Building pathways to inclusive success

Melissa Shin is the Editorial Director of Advisor.ca and Investment Executive. As an award-winning journalist, Melissa turns technical subject matter into accessible content for sophisticated audiences. Her reporting has been cited in university syllabi, in textbooks and to national regulators. Melissa has been with Advisor’s Edge since 2011. Prior to that, she was managing editor of Corporate Knights, a North American magazine focused on clean capitalism. Melissa is the secretary of the board for Fashion Takes Action, a non-profit focused on advancing sustainability in the fashion industry. She is a graduate of the Schulich School of Business at York University.

Najma Pilgrim is the VP Human Resources & Inclusion for Fidelity Canada. In her current role Najma is responsible for supporting and collaborating with business leaders as an HR Business Partner. She also leads the Employment Relations and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion teams for Fidelity Canada. Najma joined Fidelity in 2006 as the Director Defined Benefits and has over 25 years of management and leadership experience. Prior to joining Fidelity, Najma worked in Business Process Outsourcing and Telecommunications. Najma holds a BA in Political Science from Concordia University. In her spare time, Najma enjoys time with her family and listening to audio books while being outdoors.

As a demonstrated leader, Jennifer is responsible for achieving business results through sales management leadership. She works closely with her Advisors to maximize revenue and productivity opportunities within her region while working to remove barriers that impede sales force effectiveness.  Jennifer believes in maintaining and strengthening relationships with advisor teams by fostering an open and inclusive environment along with an advisor focused culture.

Creating an environment that supports the advancement of women in wealth management is something that Jennifer is passionate about.  She is a co-planner and co-host of the NBF Women Investment Advisors’ Symposium, and is a co-lead on the National Bank Women’s Leadership Network.

Shelley has been in the financial industry for over 30 years, this experience has given her the vast industry knowledge to work with investors from all walks of life. She understands that an investor’s goals and financial plans are ever-changing, dependent on age, celebrating milestones, retirement and career changes, and more. Therefore, her goal as an Advisor is to develop rapport and trust with her clients so that they can have an open and comfortable conversation about their lifestyle goals and walk away with a sense of confidence and empowerment in their financial future.

Yasmin is responsible for leading a team of Senior Regional Managers and Financial Planners who are dedicated to supporting Canadian families and businesses to build confidence and achieve their financial goals. With over 20 years in the financial services industry, Yasmin has a diverse career that spans multiple businesses and leadership roles across Direct Investing, Wealth Advice, Retail Banking and Corporate functions. She is a dynamic leader with a passion for coaching, career development and inspiring teams towards common goals. Currently, Yasmin is a Board Member for the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) and is also the Financial Planning Executive sponsor for the TD Wealth For Women initiative.