In the Spring of 2008, WCM launched the inaugural WCM Executive Coaching Award — a key element in our Professional Development Program. The Executive Coaching Award was designed to help experienced women improve their promotion opportunities and keep them in the industry. Each Executive Coaching Award provides six months of individual career coaching (each award has a value of $15,000). One-on-one support from a trained and experienced executive coach has proven to help women plan their careers and equip themselves to compete in today’s corporate environment.

Our presenting sponsor, BMO Nesbitt Burns, and our exclusive coaching partner, Felix Global Corp., have collaborated with WCM to create this program that provides executive coaching services to five qualified senior women working in capital markets. This scholarship-like program provides formal career coaching and leadership enhancement for qualified, senior women working in the industry.

The inspiration for the Award arose from a WCM Benchmarking Study reporting that the number of women in the executive ranks has remained virtually unchanged since 2000. This report, combined with recent workplace trends indicate difficulty in retaining experienced women in the capital markets industry, highlighted issues such as achieving work/life balance and securing promotion opportunities. The skills learned during the coaching program are designed to help women executives overcome these and other challenges in the capital markets industry. This unique program is directed to WCM members with a minimum of ten years of experience and a significant track record of success.

Applications for the WCM 2010 Executive Coaching Award Program will be available on September 7, 2010. Winners will be announced in October 2010.

2009 Career Coaching Winners

Laura Isidean
Managing Director - Scotia Capital

Heather Kirk
Vice President, Analyst - National Bank Financial

Sandra Lokoff
Managing Director - RBC Capital Markets

Annie Ropar
Partner - RBC Capital Partners

Laurie Russell 
Vice President - CIBC Capital Markets

2008 Career Coaching Winners

Carrie Freeborough
Former Head of Canadian Sales Trading - Citigroup Global Markets Canada Inc.

Michelle Khalili
Managing Director - CIBC World Markets

Deborah Lee Chang
Vice President & Portfolio Manager, Growth Equities - BMO Harris Investment Management

Lisa Petrelli
Executive Director, International Trading - UBS Securities Canada Inc.

Mary Robertson
Managing Director - Scotia Capital Inc.