Women in finance: A conversation on confidence, balance and investing

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Tasneem Azim-Khan, chief investment strategist at RBC PH&N Investment Counsel, leads an important discussion on creating an equitable culture for women in finance.

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Tasneem Azim-Khan
Vice President and Chief Investment Strategist

Women represent a larger share of the financial services industry than they did a decade ago, and although we should celebrate the progress that’s been made, it’s also important to remain focused on ways we can accelerate this momentum.

With this in mind, Tasneem Azim-Khan, chief investment strategist at RBC PH&N Investment Counsel, spoke with Irene Fernando and Sarah Neilson—both managing directors, senior portfolio managers and co-heads of North American Equities at RBC Global Asset Management—about their career journeys, barriers they’ve faced along the way and advice for the next generation.

Their conversation touched on important themes, such as:

  • Establishing self-confidence and self-belief  
  • Navigating the pursuit of “balance” between personal and professional lives
  • The importance of financial literacy, independence and peace of mind
  • Their investing approach and investment philosophy, including the value of compounding

The discussion ended with a clear call to action for all from Tasneem: “You have the power to support change. Every step forward is a step towards progress. Whether you’re sponsoring a colleague, serving on a board, volunteering for an organization, or simply creating a safe and opportunistic workplace, your efforts are the catalyst for a strong, equitable culture.”


This document has been prepared for use by the RBC Wealth Management member companies, RBC Dominion Securities Inc. (RBC DS)*, RBC Phillips, Hager & North Investment Counsel Inc. (RBC PH&N IC), RBC Global Asset Management Inc. (RBC GAM), Royal Trust Corporation of Canada and The Royal Trust Company (collectively, the “Companies”) and their affiliates, RBC Direct Investing Inc. (RBC DI) *, RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc. (RBC WMFS) and Royal Mutual Funds Inc. (RMFI). *Member-Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Each of the Companies, their affiliates and the Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. “RBC advisor” refers to Private Bankers who are employees of Royal Bank of Canada and mutual fund representatives of RMFI, Investment Counsellors who are employees of RBC PH&N IC, Senior Trust Advisors and Trust Officers who are employees of The Royal Trust Company or Royal Trust Corporation of Canada, or Investment Advisors who are employees of RBC DS. In Quebec, financial planning services are provided by RMFI or RBC WMFS and each is licensed as a financial services firm in that province. In the rest of Canada, financial planning services are available through RMFI or RBC DS. Estate and trust services are provided by Royal Trust Corporation of Canada and The Royal Trust Company. If specific products or services are not offered by one of the Companies or RMFI, clients may request a referral to another RBC partner. Insurance products are offered through RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc., a subsidiary of RBC Dominion Securities Inc. When providing life insurance products in all provinces except Quebec, Investment Advisors are acting as Insurance Representatives of RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc. In Quebec, Investment Advisors are acting as Financial Security Advisors of RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc. RBC Wealth Management Financial Services Inc. is licensed as a financial services firm in the province of Quebec. The strategies, advice and technical content in this publication are provided for the general guidance and benefit of our clients, based on information believed to be accurate and complete, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness. This publication is not intended as nor does it constitute tax or legal advice. Readers should consult a qualified legal, tax or other professional advisor when planning to implement a strategy. This will ensure that their individual circumstances have been considered properly and that action is taken on the latest available information. Interest rates, market conditions, tax rules, and other investment factors are subject to change. This information is not investment advice and should only be used in conjunction with a discussion with your RBC advisor. None of the Companies, RMFI, RBC WMFS, RBC DI, Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates or any other person accepts any liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss arising from any use of this report or the information contained herein.

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Tasneem Azim-Khan

Vice President and Chief Investment Strategist

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