#InternationalWomensDay 2024: Joy Milazi

March 8, 2024 is International Women’s Day, and we are telling the stories of inspiring and accomplished women we are privileged to work and partner with.

Name: Joy Milazi ( Joy M. )

Position: Financial Advisor

Designations: BBA

Years in industry: 5 years

Years at ATB Wealth: 8 months

Why did you choose a career in the financial industry? What has your career path looked like?

After graduating from university, I realized that I did not know how money worked (besides what my mom had taught us on saving and being generous). I decided to look for a job at the bank and started my journey on the front line then worked my way up to become a lender. During this time, I was introduced to the investment side of finance and though I did not know much, I would ask my colleagues in that department for book recommendations and would spend my spare time networking with advisors, and reading on various investment strategies, financial planning, etc.

My curiosity led me to actively seeking out ways to get into ATB Wealth. I finally got an opportunity to work as an investment counselor’s assistant then transitioned to becoming a financial advisor. The journey of learning still continues and I couldn't be happier to be in an industry that continues to evolve and challenges me to grow.

As a woman in this industry, what are the challenges you’ve experienced along the way?

Being vulnerable and assertive.

Growing up in a society where I would witness women suffer in silence while allowing others to take the praise for their hard work, I subconsciously brought those same traits with me to my work. Here is an example—I once convinced a client who was about to move her business to not only stay with the financial institution I worked for but to invest her million-dollar balance with us. Many had spoken to her before me but she trusted my advice and kept her business with us. A few weeks later, my manager came in to praise me for a job well done and wondered why I had not mentioned it to leadership. My simple answer was that “it did not even cross my mind.”

Speaking up and, worse, “bragging” about your accomplishments, especially as a woman, was frowned upon in my community in Zimbabwe. If you did a good job, others would have had to bring this up as you quietly received praise rather than “clapping hands for yourself” as an old proverb would say. Coming to Canada where speaking up directly is how you get recognition was something I needed to learn to do. Most times I found myself shying away from sharing my opinions or judging myself when I finally found the courage to do so. I would also downplay my experience and undervalue my worth for the sake of being agreeable. Entering a space of “finance bros,” I learnt the importance of not only knowing your worth but being able to tell your story and share your expertise in a confident and unapologetic way.

Some lessons are easier talked about than applied but I started small. I approached my manager and asked him to coach me on how to stand out without losing who I was. One of the strategies he shared was making sure I wrote down my successes and how I got to that result. He challenged me to share them in team meetings. I did so and it was extremely uncomfortable but I noticed that it opened up opportunities for others to also be able to share different tips and tricks on how they successfully tackle different targets and challenges.

I also learnt not to fear failure or rejection but to embrace both as opportunities to re-strategize or see things from different lenses. With time, I have been able to set boundaries at work (we all need this for good mental health), learn how to negotiate my salary when a new opportunity comes up (we women need to do this more often), and to seek opportunities that will help foster growth and curiosity.

Though I have become better at being assertive and vulnerable, it still does not come naturally to me. I still seek mentorship and read/listen to different people who have mastered this.

The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is #InspireInclusion. Based on your experience, what does this industry need to do to support both women in finance, and women taking control of their financial well-being.

As I read this question, I could not help but be filled with so much gratitude towards the women who went before us and decided to be bold and enter the finance industry at a time when women were only known for domestic chores. I also recall seeing women back home in Zimbabwe carrying the financial burden of the family and choosing to wake up and work in different industries ranging from the vegetable market to hospitals to retail just so that their children (despite the gender they were born in) could have a better future. The sacrifices of these women paved the way for us to have a choice.

Moving forward, I believe both men and women within finance ought to “sponsor” (going beyond mentorship to promote an individual’s worth even behind closed doors) at least one woman to the next level. In my career, I have been privileged to work with both men and women who chose not to let my gender, race, or difference of opinion stop them from supporting my goals. I would not be here without the good managers who decided to go the extra mile to coach and connect me to resources that only they had the power and experience to give. One can be driven but without supportive and discerning leadership, that person’s potential could be suffocated.

Having studied sustainable business, I remember reading several peer-reviewed research papers that showed the positive correlation between empowering women and better communities. Choosing to develop women in the industry would not only be beneficial to the organizations they work for but also for the communities they themselves and the company operates in. If we are talking business, women are a good return on investment.

What’s the best part of your job and working at ATB?

I started off not really understanding how the Canadian financial system worked so to be in a position where I get to share some of the knowledge I have acquired over the years and use it to help clients achieve their different financial goals is humbling. The reason I do what I do is to help one individual at a time feel empowered and capable of making the best financial decisions for their household.

We talked about inclusion in the previous question and there is no better word to describe ATB. In most financial institutions, an individual would need to have at least $25,000 to access wealth services. ATB has removed those barriers for our clients and team members by allowing people to not only start investing with as little as $100 but to do so with the guidance of a licensed financial advisor. Now that’s an organization I’m proud to work for!

What advice do you have for other women in this industry?

Be you, be bold, be beautiful! The world needs us to thrive and exist so let’s enter our different spaces with courage and continue championing other women around us to reach their full potential.