An exciting career in the 24/7 world of international finance feels one step closer to reality thanks to the HSBC Women in Business Leadership Award, says Jennifer Jang, a third-year international business (iBBA) student at York’s Schulich School of Business and one of the first to receive the award valued at $20,000.
“It’s gratifying to have all my hard work and leadership potential recognized by receiving the first HSBC Women in Business Leadership Award given out at Schulich,” says Jang, the first of four Schulich students who will receive the award over the next five years.
Jang, who maintains a top grade point average and is working toward fluency in four languages, is among leading female students from eight universities across Canada to receive the award. Along with her studies, she mentors fellow business students and has been an executive member of the Schulich Toastmasters club and an analyst with the York Finance Club.
Jennifer Jang, a third-year international business student
“The eventual realization of my long-term career goals is starting to feel more imminent,” says Jang, who immigrated to Canada from South Korea with her family at age nine and expects to graduate with an International Bachelor of Business Administration degree in April, 2013.
Under the new, five-year HSBC Canada awards program, Schulich and business schools at Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Alberta, Queen’s University, the University of Toronto, Western University and McGill University will each receive $80,000 to establish the awards at their respective institutions. Four female students from each university – 32 women in total – who show leadership potential and maintain a high grade point average will be eligible for the award in their final two years of study.
From left, Charmaine Courtis, Schulich’s executive director, Student Services & International Relations, Erin Bennett, senior vice-president and head of Payments and Cash Management, HSBC Bank Canada, and Schulich Women in Leadership co-presidents Amna Farooq and Anukriti Sinha launch the HSBC Women in Business Leadership Award
“We are very pleased to see that HSBC Canada is seeking to encourage women business leaders early in their careers. It shows they care about people reaching their full potential in the workplace, which is very gratifying,” said Charmaine Courtis, executive director of Schulich’s student services and international relations.
On March 9, Erin Bennett, senior vice-president & head of Payments and Cash Management, HSBC Bank Canada, attended the 8th Annual Women in Leadership Conference, Inspire to Aspire, to celebrate the creation of this award at the Schulich School of Business. The student-run conference was a daylong event that brought together women to network and develop their leadership skills, while inspiring positive change in the future of women’s leadership in Canada.
“HSBC believes that education is a fundamental building block for communities,” says Lindsay Gordon, president and CEO, HSBC Bank Canada. “Our success is built on our ability to attract and develop a diverse range of talent, and we are delighted that the HSBC Women in Business Leadership Awards will recognize future business leaders, encouraging them to achieve their full potential and forge a path towards becoming some of Canada’s top executives.”
According to a 2011 Catalyst report, women made up 47.3 per cent of the Canadian workforce in 2010, but held only 17.7 per cent of senior officer positions at Financial Post 500 companies; and more than 30 per cent of companies in the study had no women senior officers.
Jang and other award recipients have also been invited to apply for HSBC Bank Canada summer internship positions, as well as management trainee programs upon graduation.
HSBC Bank Canada has donated close to $2 million to York University over the past two decades. Previous donations have created six endowed scholarship funds atYorkUniversity, which have had a significant impact on students.