Emerging Leaders Program
Mid-level professionals: break through to the next level of your career with individual and group professional coaching sessions.
Accelerating gender diversity in finance
To learn more about this program sign up for our info session on September 10th.
Since 2010 our Return to Bay Street (RTBS) Program has played a pivotal role in retaining women in the sector by providing a pathway back to their successful careers after migration or an extended period of leave.
Applications will be collected during the first three weeks of each cycle
This program will continue to bring experienced women back to the mid to senior roles from which they left, rather than having to work their way up the ladder again.
See eligibility criteria below.
All candidates will receive:
Eligible candidates are women and gender-diverse individuals in the process of returning to the workforce who:
*If you have completed Rotman’s Back to Work program we encourage you to apply and highlight transferable skills.
Components include:
Cycle 1:
Cycle 2
Versafi has not just helped me find a job—they helped me rediscover my purpose and rebuild my life. They saw potential in me when I had almost lost sight of it and provided me with the tools and support to realize my aspirations. Today, I am thriving in my new job, balancing my career with motherhood, and feeling more fulfilled than ever. After a year in the company as an individual contributor and a contract staff member, I was promoted and made a full-time employee. I am deeply grateful for their dedication to empowering women, and I am also proud of myself for seizing every opportunity that came my way. They didn’t just change my life—they gave me the confidence to change it myself.
Being an award recipient of the Return to Bay Street Program for 2019 was the exact leverage I needed – at this exact time in my life – to relaunch a career in the Canadian Capital Markets. It’s admirable that WCM and all the sponsoring partners have stayed committed to creating a path that enables women like me, find a place and voice again – in the careers and markets we love!
(note: this program was formerly referred to as the WCM RTBS Program)
I was skeptical at first, given that I didn’t have any Canadian capital markets experience having recently immigrated to Canada… Through the Program, I built my network, and successfully relaunched my career with BMO Capital Markets. The RTBS Program was a game changer for me as it removed the barriers, I faced in entering the Canadian capital markets.
The RTBS program, sponsored by WCM, has provided me an opportunity to reinvent my career. The comprehensive support, provided through introductions, networking, and mentoring greatly increase the likelihood of success, both within the program itself, and beyond. I am very fortunate to have heard about this program and would not hesitate to spread the word. Thank you WCM and all the wonderful women making this happen.
(note: this program was formerly referred to as the WCM RTBS Program)
RTBS gave me the opportunity to meet unique bank leaders and explore many areas within the Canadian capital markets. They recognized my skills and experience and helped me relaunch my career. I get to follow my passion and for that I am forever grateful!
The RTBS Award was the driver to relaunch my career in Capital Markets. I am confdent that I will build a successful career at CIBC, thanks to WCM.
(note: this program was formerly referred to as the WCM RTBS Program)
The RTBS Award helped me relaunch my career after an 8 year break from banking. It allowed me to do an internship with BMO in two different areas which led to a fantastic role on the Structured Solutions desk on the trading floor.
It gives me great pleasure to congratulate these outstanding women who are relaunching their careers with the ability to make an immediate contribution to the firms they are joining. In addition, I would like to recognize the incredible commitment that the Canadian Banks are making by partnering with WCM to seek out this tremendous talent pool. Their support of the program and ongoing desire to contribute to the positive momentum in diversity and inclusion is admirable.
(note: this program was formerly referred to as the WCM RTBS Program)
This is an amazing program that helped me relaunch my career. If you have financial services experience and are looking to return to work, this is the program for you.
Being the 2018 RTBS Award recipient has been a fantastic experience for me! If you have taken time off to spend with family, moved from another country or switched career paths, this is your opportunity to launch your career in Canadian capital markets.
The Return to Bay Street program was invaluable in reentering finance, especially in a country where I had never worked before and did not have a network to reach out to. The program allowed me access to key decision makers on Bay Street in exactly the areas I was interested in.
Regardless of how long you are out, the first step can be intimidating. Are my skills still relevant? Do I start from scratch? How do I position my years off as a strength? This is where the RTBS team’s expertise come in – they provide you support and guidance on how to position yourself to find the right opportunity. In my mind, the program is a win-win for both the applicants and the employers.
While there is no guarantee of permanent placement after the contract has been completed, 90% of program participants have completed their work terms and continue to work in capital markets today.
Lynda Obianuju Oji -Ukomadu, Mackenzie Investments
Preethi Bhat, Mackenzie Investments
Yasemin Cetinel, RBC
Amy Wood, CIBC
Karen Law, Mackenzie Investments
Chimno Okeke, Scotiabank
Erica Lai, RBC
Ifeanyi Otisi, CIBC
Jen Provan, BMO Capital Markets
Kseniia Tokarieva, RBC
Inyeneobong Edunoh, Manulife
Mahmer Hamza, RBC
Shruti Sood, OTPP
Catherine Ezeife, TD
Alishba Sheikh, TD
Tai Oyedeji, TD
Mahreen Haque, TD
Nishar Nwanozie, TD
Tarang Agarwal, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Caroline Cruickshank, CIBC Capital Markets
Mary Juwape, BMO Capital Markets
Kavi Khandelwal, TD Securities
Mary Macharia, RBC Capital Markets
Oyinkan Ogungbemile, RBC Capital Markets
Omobola Ogunti, BMO Capital Markets
Adeola Ogunyemi, Manulife Investment Management
Zhen Qin, BMO Wealth Management
Sue Ann Van Damme, Mackenzie Investments
RTBS Recipient, Manulife Investment Management
Catherine Winchell, Gluskin Sheff + Associates
Sabrina Wu, RBC Capital Markets
Bunmi Alao, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Krishnaveni Anantharaman, TD Wealth
Yamiko Chanje-Nkanza, Manulife
Grace Efezokhae, BMO Capital Markets
Naina Garg, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Zahra Hussain, RBC Capital Markets
Aileen Limketee, BMO Capital Markets
Sheri Liu, BCI
Nishar Nwanozie, BMO Capital Markets
Yemi Obigbesan, BMO Wealth
Morayo (Mo) Olujobi, BMO Capital Markets
Ahudiya Osiri, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Alix Quashie, Mackenzie Investments
Kenya Shaimanova, BMO Wealth
Hao Tian, CIBC Capital Markets
Nicole Turnbull, TD Wealth
Mirella Villela, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Nicole White, BMO Wealth
Sara Zheng, BMO Capital Markets
Samantha Amerasinghe, BMO Capital Markets
Julia Barsky, BMO Capital Markets
Ruth Burk, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Josephine Franks, Manulife
Valerie Grimba, RBC Capital Markets
Madiha Javed, Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
Maggie Lane, TD Wealth
Aigul Narzhanova, TD Securities
Nike Omotayo, TD Wealth
Negar Tabrizi, Scotiabank GBM
Samira Amini, OTPP
Alana Cherwenka Cameron, MacKenzie Investments
Caroline Escott, TD Wealth
Ximena Fierro Langle, Scotiabank GBM
Jacqueline Fry, TD Wealth
Jemi Onyejiaka, BMO Capital Markets
Connie Raddatz, BMO Capital Markets
Erica Roa, MacKenzie Investments
Ivoneke Taylor, OTPP
Katrin Tosine, BMO Capital Markets
Lovelyn Toyo, RBC Capital Markets
Kristine Beese, BMO
Lisa Brown, Scotiabank
Tiffany Dinh, BMO
Anita Ho, RBC
Maria Hunt, CIBC
Dimitra Kappos, BMO
Roanna Kim, RBC
Leila Kulbayeva, TD
Ella Liapis, RBC
Rajeshwari Nair, TD
Claire Blessing, RBC Capital Markets
Kimberly Berman, BMO Capital Markets
Christine Darling, Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets
Lina Dihay, National Bank Financial Markets
Hannah Green, TD Asset Management
Carol Lee, BMO Capital Markets
Amandeep Minhas, BMO Capital Markets
Christine Sauriol, RBC Capital Markets
Mela Bihuniak, National Bank Financial
Ingrid Blauer, BMO Capital Markets (Montreal)
Anshu Grover, RBC Capital Markets
Vesna Gmazel, TD Securities
Dionne Klein, CIBC Capital Markets
Anita Lee, RBC Investor & Treasury Services
Binah Nathan, BMO Capital Markets
Annette Niebuhr, BMO Capital Markets
Joanna Pollock, RBC Capital Markets (Montreal)
Beverly Sahota, BMO Capital Markets
Elizabeth Seger, CPP Investment Board
Ariane Stren, Scotiabank
Tanja Bey, RBC Capital Markets
Christina Caney, TD Securities
Roberta Carano, Scotiabank
Michelle Fiebig, National Bank Financial Markets
Maria Hunt, BMO Capital Markets
Karin Huo, RBC Capital Markets
Seong Kim, BMO Capital Markets
Meric Koksal, CIBC
Ilaria Rubbini, TD Securities
Jennifer So, BMO Wealth Management
Ellen Bernardeau, National Bank (New York City)
Andreea Constantin, RBC
Susan Cowan, BMO Capital Markets
Robin Harris Porter, BMO Capital Markets
Helen Thomas, BMO Capital Markets
Judy Tredgett, Scotiabank
Barbara Glassford, BMO Capital Markets
Christie MacDonald, BMO Capital Markets
Rakhi Tejani, National Bank
Mary Ann Mendes, BMO Capital Markets
Catherine Staveley, BMO Capital Markets
Sheralyn Mills, BMO Capital Markets
As an industry, we lose a significant number of female talent just mid-way through their careers – a loss which has extensive implications for firms and the financial sector.
VersaFi’s Return To Bay Street Award (RTBS) offers a large-scale response to this female brain-drain, by uniting firms in an unparalleled sector-wide approach to address the gender gap in the senior ranks of finance, to ensure the pool of experienced female talent is accessible to firms, and to support firms in achieving their internal diversity strategy.
RTBS has grown to become Toronto’s most established and prominent returnship. The combined participation, support and resources of our RTBS partners allows the program to scale beyond what an individual firm could realistically achieve. Through RTBS, partners gain access to an incredible pool of skilled and experienced female talent who are seeking to relaunch their careers in capital markets on both the buy-side and sell-side. These candidates have proven success in mid to senior-level capital markets roles, represent an invaluable part of the talent pipeline and are ideal candidates for hire.
The ultimate aim is for these candidates to transition into permanent roles following their returnship and grow into successors for leadership positions.
