Women in Capital Markets (WCM) Monday announced the latest winner of its Return to Bay Street Award, which aims to help women get back into the securities business.
WCM says Mary Ann Mendes is this year’s recipient of the award, which is sponsored by the BMO Capital Markets “Equity Through Education” program.
The award is given annually “to assist and encourage talented women, with a previous career in capital markets and who have taken an extended absence, in re-launching their careers.”
Recipients are chosen based on their background, former career experience, their commitment to re-launch a career in the securities industry, and their potential to serve as a role model for women in the industry.
As the latest recipient, Mendes receives $5,000 towards an education program, a paid four-month internship with BMO Capital Markets, a WCM mentor and a one-year membership to WCM.
Additionally, WCM says that it is working with a broader group of Canadian financial institutions to expand the Return to Bay Street program and offer another round of awards during the second half of 2013.
“WCM is pleased to have assisted in re-opening the door for very deserving women, recognizing not just past career contributions, but also their future potential in this dynamic industry,” said Martha Fell, CEO of WCM.
“With this award, we want to show women transitioning back to the industry that there are both programs to support them and organizations looking to hire them. This is another way WCM is inspiring women to consider, or in this case re-consider, the capital markets.”