International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global movement that recognizes the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. Recognized on March 8, it’s a day when we pause to celebrate incredible women in our lives and at our firm – those we elevate and mentor and those who have had a meaningful impact on each of us
At Richardson Wealth, our history of investing in women dates back to 1939 when Muriel Richardson became the first woman to lead a large corporation in Canada, James Richardson & Sons, and went on to successfully run the firm for 27 years. Known for consistently putting the needs of her employees first, Muriel instituted a pension plan years in advance of other Canadian companies, as well as a benefits and group insurance program.
Today, women continue to drive industry-wide change and Richardson Wealth is at the forefront of that change. Our firm is home to remarkably talented women across the company, from entry level to our most experienced professionals. We’ve also been named on the 2021 list of Best Workplaces™ for Women – proof that we are committed to the advancement of gender equality in our corporate and public communities.
As part of our commitment to championing women, last year our firm announced the launch of a new Employee Resource Group called Illumination – a forum for women’s personal and professional development, and celebration within a network of peers at Richardson Wealth. Spearheaded by Executive Sponsor Natalie Bisset, SVP, Head of Corporate Development, this is a community designed to inspire and light the way for women at Richardson Wealth.
We also recognize outstanding women across Canada who advocate for workforce diversity and inspire tomorrow’s leaders. In 2021, Richardson Wealth joined forces with the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) by sponsoring the 2022 and 2023 Women of Courage Award. This award is presented to extraordinary women who champion our country and its values across a diverse range of causes, with courage and compassion, even if it means risking their careers, reputations and, sometimes, their lives.
At the same time however, we recognize that there is still a long way to go. Our goal is to achieve greater gender representation in the advisor population, more women in executive and senior positions, more women in all roles universally and more women clients. We continue to work towards helping women achieve financial independence and build confidence in their goals.
Today, and every day, please take a moment to celebrate the women in your life, your community and around the world.
