TORONTO, Oct. 11, 2019 /CNW/ - BMO Financial Group joined
celebrations today to mark International Day of the Girl. For the
second year, BMO has supported Plan International Canada's
initiatives for the day in the role of Executive Sponsor,
reinforcing the bank's ongoing commitment to fostering female
leaders of tomorrow.
Over the past month, BMO and Plan have hosted events to create
leadership and mentorship opportunities for young women
including:
- Four BMO executives, along with Michele
Bailey, President and CEO of Blazing Agency, shared their
seats with young women leaders to promote leadership skills and
mentorship
- Joanna Rotenberg, Group Head,
BMO Wealth Management hosted a roundtable discussion between youth
and women leaders
- Mona Malone, Chief Human
Resources Officer, BMO Financial Group and Caroline Riseboro, President and CEO, Plan
International Canada, along with youth ambassadors, BMO women
leaders and Plan representatives closed the Toronto Stock Exchange
on October 10
"In the two years BMO has acted as Executive Sponsor of the
Girls Belong Here program, we've been inspired by the
passion, intelligence, curiosity and fierce confidence of these
young women," says Mona Malone,
Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of People & Culture. "We
are committed to building a sustainable future, anchored in a
thriving economy in which all participate with zero barriers.
Supporting Girls Belong Here is an important way we live our
Purpose to Boldly Grow the Good, in business and in life."
"When girls and young women can envision themselves in positions
of power, they begin to understand that their voices are not only
valued – they are imperative to strong, inclusive leadership," said
Caroline Riseboro, President and CEO
of Plan International Canada. "I'm grateful for BMO's commitment to
our mission and for creating meaningful opportunities for young
women to unleash their inherent power."
Additional initiatives and highlights of BMO's work to advance
gender equality include:
- A commitment to double the bank's industry leading support for
women entrepreneurs as part of its Purpose commitments
- In 2018, BMO announced it is making $3
billion in capital available over the next three years for
Canadian women business owners
- A dedicated website, www.bmoforwomen.com, which provides tools
and educational resources for women entrepreneurs, including
podcast series Her Money, Her Way
- Honouring the achievements of business and community women
leaders through the BMO Celebrating Women Program
- 40 per cent of BMO's senior leadership roles are held by
women
- BMO Financial Group has been named to Bloomberg's Gender
Equality Index for the four consecutive years
- BMO Harris Bank appeared on Forbes' 2019 ranking of America's
Best Employers For Diversity
About BMO Financial Group
Serving customers for 200
years and counting, BMO is a highly diversified financial services
provider - the 8th largest bank, by assets, in North America. With total assets of
$839 billion as of July 31, 2019, and a team of diverse and highly
engaged employees, BMO provides a broad range of personal and
commercial banking, wealth management and investment banking
products and services to more than 12 million customers and
conducts business through three operating groups: Personal and
Commercial Banking, BMO Wealth Management and BMO Capital
Markets.
About Plan International Canada
Plan
International Canada is a member of a global organization dedicated
to advancing children's rights and equality for girls. The
organization has been building powerful partnerships for children
for over 80 years and is now active in more than 70 countries. Plan
International Canada calls on all Canadians to Defy Normal: to
believe in the power and potential of every child and to take a
stand anywhere children are oppressed, exploited or left behind and
anywhere girls aren't equally valued to create a world where all
can unleash their full potential. Visit plancanada.ca for more
information and follow @PlanCanada on social media to #DefyNormal
and join the conversation.
About International Day of the Girl
In 2009, Plan International Canada led an extensive two-year
campaign that engaged thousands of Canadians in a call for an
International Day of the Girl as part of Because I am a Girl, a
global initiative to end gender inequality and recognize girls'
rights as human rights. In December
2011, with unanimous all-party support, the Canadian
government led the United Nations to officially declare
October 11 as the International Day
of the Girl.
SOURCE BMO Financial Group