To mark International Women’s Day, The Analyst is proud to profile five impressive Bay Street CFA charterholders. These women, all awarded their charters at various points over the last three decades, talked with us about their careers, mentors, and advice, and about what’s critical in delivering on the industry’s goals for diversity. We learned that there are many myths about women in capital markets, and that much has changed over 30 years, but the exceptional quality, intelligence, and dedication these women bring to their clients, firms, and the industry has been impressive, and unwavering.

Deborah Leckman, commissioner and director, Ontario Securities Commission, CFA 1990

A range of experience like Deborah Leckman’s is rare; in the past, she has both run global equities at a major Canadian pension plan, and headed a Canadian bank’s retail sellside investment research group. Currently, she serves as an OSC commissioner—a role she describes as the highlight of her career, mainly because it “is a tremendous challenge to balance investor protection issues and maintain vibrant and healthy capital markets given how quickly the industry is evolving.” Her experiences have enabled her to bring tremendous perspective to how she views regulatory oversight and policymaking, which, in turn, serves the entire industry.

Leckman’s advice to those early in their careers is to have “a desire to continually learn, an openness to ideas that are different than your own, a sense of humility, and the ability to not take yourself too seriously.” The best advice she herself ever received was to understand the importance of her own integrity and reputation—something she has done very well at.

Leckman recognizes that, when it comes to delivering on the industry’s goals for diversity, many steps are needed to add up to significant change. These steps include finding ways to encourage girls to consider careers in the investment industry, having more women in decision-making roles in portfolio management and research, and gaining a better understanding of why women self-select out of the industry, so that change can take place.

Dagmara Fijalkowski, head, global fixed income and currencies, RBC Global Asset Management, CFA 1997

In November 2016, Dagmara Fijalkowski was appointed to RBC Global Asset Management’s most senior decision-making group: the executive committee. In its announcement, the firm highlighted that it would “benefit from her energy and clear view,” and praised her long-standing commitment to being a champion of change.

Fijalkowski’s success is rooted in her knowledge, commitment, and drive. One of the characteristics she likes most about the financial industry is how one is able to measure success through performance. She is also excited by “the challenge of figuring out what lies ahead.”

To date, Fijalkowski’s career highlight has been managing the fixed income and currencies teams. She has found leading people to be incredibly rewarding; in part because it requires one to think ahead and focus on removing potential road blocks to people’s peak performance.

When it comes to critical next steps for delivering on the industry’s diversity goals, she suggests that diversity attracts diversity. “It’s up to those of us already in the industry to become active ambassadors for our profession,” she says.

Jaqui Parchment, senior partner, Toronto office leader, Mercer Canada, CFA 2000

Jaqui Parchment has built an impressive career on Bay Street, where she leads a large team and is a driving force behind securing the financial well-being of her clients. One of the most influential people in her life has been her mother, from whom she learned the importance of approaching a career with courage and resiliency, and how to balance being a firm but caring leader.

What advice does she have? It’s about delegation, Parchment says. “Effective delegation allows you to have personal career success and balance at the same time, and it allows you to mentor and groom others for success.”

Parchment has firm views on how to deliver on the finance industry’s diversity goals. The industry needs “leaders who passionately believe diversity is a business imperative and recognize the power of data and analytical tools,” she says. “Mercer research shows that leaders who are willing to personally engage and promote diversity have a greater impact than those who are trying to meet quotas or check the box.”

Marian Hoffmann, portfolio manager, Sionna Investment Managers, CFA 2006

Marian Hoffman finds her role as a portfolio manager rewarding for both the client work and the continuous learning, which includes meeting business leaders who inspire and deliver on critical business models. Part of Hoffman’s success has been due to her philosophy of having strong convictions, weakly held, allowing her to take decisive action on good ideas, but not leaving her too boxed in if underlying facts shift.

Hoffman has spent most of her career at Sionna, a company built around the belief that diversity in perspective, experience, gender, education, and background leads to stronger results. She speaks highly of her work environment and its culture of diversity, and encourages those who are starting out in the industry to be curious and ask boundless questions. She also notes the significant influence her husband and parents have had on her and the critical role mentors have played, particularly when they’ve questioned and challenged her.

Eileen Jurczak, director, trading products, BMO Capital Markets, CFA 2013

Eileen Jurczak is breaking myths and educating a whole generation of young women on the capital markets industry, all while achieving success in her day job.

To start with the myths, when I ask her what she finds most rewarding in capital markets she says “the culture” and then elaborates that “trading products fosters an entrepreneurial atmosphere, with a balance between autonomy and teamwork that allows each employee to add value while developing skills and leadership abilities.”

Jurczak is making big contributions to education, a critical component of driving the industry’s diversity goals. In 2015, she successfully started Bay Street Deconstructed, a not-for-profit organization that provides an interactive educational program on Bay Street and capital markets for Grade 10 students. As for best advice she’s received in her career? “Focus on skills, not your job title, and be open to different career opportunities that develop your skills.”