Good morning to the remarkable women in this room, and to the allies who continue to champion equity in meaningful and tangible ways.
Standing here today is truly an honour. For over a decade, this stage has been graced by powerful female executives from Scotiabank, including our Senior VP and Managing Director. These are women whom I deeply admire. So being asked to share this moment with you, as a male colleague and ally, is something I do not take lightly.
To be transparent, it is both humbling and inspiring to speak in a space so powerfully shaped by women’s voices, experiences, and leadership. And I am grateful for the opportunity because allyship requires presence, accountability, and intentional action.
Today is one of those moments.
[Give to Gain]
This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Give to Gain, resonates deeply with me. Not only as a leader, but as a colleague, mentor, father, and friend.
When I reflect on my own journey, the truth is this:
The women in my life - professionally and personally, have shaped my leadership far more than any title I’ve earned.
I have gained:
• perspective from women who challenged the way I saw the world,
• clarity from women who spoke hard truths with courage,
• and strength from women who led with both conviction and compassion.
So, when we talk about “Give to Gain,” I see a call for us, especially men, to give with intention:
• to give support
• to give voice
• to give opportunity
• to give space
• and to give allyship
Because when we give those things, we build better teams, better workplaces, and better leaders – ourselves included.
[12 years of continued support]
Scotiabank’s purpose is to help people, communities, and businesses thrive, and that requires (and I am going to be strong with my words here) eradication of any form of gender bias.. Scotia’s commitment is reflected in who we are:
• 73% of our employee base is female,
• 60% of our senior managers are women, and
• 57% of our Director‑plus leaders are women.
These are not simply statistics; they are evidence that when women rise, organizations thrive.
Additionally, real progress demands consistency, Scotiabank has proudly supported this Women’s Leadership Conference for 12 consecutive years - not for optics, but equity requires long‑term commitment.
But our actions extend well beyond this room.
[Commitment to Equity and Inclusion]
Women at Scotiabank play critical roles at every level of the Bank, and we are committed to ensuring they have equitable access to development, leadership pathways, and meaningful career opportunities.
In recent years, we have introduced several industry‑shaping initiatives that strengthen our commitment to equity and inclusion:
• Learning and leadership development for women: Through global learning platforms, leadership accelerators, mentorship circles, and programmes that strengthen skills and readiness for senior roles, we ensure that women have equitable access to growth. These initiatives help women build confidence, expand networks, and unlock pathways to leadership.
• Extending medical coverage to same‑sex partners: We became the first employer in the region to extend our employee medical insurance benefit to same‑sex partners. This is an acknowledgment that families exist in many forms — all deserving of dignity, protection, and care.
• A new global standard for parental leave: This includes 16 weeks of maternity leave, 4 weeks of paternity leave, and new eligibility for adoption and gestational surrogacy leave. These policies support every type of family and challenge the outdated notion that caregiving belongs solely to women.
These policies and programmes create a more equitable foundation in the workplace. They reflect who we are - a Bank committed to fairness, dignity, and progress.
[Give to Gain — what leaders must do]
What giving looks like in action:
• Give Confidence → Gain Courage
Create spaces where women’s voices are heard fully, without interruption or minimization.
• Give Opportunity → Gain Progress
Put women forward for high‑impact roles. Challenge outdated assumptions about “readiness.”
• Give Space → Gain Innovation
Ensure women are present where decisions are made — not as tokens, but as contributors shaping direction.
• Give Mentorship & Sponsorship → Gain Momentum
Sponsor women with intention. Advocate for them in rooms where decisions are made.
• Give Allyship → Gain Impact
Allyship is action, not applause. It is speaking up when bias appears and choosing courage over comfort.
[The power in the room]
Look around you.
This room is filled with visionaries, builders, disruptors, and leaders shaping the future.
Every person here – woman or man - has something to give and when we give, we all gain - stronger organizations, more inclusive communities, and a world that benefits fully from women’s leadership.
Thank you, AMCHAM, for your continued commitment to equity.
Thank you to the extraordinary women in this room for the paths you have carved, the barriers you have broken, and the generations you continue to inspire.
And thank you for the privilege of speaking with you today.