Professional Mentorship Program
Be paired with a mentor outside of your firm who can guide you in establishing career goals and advance your career.
Accelerating gender equity in finance
The Emerging Leaders Program provides highly talented women with a unique and valuable professional development opportunity; positioning them for success in their careers by equipping them to compete for progressively senior roles. This seven-month program offers women with five to 10 years of finance experience personal and group professional coaching sessions with our esteemed coaching partner.
This program is a hybrid — candidates from across North America are encouraged to apply. The Welcome Reception, Networking Lunch, and Closing Reception will be held in person, in Toronto. All recipients are encouraged to attend. The skill-build sessions and group coaching will be held virtually.
Candidates must be able to commit to completing the pre-work and be available to attend monthly group sessions over the program’s seven-month timeline. Upon selection of program recipients, you will be provided with timelines, requirements, and expectations for participation in the program
Participants must meet the following criteria:
Applications will be measured against these criteria:
1. Completed Application by August 8, 2025.
2. Resume
Should outline a minimum of five years and a maximum of 10 years in the finance sector (1 point)
3. Letter of Recommendation
Include a signed reference letter from a senior-level executive at your organization, endorsing your potential for leadership and advancement within the organization and/or sector. The letter of recommendation should be submitted in the application survey when prompted or sent to awards@versafi.ca. (5 points)
4. Your response to the following questions (found in the application link):
June 9, 2025: Applications open
August 8, 2025: Applications close
October 2025: Successful candidates are notified
November 2025: Opening Reception (in-person event in Toronto)
December 2025: Skill Build #1 (virtual)
January & April 2026: 2 personal coaching sessions (virtual)
February, 2026: Group Coaching Session & Networking Lunch with Tanya van Biesen WCM CEO (in-person event in Toronto)
April, 2026– Skill Build #2 (virtual)
May 2026– Closing Reception (in-person event in Toronto)
Candidates must be able to commit to completing the pre-work and be available to attend group sessions over an seven-month period. Once the winners are selected, a program guide will be provided to outline time-frame and expectations. This program is open to candidates across North America; we encourage applications from candidates nationwide. Participants outside of Toronto are invited to attend any in-person event at their own travel cost.
The program was excellent, I only wish it was the full year and had more sessions, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you so much.
The group sessions were incredible.
To date, 310 women have completed the Emerging Leaders Program and moved on to great success in their careers.
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
Aidi Zheng, BMO Capital Markets
Aimee Palmer, IG Wealth Management
Alexandra Minning, BMO Capital Markets
Amoolya Rao, PwC
Ananya Chakravarti, Scotiabank
Annabelle Luo, TD Securities
Ashley Copeland,CIBC Capital Markets
Athena Gao, RBC Capital Markets
Bonny Hang, RPIA
Carly Plate, RPIA
Carries Zhu, TD Securities
Christina Blackman, BMO Capital Markets
Christina Li, RPIA
Danielle McArthur, RBC Capital Markets
Ekaterina Zinovyeva, Scotiabank
Elsa Chu, RBC Capital Markets
Emma Raine, CIBC Capital Markets
Erin Meisner, Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network
Gabriela Garcia, Manulife Investment Management
Gillian Zhang, CPP Investments
Ingrid Rico, Stifel Canada
Jaymi Sidor, BMO Private Wealth
Jenipher Nevin, Canso Investment
Jesse Kaler, Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
Jessica Do, TD Securities
Joyce Yin, OPTrust
Julia Bond, CIBC Capital Markets
Katie Bennet, Manulife Investment Management
Katie Lachapelle, Canaccord Genuity
Kimberly Roland, TD Cowen
Kristen Widlicki, Scotiabank
Ksenia Korotaieva, RBC Capital Markets
Lara Cornel, Stifel Canada
Laurence Patry, iA Global Asset Management
Lina Dihay, Scotiabank
Megan Goel, RBC Capital Markets
Meghan MacLeod, National Bank
Meredith White, CPP Investments
Michelle Frost, Manulife
Sandra Kagango,BMO Capital Markets
Sara Guo, IMCO
Sejal Solanki, RBC Capital Markets
Sharon Dhaliwal, Stifel Canada
Shelby Lee, CIBC Capital Markets
Simmi Sandhu, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Stephanie Quan
Tam Nhan, Manulife
Tasmina Hossain, iA Capital Markets
Teresa Venturino, RBC Capital Markets
Tiffany Zhang, National Bank
Traci Wai, HSBC
Vibhutee Bhatia, MUFG
Vivian Yau, Manulife Investment Management
Vivian Zhao, RPIA
Wendy Cai, CPP Investment
Wendy Ren, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Agnes Chang, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Aigul Narzhanova, TD Securities
Akmaral (Mara) Yermagambetova, MUFG
Alley Dunlop, BMO Capital Markets
Amanda Helen Collinge, Raymond James Ltd.
Amy Zhong, KPMG
Andrea Iljkic, CIBC Capital Markets
Ashley Small, BMO Capital Markets
Aynour Salama, ATB Financial
Camille Matute, PwC
Carolyn Tait, Global Banking and Markets, Scotiabank
Chelsea Stellick, iA Financial
Chioma Ilekuba, ATB Financial
Courtney Davenport, CIBC Capital Markets
Cristina Cismaru, National Bank Financial Markets
Emily Phair, Manulife Investment Management
Emma MacKay, CPP Investments
Emma Querengesser, Raymond James Ltd.
Eva Luk, RBC Capital Markets
Evelyn Yung, Nicola Wealth
Genevieve Eccleston, Canaccord Genuity
Helen He, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Janice Hong, Manulife Investment Management
Jenica Kostynuik, RBC Capital Markets
Jenna Young, TD Securities
Jennifer Granatstein, RBC Capital Markets
Jessica Caruso, TMX Group
Jetty Zhang, Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO)
Julia Leonardelli, Global Banking and Markets, Scotiabank
Juliana Faircloth, TD Asset Management
Lana Difrancescomarino, RBC Capital Markets
Jessica Chen, Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO)
Lara Liebovitz, OPTrust
Laura Baker, CIBC Capital Markets
Laura Sofia Garzon Franco, CIBC Capital Markets
Laura Young, BMO Capital Markets
Lauren McDaid, Global Banking and Markets, Scotiabank
Madison Winger, Global Banking and Markets, Scotiabank
Marie-Pier Gosselin, iA Investment Management
Meghan Cheung, Manulife
Meghan McAlister, BMO Private Wealth
Melissa Mielkie, Manulife
Nicole Choy, Private Pension Partners Investments Inc
Pooja Reddy Gurrala, Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel Inc.
Priyanka Chandran, BMO Capital Markets
Rebecca Yao, TD Securities
Sabrina Basile, Manulife Investment Management
Salima Neek Gilani, Manulife Investment Management
Samantha Nagaratnam, PwC
Sandrine Léonie Siewe
Shelley Warren, Manulife
Shu Wai Chu, HSBC
Simina Giurcovici, ATB Financial
Stacey Ferraro, Global Banking and Markets, Scotiabank
Sydney LeGrow, RBC Capital Markets
Talisa Kean-Newland, Onex
Tania Rae Armstrong-Whitworth, Canaccord Genuity
Yi Ran Zhang, National Bank Financial Markets
Yiyang Xu, Raymond James Ltd.
Yurisleidy Zoreda Vazquez, Canaccord Genuity
Zarqaa Shaikh, OPTrust
Ishita Abbott, Manulife Investment Management
Catherine Bell, CPP Investments
Maurissa Bell, George Weston Limited
Kristina Brand, BMO Capital Markets
Kezia Burke, CIBC Capital Markets
Gursahiba Chandhoke, Citi
Abigail Denyer, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Erica Docherty, RBC Capital Markets
Kelly Downie, RBC Capital Markets
Jessica Fu, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Emma Herron, Imperial Capital
Cynthia Huang, RBC Capital Markets
Jacquie Hughes, Manulife
Judy Hui, IMCO
Amanda Irwin, Manulife Investment Management
Jenna Jouppi, BMO Capital Markets
Sally Kan, OMERS
Kelsey Keane, National Bank Financial
Shaguna Khazanchi, TD Securities
Lilyana Khona, CIBC Capital Markets
Carmen Lam, TD Securities
Michelle Lam, TD Securities
Genevieve LeGresley, CIBC Capital Markets
Peggy Loa, TD Securities
Sucharita Mishra, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Diana Najjar, BMO Capital Markets
Monica Nettleton, OMERS
Avery Opie, RBC Capital Markets
Genevieve Payette, HSBC Securities
Lindsay Saldanha, OPTrust
Bailey Schepikoff, Manulife Investment Management
Shankeetha Selvarajah, Manulife
Mary Shannon, Manulife Investment Management
Leah Stuart, RBC Capital Markets
Alexandra Szatan, CIBC Capital Markets
Andrea Topić, National Bank Financial
Lindsay Wakelin, BCI
Lily Wong, IMCO
Cathy Xue, Instar Asset Management
Liqiao Zhang, CPP Investments
Sophia Bendaoud, CIBC Capital Markets
Allie Bradford, CPP Investments
Charlotte Cassels, TD Securities
Kathryn Deveau, TD Securities
Diana Di Luca, RBC Capital Markets
Jenna Dicks, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Kathleen Dixon, BMO Capital Markets
Asya Farberov, BMO Capital Markets
Oksanna Fill, CPP Investments
Anjali Fonseca, Manulife
Sarah Gauthier, National Bank Financial
Rosa Han, TD Securities
Fiona (Yichun) Hu, RBC Capital Markets
Shannon Jones, BMO Capital Markets
Elena Kazina, CIBC Capital Markets
Purnima Kohli, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Alina Kouklinskaia, TD Securities
Stephanie Krohn, National Bank Financial
Stephanie Langlais, Manulife
Angie Macedo, CIBC Capital Markets
Lina Nouraly, BMO Capital Markets
Brittany Owens, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Christiane (Tia) Peric, CIBC Capital Markets
Alex Prowse, Manulife
Lauren Reid, National Bank Financial
Alexandra Schroder, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Flora Sexton, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Farnaz Shahed, RBC Capital Markets
Hannah Smerek, National Bank Financial
Elizabeth Steele, HSBC Bank Canada
Elena Stolovitsky, Manulife
Anne-Sophie Thene, National Bank Financial
Cindy Veilleux, National Bank Financial
Bessie Wat, CIBC Capital Markets
Meadow Wu, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Janice Yoon, RBC Capital Markets
Kaylee Arnold, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Lauren Bellai, TD Asset Management
Anna Brighton, RBC Capital Markets
Cheryl Cheung, Manulife
Brittany Clarke, CIBC Capital Markets
Emily Coolican, RBC Capital Markets
Lisa Deakin, HSBC Bank Canada
Ghenima Djellout, National Bank Financial
Erin Garner, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Lynne Gleave, CIBC Capital Markets
Josie Ho, TD Securities
Rebecca Hogan, BMO Capital Markets
Martina Irinkov, CIBC Capital Markets
Lauren Looi, CIBC Capital Markets
Sandra Malcolm, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Tarah Masniuk, CIBC Capital Markets
Stacy McBurney, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Elizabeth McCord, BMO Capital Markets
Kelly McKenna, CPP Investment Board
Shirley Miller, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Kristina Miner, TD Securities
Sara Ng, Manulife
Nicole Persad, CIBC Capital Markets
Kuleen Raj Kathuria, BMO Capital Markets
Janet Richardson, Manulife
Elizabeth Saati, Manulife
Kay Schonberger, RBC Capital Markets
Karina Simone, CIBC Capital Markets
Kowshika Thiruparanathan, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Erin Urquhart, RBC Capital Markets
Meng Ye, RBC Capital Markets
Katie Baglole, TD
Tamara Bonn, TD
Elizabeth Bouthillier, Franklin Templeton Investments
Tamy Chen, Bank of Montreal
Fernanda Rios Cruz, Scotiabank
Meaghan Einav, Manulife
Ashley Engbloom, CIBC
Sanaa Khatri, Scotiabank
Laura McElwain, HSBC
Poornima Muralidhar, RBC Capital Markets
Danielle Murphy, RBC Capital Markets
Stephanie Nguyen, Bank of Montreal
Claire Oberhofer, CIBC
Anna Pal, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Kait Pavletich, CIBC
Bhiravi Ravichandran, Scotiabank
Ciara Sawicki, Scotiabank
Ashraf Shariff, TD
Alexandra Syrnyk, CIBC
Carol Tam, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board
Selina Wang, RBC Capital Markets
Lindsay Sinclair, RBC Capital Markets
Sabrina Wu, MUFG Securities
Christina Yang, National Bank Financial
Adriana O. Gibbon, CPP Investment Board
Arezou Bahari, CIBC Capital Markets
Carmen Firmani, BCI
Christina Alexander, Citibank
Christine McNerney, Periscope Capital
Fatoumata Binta Barry, BCI
Helen Zhang, CIBC Capital Markets
Jamie See, TD Securities
Melanie Dussarrat, CIBC Capital Markets
Melissa Mooney, Scotiabank
Nicole Dason, CIBC Capital Markets
Vanessa Parrack, Scotiabank
Veleyny Saavedra, Scotiabank
Wen Tian, RBC Capital Markets
Ashley Pulkys, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Catherine Chu, RBC Capital Markets
Claire Vranic, CIBC Capital Markets
Evise Kopliku, Manulife
Jashneet Duffy, TD Securities
Nina Fiorentino, BMO Nesbitt Burns
Patricia Cernes-Banner, Scotiabank
Amy Baryshnik, Alignvest Capital Management
Christina Brennan, Scotiabank GBM
Anca Bucataru, TD Securities
Bridget Campbell, BlackRock
Krati Chhajer, CIBC Capital Markets
Kristen Dickson, NATIONAL Equicom
Laura Emmerton, RBC Capital Markets
Deborah Grosdanis, Scotiabank GBM
Andrea Hucal, BMO Capital Markets
Georgeta Iacobelli, TD Securities
Candice Jay, Pembroke Private Wealth Management
Charissa Lai, CPP Investment Board
Geneviève Madore, Manulife
Aleksandra Nedialkova, CIBC Capital Markets
Katie Perdue, Scotiabank GBM
Katie Tabesh, National Bank Financial
Jennifer Tkachuk-Tremblay, TD Securities
Maria Amilcar, BlackRock
Jessica Haystead, BMO Capital Markets
Heather Killian, CIBC World Markets
Emma Johnson, CIBC World Markets
Acushla Vestby, CIBC World Markets
Lisa Cho, CIBC
Bronwyn Ward, CPP Investment Board
Mimi Majumder, Manulife Asset Management
Joegina Philip, National Bank Financial
Susan Calder, RBC Capital Markets
Carla Deeks, Scotiabank GBM
Maida Dalmacio, TD Securities
Nicole Scott, TD Securities
Kim Brand, Scotiabank
Priya Arora, CIBC
Subashini Chandran, Scotiabank
Po Chu Fong, ITG Canada Corp
Alicia Mair, Scotiabank
Ly Nguyen, Scotiabank
Jane Segal, Ontario Teachers Pension Plan
Sophia Soofi, CIBC
Amanda Tang, National Bank Financial
Alina Weaver, CIBC
Thank you to our coaching partner, Felix Global.
Felix Global 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.
