Business
JAM | Jan 11, 2022

Anya Schnoor | Access to capital, mentorship and education are vital for female business owners

/ Our Today

administrator
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Anya Schnoor, Executive Vice President of Scotiabank Caribbean, Central America and Uruguay delivers a charge to women in business during the launch of the Scotiabank Women Initiative® hosted at the AC Marriott Hotel in Kingston on Friday, January 7.

The Scotiabank’s Women’s Initiative (SWI) was launched at the AC Hotel by Marriott in Kingston. This event was attended by Scotiabankers, media and female leaders in Jamaica. 

Below are Scotiabank’s Executive Vice President for the Caribbean, Central America and Uruguay, Anya Schnoor’s remarks:

“I want to start by saying how proud I am to be here today as we launch the Scotiabank’s Women’s Initiative here in my home country of Jamaica. 

The Scotiabank Women’s Initiative first launched in Canada three years ago and it has made a significant impact across our communities there – having helped over 5,000 programme participants to date to grow their business, further develop their business acumen and hone their leadership skills.

I am truly pleased to be launching this significant initiative which will offer meaningful support to female leaders and entrepreneurs in Jamaica.

We want to make it possible for women to dream big, offer them the advice they need to make those difficult decisions, provide them access to capital and the education required to really make a mark on our communities and economy.

Opportunity to expand on the three-pronged approach: 

  • Access to Capital: Scotiabank has deployed financing to support the growth of women-led small and mid-market businesses. In addition, Scotiabank will ensure equal access to its full suite of financing solutions. 
  • Mentorship: An advisory board, made up of men and women with deep experience in financial services, has been created to help women grow their business through facilitated small group membership sessions. 
  • Education: Scotiabank will provide access to a series of sessions that “un-teach” traditionally held ideas about how to succeed; explore business-focused issues like governance, adopting technology, and recruiting and retaining employees with Scotiabank executives and other experts; and hear from other successful women and advisory board members.

I believe the SWI in Jamaica will bring great opportunities – there’s so much untapped potential. 

Out of a population of 2.9 million people, over 50 per cent are female and nd we rank number one globally for the country with the most women managers; we have boss women all around us, highly educated, competent, and hard-working.

At Scotiabank we strongly believe in the importance of diversity and equality in the workplace, we have made it a strategic priority because we believe that for women to achieve success there needs to be a fundamental shift in the way we view women and their importance to the success of any organisation.

Anya Schnoor, Executive Vice President of Scotiabank Caribbean, Central America and Uruguay in conversation with Audrey Tugwell-Henry, Scotiabank Jamaica President during Friday’s Scotiabank Women’s Initiative (SWI) launch at the AC Marriot Hotel. Also pictured are Gender and Culture Minister Olivia Grange and President of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO), Diane Edwards. (Photo contributed)

Under the CCAU region, I am proud to say we have over 54 per cent of women in leadership roles and, in Scotiabank Jamaica, 47 per cent. 

There’s still a long way when it comes to equality in the workforce when it comes to the pay gap – but that is not just in Jamaica, but globally and change won’t happen overnight but it’s important we take the right steps towards this.

We have had to recognise that the issues which have prevented women from achieving success are not solely related to whether men or women make better leaders, but to access to funding, to education and to a strong network of mentors – which is exactly what this programme aims to do.

When the team in Canada was looking to expand on the programme, I had to raise my hand and let them know Jamaica would be a great fit and the impact they could make for Jamaican women especially would be significant – Jamaican women need all the support they can get to breakdown barriers to increase economic opportunity to grow and develop professionally.

Taking risks is one of the hardest things to do as women, we are conditioned to play it safe, that we must tick all the boxes to make it to the next step. 

I believe this initiative will help women in Jamaica unleash their true potential, through education, capital, and mentorship – I really do encourage all women to be bold, don’t be afraid to lead and never be afraid of success. 

Thank you, everyone.”

Comments

What To Read Next