WCM Leadership Awards

Apply by October 6th

Recognizing Leaders of Change in Finance

WCM is excited to announce its annual WCM Leadership Awards has been expanded to include two new awards: the WCM Trailblazer Award and the WCM Ally Award.


Developed in 2007, the WCM Leadership Awards celebrates exemplary individuals and firms across Canada’s financial industry that share an inspiring vision for the future: an equitable workplace.


Through six awards categories in total, the Awards showcases leaders of change that help drive a mission that can harness the full potential of North America’s financial sector - one that includes more innovation, diverse and impactful teams, improved businesses, and new levels of prosperity.


The six awards categories include: WCM Rising Star; WCM Trailblazers (NEW); Outstanding WCM Volunteer; WCM Transformational Leadership;WCM Excellence in Innovation; and WCM Ally (NEW). Details for each category, including nomination dates and awards criteria is listed below.


At WCM, we believe that recognizing women rising through the ranks into senior leadership, outstanding volunteers that contribute to the work of WCM, innovators in the diversity and inclusion space, transformational leaders and true allies, is an important way of celebrating individuals who are driving change.


A full history of our award recipients can be found here.

WCM Awards

Application DETAILS

Rising Star, Trailblazers & WCM Outstanding Volunteer Awards:

  • Resume or LinkedIn Profile
  • A 500-word (max) reference letter outlining the nominee's achievements and how they meet the specific award criteria. Please provide examples of initiatives, efforts, programs and/or policies that showcase their achievements

Excellence in Innovation Awards:

  • 500-word (max) letter outlining the nominee's achievements/initiative and how they meet the specific award criteria.
  • A summary that clearly outlines the data that supports this innovative approach

Transformational Leader & Ally Awards:

  • Resume or LinkedIn Profile
  • 500-word (max) letter outlining the candidate's achievements and how they meet the specific award criteria. Please provide examples of initiatives, efforts, programs and/or policies that showcase their achievements.
  • One additional letter of support from senior leadership, supporting your nomination of this candidate for this award and reinforcing how the candidate meets the award criteria.

*Nominations and self-nominations are permitted.

See eligibility criteria below.

KEY DATES

August 1, 2023: Nominations Open

October 6, 2023: Nominations Close

December 4, 2023: Awards Reception

AWARDS CATEGORIES | CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

  • + × WCM Rising Star Award

    Recognizes up to 10 high-performing women who have demonstrated professional excellence early on in their careers, and are on the path towards progressively senior roles. Candidates are strong advocates for equity in their workplace and have undertaken efforts to improve gender equity by educating their peers, engaging men as allies, and/or actively supporting the advancement of other women in the industry.


    ELIGIBILITY

    • Junior-Mid level women professionals (approximately 3-6 years of experience)
    • Must be a WCM full member
    • A woman currently working in any sub-sector of the North American finance industry



  • + × WCM Trailblazers Award

    Recognizes up to 10 high-performing women professionals who have demonstrated professional excellence, and are on the path to the C-Suite. Candidates are strong advocates for equity in their workplace and have undertaken efforts to improve gender equity by educating their peers, engaging men as allies, and/or actively supporting the advancement of other women in the industry.


    ELIGIBILITY

    • Mid- Senior women professionals (approximately 6-12 years of experience)
    • Must be a WCM full member
    • A woman currently working in any sub-sector of the North American finance industry

    Note: WCM Board Members are not eligible for this award.

  • + × WCM Transformational Leadership Award

    Recognizes up to four senior women leaders who have made significant, impactful, and measurable contributions to improving equity at their firm. Candidates demonstrate equity literacy, have measurably contributed to the advancement of a diverse talent pool internally, and/or are actively working toward more equitable and inclusive practices, policies, and culture. Candidates have cultivated an awareness of barriers faced by equity-deserving groups amongst their peers, and/or influenced their workplaces by inspiring their team members and management to actively contribute toward building a more inclusive workplace.


    ELIGIBILITY

    • Senior women professionals (approximately 12 + years of experience)
    • Must be a WCM full member
    • Currently working in the Canadian finance industry
    • Has not been a WCM Champion of Change in the past 2 years


    Note: WCM Board Members are not eligible for this award.

  • + × WCM Award for Excellence in Innovation (Category open to WCM Sponsors Only)

    Awarded to up to two people, groups, departments or firms that have taken bold steps to improve equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) through a new and innovative approach. These recipients have attempted to approach EDI innovatively, with a comprehensive and thoughtful strategy that is results-driven, with measurability and accountability as key components.


    ELIGIBILITY

    • Must be employed at a WCM Gold, Large, Mid, or Affiliate sponsor firm
    • Must provide data that backs up the impact of innovative approach
    • The initiative must have taken place in the last 36 months

    Note: WCM Board Members are not eligible for this award.

  • + × WCM Ally Award (Category open to WCM Sponsors Only))

    Awarded to up to two men and/or gender-diverse professionals, who have taken bold steps to improve equity, diversity and inclusion on their teams. These allies have formed a comprehensive and thoughtful strategy around improving equity that is results-driven, with measurability and accountability as key components.


    ELIGIBILITY

    • Men & Gender Diverse folks employed at a WCM Gold, Large, Mid, or Affiliate sponsor firm
    • Has not been a WCM Champion of Change in the last two years.
  • + × WCM Outstanding Volunteer Award

    Awarded to up to two volunteers who have surpassed the typical expectations of a WCM volunteer. The volunteer will have demonstrated impressive leadership and initiative, setting an exceptional example to other volunteers, with an elevated commitment to improving equity in the finance industry. Candidates contribute significantly to increasing WCM’s reach and impact, by developing strong relationships and assisting WCM in the delivery of relevant programming and events, designed to accelerate the progress of diversity and inclusion in the finance sector.

    ELIGIBILITY

    • Has held a WCM volunteer position for a minimum of two years
    • Must be a WCM member

    Note: WCM Board Members are not eligible for this award.

    CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
    Nominees are judged based on the following:

    1. Leadership & Initiative: How has the nominee taken on a leadership role with a WCM Steering Committee, surpassed the typical expectations of a volunteer, and led by example?
    2. Impact: How has the volunteer made a significant impact in their time with WCM? How have their efforts resulted in increasing the reach and impact of WCM projects and initiatives? How have they contributed to advancing WCM’s mission (have their efforts increased membership, WCM’s profile, important strategic relationships, impactful programming, etc)?

WCM Award Recipients

WCM has been recognizing trailblazing leaders since 2007

Past Award Recipients

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