The concepts and insights I learned from personal coaching was very helpful. I will continue to use aspects of what I learned and apply them for the rest of my career.
Executive Leaders Award Program
Applications open September 5th, 2023Refine your executive skills and accelerate your career trajectory by overcoming barriers to break the glass ceiling.
The Executive Leaders Award Program provides senior women with a unique and valuable professional development opportunity, positioning them for continued success by overcoming the barriers set to prevent access to advancement and enhancing their skills along the way. This six-month program offers women with 10+ years of experience in finance executive coaching and personal development sessions.
To date, 93 women have benefited from this hybrid program and have moved on to the highest ranks in their finance careers.
The Executive Leaders Program includes:
- Six months of executive coaching through coaching partner Felix Global;
- Ten professional development sessions;
- Facet5™ professional personality assessment and debrief meeting; and
- 360-degree evaluation and report.
Candidates from across North America are encouraged to apply. The Welcome Reception will be held in person, in Toronto. All recipients are encouraged to attend in person. The skill-build sessions and coaching will be held virtually.
**Program cost of $7,800 CAD + HST will apply to those accepted into the program.
Eligibility
To apply, ensure that you:
- Have an active WCM Membership
- Are currently employed at a senior leadership level within the finance industry at a WCM sponsor firm of Gold Leadership, Large or Mid-Global Financial Institution level
- Have a minimum of 10 years of professional experience in finance. All sub-sectors included.
- Are applying with the support of your firm
- Submit a complete application that includes all of the components listed below
* Candidates must be available for a six-month period to work with an executive coach under a mutually agreed upon schedule. Once the program recipients are announced, a further memorandum of understanding will be provided at a special meeting. The memorandum will outline the time period and commitment expectations between the recipient and the executive coach.
Candidates will be assessed on:
Commitment to career advancement
Leadership abilities
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) championship
Support from leadership (Strength of reference letter)
Application Components & Scoring
1. Resume: should outline a minimum of 10 years in the finance industry (1 point)
2. Letter of Recommendation: must be from a manager or senior individual in your firm that demonstrates the endorsement by senior level executives regarding your potential for leadership and advancement. (5 points)
3. Your response to the following questions (found in application link):
- Provide measurable examples that outline your commitment to your career development (may included; professional development opportunities, further education, training or credentials, commitment to learning and development etc.) (3 points)
- Share examples in your career of when you have assumed leaderships roles and/ or exhibited characteristics of leadership (3 points)
- Share any examples of obstacles you have overcome in your career journey (3 points)
- Share how you have championed Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. (could include ways that you have given back through volunteering with WCM or the greater community) (3 points)
- Briefly outline your career aspirations over the next 3-5 years. (Be as specific as possible) (2 points)
- Outline why coaching at this level will be beneficial to your career and what you hope to get out of it (must complete but not scored)
Program Timeline
September 5, 2023: Applications Open
November 6, 2023: Application Deadline
Early December 2023: Successful Candidates Notified
February 15 2024: Program Kick-Off (Toronto, in person)
August 2024: Program Concludes
September 10, 2024: Closing Dinner (Toronto, in person)
I was pregnant when I applied and was very hesitant about the program. As it turns out, it was the best thing I could have done. The program helped me transition back to work more focused and aware of my goals. The coaching and the patience of my coach with my schedule, has let me “hit the ground” running on my return.
Executive Coaching Recipient
I moved from working in hedge funds (in a challenging post 2008 market) and broadened out my skill set. I found my coach, Susan Richardson, and the program to be instrumental in both of my moves that came shortly after my award. I now work a relationship manager at an asset management firm, where I bring my actuarial experience to LDI work with clients, as well as my capital markets experience. I have also given back as promised as I am active in the Women in Leadership program.
Executive Coaching Recipient
The coaching has been invaluable to actively manage my own career. It gave me confidence and strategy.
Executive Coaching Recipient
The lasting impact on my career was the coaching itself versus the recognition - it built confidence and self awareness.
Executive Coaching Recipient
Empowered my decision making process, give me confidence to speak up and ask for more advanced roles, more conviction to speak up and make changes.
Executive Coaching Recipient
It helped me get more sponsors in my organization and helped me focus on working on a few skills which were critical in me getting the promotion to the next level.
Executive Coaching Recipient
Past Winners
The Executive Leaders Program has advanced the careers of 93 female professionals, with all award recipients moving into increasingly senior positions in their finance careers. Congratulations to the below recipients of WCM's Executive Leaders Program.
2023
Anne-Marie Monette, RBC Capital Markets
Archie Sachdeva, Manulife
Ashleigh Patterson, Gluskin Sheff & Associates
Bridget Higgins, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Élodie Fleury, National Bank Financial Markets
Heather Killian, CIBC Capital Markets
Holly Brooks, Manulife
Karen Couldrey, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Kiki Lin, Manulife
Kim Pham, National Bank Financial Markets
Laura Miller, RBC Capital Markets
Lisa Deakin, HSBC Bank Canada
Maria Tihotchi, BMO Capital Markets
Mehreen Siddique Manulife
Norma Valles, TD Securities
Sandra T. Giannou,National Bank Financial Markets
Valcony Sun, PwC
Yasmin Nasser, RBC Capital Markets
2022
Patricia Corcoran, Manulife Investments
Carla Deeks, Scotiabank
Jacqueline Green, CIBC Capital Markets
Miao Hong, TD Securities
Sedef Inci Ozcelik, RBC Capital Markets
Brittany Owens, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Natalie Serebrennik, BMO Capital Markets
Gayatri Sriram, Manulife Investments
2021
Barbara Foy-Pilchner, Manulife Investments
Roanna Kim, RBC Capital Markets
Meric Koksal, CIBC Capital Markets
Mary Ann Mendes, BMO Capital Markets
Sarah Thompson, RBC Capital Markets
Mathilda Yared, National Bank of Canada
2020
Roberta Carano, Scotiabank, Global Banking and Markets
Joanne Hing, BMO Capital Markets
Maria Hushovd, RBC Capital Markets
Alana Johnston, Scotiabank, Global Banking and Markets
Priya Radha, CIBC Capital Markets
Louisa Spector-Noel, Scotiabank, Global Banking and Markets
2019
Danielle Clements-Lewis, Scotiabank
Luana DiCandia, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
Maria Laura Gimena, Scotiabank
Faiza Vassanji, National Bank Financial
Catherine Zhang, Scotiabank
2018
Alicia Quinn, Scotiabank
Ekta Mendhi, CIBC
Jennifer Long, Scotiabank
Jiena Chen, TD Securities
Karin Bergeron, Scotiabank
Roseanne Palumbo, TD Securities
2017
Andreea Amariei, TD Securities
Deanna Harada, Scotiabank
Erika Osmond, Scotiabank
Tara Kennedy, TD Securities
Stephanie Wolfe, BlackRock
Marta Cano, Scotiabank
Anastasia Kotsidis, Scotiabank
2016
Elizabeth Daponte, Scotiabank GBM
Cheryl M. Ferguson, BMO Capital Markets
Joanne O'Hea, Director, RBC Capital Markets
Priya Radha, Scotiabank GBM
2015
Paula Czach, Scotiabank
Mistine Lauzon, Goldman Sachs
Andrea Morwick, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Rebecca Pang, CIBC
2014
Julie Cowan, Morgan Stanley
Kirsten Kennedy, BMO Capital Markets
Catherine Staveley,BMO Capital Markets
Beata Swist, National Bank Financial
2012
Charlotte Daughney, TD Securities
Viktoriya Gruzytska, CIBC
Nicola Ray-Smith, Scotiabank
Wendy Smith, Scotiabank
Synthia St-Michel, Intact Investment Management
2011
Diana Avigdor, Barometer Capital Management
Susanna Cicic, CIBC
Chint Kulkarni, CIBC
Sandra Tittlit, BMO Capital Markets
Hatice Unal, ITG Canada Corp
2010
Julie Card, Ascent Investment Management
Patricia Graham, RBC Capital Markets
Sheryl Holmes, CIBC
Kathryn Smith, TD Securities
Camilla Sutton, Scotia Capital
2009
Laura Isidean, Scotia Capital Ascent
Heather Kirk, National Bank Financial
Sandra Lokoff, RBC Capital Markets
Annie Ropar, RBC Capital Markets
Laurie Russell, CIBC Capital Markets
2008
Carrie Freeborough, Citigroup Global Markets Canada Inc.
Michelle Khalili, CIBC World Markets
Deborah Lee Chang, BMO Harris Investment Management
Lisa Petrelli, UBS Securities Canada
Mary Robertson, Scotia Capital Inc.
Thank you to our coaching partner, Felix Global.
Felix is a North American leader in providing superior talent solutions to organizations that value strong leaders, strong talent and strong cultures. Felix was founded on a commitment Strength in People™. We live that commitment every day by delivering a responsive, cost-effective, customer-centric approach to talent solutions, aimed at exceeding goals and results for our valued customers and their organizations.
With over 25 years of experience, our solutions have benefited best-in-class organizations from a wide range of industries, including Financial Services, Technology, Life Sciences, Telecommunications, Energy, Retail, Manufacturing, Not-for-Profit and Government. As a provider of professional and Executive coaching services, we focus on enhancing leadership effectiveness and impact, increasing leaders’ ability to lead during times of external and internal change and incorporate the needs of each individual leader, ensuring an experience based on coach-client fit. More information available at www.felixglobal.com.
