Although no one in my family works in banking, when the time came for me to consider a career, I was drawn to the industry. For 11 years , I had rewarding work in corporate and personal banking at financial institutions of all sizes.
When I joined BDC, it was partly because I wanted to put my skills to work for Indigenous entrepreneurs. I liked that there was an offering specifically designed for Indigenous business owners – the Indigenous Entrepreneur Loan – and that a portion of the interest earned on each loan goes to a charity of the entrepreneur’s choice. However, what really piqued my interest was the opportunity to work with leaders who are Métis.
I am a 33-year-old married father of two, but representation matters just as much to me now as it did when I started. It is difficult to find the right words to express what it means to be fortunate to follow in the footsteps of other Indigenous professionals .
Empowering Indigenous Staff
From the recruitment process, I knew that BDC would be a good fit for me. The job posting stated that it was important to hire First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. The hiring managers were interested in my experience as a Métis banker, but more importantly, what I could bring to the team.
From the beginning, I have been given a platform to speak on my behalf as a Métis employee. Management doesn’t just listen to what I say and repeat it; they give me the microphone to share my perspective directly. I feel free to speak out about the issues facing Indigenous entrepreneurs and Métis employees, and I know that the concerns we raise will be addressed head on.
Employee Resource Groups Bring People Together
I realized how important it was for BDC to empower its car owner database employees when, in my first week on the job, I made a suggestion to our Indigenous Employee Resource Group. Resource groups allow Indigenous employees and allies to come together to share ideas and concerns with each other and Indigenous entrepreneurs.
During the recruitment process, I noticed that BDC's job postings did not mention that people could work remotely from their community, whether that was on a Métis settlement in Alberta or on reserve as a First Nations person.
It may seem like a small thing, but the wording of job postings has an impact. Women have been found to be less likely than men to apply for a job unless they meet nine of 10 requirements . If our job postings aren’t explicit about what remote work means for Indigenous candidates, qualified people may feel that BDC is inaccessible to them. This is a missed opportunity for an organization that is striving to be more inclusive.
As Indigenous employees, we not only receive attention from the Employee Resource Group: our growth is also fostered and encouraged.
I raised my concern on a Thursday. By the following Tuesday, all eligible BDC job postings had been updated to reflect the change I had suggested. Specific job postings now state that, as long as they have access to high-speed internet, BDC staff can work remotely, on reserves or in their communities, anywhere in Canada.
I was blown away by the speed of this change. It became clear to me that BDC is serious about improving its inclusive practices.
Important work that is recognized
Since then, I have looked forward to our monthly Indigenous Employee Resource Group meetings. Among the many facets of our work, we have created self-discovery tools for Indigenous employees and entrepreneurs, as well as resources that non-Indigenous staff can use to support the Indigenous economy in Canada.
The Indigenous Employee Resource Group is a critical part of my job satisfaction at BDC. What makes this group special is that it has the full support of management and mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that the people who lead it do not become overwhelmed or burned out. Our direct managers endorse the time and energy we put into the work we do as a group.
“As Indigenous employees, we not only receive attention from the Employee Resource Group, but our growth is also fostered and encouraged.” Change doesn’t always come as quickly as we would like, but it’s exciting to see the fruits of our labor being introduced and then put into practice internally.
I am proud to work for an organization that empowers Indigenous entrepreneurs to work alongside Indigenous employees who understand the barriers and challenges they face. BDC prioritizes ongoing training, expects everyone to be inclusive in their role, and actively recruits to strengthen the diversity of its team. I am also grateful for the opportunity to feel valued and heard as an Indigenous employee in this important work.