PARTNERING FOR PROGRESS

This International Women’s Day, Andrews is turning intention into action. In partnership with VersaFi, we’re championing equity for women in male-dominated industries while supporting Connected North, an organization creating learning opportunities for Indigenous youth.

As part of this initiative, we spoke with VersaFi CEO Tanya van Biesen about breaking barriers, building networks, and ensuring women of all identities have a seat at the table. Because when opportunity is equal, success knows no limits.

Read on for her insights on shaping a more inclusive future.

WATCH THE VIDEO

PARTNERING

FOR PROGRESS

This International Women’s Day, Andrews is turning intention into action. In partnership with VersaFi, we’re championing equity for women in male-dominated industries while supporting Connected North, an organization creating learning opportunities for Indigenous youth.

As part of this initiative, we spoke with VersaFi CEO Tanya van Biesen about breaking barriers, building networks, and ensuring women of all identities have a seat at the table. Because when opportunity is equal, success knows no limits.

Read on for her insights on shaping an inclusive future.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Could you share VersaFi’s mission to support women’s personal and professional growth, and why it resonates with you?

VersaFi's mission is all about accelerating progress for women in the finance sector––which is so important because this sector is so critical to our economy and everything that we do. Whether it’s buying a company, whether it’s building a road or a hospital or a school, it is really, really important that women are fully activated in this sector and have every opportunity to thrive and succeed at every level.

What is your vision for the future of women in leadership, and how is VersaFi helping make it a reality?

My vision––and our vision––for women in leadership is that women of all identities have equal access to opportunity, and we want to make sure that they can thrive and succeed in this sector free from bias and barriers.

What key challenges have you faced as a woman in your field, and along your journey, and how did you overcome them? What advice would you give to young women pursuing careers in male-dominated industries?

So, I'm no different than many women in this sector in that I have faced career challenges along the way––I've been underestimated; I've been left out of important client meetings; I've had my capacity and ambition challenged when I started to have a family. These are difficult challenges, but I would say to any woman out there who's experienced one, or some, or all of these indeed, keep your head down, work hard, show up every day, be persistent and seek out mentors and sponsors that can help you accelerate your career.

Could you share VersaFi’s mission to support women’s personal and professional growth, and why it resonates with you?

VersaFi's mission is all about accelerating progress for women in the finance sector––which is so important because this sector is so critical to our economy and everything that we do. Whether it’s buying a company, whether it’s building a road or a hospital or a school, it is really, really important that women are fully activated in this sector and have every opportunity to thrive and succeed at every level.

What is your vision for the future of women in leadership, and how is VersaFi helping make it a reality?

My vision––and our vision––for women in leadership is that women of all identities have equal access to opportunity, and we want to make sure that they can thrive and succeed in this sector free from bias and barriers.

What key challenges have you faced as a woman in your field, and along your journey, and how did you overcome them? What advice would you give to young women pursuing careers in male-dominated industries?

So, I'm no different than many women in this sector in that I have faced career challenges along the way––I've been underestimated; I've been left out of important client meetings; I've had my capacity and ambition challenged when I started to have a family. These are difficult challenges, but I would say to any woman out there who's experienced one, or some, or all of these indeed, keep your head down, work hard, show up every day, be persistent and seek out mentors and sponsors that can help you accelerate your career.

One of our core values here at Andrews is “to empower and elevate women within their communities”, which resonates strongly with VersaFi’s mission for growth. Could you share with us some of VersaFi’s key values?

Our core values at VersaFi are all centred around empowering women to be as successful as they possibly can be in the finance sector. And the way we do that is that we work both with the women to create communities and networks across the country, but also with the employers in the sector to ensure that they are creating equal access to opportunity for these women. So, the values that Andrews has around elevating and empowering women maps so well to the work that we do.

How does Connected North help in supporting VersaFi’s ongoing mission?

We are really excited to be partnering with Connected North because this is an opportunity for us to bring content and exposure to the finance sector to Indigenous youth. We're very keen to ensure that Indigenous youth, and in particular young Indigenous women, understand career paths in financial services; that they see representation in financial services––and that they will actually learn about this sector and choose to join it when they start their careers.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you personally, and how does VersaFi celebrate the day?

International Women's Day has a really personal meaning for me because it's my birthday! Beyond that, and more importantly for all the women out there that have been participating in International Women's Day for so many years, this is about the success that we have achieved together. This is about the progress that women have made over time. This is about how when we band together and we work on something and we focus on progress, there is so much that we can achieve.