FEATURE / WOMEN OF INFLUENCE
Susan Baxter Vice chair RBC Wealth Management Susan Baxter graduated university with a degree in pharmacology. When she found herself unexpectedly working at a boutique M&A firm, she discovered that the research discipline, math and analytic skills she had developed were exactly the skills she needed. After a few years, she left Toronto to move to London, looking to gain some international experience. “I found a job in corporate finance as an analyst at a large US investment bank,” she says. “It was very challenging to adjust to both a new culture and a tough and competitive work environment … within which I was one of very few women. But I took on a number of roles that broadened my experience.” Baxter ended up as COO of a $3 billion credit fund. “There were lots of sleepless nights along the way, but I was able to navigate my way through with the help of a committed and talented team of colleagues, some great mentors and a fantastic network to help educate me on my new roles,” she says. “Being patient and focused during challenging situations brings great opportunities for learning and development.” Today, Baxter is back in Toronto and focused on building relationships with Canada’s top enterprises and families as the vice chair of RBC Wealth Management. Serving the needs of ultra-high-net-worth clients and helping them achieve the goals for themselves and the next generation is her passion. Her lesson for younger women just coming up in the industry: “Build and cultivate a strong network of colleagues, friends and family that can serve you in so many different ways – from mentorship, to finding a job, to achieving life goals.”
Isabelle Hudon Executive chair, Quebec Sun Life Financial Isabelle Hudson has been Sun Life Financial’s Quebec president since August 2010. Under her leadership, Sun Life Financial has seen impressive growth in all business lines in the province. And thanks to Hudson’s work, Sun Life is once again a welcome player in the province after moving its headquarters from Montreal to Toronto when the separatists came to power. From 2004 to 2008, Hudson was president and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal, where she contributed significantly to the revitalization of the Board’s activities. A recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2005, she was named one of the 40 most successful Canadians under the age of 40. She is also board member of Hydro-Québec, Holt Renfrew Canada, the Mount Royal Club and the Canada Council for the Arts. Her advice for younger women in the industry: “Find a sponsor who will help you grow and develop.”
Kathleen Taylor Chair of the board RBC Kathleen Taylor became the first woman to lead the board of a major Canadian bank when she took the chair at the Royal Bank of Canada at the beginning of 2014. Prior to her current role, she had been an independent director since 2001. She also has worked on the bank’s audit and risk committees, and has been chair of the human resources committee since 2010. Taylor is the former president and CEO of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, where she held a number of senior leadership roles during a 24-year career.
22 | MARCH 2015
16-35_WomenofInfluence_v2.indd 22
18/02/2015 5:00:13 AM