A conversation with Nadine Guimond

Being a young professional in today's working world is challenging, but it's easier when you have mentors and people who encourage you to dream big and go after what you want. I spoke with Nadine Guimond of Tangerine Bank to talk about importance of having a community of supportive women, and words of wisdom she shares with young professionals.  

How did the partnership between Tangerine and Young Women in Business start? Was it a long process? 

The partnership between Tangerine and Young Women in Business, Toronto Chapter was a natural fit. We had already been supporting the Vancouver Chapter as part of our #BrightWayForward community investment and sponsorship program that works to inspire self-esteem, teamwork and leadership, and encourage a sense of belonging and acceptance. I was first introduced to Miranda McKie, President of the Toronto Chapter, via email by a Vancouver colleague toward the end of 2015. When I met with Miranda in early 2016, she was very inspiring. She shared some of her personal challenges while launching her career and how she overcame obstacles to the point of being motivated to build a community of support for other young women embarking on their careers or entrepreneurship. I was quite excited about her plan to bring Young Women in Business to Ontario. It was a pleasure to support and be a part of the inaugural conference on March 26th.

Can you tell us a little bit about your role at Tangerine? 

My role at Tangerine is Community Lead for our Ontario physical locations. At Tangerine we’re committed to helping Canadians live better lives by empowering them to make smarter decisions with their hard-earned money. Part of my job is to create opportunities for people to learn about this approach and see what we’re all about, ranging from organizing our presence at trade shows to hosting workshops and seminars. My favourite aspect of the role is helping to activate our #BrightWayForward platform by working with community groups and charity organizations.

Why do you think it's important for an organization such as Young Women in Business to be existing? Specifically now?

It’s important for an organization such as Young Women in Business to exist to help eliminate the barriers that still exist for women so they can achieve success and reach their full potential. Young Women in Business helps overcome these barriers by creating opportunities for women in the community to learn and be inspired by one another.

What is something you want people to takeaway after attending a Young Women in Business conference? 

Important takeaways for attending any type of conference is to know going in what you’d like to get out of it. For example, if you set an intention of connecting with someone new or to chat one-on-one with a guest speaker to ask a specific question, you’re more likely to move beyond your comfort zone to make it happen. It’s also good to put into practice what you’ve learned soon after attending, or to share what you learned in order to help retain the new knowledge.

Any special career  tips you like to share with people? 

Dream big, imagine the life you wish to achieve. Work on a plan and gradually build the skills you need to make it happen. It may not happen right away, but don’t get discouraged, spend time developing yourself in such a way that helps you achieve more happiness, fulfillment and success.

What is most important thing you've learned throughout your career as a woman in a corporate business environment? 

The most important thing I’ve learned as a woman in a corporate business environment is to tap into community-building opportunities within the workplace. At Tangerine, these opportunities include a weekly Toastmasters meeting, group mentoring through our Women in Leadership program as well as regular volunteer opportunities. Having a sense of community and the ability to connect with others on topics that are not necessarily work-related has allowed me to thrive.

Thank you Nadine and the whole Tangerine family for their continued support of YWiB Toronto! We couldn't do this without you!

Questions to ask yourself about your personal brand

Last week I was presented with the opportunity to venture to NATIONAL's Front Street office to learn more about building my personal brand, a workshop through their National Exchange, thought-leadership initiative. The workshop was fantastic, and I came away with some really great insights about building a personal brand, and taking your current one to the next level. As young women in business, this is a vital skill, especially in the Marketing, PR and Communications industries. Be Future Ready was presented by Kim West and Joanna Wilson of NATIONAL. Here are some questions to start asking yourself as you begin to build your personal brand:

Do you want to define your own brand, or do you want someone to define it for you?

The answer SHOULD be that you want to define your own brand. If you don't, someone else will do it for you, and it may not be true to your authentic self.

What do you want to be known for?

This is the biggest question I ask myself as I move forward in my career, where do I see myself, what do I want to accomplish? How do I want others to see me?

What do other people describe me as?

The team at NATIONAL suggested that every year you should aim to go for coffee with three people in your organization. Someone senior to you, someone junior to you and someone who you have differing opinions with. Ask them how they would describe you and the work you are doing to provide feedback and insight into the person others perceive you as.

What is your speciality?

I struggle with this question, A LOT. I'm a jack of all trades, master of none. What sets me apart? What skills do I have that no one else does? Does my speciality have to be a hard skill like graphic design, or can it be a soft skill such as collaboration?

What can you brag about?

I, and many other young women in my life, find it difficult to talk about ourselves, because we are afraid of bragging. But, your personal brand is all about what sets you apart, what makes you and your story bragworthy. Ask your friends what sets you apart, what amazing skill or quality are they jealous of?

Where can I add value?

You can ask yourself this question, but also those around you. Ask your co-workers how you can add value to them, or to the company. Ask yourself how you can add value to your personal life, or personal goals.

Stay tuned for a future Personal Branding Workshop with Young Women in Business, Toronto - COMING SOON!

Young Women in Business Toronto Announces First Monthly Meetup

TORONTO, Ontario – May 20th, 2016 - Young Women in Business (YWiB) Toronto will be hosting their first networking meetup, Getting in on the Ground Floor, at Tangerine Café Downtown Toronto at 221 Yonge St. in Toronto from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on May 25th. “Getting in on the Ground Floor is intended for new grads to learn from inspirational women,” said YWiB Toronto President, Miranda McKie. “Our hope is that guests will leave our meetup feeling inspired and excited to find a workplace that they will enjoy and thrive in.”

Amandah Wood, founder and editor of Ways We Work, is the keynote speaker for the meetup who will provide insightful and inspirational accounts of various women she has interviewed for her digital publication.

Tickets for Getting in on the Ground Floor can be purchased on the YWiB website for $5.

About YWiB

YWiB provides a central forum to connect ambitious young women from across educational fields, careers, and industries. YWiB believes that building leadership skills and a personal network can help you reach your fullest personal and professional potential. YWiB supports this through events and programs that focus on providing members with the skills and support to achieve success on their own terms and become engaged members in their communities.  

About Ways We Work

Ways We Work is a digital publication focused on telling stories and getting first-hand accounts of how people do the work they love. The idea that we can make a living doing the work that we love is driving more people to pursue their passions everyday.

For further information, contact:

Victoria Stacey Director of Marketing 705-716-0757 victorias@ywib.ca

Amandah Wood, Keynote Speaker - Getting in on the Ground Floor

Amandah Wood, Keynote speaker - Getting in on the Ground Floor

Join us for Getting in on the Ground Floor, Young Women in Business Toronto’s inaugural meetup.

Getting in on the Ground Floor is an exciting networking event for new grads to learn from like-minded women on their path to starting a career.

We’re thrilled to announce Amandah Wood as the keynote speaker at the event. Amandah is the Founder and Editor of Ways We Work, a digital publication disseminating stories and first-hand experiences of people doing the work they love. It explores both the successes as well as the challenges they face.

Ways We Work likes to ask the ‘behind the scenes’ questions to get a real sense of the grit, hustle and organizational skills required to succeed in an individual’s chosen career path.

Amandah will be providing both insightful and inspirational accounts of the numerous women she has interviewed. You will leave with various considerations for your own business or workplace, learning from women who are passionate about their work, to find a workplace that you will not just enjoy, but thrive in.

We enthusiastically welcome all new grads and young professionals interested in making new connections and flexing their networking muscles to check out our event. Come mingle with women of all different educational fields, careers and industries. Walk in with questions and walk away inspired.

“Getting in on the Ground Floor” is being hosted at the Tangerine Downtown Toronto Café, 221 Yonge St. on Wednesday May 25th, 2016 from 6:30-8:30pm. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased here on Eventbrite.

Not Where You Want to Be? That's Okay

It can be a hard pill to swallow when you’re not where you want to be. For some, that can mean in your personal life or your professional life. Maybe you’re stuck at a job that you dislike, but for the time being is temporary because you’re working towards something better, something that you’re passionate about. It’s a hard feeling when you don’t feel like you’re there yet, because when everyone around you seems to be finding new jobs or getting settled into a new one, you feel stuck, unable to reach that next level. Because frankly, there is no next level. Maybe you’re starting to realize that it’s not just a shaky feeling that will go away after a few days, maybe you’ve decided that it’s time to quit your job. Now I’m not saying go in tomorrow morning and tell your boss you’re leaving without having a backup plan first, but maybe you feel like it’s time to make a change in your life and you’ve decided you’re ready to look for something that’s more in lined with your interests. As a young professional in their early 20’s, I’m constantly exploring my interests outside of work. I like blogging, social media, movies, singing, and countless other things, so how do I narrow that down to find a job that can give me what I’m looking for?

I think you first need to understand what exactly it is that you’re looking for in a new job. My friends and I talk a lot about the importance of work culture and what that does for somebody who is young, ambitious and starting out in the work world. Work culture can mean a number of different things like how old are the coworkers you’ll be working with? Is there any room for growth in this company? Can I see myself working here for more than a year? Will I be working with a close knit group on something I am passionate about? It’s very overwhelming, and it's not easy job hunting and the expectations are extremely high for young people who are applying to jobs. I constantly search the internet to find a job that is right for me and lose track of how many places I have applied too. Maybe the problem isn't finding “the perfect job”, maybe I need to find companies that have a work culture that I can fit into and grow with. A place that allows me to be myself and help me become a better person. Now, how do I find that? Well the reality is you might not be so lucky on your first try, and that’s okay. We have all had less than stellar jobs and worked for companies that aren’t perfect for us, but that’s how we grow and learn from our experiences. My advice is to talk to your friends and reach out to your network of people and do research on a company that sounds interesting to you. Toronto is filled with so many amazing companies that I didn’t even know existed if it wasn’t for researching online, going to networking events and talking to my friends about what it is that I’m looking for.

So what’s my advice to you? Keep reaching for what it is that you’re looking for! Even if you’re not 100% sure what that is yet. Volunteer for a not-for-profit, join a club, go to networking events, or take a class of some sort. I think the biggest thing you can do to help yourself get out of this funk you’re in when you’re stuck in a job you dislike is to develop your interests outside your 9-5 life. It’s not easy, you’re tired after work and want to go home, curl up and binge watch but it’s important to make time for the things that count. The things that will take you to where you want to be later down the road. We all get stuck in something that doesn’t bring us as much joy as it could, but don’t worry it isn’t permanent, hang in there! Explore your passions as a young 20 something, because this is the time to do so. Take the risks you’ve been meaning to take and keep an open mind about new opportunities. Don’t lose the spark of optimism.

What I learned from Shatter: Breaking the Glass Ceiling

When you start your first job as a career woman, it’s safe we could all use a little advice. In the beginning we want it all; a great title, a sufficient salary to supporting myself yourself as an adult, but most importantly we want to be a part of a work culture that values us and what we’re doing, something that goes beyond our actual responsibilities. We want to make connections with people, and leave an imprint as we create our legacy. Now I realize that’s a lot to ask at once, and I know it doesn’t happen at the very beginning, but young professionals today want to know how we can get to this point, and advice on how to follow our passions without selling out. So where does one go for career advice? I recently attended the Young Women in Business- Toronto Chapter conference, Shatter:Breaking the Glass Ceiling, a conference inspired by industry-leading women who have worked their way up the corporate ladder, or have taken the entrepreneurial route and created thing awesome. Regardless of the industry, all of these women had one thing in common—hustle. And passion, but mostly hustle, because nothing comes easy and working for what you want is the only way to solidify what’s yours.

You don’t need to choose sides

Whether you have a passion for entrepreneurship or prefer working in corporate, at this conference it wasn’t about one or the other. All the women talked about how hard work (the hustle) is key to getting to that place in your career where you can sit back, breathe and say “I did it". You have to be a team player and push yourself in order to grow and be able to take that next step in your career.

It’s not a “No Boys Allowed” club

Now I know when someone says “Young Women in Business” you think it’s ONLY women and men aren’t allowed because it’s about women supporting other women. To be honest, there were a few men at the conference who strongly support more women in male-dominated workplaces. One guy was even brave enough to ask a question on how he can recruit more women to his company. To me that’s brave and exactly what a business conference should be doing.

It’s okay to ask the tough questions

The second half of the conference was the panel of women from the corporate side speaking about pay raises and how to initiate a conversation like that with your boss. This struck a chord with me because this it’s something I could see myself struggling with in the future. So I decided to raise my hand and ask the panel, “How do you talk to your boss about a promotion?” and even asking that question made me nervous. When it comes to salary, things get tricky and complicated and it makes me nervous because what if the price you set for yourself is too high? Or what if what you’re asking is too low and they think you don’t believe in yourself enough? I learned that in order to go in and ask for a pay raise, you need to have evidence to support your case.

Keep a list of your accomplishments, projects you’ve worked on, and contributions to the company and set up a meeting with your boss to discuss your status with the company.

It’s easier said than done, but it’s a start. Open communication with your boss is also key in establishing your success because no wants to be blindsided. Be honest, be respectful and stand your ground.

Don’t let anyone tell you your passion is “silly” or “useless”

I mean hello, this is why their called passions or hobbies. It’s something we enjoy doing every day and can’t picture our lives without. So if you can make a career out of it, then why wouldn’t you? This one seems like a no brainer and the typical speech of “follow your heart”, but it’s passion that gets you somewhere and even if you haven’t figured it out yet or found your dream job for the 40-50 years, it’s okay! Dream big and chase after what you want. You can mistakes and try different career paths because in the end it will lead you to where you need to be.

Entrepreneur Panel: Rachel Bartholomew, Managing Director at CyberNorth Ventures

Rachel Bartholomew is the Managing Partner at CyberNorth Ventures, and the Founder of The Mod Market. She is passionate about supporting and growing entrepreneurship, new product development and technological innovation. She has completed her Bachelors of Business Administration from York University with honours in Management of Technology. She then pursued her Masters of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology at the University of Waterloo. Rachel is currently in the process of completing her Chartered Investment Manager designation with the Canadian Securities Institute. At CyberNorth Ventures, Rachel is in charge of investment decisions, scouting great technology companies and getting to their business inside and out. Over at The Mod Market, Rachel currently runs a team of 6 programmers developing out a 3D/Virtual Reality software aftermarket automotive industry uses to showcase modifications on vehicles using brand name parts.

Rachel has another passion besides the tech industry. She has been involved in competitive motorcross racing since the age of 12! She has raced across North America, but due to an injury, she switched over to car racing and has been doing that for about 7 years. She also showcases her musical side by producing minimal techno music.

Rachel has two biggest accomplishments. The first is being able to provide guidance as an entrepreneurial advisor at the University of Waterloo and through her role at CyberNorth Ventures. Her second is the ability to be a leader in all her hobbies and careers that are all male dominated. Having the courage to build up a thick skin in both the tech and motorcross industry, while staying true and honest to herself has been a huge accomplishment Rachel would like to pass on to other people. So why Young Women in Business? Rachel states, “If we cannot help them get off the ground, how else are we going to have more women presenting investment opportunities to me? They are few and far between, and Young Women in Business helps gather a network of women who can really help them succeed while providing great mentorship and support opportunities.”