CFA Society Toronto, Canada’s leading society for Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholders, is proud to announce the launch of its new video podcast series, Diverse Dividends, premiering today. This groundbreaking series uncovers the diverse sectors, stories, and leaders shaping Canada’s financial and investment industry.
Hosted by Sara Loriot, Institutional Portfolio Manager at CI Global Asset Management and CFA Society Toronto volunteer, the series delivers candid, in-depth interviews with senior leaders from diverse sectors. Each 30-45-minute episode offers enginterviews with topics ranging from wealth management and asset management to fintech and compliance, to showcase the rich mosaic of career paths, challenges, and insights that drive success in finance.
“We are excited to bring this podcast series to life and empower listeners with the knowledge and insights needed to make informed financial and investment decisions,” said Fred Pinto, CEO of CFA Society Toronto. “Diverse Dividends is a must-listen resource for professionals across the financial and investment industry and anyone passionate about understanding the complexities of the Canadian market.”
The pilot episode features Heather Cook, a distinguished leader with over 30 years of experience spanning institutional client management, investment management, and private wealth management. Heather shares insights from her illustrious career, key lessons learned, and her vision for fostering diversity and innovation within the financial industry. This engaging conversation sets the tone for the series, which is designed to inspire finance professionals at all career stages.
Season 1 of Diverse Dividends will feature an impressive lineup of accomplished leaders, including Katy Boshart, President & CEO of Manulife Bank; Tanya Van Biesen, President & CEO of VersaFi; Rohit Mehta, President & CEO of Global X Investments Canada; Sean Etherington, President of CI Assante Wealth Management; Wes Hall, Executive Chairman & Founder of WeShall Investments; and Janet Bannister, Founder and Managing Partner of Staircase Ventures, and more. Each guest offers unique perspectives on leadership, industry challenges, the future of finance, learnings from their career, sector-specific insights, major challenges and solutions, emerging trends, practical advice for professionals, and what drives their passion for the industry.
CFA Society Toronto invites finance professionals, students, and industry enthusiasts to tune in and explore the world of finance and investment. New episodes will launch at the beginning of every month.
The upcoming episode line-up inlcudes:
- Episode 2: A Conversation with Katy Boshart | February 7, 2025: Katy Boshart is the President & CEO of Manulife Bank, Canada’s first branchless bank and partner in improving the financial health of Canadians. She brings 30 plus years of industry experience to Manulife from both the US and Canada. Her experience across financial services gives her a wealth of knowledge and the broad perspective needed to leverage the bank as a key differentiator for Manulife.
- Episode 3: A Conversation with Tanya Van Biesen | March 7, 2025: Tanya Van Biesen is the President and CEO of VersaFi. A passionate advocate for gender equality as a driver of economic growth and progress, Tanya is a sought-after speaker, thought leader, and architect of change.
- Episode 4: A Conversation with Rohit Mehta | April 4, 2025: Rohit Mehta is President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Global X Investments Canada Inc. (a member of the Mirae Asset Global Investments Group), where he leads the overarching strategy and affairs of the firm. His mission: To empower Canadians to achieve their investment goals, for whatever is on their horizon.
- Episode 5: A Conversation with Sean Etherington | May 6, 2025: Mr. Etherington is President of CI Assante Wealth Management, a CI Financial company, where he is responsible for the wealth management firm’s vision and overall strategic plan for the organization, working to support both CI Assante advisors and the continued growth of the company.
- Episode 6: A Conversation with Wes Hall | June 7, 2025: As the chairman and founder of WeShall Investments, a private equity firm with a diverse portfolio of companies predominantly supporting BIPOC entrepreneurs, Wes Hall comes from humble beginnings in rural Jamaica. A staunch philanthropist, Wes is deeply committed to community upliftment. He founded the ambitious and highly successful BlackNorth Initiative to help end systemic anti-Black racism in Canada.
- Episode 7: A Conversation with Janet Banister | August 1, 2025: Janet Bannister is the Founder and Managing Partner of Staircase Ventures. Janet is very active in the Canadian tech ecosystem including being Co-Chair of C100 and on the Boards of Communitech in Waterloo, Vector Institute in Toronto, and Ivey Business School. She is also a mentor at Creative Destruction Lab. In 2004, Janet launched Kijiji.ca and grew it to become one of the most visited websites in Canada.
Future episodes of Diverse Dividends will feature an impressive lineup of industry leaders, including Wes Hall, John Ehrlichman, Janet Bannister, Karl Cheong, Geneviève Roch-Dechter, Kathleen Taylor, Jessica Tan, and Fred Pinto.
Episodes of Diverse Dividends will be available on CFA Society Toronto’s website.