A NETWORK OF MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AND INFLUENCE
The Association of Québec Women in Finance (AFFQ) was created to contribute to the professional advancement of women and underscore the strategic role they play in the economic development and growth of Québec, both at home and abroad. In fulfilling its mandate, the AFFQ accelerates the careers of its members by developing strategies and taking concrete action to help them become known and recognized within the business, government and media communities.
Building a network and getting involved in it is a must for any professional seeking to further her career. And while the results of your efforts may not always be immediately obvious, your network brings you closer to your objectives, one step at a time. The advantages and spin-offs are many, and we encourage you to actively develop and follow up on your AFFQ links.
WOMEN ON BOARDS: PROMOTING THE TALENT AND EXPERTISE OF OUR MEMBERS
The AFFQ is dedicated to promoting and increasing the visibility of its members and encouraging the selection of accomplished women to sit on the boards of directors of public, private and parapublic companies as well as non-profit organizations. This is a priority for us and was the driving force behind the creation of the Women on Boards Committee.
Our objective is simple: we want to encourage our members to apply for these positions and in doing so raise awareness among companies and stakeholders in the business, government and academic sectors as to the importance of appointing more women to their boards. We open doors and facilitate the links between our members and organizations seeking competent women to sit as board members.
Through the Women on Boards Committee, the AFFQ informs, assists, promotes and encourages its members to take an interest in being selected to sit on a board of directors. In addition to the placement services offered, the committee provides integration services through advice and professional support from women who are already board members. We provide access to networks of decision makers and key influencers as well as to governance information and training programs (notably with the Institute of Corporate Directors, le Collège des administrateurs de sociétés at Université Laval, and the organization Bénévoles d'affaires).
To begin the process, we strongly recommend that our members:
For their part, NPOs, businesses and other organizations are invited to contact Caroline Émond or Murielle Sand, the co-directors of the Women on Boards Committee, to send us the profiles of the board members sought. It is also possible to post board openings in the AFFQ Careers section.
Board member candidates are selected as follows:
The AFFQ announces all new appointments on its website and in its newsletter to members.
2021-2022 Edition – It's time to submit your application!
The deadline to register for the 2021-2022 Mentoring Program is at 3 p.m. on September 24, 2021.
The mentoring program of the AFFQ-AQWF is an initiative established in 2013, allowing members to seek mentoring and guidance by experienced professionals, according to their goals, their specific needs and their particular challenges. It is a structured one-year program which provides monthly meetings, and offers customized training and regular follow-ups, ensuring the success of the mentoring relationship.
For both the mentor and the mentee, this personalised professional relationship is an exceptional opportunity to share experiences, deepen reflections and enrich one's practices with professional experience and relevant advice.
With this program, the AFFQ-AQWF targets two objectives: support our members in their professional development and guide them in their career progression.
What is mentoring?
Mentoring is a means of development and learning offered on a free basis and based on a voluntary and confidential interpersonal relationship. It involves an experienced individual who shares his or her wisdom and expertise to foster the development of another person wishing to acquire skills and achieve professional goals. Mentoring has many benefits. It is a truly privileged relationship in which both parties benefit from a different enrichment but always reciprocated.
The AFFQ accepts applications for mentors and mentees once a year, during the summer. Following the application period, a selection process takes place, dyads are created, and orientation and training sessions are held. Mentors and mentees then meet in person or virtually every month over a one-yeur period.
The deadline to register for the 2021-2022 Mentoring Program is 3 p.m. on September 24, 2020.
If you are interested in participating in the Program as a mentee or mentor, we invite you to submit your online application below.
You can also download the PDF to work on your responses. After, when you are ready to submit, you can copy/paste your answers on the online application form on the website
To truly benefit from the potential of this program as a mentee, we recommend a minimum of 5-7 years of professional experience. It is imperative that you answer this questionnaire frankly and diligently. The strength and the quality of your application are the key in the selection process and to find the best mentor for your needs.
We will organize a virtual information meeting on September 8th from 12pm to 1:30pm during which we will be available to answer your questions and help you with your application. Before the information meeting, you can view a tutorial on https://affq.org/nouvelles/programme-mentorat/.
Because of the current situation, the training sessions and all the mentoring meetings will be held virtually until it’s possible to be in person.
All the transmitted information will remain confidential. We will contact you at the end of October once your application has been reviewed.
(P.S. Considering the high demand and the limited number of dyads, we cannot guarantee that your application will be selected for the 2021-2022 Edition).
We invite you to download the mentoring program documentation for futher details.
Tailor-made activities to help welcome and involve new members
The AFFQ has plenty to offer its members, and we work hard to ensure that all of the professional women who join us are able to fully benefit from the Association and the resources we make available. To this end, we create friendly, informal get-togethers with other women in finance who are also new to the AFFQ!
Les Étincelles offers a series of three activities designed to welcome, coach and connect new members to help them integrate, network and make the most of their AFFQ membership.
A first step, new professional friendships, a forward momentum.
Our objectives:
CONNECT
We believe in the strength of alliances, because we know that business connections are a powerful vector of professional growth.
ACCOMPANY
We provide guidance and support, because we want all of our members to achieve their full potential.
ACCELERATE
We encourage everyone to get involved, because the AFFQ is an outstanding vehicle to promote your career.
https://affq.org/activites-formations.php?actID=471#activites
Welcome to the AFFQ!
TOMORROW'S WOMEN IN FINANCE
The AFFQ has made the next generation one of its priorities. The Association welcomes tomorrow's women in finance and organizes many initiatives to encourage them to join in our activities and take charge of their own career paths. Our Mentoring Program and the Relève Award (awarded at Les Talentueuses, our annual Gala) are two such initiatives. New projects will also soon be introduced to encourage young women in finance to embark on their careers with enthusiasm and confidence and to become active members of our network.
Learning and growing
Organizing one-on-one meetings with experienced professional women, networking activities, seminars and specialized training sessions are all priorities of the members of our Board of Directors, who are also setting up a special working committee to promote and support career development among young professional women.
Establishing credibility and flourishing
Starting out in finance and setting ambitious career objectives is a little like becoming a professional athlete! You must be passionate, intuitive and ready to work long hours. Career women from all walks of life will tell you that having know-how is good, but knowing how is better. While intelligence, skill and intellectual curiosity are all major assets, becoming involved in your business network is a must in order to develop, excel, recognize your talents, identify your strengths and areas of interest, establish your credibility, and as a result, flourish.
We cordially invite and encourage members of the next generation of women in finance to become actively involved in our activities and in the AFFQ network, your network.
The AFFQ Career 4.0 initiative is being established for the purpose of promoting and supporting women in career transitions by providing a forum for them to identify their full skill set, reflect on new horizons and sensitize the Quebec business environment to their extensive and invaluable experience and expertise.
This initiative is focused on members in their 40's and older, who, by choice, or by force, are needing to take a step back and reflect on their careers; the skills, expertise and experience they have acquired and assess what the possible next steps in their career path could look like given their accomplishments to date.
It is our intention to provide these members with some expertise to help them in this journey through activities which center on skills assessment, career planning, and how to use what we have in new and challenging ways. In addition, another of our goals is to educate the business community as to the incredible resources, the knowledge and expertise of this sector of the population, and the risks associated with loosing the incredible brain power that network embodies.
The AFFQ's intention is really two fold: support members in assessing their knowledge and expertise and provide them with the forum, the tools, and the confidence to ensure a successful transition to the next steps in their career path.
WOMEN WHO HAVE EARNED OUR ATTENTION AND RESPECT
Many of our members have distinguished themselves in their profession. Whether through their awards and distinctions, involvement in a project or cause, prestigious appointment, research work, or other noteworthy initiative, Québec women in finance set themselves apart on a regular basis through the quality of their professional offering, their leadership, and the principles they follow in their practice. We want people to know about them, because they have earned our attention. Learn more about these women here.
Svetlana est associée du groupe de financement bancaire chez Fasken. Elle représente tant les institutions financières que les emprunteurs dans le cadre de prêts syndiqués, de financement de projets et d’autres opérations de financement à l’échelle nationale et internationale. Une partie de sa pratique est consacrée aux financements de capital d’investissement privé.
Svetlana est coresponsable du programme étudiant de Fasken et codirectrice du Comité Femmes au CA de l’Association des femmes en finance du Québec.
Diplômée de droit de l’Université McGill, elle est à la fois membre du Barreau du Québec et du Barreau de l’Ontario (Law Society of Ontario). La cause des femmes en difficulté lui tient particulièrement à cœur, et elle a notamment siégé au conseil d’administration de la Maison grise de Montréal durant cinq ans. Professeure de yoga certifiée, elle se passionne également pour les langues, l’escalade et les voyages.