be lifted up. At this point, our collective success is dependent on the strength of our small, but fiercely strong network.

Why I'm Involved with WCM:

Since early in my career, I’ve been a member of WCM. Over the years I received mentorship and guidance which helped shape my success. My involvement with WCM now is a way to give back and support the next generation of women in the capital markets industry.

Why I am involved with WCM:

WCM gives me the opportunity to amplify my voice to support and promote women in the financial services industry. 

Growing up in a society where structural inequality limits women’s access to financial knowledge and resources, I have seen how these limitations negatively affect families and society as a whole. Through WCM I can promote the importance of diversity in the financial services industry.

Why I am Involved with WCM:

I was first aware of WCM through friends who were mentees on the Professional Mentorship program, and I was able to see first-hand the benefit they received from the program. However, my direct involvement didn't come until I became more involved with recruitment events - particularly campus recruitment. The gender skew was very pronounced and stories from young women considering a career in finance were too often too similar: few visible female leaders and less of an established peer group to socialise the opportunities available. From this, I became involved with WCM's University Mentorship program. I think WCM has a unique role in helping promote a diverse and inclusive culture across the industry, and is an opportunity to provide a supportive pathway for those starting their careers.

Why I am involved with WCM

Having been an avid participant of WCM's programs during my university years and professional life, the opportunity to give back and empower a new generation of young female professionals in finance is an initiative I'm incredibly passionate about.