Name: Roanne Weyemars
Title: VP, Public Affairs, Communications, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
Organization: Coast Capital Savings
The theme of International Women’s Day 2025 is “Accelerate Action.” What does this theme mean to you personally and professionally, and how is your organization embodying it?
I’ll start by saying that I believe accelerating action can take different forms. Action that propels women forward is often influenced by the unique needs and opportunities that exist in different organizations, sectors and communities. What’s important is that we keep moving while measuring and celebrating progress.
To me personally, accelerating action is all about creating changes big and small that make a real difference in women’s lives. It’s actively reframing everyday narratives in our society that disempower women and perpetuate gender inequities. It’s upholding women’s rights that are increasingly at risk. It’s about recognizing that women are not a monolith, some of us face more barriers than others and that accelerated action is needed in key areas to make intersectional gender equality a reality.
One example of how Coast Capital is advancing initiatives that address diverse needs of women, is through Maturn and our broader suite of employee benefits designed to support employees as mothers. From parental leave top-up to fertility, surrogate and adoption benefits, we are actively supporting women in motherhood and their careers and it’s something that I am very proud of as an employee.
Can you share a specific initiative or program your organization has implemented to support women? What inspired its creation, and what impact have you seen so far?
I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight our Women In Business Employee Resource Group (ERG). This powerhouse group of women compliments our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion work by cultivating an inclusive professional environment where women thrive, break barriers, and inspire one another to achieve unparalleled success.
The Women In Business ERG has a track record of shining a light on important topics including talking about menopause, intersectionality and men as allies. Last year, the group hosted an important masterclass on visibility and reputation for women in leadership and their popular speed mentoring events have without a doubt created connections that have helped advance the careers of women at Coast Capital.
How has your organization’s participation in Maturn’s programs supported women in your workplace? What outcomes or impacts have you seen as a result?
Our employee promise focuses on a number of pillars that support the whole person including purpose, connection, flexibility, growth and well-being. Maturn’s maternity leave program has helped bring this promise to life, supporting women at Coast Capital to grow both their families and careers.
I have personally heard from mothers who went through the program that it made them feel cared for as a person as they navigated new challenges, while offering a supportive network and place to belong. We’re continuing to partner with Maturn to support our employees who are also mothers and break down barriers that contribute to the motherhood penalty.
Looking to the future, what bold steps do you believe are necessary to truly accelerate action for women in the workplace? How is your organization preparing to take these steps?
Now more than ever, we need to ensure that leaders are advocating for inclusion of women in the workplace. This includes implementing policies, programs and partnerships that support the careers of women and create a positive work environment. It also includes looking outside the workplace and advocating for a more inclusive society that lifts women up. One example of this that I want to highlight is Coast Capital’s partnership with DIVERSEcity which helps skilled newcomer women achieve the credentials needed to build their career in Canada.
Looking inside our organization, we’re proud that more than half of employees at Coast Capital identify as women. However, we also know that we have opportunities to increase representation of women at different levels, including senior management. This is an area where we are continuing to accelerate action, creating the conditions for women to step into new positions while strengthening our organization through greater diversity and inclusion.
