The Scotiabank Women Initiative launches accelerator program
by CM Staff
Women in Quebec make up only 18% of the workforce in automotive services, and only 6.4% of the skilled trades.
QUÉBEC CITY — The Scotiabank Women Initiative® announces the launch of the Women in Auto Accelerator, a mentoring and networking accelerator program to help women build their careers in the Quebec automotive industry. The program, offered free of charge to participants, connects young professionals with industry leaders for mentorship and direct coaching and supports peer–to–peer exchanges by promoting ties between professionals from across the province.
“The Scotiabank Women Initiative is dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs and increasing their economic and professional opportunities,” says Sloane Muldoon, Senior Vice President, Retail Performance and Co-Chair of The Scotiabank Women Initiative. “To help close the gender representation gap in the automotive industry workforce, the new Women in Auto Accelerator program will support women by providing exclusive networking and mentorship opportunities.”
The Women in Auto Accelerator program will kickoff on March 15th at 10:30 AM ET through a virtual conference co-hosted by Isabelle Maréchal, President of Iprod and Editor in Chief of Premières en affaires, and Ana Marinescu, Senior Manager of The Scotiabank Women Initiative. Experts from different disciplines will come together to discuss industry issues including workforce diversity and women in leadership. Featured speakers include Sarah Houde, CEO of Propulsion Québec, Robert Poëti, former Transport Minister and current CEO of the Corporation des concessionaires automobiles du Québec (CCAQ), a partner of Scotiabank.
The conference is free for anyone to attend. To register, please visit the RSVP page here.
“The Women in Auto Accelerator program is a chance for the Bank to create a network of women in automotive, spotlight women who have success in the industry, inspire the succession to follow their lead and give them support,” says Sylvie Gagnon, Director of Sales Market Lead in Quebec for Scotiabank’s Dealer Finance Centre. “The program will allow us to form connections between professionals in the industry and to encourage diversity.”
Women in Quebec make up only 18% of the workforce in automotive services, and only 6.4% of the skilled trades. According to a study from Deloitte, nearly half of women in the automotive sector in North America said that they would choose a different line of work due to the lack of diversity and inclusion in the industry.
