Marking its fourth year – and achieving its widest reach yet – Ivey’s Women in Asset Management (WAM) program has united 48 aspiring women leaders from 10 universities across Canada.
Over the next three months, these participants will engage in rigorous classroom learning and immersive, hands-on training to prepare for careers in the asset management industry. With a mission to help close the gender gap in this field, WAM provides four weeks of academic instruction at Ivey, followed by a 10- to 12-week paid internship at a partner firm – all at no cost to the participants.
The program kicked off on April 30 with a welcome event at Western University’s Mercato, followed by the official program opening at Ivey on May 1. The day included a full schedule of activities, featuring guest speakers and sessions on topics such as risk and return, negotiation, character, and ethics.
Paving the way to a more inclusive future
Saurin Patel, WAM’s Faculty Director and Associate Professor of Finance, said it’s exciting to witness the continued growth and success of the program, which this year welcomed participants from Alberta for the first time and expanded its network of internship sites. The 2025 WAM cohort includes students from Western University, University of Toronto, York University, University of British Columbia, University of Ottawa, Queen’s University, McGill University, Concordia University, University of Guelph, and University of Calgary.
After introducing the program in 2022 to Western University students and adding McGill the next year, the program took a bold step forward last year by welcoming its first national cohort. Efforts have continued to broaden the diversity of the student intake and sponsorship opportunities.
“The program reflects our shared commitment to shaping a more diverse, innovative, and resilient future for the asset management industry. By investing in exceptionally talented women from across Canada, we are not only expanding opportunities for women, but also strengthening the foundations of asset management itself,” said Patel. “I am proud to witness the program’s profound impact and am excited for the extraordinary contributions our alumni will make in the years ahead. It goes without saying that this would not be possible without the support of our corporate sponsors and industry partners.”
Thank you to our sponsors
Ivey is proud to partner with 17 financial industry leaders to launch the WAM program. Sponsors include:
• Benefactor level: RBC Global Asset Management, Scotiabank Global Asset Management
• Leader level: CIBC Asset Management, Mackenzie Investments, BMO Global Asset Management
• Partner level: AIMCo, BCI, Brookfield, CI Financial, Fiera Capital, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), Intact, OMERS, Polar Asset Management Partners, Sun Life Global Investments, University Pension Plan Ontario (UPP), CPP Investments
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