2024 Program Participants Named
Toronto, ON (November 7, 2024) – Today, VersaFi is pleased to announce that 61 women from 18 different Canadian firms have been selected to participate in its 2024 Emerging Leaders Program, bringing the total number of participants to 310 since its launch in 2014. This professional development program is designed for high potential women five to 10 years into their careers, who are on a path to senior leadership.
Over seven months, each participant receives a personal and professional assessment through the globally-recognized Facet5™ personality assessment, as well as group and individual coaching sessions, skill-building workshops, and networking opportunities. The Emerging Leaders Program is facilitated in partnership with global coaching expert Felix Global.
“At this stage of their career, many women face unique barriers that have the potential to hinder their advancement,” notes Tanya van Biesen, president and CEO, VersaFi. “Our Emerging Leaders Program was created to help equip these talented women with the skills and strategies needed to overcome these challenges, while simultaneously preparing them for more senior leadership roles. By investing in these women, firms are not only supporting their professional growth but also benefit from higher job satisfaction, improved retention, and a stronger, more engaged workforce—ultimately preserving key talent and reducing turnover.”
To be selected, these women have already demonstrated outstanding ambition and skill, as well as a commitment to fostering equitable work environments. Many have also overcome significant challenges on their path to success, including excelling in male-dominated environments, navigating the often difficult return from career breaks, and balancing work and family care responsibilities.
VersaFi congratulates its 2024 Emerging Leader participants for successfully being accepted into the Program:
| Bella Ainani, CPP Investments | Kelly Alvarez, CIBC Capital Markets | Rachel Amirault, CPP Investments |
| Abirami Ayyaluswamy, Manulife | Ragini Barrenkula, Manulife | Keren Beletsky, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan |
| Carla Bolingbroke, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets | Tala Bushnaq, RPIA | Samantha Chan, RBC Capital Markets |
| Phoebe Cheung, PwC Canada | Tina Chou, TD Securities | Evelyn Chow, CPP Investments |
| Sanam Dhaliwal, ATB Financial | Fiona Fan, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets | Charlène Fontaine, National Bank Financial Markets |
| Alicia Garbarino, Manulife | Claudia Garner, RBC Capital Markets | Kathleen Glofcheskie, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets |
| Ritika Goel, RBC Capital Markets | Andréanne Grégoire-Boudreau, Desjardins Global Asset Management | Shawna Griffin, RBC Capital Markets |
| Stéphanie Hamel, National Bank Financial Markets | Angie Han, TD Securities | Monica Heysel, CIBC Capital Markets |
| Rebecca Hoffer-Kahansky, OPTrust | Jennifer Israel, CIBC Mellon | Manroop Johal, BMO Private Wealth |
| Ana Juncu, CIBC Capital Markets | Kayla Keim, RBC Capital Markets | Molly Kong, IMCO |
| Jacqueline Kopemond, RPIA | Jillian Lam, ATB Financial | Eni Lamllari, CIBC Capital Markets |
| Cherry Li, BMO Capital Markets | Helen Liao, CPP Investments | Madi Lott, RBC Capital Markets |
| Vivian Luu, RBC Capital Markets | Adrienne Macdonald, National Bank Financial Markets | Amelia Meng, CIBC Capital Markets |
| Sydney Milgrom, CPP Investments | Anh Nguyen, CIBC Capital Markets | Kerry Nield, Alberta Investment Management Corporation |
| Ebuni Vivian Okonkwo, CIBC Private Wealth | Cristina Oliveira, Manulife | Tuyet (Katie) Or, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets |
| Joanna Pollock, RBC Capital Markets | Easha Rai, SLC Management | Samra Ramzan, TD Securities |
| Andrea Scarlato, BMO Private Wealth | Marina Su, CPP Investments | Victoria Suitor, BMO Private Wealth |
| Tiffany Sun, CIBC Capital Markets | Vanessa Taylor, RBC Capital Markets | Claire Townsley, CIBC Capital Markets |
| Lovelyn Toyo, RBC Capital Markets | Julia Vriend, CIBC Capital Markets | Daphne Wallace, RBC Capital Markets |
| Mengqi (Grace) Yang, Manulife | May Yeung, Global X Investments Canada Inc. | Sara Zgheib, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan |
| Tongtong Zhou, ATB Financial |
The Emerging Leaders Program is open to VersaFi members with five to 10 years of experience from all areas of finance. Learn more: VersaFi’s Emerging Leaders Program
