Building the Canadian Dream
is now
The Financial Services Inclusion Sessions 2024
Overcoming the 60-second Bias to Discover Hidden Talent
Session 1: Equitable and Inclusive Hiring:
Reflections from the Frontlines
Click Here to access the video recording
Session 2: Solutions to overcome your 60-second bias
Click Here to access the video recording shortly
Session 3: Transforming the Narrative of Ageing
from Negative to Positive
Postponed to 2025
Session 4: Experiences of Under-Represented Groups
December 9, 2024
12pm to 1:30pm, Eastern Time
Virtual—Click Here to register
Sponsored by
Upcoming Agenda
Past Agenda
Session 4: December 9, 2024, 12-1:30pm EST
EXPERIENCES OF UNDER-REPRESENTED GROUPS
Quiet minorities feel left out of the DEI discussion. Even in times of crisis, they are hesitant to speak out. Dr. Kate Zhang presents some riveting insights from the CPAC study on Asian Canadians. This will be followed by a panel discussion on proven solutions to address discrimination in the workplace.
DR. KATE ZHANG, Research Associate, CPAC (Chinese Professionals Association of Canada
Kate Zhang holds a PhD in Education Studies from Western University. She is currently a researcher at the CPAC Institute, a think tank that provides research-based support for the understanding and elimination of systemic barriers to equity, diversity and inclusion.
Her research focuses on equity and social justice issues, primarily in the areas of critical policy studies, race, and anti-oppressive education, with the aim of identifying and addressing barriers experienced by marginalized populations. Dr. Zhang is passionate about advocating for policies and practices that foster inclusiveness and justice within the educational landscape and beyond.
CANDIES KOTCHAPAW, CEO, DYLOTT
Candies Kotchapaw is a community builder and networker, holding Master and Bachelor degrees in Social Work from York University and a diploma in Child and Youth Work from George Brown College. While completing the Master program, Candies encountered systemic conditions that tried to prevent her from successfully completing the program. These forces included feelings of isolation in education, financial blocks, lack of mentorship and a sense that striving for greater was pointless. Candies found support in one faculty member who invested time and effort in developing her Major Research Project entitled, ‘The Politics of Social Work: Do Racialized Social Workers belong in the Practice Space of Public Policy Development?’
From this Major Research Paper, in 2016 Candies was invited to present her findings at graduate student conferences at York University at the Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies, The Global Labour Research Centre and the School of Social Work’s graduate symposium. Further, Candies was a panel presenter in Seattle, Washington at the Institute for Research on Labour and Employment (IRLE). As the only black female presenter at this conference, Candies began to interrogate how to make spaces of influence in education and the broader society more accessible for the black community. It was here that the idea of creating a program that combined mentorship with capacity building began to develop. Following completion of the Master of Social Work program, Candies founded the project called ‘Developing Young Leaders of Tomorrow, Today’ (DYLOTT).
As DYLOTT continues to evolve into a unique leadership skills development program, Candies continues to inform the program through her research into precarious work and its effects, specifically on the black community. Candies has travelled to the United Kingdom, Latvia, and South Korea to present her findings on precarious work to further structure DYLOTT to open career paths for the black community that has been otherwise inaccessible.
JEFF LAZENBY, President and CEO, Career Edge
With a career spanning over thirty years, Jeff Lazenby serves as President and CEO of Career Edge Organization, leading a dedicated team in transforming lives by assisting underserved communities in overcoming barriers to launch their careers successfully. Jeff’s responsibilities encompass overall leadership, strategy, and management of the organization.
TRACY CHONG, President and Brand Economist™, Strata Insights
Tracy has spent over 25 years as a business and brand strategist. Her formative years were spent at BBDO, FCB and other notable agencies working on global B2B and B2C brands. This was followed by years of strategy and research work for businesses like Bell, Microsoft Xbox and start-ups in neuroscience wearable tech and green tech. She then ventured into brand valuation to quantify the financial value of businesses beyond bricks and mortar to ensure brand was optimized as an intangible asset.
She co-developed the Brand Economics™ approach Identifying the organizational brand drivers and customer experience interactions with the greatest financial upside and/or risk for crisis management. She has contributed to new financial brand measurement standards working with MASB, LES and Forbes CMO Practice.
Tracy is board co-chair of the Ontario Autism Coalition, a board member of All-Saints Community Centre, and a chair of World Vision’s CEAC committee. She has been volunteering since the age of 8 with a focus on marginalized communities. She has two neuro-science patents, is obsessed with dogs, and has a lifelong passion for helping those less fortunate.
Session 3: Postponed
TRANSFORMING THE NARRATIVE OF AGEING FROM NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE
Learning Outcomes:
Learn about the demographic shifts, the new realities (pop. ageing), and the underutilization of older adults in the workforce
Learn the various types of ageism and how damaging it is to individuals, society and our economy and stress the benefits of older workers
Helen Hirsh Spence, CEO, Top Sixty Over Sixty, TEDx & International Keynote Speaker
Helen Hirsh Spence, speaker, writer, and age provocateur explains why we must confront ageism and reframe the aging narrative to live longer, healthier, and more purposeful lives. Her mindset is longevity-focused!
A well-respected and sought-after thought leader, Helen has appeared on a TEDx stage*, in major national media outlets, on television, radio, and podcasts. She believes intergenerational collaboration and age equity are essential to thriving personally, professionally and economically in the 21st century.
Helen tells the REAL story about the shift to an older demographic. She dispels age myths and tells the evidence-based story about longevity and its impact on individuals, businesses, organizations, and corporations. Helen’s messages are uplifting and provide hope, optimism, and a reality check about what it means to grow older this century.
For anyone involved in hiring, unconscious bias is a reality. Research has continued to prove race, gender, and other visible factors have an immediate impact on the way we value candidates.
Learning Outcomes:
Learn how the experts have tackled the issue with new strategies.
DR. WENDY CUKIER, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy, and the Academic Director and Founder of the Diversity Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University
Dr. Wendy Cukier, MA, MBA, PhD, DU (hon) LLD (hon), is the co-author of the bestseller, Innovation Nation: Canadian Leadership From Java to Jurassic Park and former Vice-President of Research and Innovation at TMU. She has authored more than 200 articles on aspects of diversity, inclusion and innovation. Cukier is one of Canada’s leading experts in disruptive technologies, innovation processes, and diversity and inclusion. The Diversity Institute has more than 130 full-time research staff. Projects include DiversityLeads, which has tracked the representation of women in leadership roles, and a host of projects focused specifically on women in technology. The Diversity Institute has also pioneered innovative projects such as the Advanced Digital and Professional Training program (ADaPT), the Women Entrepreneurship Hub and the Newcomer Entrepreneurship Hub. She is the Academic Research Director of the Future Skills Centre and leads the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, as well as the Inclusive Innovation and Entrepreneurship Network (IIE-Net).
Wendy received many awards for her work advancing diversity and inclusion, including the Meritorious Service Cross, one of Canada’s highest civilian honours. She has been recognized with the Harry Jerome Diversity Award, the 2019 CATA Alliance Sara Kirke Award, a YWCA Women of Distinction Award, WXN most powerful women and, most recently, the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, Community Builder Award and was named one of the International Women’s Forum 2020 Women Who Make a Difference. She has an MA, MBA, PhD in Management Science and two honorary doctorates.
LISA KNIGHT, Managing Partner, Knightsbridge
As Managing Partner at LHH Knightsbridge, Lisa’s practice focuses on VP, C-level and Board level searches where she partners with clients – primarily in financial services, professional services and energy transition – to enable them to advance their businesses through the acquisition and optimization of top talent. Lisa is passionate about DE&I and proud of her track record of delivering short lists that help her clients meet their diversity hiring goals. A holistic thinker and problem-solver, Lisa works closely with the Leadership Development team at LHH, crafting tailored solutions that incorporate assessment, search and coaching elements in an integrated approach to solving clients’ leadership challenges.
Between 2015 and 2018, Lisa led the Search Practices at LHH Knightsbridge, providing stability and direction to the business during a time of significant change, following the acquisition of Knightsbridge by Lee Hecht Harrison, the world’s leading workforce transformation company.
Prior to joining Knightsbridge in 2004, Lisa was a Partner and Director of Resourcing and Development at Highland Partners Executive Search (previously TMP Worldwide) where she developed best practices for search execution and re-aligned, trained and lead a team of 60 researchers and associates across North America.
Lisa has an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto. She is married with 3 children and resides in Toronto, Canada
TRACY CHONG, President and Brand Economist™, Strata Insights
Tracy has spent over 25 years as a business and brand strategist. Her formative years were spent at BBDO, FCB and other notable agencies working on global B2B and B2C brands. This was followed by years of strategy and research work for businesses like Bell, Microsoft Xbox and start-ups in neuroscience wearable tech and green tech. She then ventured into brand valuation to quantify the financial value of businesses beyond bricks and mortar to ensure brand was optimized as an intangible asset.
She co-developed the Brand Economics™ approach Identifying the organizational brand drivers and customer experience interactions with the greatest financial upside and/or risk for crisis management. She has contributed to new financial brand measurement standards working with MASB, LES and Forbes CMO Practice.
Tracy is board co-chair of the Ontario Autism Coalition, a board member of All-Saints Community Centre, and a chair of World Vision’s CEAC committee. She has been volunteering since the age of 8 with a focus on marginalized communities. She has two neuro-science patents, is obsessed with dogs, and has a lifelong passion for helping those less fortunate.
PAT DUNWOODY, Founder, Chief Strategy Officer, Strategicly
Pat Dunwoody is a client-focused executive who brings a strategic perspective while developing quality initiatives. Her career was built on operational excellence & situational leadership while mentoring others around her. She has spent over 35 years leading and helping organizations and industry-level committees to improve their efficiencies and customer service.
Pat collaborates with organizations across Canada to assist them by coaching emerging leaders, and their teams through development programs that increase awareness, productivity and engagement, to further their organizational goals. She believes that every individual and every team can succeed if given the right support.
Pat transitioned from the Canadian ETF Association to a new organization – Strategicly Minded Inc. as Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, where she will lead a diverse team of professionals across industries including marketing, operations, strategy, and finance. Additionally, I will be taking on the role of CEO at Mineralchemy, Strategicly’s health and wellness division, launching this month. Mineralchemy is committed to providing high-quality natural mineral products for pain management and recovery, offering holistic alternatives to conventional methods.
She is also a Board member of Prosper Canada, Elder Abuse Prevention of Ontario and Applaud.
For organizations to benefit from a diverse employee community, they must actualize their commitment to IDEA in their hiring efforts by embracing equitable and inclusive hiring practises. It’s not just about good intentions; it’s about strategic, deliberate approaches that address bias and provide consistency at each stage of the hiring process.
Learning Outcomes:
Increase your understanding of the types of bias that appear in hiring.
Improve your knowledge of current tools and tactics used to create a more inclusive hiring process.
CRAIG WORDEN, President & Chief Innovation Officer, Pollara
Craig leads Pollara’s research divisions and the development of their research techniques and products. A 25-year research industry veteran, he has led quantitative and qualitative research for an extensive array of private, public and not-for-profit sector clients – including numerous investment firms, banks, insurance companies, associations, and regulators in the financial sector.
Of note, Craig has led Pollara’s groundbreaking 8-wave Acceptance & Intolerance in Canada study, exploring Canadian attitudes and experiences regarding discrimination, bigotry, and harassment towards marginalized communities. He has appeared in print and broadcast media on hundreds of occasions, providing commentary on public opinion trends, elections, and research techniques. Craig holds a BA Honours in political science from Carleton University, and a MA in political science from Brock University.
ELLIE RUSONIK, Senior Vice-President/Lead, KCI Search + Talent
Ellie is an experienced development professional with over twenty years in the not-for-profit sector. Ellie brings broad leadership expertise in board development, philanthropy and major gift fundraising, community outreach, and marketing/communications. Ellie joined KCI in 2018 and has become known as a dynamic leader and consummate team player who has hired and coached many promising and successful leaders.
Ellie holds a BSc in Kinesiology and a certificate in Sport Administration from York University.
SAMANTHA DAVID, Vice-President, KCI Search + Talent
Samantha is an experienced non-profit leader with 30 years in the sector and diverse skills in organizational leadership, fundraising, marketing, and board relations. Samantha joined KCI in 2019 and is driven by the desire to help organizations reach their potential. Samantha challenges the status quo during the search process to ensure an equitable process that delivers the best outcome for both clients and candidates.
Samantha holds a Master of Social Work from McGill University, a certificate in Adult Education from StFX and has completed the Ivey Executive Leadership Program.
Our mission has expanded to include the full spectrum of what diversity should mean when hiring financial services talent.
- We aim to bridge the gap between personal, professional, and digital biases to help financial services organizations unearth valuable talent.
- We aim to bridge that gap by helping career prospects understand how to overcome those biases to secure a role worthy of their talents.
- We aim to bring employers and talent together to find innovative ways to breakthrough the bias.
Our History
Canada is expected to welcome 1.45 million immigrants over the next three years, with Statistics Canada projecting that the proportion of immigrants in our population could reach up 30% by 2036 and more than half of them would be of Asian origin. Of the Government of Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2023-2025, more than 20% are expected to be skilled workers, including experienced finance professionals.
For the past two years, the Summit was called the Financial Summit for Newcomer Advisors. It was a first-of-its kind forum to foster insightful discussions, exchange experiences, and collectively develop strategies to assist newcomer financial professionals navigate the complexity of gainful employment in Canada’s financial services sector. Our goal was to empower these professionals by providing innovative work-integrated training programs, coaching and mentorship, and workplace cultural sensitivity support to position themselves for successful and fulfilling careers in the long run.
The summit also addressed the recruitment challenges encountered. By understanding and addressing these issues, our goal was to create a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce that can truly leverage the broad knowledge capital, the depth of experience, unique insights, and expansive networks that global finance professionals bring to Canadian financial industry employers.
Understanding these employment challenges, we saw overlap with other visible minorities. We saw the greater need to creat solutions as a broader group when so many face the same issues.
2024 Sponsorship Inquiries
General Inquiries
Pat Dunwoody
patdunwoody@strategicly.com
Sponsorship
Dinesh Kumar
dinesh@369global.com
Press
Tracy Chong
tracy@stratainsights.com
Photo Gallery
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The event concluded with a reception and meaningful networking in a room filled with students, business leaders, and industry partners.
If you enjoyed this event and/or are interested in learning more about similar initiatives across different industries, follow us on social media to stay in touch.
If you are interested in learning more about how you or your organization can get involved and be a leader in this space, email us at hello@369konnect.co and we can discuss.
Our Previous Summits
Our 2023 Financial Summit for Newcomer Advisors, was presented by 369 Global, RBC, Canadian ETF Association (CETFA) and powered by 369Konnect
Speakers included: MPP Deepak Anand, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Amit Brahme, Neelam Advani, Pat Dunwoody, Shaun Darchiville, Fazaad Bacchus, Vithu Ramachandran, Sabina Michael, Rick Wood, Joady Guyot, Margaret Bennett, Wanzi Silva, Abhiram Prabhu, Muraly Srinarayanathas, and Shara Santan!
2023 Speakers & Sponsors
2023 Keynote Speaker
MPP Deepak Anand
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Amit Brahme, Head Newcomer and Cultural Client Segment at the Royal Bank of Canada, introduced MPP Deepak Anand, who shared his thoughts at the Financial Summit for Newcomer Advisors 2023.