Toronto, ON (January 27, 2025) – While entry-level recruitment in Canada’s finance industry is nearing gender parity, advancing women to senior leadership roles remains elusive. VersaFi is addressing this challenge through its Executive Leaders Program, designed to equip senior-level career women with the tools and networks needed to excel at the highest levels of the industry.
In partnership with Felix Global, VersaFi’s Executive Leaders Program provides a dynamic six-month experience that includes executive coaching, professional development, a Facet5™ personality assessment, and a comprehensive 360-degree evaluation.
VersaFi partners actively with firms that recognize the positive impact the Executive Leaders Program has in their workplaces, including enhanced retention, and more inclusive leadership pipelines.
“Our goal is to equip women with the skills and networks needed to access critical leadership pathways and to excel in their careers,” notes Tanya van Biesen, president and CEO, VersaFi. “The cohort of women participating in our 2025 Program are exceptional contributors to their organizations, who consistently demonstrate a strong commitment to career development and advancement. This Program will position them for new and exciting career heights.”
The VersaFi Executive Leaders Program is national in scope. The following 20 women from 12 firms have been selected to participate in 2025.
- Swati Baheti, RBC Capital Markets
- Oksanna Fill, CPP Investments
- Divya Goyal, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
- Hima Katari, RBC Capital Markets
- Erin Lamont, TD Securities
- Susan McFadden, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
- Kristen Meraw, RBC Capital Markets
- Cheryl Quan, PwC Canada
- Anissa Rabia-Zeribi, CIBC Capital Markets
- Lauren Reid, National Bank Financial Markets
- Maggi Shinouda, Manulife
- Ala Stratila, Manulife
- Karine Tousignant, National Bank Financial Markets
- Mélanie Viguié-Bilodeau, National Bank
- Alena Vinogradova, BMO Capital Markets
- Julie Walcott, BMO Private Wealth
- Petra Wendroth, SLC Management
- Siaw Yun Poi, CPP Investments
- Agnes Zbroinski, RBC Capital Markets
- YiDing Zhang, RBC Capital Markets
The Executive Leaders Program is open to VersaFi members with 10+ years of experience. To date, 113 women have participated in the Program. The kick-off of the 2025 Program will be held tomorrow, January 28, 2025.
Learn more: VersaFi’s Executive Leaders Program.
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About VersaFi
VersaFi is a national, not-for-profit organization focused on accelerating equity for women in the finance sector. Founded in 1995 as Women in Capital Markets (WCM), the organization rebranded in 2024 to empower and advocate for women and gender-diverse individuals across the finance sector, at all stages of their careers, nationally. It does this by fostering a pipeline of talent at all levels; being the leading voice and advocate for gender equity in the sector; and by working with finance sector leaders to implement impactful and lasting structural and cultural change. Its community has grown to more than 4,000 members across the sector, representing Canadian bank-owned dealers and wealth managers, independent and foreign-owned dealers, asset managers, insurance companies, pension plans, regulatory agencies, exchanges, and advisory firms. To learn more, or to become a member, visit www.versafi.ca.
About Felix Global
Felix is a North American-based talent and organizational advisor with over 30 years of successful client engagements across numerous organizations of global reach in a variety of verticals including financial services, healthcare, industrial/manufacturing, technology, professional services and more. Felix offers a partnership with a team of thought leaders who deliver integrated solutions for achieving excellence in talent and organizational performance. We are experts in developing effective behavioral change & skill growth among executives and leaders with significant experience across multiple industries and functions
