Black Women Canada

FinTech and DEI Symposium – Calgary, Alberta
2024-11-07 17:00 - 20:00 UTC | The Westin Calgary, 320 4 Avenue Southwest Calgary, AB T2P 2S6 Canada, Calgary, Canada
Event Overview:
The Black Women Business Network (BWBN) is proud to announce its FinTech and DEI Symposium, which will take place on November 7, 2024, in Calgary, Alberta, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The event aims to improve the representation of Black professionals in Alberta’s banking and finance sector, focusing on their participation in senior management and high-growth areas transformed by financial technology (FinTech).
Funded by the Government of Canada’s Workplace Opportunities: Removing Barriers to Equity (WORBE) program, the symposium will create a platform to engage industry leaders, policymakers, academics, and Black professionals in dialogue on building a diverse and future-ready workforce.
Purpose of the Symposium:
The financial services sector is undergoing rapid transformation due to the rise of FinTech, significantly impacting job roles, required skills, and the overall industry structure. Research shows that Black individuals in Alberta’s banking and finance sector are disproportionately overrepresented in entry-level clerical and administrative roles in banking and finance, many of which are highly susceptible to automation. Conversely, they remain significantly underrepresented in professional, supervisory, managerial, and senior management roles. You can view some of our research findings here.
FinTech and associated technologies has the potential to be a game-changer in addressing the underrepresentation of Black professionals in Alberta and B.C.’s banking and finance sector. However, to unlock this potential, a concerted effort is needed from industry leaders, policymakers, and educational institutions to create pathways for Black professionals in this sector to thrive in the Fintech Age.
The symposium aims to achieve the following outcomes:

Raising Awareness: Share BWBN’s WORBE project findings and feature personal stories on the status of Black professionals in banking and finance.
Highlighting Opportunities: Introduce new career paths and growth areas in FinTech, focusing on leadership development and upskilling to prepare Black professionals for high-growth roles.
Empowering Employers: Offer practical strategies and tools to support Black professionals in developing leadership skills and transitioning into FinTech roles.
Building Partnerships: Foster collaborations between employers, industry leaders, policymakers, educational institutions and community organizations to create sustainable pathways for Black professionals

Event Schedule
5:00 – 5:30 PM: Registration and Networking Reception
5:30 – 6:00 PM: Welcome Presentations

Focus: Why we are here

6:00 – 6:15 PM:: Keynote Address

Topic: The impact of AI and FinTech on finance jobs and resources, and the way forward

6:15 – 7:00 PM: : Storytelling Session
-A panel of Black professionals and leaders share personal stories about their journeys in finance and FinTech, covering:-

Overcoming systemic barriers
Navigating leadership roles
Dealing with job displacement
Offering inspiration and practical insights on resilience and growth

7:00 – 7:15 PM: Break

Musical Transition

7:15 – 8:00 PM: : Expert Panel Session
-Discussion: “Building a Future-Ready Black Workforce for the Banking and Finance Sector”
-Topics covered:

Resources employers can provide to assist Black professionals transitioning into FinTech
Initiatives to build a future-ready Black workforce
Critical leadership skills for advancement
Challenges faced by Black professionals transitioning to FinTech roles
Steps for transitioning into specialized FinTech areas like AI, blockchain, and digital banking

8:00 – 8:15 PM: Call to Action

Encouraging actionable steps to support Black professionals in the sector

8:15 – 8:20 PM: Closing Remarks

Encouraging actionable steps to support Black professionals in the sector

Please RSVP here by October 31, 2024, to confirm your attendance.
For more details about the event or to RSVP, please contact:
Anointing Momoh
Project Manager
Black Women Business Network (BWBN)
anointing@blackwomencanada.org
Yinka Fasheun
Community Engagement Consultant
Black Women Business Network (BWBN)
yinka@blackwomencanada.org

SFU Black Youth Recruitment Event
2024-02-23 10:00 - 13:30 UTC
In partnership with the Black Women Business Network (BWBN), SFU Faculty of Applied Sciences would like to invite interested African, Caribbean, and Black youth in grades 8, 9, & 10, come and explore the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the SFU Surrey Campus Sustainable Energy Engineering building. The event will include a guided tour of the building, a complimentary lunch and presentation from an advisor to learn more about the Faculty of Applied Sciences programs at SFU, and a hands-on activity related to applied science.

Addressing Racism and Systemic Barriers faced by Black People in Canada's Tech Sector
2024-01-23
Addressing Racism and Systemic Barriers faced by Black People in Canada’s Tech Sector
Join Black Women Business Network on January 23rd at 12pm (PT) | 3pm (ET) for an Anti-racism webinar in partnership with Tech and People Network (TAP) .
Racism and systemic barriers lead to unfair treatment and disadvantages for racial groups, especially Black individuals. The technology industry still lacks significant Black representation. Understanding and addressing the barriers contributing to these disparities is crucial for a more equitable and creative tech workforce.
Hear from Pasima Sule, our as she presents valuable insights on Black Representation in the Tech Sector from a recent research project funded by the Government of Cananda’s Workplace Opportunities : Removing Barriers to Equity Program (WORBE) aimed at supporting employers enhance the representation of underrepresented individuals within their organizations.
Eunice Kajoba of Monachopsis Consulting will moderate a panel of esteemed speakers including:

Pasima Sule – Founder and Executive Director – Black Women’s Business Network
Nene Azu – Product Manager – Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
Dr. Debbie Motilewa– Senior Product Manager – Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Eunice Kajoba
Eunice Kajoba (They/Them) is the founder and principal consultant of the equity, diversity and inclusion practice, Monachopsis Consulting. Eunice has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from York University focused on Organizational Studies. They have extensive experience working within the human resources space in a variety of industries but most notably in the consulting and technology sectors.
Eunice is a highly knowledgeable advisor, workshop facilitator and public speaker to both internal and external groups at local and national levels. They combine their knowledge and experience of HR practices, intersectional frameworks and equity focused strategies in all elements of their work in order to help organizations achieve impactful and long-term success.
Contact Information
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ekajoba/
Consulting Website: https://www.monachopsisconsulting.com/

Pasima Sule
Pasima Sule (She/Her) is an entrepreneur and the Founder and Executive Director of the  Black Women Business Network (BWBN), a professional network organization with a mission to connect, inspire, engage, equip, and advocate for Black Women professionals and entrepreneurs.With a rich background in technology, Pasima spent 18 years as a Software Developer and IT Project Manager at Chevron Oil and Gas Corporation in the USA, England, France, and Angola.Driven by her passion to increase the representation of Black individuals, particularly women, in the tech industry.
Pasima is working on establishing a Black Women in Tech Hub. An initiative funded by Women and Gender Equality, Canada (WAGE) and recently featured in an article by WAGE: From tech consumers to creators – Women and Gender Equality CanadaFurthering her commitment to DEI in the sector, BWBN is also leading a project, in collaboration with TAP, funded by Employment and Social Development Canada, to enhance Black representation in the tech sector.
Pasima also serves as a board member for the  Centre For Digital Media and a Council Member for entrepreneurship@UBC.
Linkedin : linkedin.com/in/pasima-sule-215699204

Dr Debbie Motilewa
Senior Product Manager – Amazon Web Serices (AWS)
Dr. Debbie Motilewa’s professional journey is at the intersection of innovation, education and community empowerment. At 20, she founded The VolunteerNG, a non profit bridging educational gaps in Nigeria. At 25, she achieved the distinction of being the youngest PhD graduate from Africa’s esteemed Covenant University. At 28, she built Afrohub – a digital marketplace uniting consumers with black-owned businesses. She currently works as a Senior Product Manager at AWS IQ, driving the organization’s growth strategy to empower small and medium sized businesses to unlock the power of cloud computing. Prior to Amazon, she worked at Microsoft on Viva Engage/Yammer.
Debbie’s influence goes beyond borders, having lived and worked on three continents – Europe, Africa and North America. When she is not shaping technological solutions or nurturing startups, she finds joy exploring the world and savoring diverse cuisines.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahmotilewa

Nene Azu
Product Manager – Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
Nene Azu is a dynamic professional renowned for driving innovation across AI, finance, and entrepreneurship. Currently excelling as a Product Manager at Borealis AI, the applied AI research division of the Royal Bank of Canada, Nene’s journey began in personal and commercial banking before embracing the disruptive realm of fintech as a Product Manager at an early-stage AI startup.
Nene holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of British Columbia. He passionately advocates for empowering the underprivileged to build and preserve wealth, a commitment manifested through a fintech startup he founded, SurfClub Finance, dedicated to empowering next generation financial success. Alongside this endeavor, Nene also engages in philanthropic pursuits by annually raising funds for West African orphanages.
Beyond his professional and philanthropic pursuits, Nene is deeply engaged in mentoring students and advocating for diversity in tech. His involvement in organizations like Black in AI and the Black Opportunity Fund underscores his dedication to fostering inclusivity and opportunity within the tech industry.
The “Addressing Racism and Systemic Barriers faced by Black People in Canada’s Tech Sector” is supported by research data from Black Women Business Project titled “Improving the Representation of Blacks in Banking, Finance and Tech Sectors” funded by the Government of Cananda’s Workplace Opportunities : Removing Barriers to Equity Program (WORBE)

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