DeGroote MBA student adjusts Bay St. gender balance

Annie Hejripour is ready to make a big impact on Bay Street.

Unfazed by statistics that suggest the capital market industry is 79 per cent male,
especially in leadership roles, Hejripour is ready to use the MBA training she is receiving
from the DeGroote School of Business to make a difference in the industry.

Hejripour is the fourth DeGroote MBA student to receive The Women in Capital
Markets, Heather L. Main Memorial Scholarship. The objective of the scholarship is to help
women build the practical skills and experience necessary to launch a successful career in
the capital market sector. DeGroote was one of only four universities invited to participate
in nominations this year.

The female MBA students were selected based on academic excellence, community
involvement and leadership capabilities. With this award, Hejripour receives a $7,500
bursary, a paid summer internship at TD Securities, a mentorship with an established
female working in the capital market industry and a Woman in Capital Markets
membership for one year.

After completing a specialized honours BA in business & economics from York
University, Hejripour chose to pursue a MBA at McMaster University for a variety of
reasons.

“I was drawn by the co-op placement and I wanted some real experience on the
trading floor. I also knew I could learn a lot from Dean Paul Bates. He has had a very
successful career in finance and I knew that McMaster had a great finance MBA program.”

Hejripour has just completed the first year of the two-year co-op MBA program.

She is currently the president of the Women in Management Association at DeGroote.
She has also helped to organize a series of clothing drives that provide professional
business clothing to women. Hejripour is driven to motivate and inspire young
professional women, and perhaps encourage them to join the capital market sector.

“Although women representation is approximately up only 2 per cent since 2000, I
definitely see improvement in the near future. It all comes down to awareness. Groups like
Women in Capital Markets help inspire young professional women interested in capital
markets into the industry and provide them with mentorship and support. They are helping
fill the gap.”

Hejripour hopes to continue to be involved with Women in Capital Markets beyond her
one year membership, and she hopes to participate in the mentoring program in the years
to come.

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