Last week I attended the Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals (CAUFP) Speaker Series. In partnership with Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) they presented Belonging, a conversation with RBC executives, Jacqui Allard, Executive Vice President, Personal Financing Products and Senta Taylor Vice President, Operations & Strategic Planning.

The aim of the conversation was to allow attendees to engage with Jacqui and Senta to discuss the barriers black professionals face in feeling included, what can be done to empower them and to learn about RBC’s commitment to advancing diversity & inclusion within the organization.

Jacqui and Senta gave some great insights of their own challenges of belonging, some practical advice for black professionals struggling to belong and advance in their career. They also answered some hard questions from attendees.

Following introductions, we were shown a video showcasing women of colour employees discussing their experiences. RBC recognize that more needs to be done for employees of colour. Diversity and inclusion cannot be a once a year conversation. They have a Women’s Employer Resource Group; however senior jobs drop off for black employees. They feel their team should be representing the diverse population of Canada. They are championing young people to consider RBC for technology roles. They have a program where they teach youth to code, learn leadership and presentation skills. 

The recent study by Catalyst Canada Inc. on the emotional tax, the extra weight people of colour carry to be on guard in corporate Canada was also discussed. 40 percent worked in financial services. 

Advice from Jacqui and Senta

1. Belonging is showing up to be seen. 

2. Work on your communication skills.

3. Learn to be a people person.

4. Go to the social day to get to know your colleagues on a personal level.

5. Have the courage to introduce yourself to someone you feel uncomfortable talking to.

6. Give feedback to a senior manager about issues you may be uncomfortable with. 

7. Resist the urge to step back from the table and be your own advocate at the table.

8. Well behaved women rarely finish first.

9. Empower yourself to manage your own career and ask for what you want

10. People will make assumptions about you, while you cannot control the assumption, you can control how you react.

11. Find a Sponsor, they will advocate for you when you are not in the room.

12. Demonstrate how you can knock it out the park.

13. Work on projects that are meeting your leaders’ objectives. If you are not, ask to be on the projects.

14. Confidence and resilience can be learnt.

15. Get out of your comfort zone. 

16. If others feel you are only in a position to meet diversity criteria rather than merit, ignore what they think as you know your own worth.

It was an evening well spent. I learned a lot from the discussion about how to advocate for yourself to move forward in your career.  I will be sharing with my coaching clients who are working towards advancing in their careers and improving their personal brand at work.