A Seat at the Table: Alicia Jackson’s Story of Empowerment and Leadership in Finance

What inspired you to pursue a career in finance?

My career in finance started out by chance, I was originally headed into a career path in HR. However, I took on a contract job to compensate for the credits I lost during a college transfer and was invited to join an incredible finance team. This led me to a career path I was unaware of. The position was too good for me to leave; I loved the company right away, and it provided me with the opportunity to also start a new life journey in North Vancouver, BC. I was helped up the steep learning curve by my mentor James.

James provided me with an open and comfortable working environment while including me in every aspect of business. Not only was I in the loop on every decision, but I was also being empowered in my work. I never felt I was in the minority here since Accord had many women in powerful positions when I started.

How have you seen the finance industry evolve in terms of gender diversity?

I like to believe as a society we’ve evolved and moved past any gender being lesser, for the most part. Especially at Accord, we work in a gender inclusive environment and have a solid presence of strong women that all feel equal in decision making. Overall, Accord has grown and evolved, and through it all, the company has always encouraged me to step up within a male-dominated industry and be a part of a strong group of women within the organization.

What’s your leadership style you approach with?

As a leader I like to be open and create a comfortable environment for everyone. I’ve always blended my work and personal lives into one, treating my colleagues as part of my family. I try to be the glue for Accord, allowing co-workers to call me if they ever need to chat, vent, or cry about anything going on and have always valued the importance of this as a leader.

We are grateful to Alicia Jackson for her time and reflections, concluding our spotlight on the achievements of women in the finance industry. Her story exemplifies resilience and leadership, inspiring continued growth in the industry.