Vancity

Meet Rakesh Mehta, CFA, CFP, Portfolio Manager at Vancity Investment Management (VCIM). His team manages investment portfolios for a diverse range of Vancity members, including individuals, business owners, not-for-profits, foundations, and pension plans. Rakesh began his journey with Vancity in 1999 as a part-time Financial Services Representative (FSR) while completing his studies at SFU. Over time, he transitioned to full-time, taking on various roles such as Senior FSR, Account Manager, and Wealth Planner before joining VCIM. With 25 years of experience, including 17 years at VCIM, Rakesh has gained invaluable insights into portfolio management. Curious to learn more about his career path? Keep reading! Can you describe some of the ways you support your team at Vancity?  The wealth management industry is constantly evolving, and market changes can make staff hesitant to discuss investments with members. I strive to share my experience through branch initiatives, casual coffee chats, or quick office visits. This approach has fostered a more informed workplace and built lasting relationships over the years. What advice would you give to someone who wants to make a tangible impact in a large organization?  Take initiative and get involved.  There are so many opportunities for growth and development in the organization and not all of them are going to be in the formal part of your day-to-day tasks.  Offer to organize branch initiatives, take part in community events, be a leader in your department without being asked to be a leader. People notice and not only will it lead to greater results, but it will also lead to strengthening relationships.  The colleagues you have today will likely move on to other areas of the organization and it’s always helpful to know people in different areas. Looking forward, what are your hopes for the evolution of Vancity, and how do you envision it impacting both employees and members? I hope Vancity continues honouring its community-focused roots while embracing innovation. As we enhance digital services and develop new offerings, I envision us strengthening our role as the go-to community credit union, where members feel supported, and employees build thriving, long-term careers.

We are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Alden Habacon. Alden will be remembered with deep respect and fondness by a great many people here at Vancity. He was an amazing facilitator whose skillful approach to guiding sensitive conversations played an important role helping Vancity take the first steps in building an anti-racism strategy.   Alden’s personal warmth and charm also helped to create a real sense of belonging and trust. His expertise, insight, and unwavering commitment to equity were instrumental in shaping our work and helping us create a more inclusive organization. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family at Vancity.   Our thoughts are with those who were closest to Alden, his family, friends, and everyone who was touched by his work and his spirit.

We've been putting our members first since we opened our doors 75+ years ago. Jonathan Fowlie, Vancity's Chief Member Impact and Experience Officer, shares more about the future of Vancity.

Meet Ivy Chia, a leader in banking innovation! From her engineering roots to leading Retail Banking Products at Vancity, Ivy’s journey spans across Retail and Commercial Banking, in front line and corporate functions. With expertise in strategy, transformation, branch & project management, she’s passionate about values-based banking, fostering innovation, collaboration, and exceptional member experiences. Want to learn more about Ivy’s work at the intersection of finance, technology, and member care? Read on! What is a typical day like for you as a Director of Product? My favorite thing about my role is the variety; no two days are the same! This role is dynamic and involves a blend of strategic oversight, member-centric design, agile project management, and technical collaboration. I could start the day off with ‘Sprint Reviews’, where I’d hear from my teams on the progress they’ve made, what blockers they’re facing, review key metrics of implementations, and help prioritize any issues. Then head into a Pricing meeting with Treasury and teams to adjust deposits and mortgage interest rates. Keeping an eye on profitability and driving Vancity’s balanced scorecard and growth is such a key part of Products’ mandate! And then, potentially attend a vendor walkthrough demo of their technology to evaluate its alignment with Vancity's needs. How do you foster a culture of innovation and collaboration within your product team? Cultivating a culture of creativity and improvement is an ongoing journey, driven by a growth mindset and the curiosity to ask, "Why not?" We strive for Product innovation by introducing new technologies, launching & modifying products and pricing, automating internal processes and tools, collaborating with fintechs to leverage external ecosystems, and even creating new approaches to member service. I encourage my teams to take calculated risks, learn from setbacks, and prioritize open communication to break down silos across teams. We do this by working within a cross functional Agile Product-Oriented Delivery (POD) groups which unite diverse expertise to deliver impactful, member-focused solutions and exceptional experiences for both members and staff. What advice would you give to aspiring banking product managers who are looking to build a meaningful and impactful career in product? Banking product management is a rewarding field requiring financial expertise, member empathy, and awareness of fintech trends and regulations. Success comes from building cross-departmental relationships, prioritizing member experience through feedback and data, and understanding banking systems and agile practices. Hone problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills to align stakeholders and balance daily tasks with strategic goals. Hands-on experience through internships or entry-level roles is invaluable for real-world insights.

Meet Jesse Breaker, Director of Infrastructure Engineering at Vancity. Jesse leads teams that ensure Vancity’s core tech—servers, networks, and data centers—run smoothly and efficiently. He focuses on futureproofing through upgrades, cloud initiatives, and security measures, while collaborating with teams like InfoSec to align infrastructure with strategic goals. To learn more about Jesse, read on! What has kept you motivated and committed to Vancity for so long, especially in such a rapidly evolving field? Over 31 years at Vancity, I’ve stayed committed by contributing to something bigger than technology. Vancity’s values—community impact, sustainability, and social responsibility—align with my own. The ever-evolving tech landscape, from cloud adoption to service delivery improvements, keeps me engaged. Building relationships, mentoring talent, and aligning tech with business goals make the work rewarding. Knowing our efforts serve our members and community drives me every day. How has your role evolved over the years, from when you first started at Vancity to now leading Infrastructure Engineering & Cloud Engineering? When I started at Vancity, my role was focused on hands-on technical work—managing systems, networks, and infrastructure, all based at head office before cloud technology existed. As technology evolved, so did my responsibilities, shifting from hardware management to strategic leadership, where I aligned our tech strategy with Vancity’s goals and took on roles such as Director of Infrastructure, VP of IT, and Director of QA. With my MBA, I’ve gained a broader perspective on IT’s business impact, helping me make strategic, informed decisions. Today, my focus is on advancing our infrastructure to support Vancity’s future vision. What are some of the most transformative changes you’ve witnessed in technology at Vancity over the past three decades, and how have you adapted to these changes? Over three decades at Vancity, I’ve seen tech evolve from mainframes to distributed systems, building scalable infrastructure. The internet and digital transformation led to an overhaul for online and mobile banking. Cloud computing then enabled faster scaling and innovation, while increased connectivity heightened the focus on cybersecurity, evolving from basic protections to advanced threat detection and security integration. What advice would you give to those starting their careers in tech on how to build a lasting and fulfilling career like yours? Technology is always evolving, and embracing uncertainty is key. Early in my career, I couldn’t have predicted the impact of cloud computing, AI, and automation, but adapting to these shifts has kept me relevant. Be ready for change, pivot quickly, and view setbacks as opportunities to grow.

Hear Director of Indigenous Banking Michelle Laviolette on Bears’ Lair Television's Beyond The Lair podcast talking to Geena Jackson and Dean Montgomery about the importance of relationships and teamwork, and how that has helped build Vancity programs that support financial literacy, entrepreneurism and affordable housing.🎙 Listen to the podcast here: https://lnkd.in/g9DHbiA5 Also available on all major streaming platforms.

Change is here, but our values stay strong. Hear from Vancity’s CEO, Wellington Holbrook, about Vancity 2.0—what’s evolving and what’s staying the same. From climate leadership to affordable housing and equity, our commitment to our values is unwavering.

Meet Sophie Salcito, B.B.A. CFP, CIM, a Wealth Advisor at Vancity and Aviso Wealth*. Sophie supports her members in planning their finances by assessing risks and helping them achieve goals like retirement savings, estate planning, and tax planning. Her favourite part of the job is the strong client relationships she has built over more than 20 years at the branch. She also enjoys the research and continuous learning her role offers. To learn more about Sophie, read on! What is your day-to-day like? My day starts with reading the financial section of the newspaper…. something I swore I would never do when I was in my 20's in my Finance class at SFU. I had no idea them I would grow to love this job and do the reading necessary to stay on top of my job and help my clients! After catching up on reading, I monitor client account activity and have my client appointments throughout the day. The day wraps up with admin work to complete the client’s plans. Can you share a few things you’ve been able to achieve in your role? I have been able to watch my clients save to buy their homes, watch them enjoy their children, and then their grandchildren. I have helped clients through divorce and the passing of family members. I think the stability I have offered my clients has been a helpful hand through all their life transitions. Can you briefly share how you ended up working at Vancity.    I have been a Vancity member since I was 16 years old! After completing my Business degree at SFU I worked at an Import/Export firm and started to save in my own RRSP, bought my own car with savings and then bought my first condo at 25 years old due to my diligent savings. After 5 years at my first job, I decided I needed a change and wanted to come work at Vancity, where I saw happy staff when I went in to do my weekly banking. I started as a teller at my local North Vancouver branch and worked my way up to being a Wealth Advisor over my 27 years with the company. I have to say I love my job, and I enjoy helping clients grow and invest just as I did for myself. Do you have any advice for anyone looking to get into a similar role or career path to yours? I encourage anyone to reach out to me via email to get advice about working for Vancity. I am happy to share my experiences and to help others learn more about working with us.  I try to give advice on the next steps for people to get a role with us. Becoming a Wealth Advisor would require the Canadian Securities Course so that is a good course to complete if you want to learn about investing and get the certification that you will require to do this job. Also, try to find someone to job shadow with if you are in a financial organization as that can really show you the day-to-day workflow.   *Mutual funds and other securities are offered through Aviso Wealth, a division of Aviso Financial Inc.

Apply to join our Board of Directors, building our vision as a financial force for change. Apply before Friday, December 6, 2024. Get the full details here: https://bit.ly/4fuW70c

🎉 Big news! We’re excited to share that Vancity has once again been named one of Canada's Top 100 Employers! We've made this list an incredible 18 times, dating back to 2003, and it's a recognition we're incredibly proud of. From our flexible work arrangements to our initiatives focused on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Reconciliation (DEIR), we strive to go the extra mile for our team members. We prioritize mental health, offer comprehensive parental leave, and lead with action on climate and financial inclusion. Each year, we support our communities by sharing a percentage of our net profits, and we continuously build deep partnerships that reflect our values. Congratulations to all the other Top 100 employers. See the full list here: https://lnkd.in/d6MWmKp #TopEmployers2025 #CanadasTop100Employers