Great colleagues and career paths keep people at TD

Gregory Harrison began his career as an advertising copywriter, first for a major Canadian retailer and later moved into marketing communications working for a Crown agency, but he was always interested in working in the financial services industry. When he decided to change direction professionally, TD Bank Group was the first place he looked.

“I was a customer,” says Harrison, senior manager, region communications, community of practice. “My customer experience was impressive ‒ so was my investment experience. I thought if I’m this impressed, what would it be like to work there?”

That was in the fall of 2004 and, 18 years later, Harrison is still with the bank. “One of the reasons for my longevity at the bank is its welcoming and inclusive culture which goes a long way to attract, develop and retain talent.” Harrison says. “I’ve found that you can fulfill many of your career aspirations within the organization.”

Melissa MacInnis had a wellestablished career before she joined the bank. A native of Prince Edward Island, she worked as an aide in the Ottawa office of a local member of Parliament, served in the Prime Minister’s Office, then left the political world to join a mergers and acquisitions firm.

“I was going to tuck into TD Bank for a couple of years and then go on to some other things,” says MacInnis, associate vice-president, branch banking. “That was 10 years ago. I have found the people here are incredibly smart and they’re incredibly human.”

Apart from that, MacInnis has been impressed with the bank’s level of commitment to growth and development for talent at all levels. “We’ve made significant investments in training across the bank to ensure that colleagues can see new and more varied career paths. We also include investment in our leadership through formal and informal programs,” says MacInnis, who leads a team responsible for both strategic as well as day-to-day communications with the bank’s 1,100 branches.

“A person can start at the branch in a customer-facing role and advance through district, regional and corporate roles,” she says. “When I’m at a table with working groups I always hear beautiful stories of someone who’s an executive now, but started as a university student while in school.”

The bank’s commitment to coaching, mentoring and professional development benefits employees at all levels. “I entered the bank as a stand-alone contributor in corporate and public affairs,” Harrison says. “I wasn’t leading a team of direct reports. Now I lead a team of four managers who excel in strategic communications. Getting to that level of accountability and responsibility involved professional and personal development.”

This caring and supportive culture has always been core to TD. During the pandemic, this defining feature of the employee experience was amplified through the authenticity and empathy demonstrated by senior leaders and mirrored by their colleagues. “During the pandemic, the bank took a very proactive approach,” says Harrison. “It encouraged you to take time for yourself, focus on your mental health, physical health, diet and nutrition and provided information and links to several well-being resources.”

From well-being and career development to supportive leadership, the strikingly human culture described by Harrison and MacInnis is undoubtedly a key reason TD continues to be one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers.

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Canada's Top 100 Employers winners, published November 18, 2022 in The Globe and Mail. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.

Diverse career opportunities inspire loyalty at TD

Sonja Torbica, associate vice-president, operational excellence, began her career at TD Bank Group working the midnight shift at a contact centre while she was studying for a PhD in linguistics. That was 26 years ago. Today, she leads a team responsible for improving the way TD delivers value to its customers across the enterprise.

Torbica says she is enjoying a rich and rewarding career with impact across the Bank and in her local community in the GTA. “I’m still with the bank due to all the continuous learning as well as the caring and inspiring leaders,” she says. “I’ve been given the opportunity throughout my career to grow in areas I never would have considered without the encouragement of leaders who cared.” She was sponsored by her managers to take part in professional development and mentoring programs that teach women how to be effective and authentic leaders.

Nilujah Shanmugam, associate vice-president, business banking, started her career as a part-time customer service representative at TD Bank branches across the GTA while working on her undergraduate degree. That was sufficient exposure to the bank to know she wanted to work for the organization when she graduated.

“It allowed me to build a network, learn about the bank and connect with many leaders,” says Shanmugam, who has been with the organization for 19 years holding a variety of roles, including customer-facing branch positions and senior corporate roles. “I had tremendous support from my colleagues.”

Shanmugam has taken advantage of the bank’s internal Women in Leadership program, which holds panel discussions, development workshops and networking sessions throughout the year.

“We bring together a diverse group of colleagues, including many leaders from across the bank, to learn from different perspectives and champion initiatives in support of women,” says Shanmugam. “One of the many benefits of these events is the ability to learn about growth opportunities across the bank.”

Although coming from different areas of the bank, both Shanmugam and Torbica agree that for such a large organization, TD does a great job supporting employees at all levels, which contributes to its inclusive culture.

“We receive clear communication about enterprise strategies from senior management to keep everyone well informed,” says Shanmugam. “Leaders do a very good job of sharing information in transparent and authentic ways throughout their business lines.”

This support holds true even when it’s not business as usual. “They kept us well informed during the pandemic,” Shanmugam says. “While we had strategies and protocols from the enterprise, our leaders across each region were very hands-on. We had up-to-date information and the resources we needed to quickly pivot to working from home while seamlessly continuing to support our colleagues, customers and communities.”

Community involvement expanded virtually to comply with local and government restrictions over the last two years. Along with Torbica and Shanmugam, nearly 55,000 colleagues across North America are registered in the TD Ready Commitment Network, a colleague engagement platform. It empowers TD colleagues to learn, grow and make an impact in their local community through volunteering, fundraising, group experiences, community experiences and further learning.

With many opportunities to grow, network and get involved in the community, it's clear why colleagues consider TD a top employer.

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Greater Toronto’s Top Employers winners, published December 9, 2022 in The Globe and Mail. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.

Diversity leads to a stronger, more inclusive TD

Joshua Cayer didn’t intend to find a career in banking, but after 15 years of service and various roles at TD Bank Group, his journey has fulfilled him in surprising ways. Over time, the University of Ottawa sociology and criminology graduate found himself taking on diverse roles in customer experience, fraud and anti-money laundering. “There’s no shortage of learning and growth opportunities at TD,” says Cayer.

A proud member of the Kitigan Zibi Anishnabeg Algonquin First Nation near Ottawa, Cayer wasn’t always connected to his culture, but embarked on a path of discovery to find his authentic self when he became a father. “I felt a responsibility to help make the world a more welcoming place for my daughters and my community,” he says.

At TD, Cayer was able to live his passion for diversity and inclusion through internal training and mentorship, which is how he landed his current role as a diversity talent recruiter for Indigenous Peoples in December 2020. With a focus on sourcing external talent, he does outreach at Indigenous student centres at colleges and universities and forges connections with other professional associations. “I try to be the point of contact for talent from Indigenous communities so they know they have a person internally who can provide support, advocate for them and highlight their gifts,” he says.

Relationship building and networking are key skills. Cayer aims to showcase how a career at TD can be a great opportunity for Indigenous Peoples, one that not only provides many ways to advance professionally but also gives back to communities in meaningful ways. “I want to continue to be able to influence the business on the importance of hiring from Indigenous communities and showcase how that strengthens TD Bank as an organization,” he says.

Like Cayer, Jennifer Page connected with her authentic self during her more than two decades at TD. In May 2000, a master’s degree in economics and finance landed her a position as senior analyst, quantitative analytics. But for the first decade, when she completed the annual voluntary, confidential employee self-identification survey to help TD better understand and embrace its employees’ diversity, she didn’t self-identify on the form as Indigenous.

“I joined TD straight out of graduate school at age 28, and there weren’t many women working in quantitative finance then,” says Page. “My colleagues were predominantly older men with PhDs in physics and math, so I already felt like an oddball. It wasn’t until years later that I felt confident enough to click on the self-identification box.”

Proud of her Manitoba Métis heritage, Page also ticked a box on the survey that said, “I’m willing to be contacted.” She’s happy she did, and now encourages others to do the same.

Around that time, Page’s family had started giving back in their home community. “I asked myself, what am I doing to support my community?” she says.

One way Page lends support is through the TD Indigenous Employee Circle, where she met Cayer while participating on a panel at an event for youth from Indigenous communities. They work both internally and externally to increase Indigenous representation, raise awareness and create excitement about opportunities. Because of her finance background, she especially enjoys speaking with university students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs.

“TD’s focus on diversity and inclusion is one of the foundations of our culture,” says Page. “We recognize its importance and celebrate it – and you get the best outcomes when you do.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Canada’s Best Diversity Employers winners, published March 8, 2022 in The Globe and Mail. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.

TD Bank Group builds on a history of sustainability

I n 2009, Danielle Quenneville walked into her local branch with her resumé to apply for a customer representative role at TD Bank Group. She submitted her application and crossed her fingers. A few days after her 18th birthday, she got the job.

“I wanted to work where I knew I’d have career opportunities,” says Quenneville, who at the time was preparing to study communications science at Université de Montréal. “I connected to TD’s values, especially around the environment, and it felt like a good fit.”

Three years later, Quenneville left the Bank to study in Switzerland for a semester. When she came home, she returned to TD in Montréal, this time as an insurance broker. Several years and promotions later, she is now a regional manager with the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) team.

Quenneville spoke with her manager about her interest in a position related to environmental initiatives at TD. “My manager helped me identify what skills I needed and helped me build a network by encouraging me to join relevant employee committees,” she says. “I’ve been lucky to have been mentored by a number of leaders who have helped me achieve my goals.”

Currently, Quenneville enjoys reviewing grant applications from local charitable organizations, then providing her recommendations to the local TD FEF Regional Advisory Boards, which decide which projects receive funding. She has also volunteered for TD Tree Days, where TD and TD FEF employees and their families and friends meet on a weekend to plant native trees and shrubs in the Montréal area, including at Mount Royal Park. “It’s a great way to get to know people within the enterprise,” she says.

Now, working on a master’s degree in environment and sustainability, Quenneville aims to develop her knowledge about environmental initiatives – and she appreciates her employer’s support during her studies. “I’ve been given flexibility in my schedule if I have to leave early for a class,” she says. “Everyone helps each other at work, making it a very collaborative environment.”

In 2012, Nicole Vadori read in an article that TD had become carbon neutral in 2010. That same year, armed with an engineering degree, an MBA and experience in environmental consulting, she was hired as a management associate at the Bank. She is now vice president and head of environment at TD and was promoted to that position in 2021.

“My heart has always been with the environment, and I was lucky to be mentored for many years I n 2009, Danielle Quennevilleby the Bank’s chief environment officer, who retired in 2018,” says Vadori. “When that position was posted, I applied. Getting it was a dream come true for me.”

Vadori is tasked with figuring out how to use the Bank’s business activities to help drive positive environmental change, starting with supporting investments in the low-carbon economy. In 2020, TD made a commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with its operations and financing activities by 2050, aligned to the associated principles of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. “We spent over a decade reducing GHG emissions from our own operations, and we have expanded our focus to supporting reductions for our clients in high-emitting sectors,” says Vadori.

In recent years, Vadori has seen the Bank’s customers and business clients face increased risks from climate change, whether by fires, floods, droughts or severe storms. “No one is left untouched – we are all connected in this global climate challenge,” she says. “I’m proud that as a member of the global community, the Bank is bringing its resources to bear to help tackle the climate challenge.”

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Canada's Greenest Employers winners, published April 20, 2022 in The Globe and Mail. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.