Women helping women

In every tale of success, there’s usually a narrative of hard work, dedication, and many times, mentorship. But mentorship is tricky; it can be hard to find and sometimes requires a bit of serendipity.

Suzanne Fleur de Lys-Aujla, regional business manager at Equitable Bank has been in the financial services industry for more than a decade, and mentorship played an important role throughout her life. Her mother worked at a top Canadian bank and always showed special interest in mentoring other women in the industry. Eventually, one of her mother’s past mentees approached her about getting into mortgage and offered to be a mentor.

“She saw something in me and felt I could thrive in this world with just a little guidance,” she said. “It turns out she was right. I am now at a place in my life where I love what I do and the people that I work with.” 

That was when Fleur de Lys-Aujla truly recognized the value of mentorship. As she progressed through her career, she found it challenging to connect with other women in the mortgage industry and opportunities to create those deep connections needed for mentorships were sparce. Women in the Mortgage Industry (WIMI) was a group formed out of this desire; to create a space where relationships can extend beyond a generic introduction. Since its inception, WIMI has grown to a network of over 4300 women from across the country, working together to advocate for the industry from a unified front.

“When you create connections based on shared interests and goals, you’ll be more successful at your business. People want to work with people they know and like. Most industries, including mortgage, are so siloed; WIMI breaks down those barriers and that’s where the magic happens.”

Fleur de Lys-Aujla added that in her experience, many women feel more comfortable in an all-female environment built on support, kindness, and an understanding of what each other may be going through. While entry-level positions in financial services are made up of roughly equal portions of men and women in North America, a study by McKinsey & Company finds women are severely underrepresented in leadership roles, with only two in 10 women holding C-suite positions. For change to happen, Fleur de Lys-Aujla says women need to harness the power of collaboration and continue to raise each other up.

“A woman alone has power; collectively we have impact.”

Mentorship is serious business to Fleur de Lys-Aujla, and it’s a real give and take, offering benefits for both parties. There’s also a real opportunity to use mentorship to encourage increased diversity and inclusion in the mortgage world through matching up unlikely pairs and leveraging those differences to help each other grow.

“When two people have real differences, the relationship takes more work; both must put in a concerted effort to learn, understand, and accept a new perspective,” she said. “As the relationship develops, both parties might have to consider challenging their previously held beliefs to be more open and expand their mindsets.”

Fleur de Lys-Aujla mentors a few different women and emphasizes the importance of clear conversations on expectations, accountability check-ins, and growth plans. Over the years, many women in the industry have added to her own personal and professional growth. Some of them, you may recognize: “From being introduced to Hali Strandlund-Noble and meeting Elaine Taylor, Megan McDonald, Rachelle Gregory, Kyra Wong and Kim Kukulowicz, plus the many women I call my clients.”

For anyone seeking mentorship, Fleur de Lys-Aujla says it’s a good idea to ask for a lunch or coffee meeting and test the waters first; see if they are open to talking about their successes and ask if they’ve mentored anyone in the past.

“Be clear on what you’re looking for. Everyone’s seeking their own definition of a successful career, and chances are yours will look much different than that of your mentor. Rely on them for guidance and encouragement, but make sure you’re continuing to do what feels right for you.”