Gender Diversity at Canada Life

The 2024 Theme of International Women’s Day is Inspire Inclusion. We spoke to some of our Canada Life colleagues to learn more about what truly inspiring inclusion means to them.

Inspire inclusion is the theme for International Women’s Day 2024.  What does inclusion mean to you?

Inclusion means feeling that you can be your true self, and that you are valued regardless of differences. It’s important that everyone can feel confident and comfortable at work, so they can succeed without any prejudices or biases.

Who inspired you as you were growing up / moving along in your career?

My parents always encouraged me to be ambitious and work hard to achieve my goals. At secondary school I was also fortunate to have a teacher who mentored me, and he connected me with other professionals in his network which I found invaluable.

Is there anyone who has championed you through your career and if so, what impact did they have on you?

At my state secondary school, I came into contact with the charity, the Social Mobility Foundation. With their support I landed an internship at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), spending 6-7 weeks across various areas of the business. It was my first insight into a professional work environment and whilst at first it was quite a shock, I quickly found it a very positive and rewarding experience.

The traditional male bread-winner image is still a prominent stereotype in society.  How do you see this from your experience in Financial Services? Are you seeing positive change?

When I attend investor group meetings, I still find mostly men in the fund manager roles, although I do believe this has improved over the years. Ultimately, representation and role models are the two important factors in driving change. Young people need to see that it’s possible for someone from any background to break into finance. Any one person breaking the mould can inspire many others to do the same, and that is when change can quickly accelerate.

Can you tell us about how you are seeking to be inclusive in your current role?

My experience with the Social Mobility Foundation had a positive impact on me and I wanted to carry this forward. I’ve had the opportunity to mentor some students with the charity, Hackney Quest and I’ve been supporting my mentee with her Maths A-level. She also shared an interest in an actuarial role, and we were able to connect her with one of the Actuaries at Canada Life UK to help her learn about the role.

Tell us about yourself?

I am a Senior Project Manager working in IT & Change and I began my journey in Canada Life UK nearly two years ago. I enjoy project management, as you genuinely get to make a difference and see the changes you deliver!

I grew up in Romford.  My parents settled in the UK from India.  Life was tough and these early experiences have naturally shaped me over the years. I’ve encountered and overcome challenges with bias over the years which has helped shape me into a resilient and passionate advocate for diversity and inclusivity. As I have got older, I have learnt to stand up for myself and I try my best not to internalise things.

Why is it important to talk about culture and inclusion?

Before me and my siblings came along, my parents experienced a lot of racism when they settled in the UK, with my parents working extremely hard to establish themselves.  My Dad worked all the hours, and my Mum went through so much too and at times was ill.  Looking back, my sister was amazing as she supported my mum, and made sure my infant brother and I were taken care of too.  She also stepped in when I was subjected to bullying at High School. Racism was common with the pathetic “oh you are different” stated when somebody I thought I knew, would use a derogatory term towards somebody else. 

If you hear or experience situations that are not fair or inclusive, please have the courage to either address them yourself or speak to someone who can help you address them. I consider myself to be empathetic and inclusive because of what I have experienced and witnessed, so I hope that I am an ally to others.

Is there someone in your life that has really inspired you or informally sponsored you in your career?

No.  With hindsight, I believe a sponsor would have benefitted me earlier in my career. I now have a mentor, and this is proving to be hugely helpful.  Leveraging their knowledge, they are helping me to see things clearer, and I would encourage anyone to develop a growth mindset whatever their age or place in their career.  I’m pleased to see we’ve introduced our Mentoring Scheme at Canada Life UK recently and it’s been great to see so many colleagues encouraged to learn and grow in their careers here.

How do you feel we could be more inclusive and accelerate our work in inclusion?

I would encourage us all to be open to learning about the people we work and speak with daily, whilst respecting their boundaries.  We need to appreciate that we all come from different backgrounds with our own unique experiences shaping who we are, so curiosity and kindness are important. 

What does International Women’s Day and its 2024 theme of #InspireInclusion mean to you?

IWD to me is a day where all women can be recognised for their daily contributions but also the continued journey towards gender equity. This is a day to take a moment to consider all those little things we do wearing our multiple hats to make things happen.   

The theme #inspireinclusion means allowing everyone a safe space to be heard and valued. The more diverse we are as an organisation, and society the better. Ultimately this will help challenge thinking and lead us forward to being more compassionate and understanding how all our contributions can make a positive difference.

Have you faced any barriers in your career? If so, how did you overcome them?

I have been fortunate with my previous jobs and my role in Canada Life within the Investment Development Unit in that I haven’t faced barriers. I think the common factor has been having a good team to work with, so even on those tough days it is good to know there is a supportive network there to help, encourage and listen to each other. I think also having good managers and mentors has always helped with getting advice and direction.

What initiatives or support do you think are important for promoting gender equality and inclusion in the workplace?

• Transparency with pay for similar or equal roles/ responsibilities.
• Promoting the family /friendly workplaces to allow the flexibility for men and women to find the best fit, whilst still staying present and engaged in the workplace.
• Promote all genders working together.
• Encourage coffee group pop up events to allow people in similar situations a forum to connect and inspire each other.
• Diversity targets should be spread across all levels in an organisation to get an even balance.

How can we encourage more women to consider a career in financial services?

I believe, there needs to be clear pathways and support for those with the desire and ability to do well. Also, continuing to work flexibly allows women (and men) with other commitments the ability to strike that balance.

Promote the changing face of Financial Services. While it is still male dominated, more women are moving towards the senior positions, and that can only occur if there are more of us in the industry!

What does International Women’s Day and its 2024 theme of #InspireInclusion mean to you?

I feel strongly about empowering people and consider myself to be a feminist. I always try my hardest to breakdown old patriarchal ways of thinking and open people's eyes to small ways they can be more inclusive to all people in life!   The people who have inspired me in life are everyday people who show kindness and empathy and back their good words with good deeds.

Have you faced any barriers in your career? If so, how did you overcome them?

If I’m being fully honest most of the barriers I’ve faced have been put there by myself. Since working for Canada Life I have allowed myself to grow in confidence and to take opportunities I would never have been brave enough to do previously. A lot of this is thanks to the amazing leadership team around me and Canada Life’s culture of progression and personal growth.

What initiatives or support do you think are important for promoting gender equality and inclusion in the workplace?

Giving people an environment in which they can truly be themselves is crucial. Something I really love about Canada Life is we provide visibility and learning experiences, where we are given the opportunity to explore different life experiences. This has the potential to open our eyes to a way of life we have never considered before – it builds understanding and empathy – these in my opinion are the building blocks of inclusion.

How can we encourage women to consider a career in financial services?

I feel that as a company we are already making great strides in being an inclusive working environment with many female members of the management team.  This has the power to inspire others throughout the company.  I also feel that education is key in inspiring a new generation. I personally feel that schools should offer lessons in basic everyday finance so that young people are equipped with the knowledge to succeed in today’s economy. This has the potential to break down misconceptions about the industry and encourage young people to pursue careers in finance.

If you could have dinner with three inspirational women, dead or alive, who would they be and why?

Marianne North – Marianne was a woman living in Victorian England who defied convention and travelled the world solo to record and paint tropical and exotic plants with such scientific accuracy Charles Darwin was a fan. I would love to meet her and hear about her extraordinary life at a time when most unmarried women couldn’t leave the house without a chaperone.

Doctor Rosalind Franklin-, she was central to the discovery of DNA which went largely unrecognised in her lifetime and has earnt her the title of the “Sylvia Plath of molecular biology". I think it would be amazing to show her how far we have come based on her discovery and what a difference it has made.

Greta Gerwig – I am a massive fan of Greta’s last three films and feel she is so talented at directing strong but realistic female roles. I would love to hear what her future plans are for her next projects.

Why do you think it is important to celebrate International Women’s Day?

Whilst International Women’s Day has been internationally recognised for over 100 years, in real terms this is an incredibly short amount of time and so much has been achieved. It provides us with the opportunity to recognise and celebrate women regardless of race, ethnicity, language, cultural, economic or political divides.

How could men contribute to promoting gender equality?

Many men now realise that far from being a threat, gender equality and inclusion can benefit them personally. Along with happier, more successful workplaces, inclusion creates better opportunities for health and wellbeing outcomes, as well as for developing a more rounded and balanced perspective. 

Sadly, this is still not a universal vision therefore we need to actively engage the passive majority.

Research has shown that the Financial Services sector has more work to do on Inclusion

A 2023 report: HM Treasury Women in Finance Charter, found that nearly 60% of signatories believe that whilst the charter is changing the face of the financial services sector, 25% believed it would take another 5 years and 15% believe it could take at least 10 years.

At Canada Life we are committed to the Women in Finance Charter.

What does equality look like in your team?

I’m very fortunate in that I have a diverse team in terms of age, gender, ethnicity and religious belief. People should be judged on their contribution and celebrated for the differences and diversity they bring.

In your opinion, how do our individual actions, conversations and behaviours have an impact on our larger society?

I believe our behaviour and cultural upbringing has a massive influence on the way we are perceived and react to the world. From a very young age we are influenced not only by the environment in which we live but also the actions of those around us. Not everyone is fortunate to be born into a loving family, live in a prosperous economy or enjoy political stability. It is not for us to judge but inevitably our individual circumstance will have an impact on the person we become and the role we play.  

Final thoughts?

It’s incredible to think that the global population is almost equally split between men (50.4%) and women (49.6%), yet according to the United Nations, women make up roughly 70% of the world’s 1.3 billion people living in poverty. On International Woman’s Day, we have an opportunity to celebrate women and girls right across the globe, remembering that their rights should never be taken for granted.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you personally?  

It’s a celebration of our achievements in the past as well as the present.  For me, it is very much about acknowledging where we have come from in making the world a better place, as well as highlighting opportunities to drive greater inclusion and understanding.  I’d love a world with no bias, no discrimination, everything far more equal and no nastiness.  I see International Women’s Day as the opportunity to make change for good.

You’ve worked for the company for many years.  Is there anyone who has championed you through your career at Canada Life and if so what impact did this have on you?

I’ve been here nearly 28 years,  During my career I’ve felt supported by some team leaders and several colleagues throughout.  They saw my ability and it was their encouragement that lead me to apply for new roles and promotions.  In return, I try and give back to the company by working hard, helping others to learn, passing on my knowledge to others, sharing paise,  I will pass on any feedback given to me by others about colleagues - as this is always good for them to  know and makes their day much better.

What are some meaningful ways in which our company can inspire inclusion and support the advancement of women in the workplace?

Overall I feel that whoever is best person for the job role they should get the job role, whatever background they are form, whatever gender and believes they have.   The company can provide  opportunities, offering secondments, enabling people to try things, encouragement.  Providing additional training especially for people who have been out of the workplace for extended periods and need support to help them return.  We must continue to nurture the talent we have, embrace diversity, and encourage people to move out of their comfort zone to reach their full potential.

Colleagues can challenge themselves, look to achieve your goals and  learn new skills  - take opportunities sent your way, believe in yourselves. 

What changes would you like to see in the industry (relating to gender equality / women in financial services etc)

Equal opportunity to me means inclusion of people whoever they are – an understanding of people.  I’d love to see everyone given an opportunity, we need to open our own minds and not just tick boxes.

If you could have dinner with three inspirational women, dead or alive, who would they be and why?

Probably one of the suffragettes,  I’d also love to chat to the actress, Emma Thompson and perhaps someone like Beatrix Potter or Florence Nightingale.