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Virtual Dialogues about Indigenous Employment and Workplace Inclusion Strategies in the Banking and Financial Sector

Jointly presented by: Indigenous Works and the Canadian Human Rights Commission

In 2020, the Canadian Human Rights Commission released the report on the results of a horizontal employment equity audit, looking at systemic issues in Indigenous employment in the banking and financial sector. The overall findings confirm that there is still a gap in employment opportunities and employment practices when it comes to Indigenous representation in Canada’s banking and financial sector. 

We are co-designing a new generation of Indigenous employment and workplace strategies, practices, and systems based on a strong foundation of research and innovation to ensure that the future of banking is inclusive of Indigenous people. Join us for virtual Dialogues as we look at opportunities for Indigenous recruitment, advancement and retention in an industry that will soon be experiencing more competition for Indigenous talent. Each of three dialogues will be themed and facilitated with guest speakers and experts. 

Tuesday, February 14, 2023 – 1:30pm to 2:30pm Eastern time

Dialogue 1 – How can we increase more Indigenous interest in careers in the banking and financial sector?

Join us in a presentation by researcher Mandy Price who has spent the last few months interviewing Indigenous employees in the banking and financial sector. The development of sustainable and culturally relevant attraction and recruitment strategies pose issues and opportunities for businesses in the banking and financial sector that are seeking to compete for talent in a tight labour market. Holistic solutions are needed to encourage stronger interest in and entry to careers in the banking and financial sector. Students need to learn how to position themselves as viable candidates. They need to learn to advance strong resumes and stand out in job competitions as the best candidates. They need to demonstrate that they have gained the right skills and experience from their post-secondary programs so that they are well prepared for careers in the sector. Post-secondary institutions need to offer the right programs and curricula in alignment with employers' evolving workforce needs. It also means that employers should be prepared to make incremental investments in training once Indigenous candidates are hired.  The aligning of labour market supply and demand strategies will continue to require coordination in the future as competition for talent sourcing continues to peak. Learn what your business can do to build the right strategies to grow and evolve the talent supply and adjust strategies accordingly for attraction and retention of Indigenous applicants and employees. Join us in a discussion following the presentation about what we learned from Indigenous employees about their early career experiences in this sector and the supports they found useful in this journey. 
Guest Speaker: Mandy Price, PhD Candidate and Researcher, Indigenous Works 

Please click here to download a copy of the Dialogue 1 presentation.
Please click here to download a copy of the National Indigenous Economic Strategy for Canada 2022.

Tuesday, February 21, 2023 – 12pm to 1pm Eastern time

Dialogue 2 - Developing a Research Agenda to Increase Indigenous Employment in the Banking and Financial Sector

What research is needed by companies in the banking and financial sector to provide stronger insights into the issues that are constraining Indigenous employment successes? How would better research lead to a new generation of Indigenous employment and workplace strategies and systems? Professors Merridee Bujaki and Camillo Lento from Carleton and Lakehead Universities will share their perspectives about what a literature review and recent interviews with Indigenous employees reveals about the current state of research about Indigenous employment in the banking and financial sector. Afterwards, a discussion will be facilitated about the ways of expanding this research to pave the way for the co-development of more innovative and effective Indigenous employment strategies. 
Guest Speakers: Merridee Bujaki, Full Professor, Carleton University
Camillo Lente, Associate Professor, Lakehead University
Mandy Price, PhD Candidate and Researcher, Indigenous Works

Please click here to download a copy of the Dialogue 2 presentation.

Friday, March 10, 2023 – 12pm to 1pm Eastern time

Dialogue 3 - Collaborative Efforts to Grow the Talent Pipeline

Join us for this Dialogue on innovation to discuss how companies can work together to co-develop a robust platform by which to grow and attract a stronger pool of Indigenous talent with the skills and motivations to succeed in the banking and financial sector. We will discuss the design and specifications of a proposed platform which could serve as a central location for Indigenous students from post-secondary institutions that may be looking for careers in banking and financial services. Currently there is no platform which enables companies to understand what the pipeline of talent looks like in numbers, locations, faculties, and backgrounds. How could the platform be used to inform students about career opportunities aided by high quality culturally relevant career information materials and pathways? What can prospective employers provide to improve the employment readiness of candidates? How do we ensure better skills alignments and matches between candidates and job requirements? How could students and employers use this platform to their mutual benefits. What would this virtual environment look like and what would be its main specifications? Join the discussion as we report on a new technology innovation to tackle those questions. Participate in the dialogue to expand on the design needs of the platform. Talk about the functions and rules by which the envisioned platform can create an orderly distribution of information for both employers and candidates. Tell us your opinions about what the content needs of the platform should be and how it could increase access to and depth in the Indigenous talent pool. 
Panelists: Nigel Istvanffy, President and Chief Executive Officer, Kettera
Sean St-John, Executive Vice-President, Managing Director and Head of Fixed Income, Co-Head of Risk Management Solutions, National Bank of Canada

Please click here to download a copy of the Dialogue 3 presentation.

For more information, please email Samuelle Bartlett.