Julie Walcott, Portfolio Manager & Director, Portfolio Management Supervision, long-standing VersaFi member and Executive Leaders alumna, has worn many hats within this community as a participant, featured thought leader, and mentor. For Julie, the commitment is rooted in a simple belief: "giving back to the same community that supports my journey, 'pay it forward' and 'women supporting women.'" The relationships and connections she has built through the Versafi community have been just as valuable as the programming itself.

In senior leadership roles, the work can often feel isolating. Julie finds community in her network: a space to be honest. "Being surrounded by women who are navigating similar inflection points helped me get much clearer on my own journey," she shares. Perhaps most meaningfully, it normalized something many leaders quietly carry: "Seeing accomplished, credible leaders speak candidly about self-doubt was incredibly reassuring. It reframed those feelings as a sign that we're pushing into meaningful growth."

Her commitment to mentorship runs just as deep. She sees it not as a one-time exchange, but as something meant to travel. "Mentorship is something we all have a responsibility to pay forward." She's seen this play out firsthand, watching mentees gain the confidence to pursue career opportunities and then turn around and do the same for others. To her, that ripple effect is where real, lasting change happens.

When asked what advice she'd give a woman just starting out, Julie shares: "Give yourself more grace, and don't confuse momentum with constant acceleration." After nearly three decades in Canadian wealth management, she remains as invested in the growth of others as she is in her own. That, more than any title, is the mark of the leader she's become.