Empowering Women in Business: RBC’s commitment to inclusion

As the Calgary Chamber's new Inclusion Pillar Partner, RBC is committed to helping enable career opportunities in communities they operate through skill development, mentorship and meaningful work experience.

Fostering inclusivity is ingrained in the bank’s culture, guiding its actions both internally and externally. RBC recognizes that diverse perspectives lead to stronger, more innovative businesses, and continues to emphasize the importance of fostering an inclusive business environment.

A journey of empowerment

Laurie Goodfellow, RBC’s Regional Vice President of Private Banking for Alberta and the Prairies, plays a significant role in driving these efforts. Through her leadership, Laurie embodies RBC’s dedication to collaboration and empowerment, actively working to increase opportunities for women in banking and business. Laurie’s leadership style centers around elevating others, particularly women, and providing them with the tools and mentorship needed to thrive.

Laurie’s own career serves as an inspiring example of growth and mentorship. Growing up in a small southern Ontario farming community, Laurie started her career at RBC as a client advisor while still in high school.

“I worked at the Farm Co-op and the bank manager was a customer at the store,” says Laurie. “One day, she said to me, ‘You should put in your application at the bank.”

This suggestion set her on a path that has seen her achieve significant career milestones, with Laurie now leading private banking in Alberta and the Prairies. Her journey has been marked by constant learning, resilience and the invaluable mentorship she received along the way, demonstrating the importance of support in any career development.

Advancing women in banking and business

While RBC has made great strides, Laurie recognizes there are still opportunities to continue to advance women in the banking industry, including building support networks for women.

“Building networks and enabling more mentor relationships continues to be an area we can grow” says Laurie, highlighting the importance of self-advocacy, encouraging women to prioritize their own ambitions and to have the confidence to set high goals. “To continue to lift each other up, we need to make sure that we are comfortable stating that we are ambitious and that we want to have big achievements.”

This kind of self-empowerment is at the heart of RBC’s leadership programs, such as the Women in Leadership program, which have been instrumental in empowering women to take on senior roles. The program, equips women with the skills and confidence to succeed in business. Laurie stresses that it is important to foster an environment where women not only feel supported but also encouraged to lead.

RBC's role as Calgary Chamber's Inclusion Pillar Partner

As the Inclusion Pillar Partner with the Calgary Chamber, RBC further extends its support of women entrepreneurs. The partnership is centered around offering resources and guidance to help women navigate the unique challenges they face. The Chamber’s initiatives align with RBC’s broader goal of enhancing opportunities for women in business, and Laurie is proud to be part of this movement.

“We have lots of great programs and it’s really from end to end—from a recruitment perspective through retention,” says Laurie. “All of those pieces make sure that we’re building the pipeline of talent and making sure that we’re looking at equity.”

By helping women entrepreneurs not only through financial services but by creating a comprehensive support ecosystem, RBC is paving the way for more women to thrive in traditionally male-dominated industries like banking and entrepreneurship. This ecosystem includes mentorship programs, networking opportunities and access to a vast array of business resources, all designed to help women succeed in their ventures.

Creating an inclusive future

Looking toward the future, Laurie is optimistic about the growing inclusivity in banking and business.

“We all have the responsibility to continue to increase representation at our executive levels,” says Laurie. “Encouraging and listening to different perspectives is really what inclusion is about.”

When it comes to women aspiring to build careers in banking, Laurie encourages women to build strong networks and continue developing the skills necessary to advance in their careers.

“Look for those opportunities to develop those skills that might be helpful and then have a seat at the table—make sure that you’re speaking up and know that your voice matters,” she says.

Through her leadership and RBC’s continued focus on inclusion, Laurie is helping to create a more supportive environment for the next generation of women leaders.. Together, RBC and the Chamber are working toward a future where diverse voices are not only heard but celebrated, driving lasting change in Calgary’s business community.

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RBC was recently named our Inclusion Pillar Partner. To learn more about the partnership, visit: www.calgarychamber.com/inclusion-pillar-partner

About RBC

Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 98,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 19 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.

RBC is proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/peopleandplanet.