Calling all future Women in Capital Markets

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First, the good news, you do not need to be a Wolf of Bay Street to succeed in capital markets.

When I speak to young women about what a career in capital markets actually looks like, I tell them it is challenging, interesting and that the potential career paths are endless.

There is no one type of person who succeeds in this field. The most important thing you can do is to bring your authentic self to work. Introverted, extroverted, quiet, serious, outgoing: ultimately you need to be who you are. If you are trying to pretend to be something or someone else, you are not bringing your best ideas to the table.

Diversity brings diversity of thought, creative ideas and ultimately, better business results.

Now, some not so good news. There just are not enough women who are looking for careers in capital markets. When we are looking to hire for new roles, it can be challenging finding women interested in the positions.

To that end, one of our top priorities at Scotiabank is to show as many young women as possible what a day in the life actually looks like. This way, when they make choices about their careers, it is with a better understanding of the role and the work.

This is why we were excited to host Women in Capital Markets’ Job Shadow Day on April 7, where female high school students take over Toronto’s Bay Street to learn firsthand about careers in this industry.

These are really interesting careers and young women shouldn’t self-select out of them because they think they wouldn’t fit into the environment.

So my advice to young women interested in this field – get out there and find out more about it. Reach out to potential mentors and see if this is something that you want to dive into. Participate in opportunities to job shadow.

Finally, throughout your career, remember to not be afraid to ask for what you want. Challenge yourself, continue to learn and remember that your insights are valuable.

For business leaders, we can all create more dynamic environments that better reflect our communities by reaching out to young women and welcoming them into this field.

Marian Lawson, Executive Vice President, Global Financial Institutions and Transaction Banking