Tonight, I proudly joined my BMO family in honouring June Zimmer for receiving the VersaFi (formerly WCM) Transformational Leadership Award, and Stephen Macdonald, MBA, CIM, CFP for being recognized as an ally. Their impact to advancing inclusion and equity will continue to break down legacy barriers across our industry.
As Patrick Bartlett, one of the most inclusive leaders I’ve had the pleasure of working with said in his closing remarks about all of the extraordinary women honoured this evening “…while we’re running the same marathon, we’re not running the same course…”
My takeaway from Pat’s powerful words were: if we truly start from a place where we know that all humans are created equal, and we are truly committed to creating fairness, then we need to recognize that not everyone has the same experience, and move to remove those barriers in our existing systems. Not create separate operating systems which ultimately prolong this pervasive systemic issue.
On a personal note, I was so incredibly grateful to Craig Meeds for inviting me to join in tonight’s celebrations, and so moved by so many of my colleagues who took the time to share their kind words and support with me on my next chapter. You are all, to me, the heart and soul of our organization’s incredible culture—best described by my brilliant friend and co-host of tonight’s event, Leslie J. Anderson-Rutland, CTP as ‘Ubuntu’ which means “I am because we are”.
I first heard of this African proverb through Deland Kamanga, where according to Ubuntu, there exists a common bond between us all and it is through this bond, through our interaction with our fellow human beings, that we discover our own human qualities. Ubuntu is the essence of being human, being compassionate, working as a collective to create spaces for everyone to join in. If we have Ubuntu, we know we cannot win if others are made smaller or treated as less than who they are.
And for that I am proud that I have met so many amazing colleagues across BMO and beyond who have commit to practicing Ubuntu. Thank you for all of the love and support I’ve received since my announcement last week. This is not the end, but the start of a new journey together — because as Leslie said, we are Ubuntu. And as a collective, there is more work to be done, and I look forward to being your champion right alongside you.
