Brenda M. O’Connor is Vice President, Governance & Strategy at the Canadian Credit Union Association (CCUA) and has been with the CCUA for over 16 years. As a member of CCUA’s Executive Team, she is responsible for all legal, compliance, governance and strategy matters. A member of the Ontario bar, a graduate of the University of Ottawa Law School and Carleton University, Brenda brings over 30 years of experience in financial services regulation, compliance and legislative policy to her role as a strategic legal advisor and advocate for Canada’s credit unions.
Brenda has served on the Board of Directors of Interac Corp. and is currently a Governor on the Carleton University Board of Governors and Vice-Chair of Carleton’s Governance Committee. She has completed the Queen’s Strategy Program and the Rotman ICD Directors Education Program. Earlier in her career, Brenda spent some time in private practice and held senior legal positions at CIBC and ING Canada.
Here, Brenda shares her thoughts on IWD and what it means to be a woman in leadership in the financial sector.
Happy IWD! Can you share what this day means to you?
For me, this is a day to thank the women in our lives who have supported us. Our mothers and grandmothers who raised us; the friends who stood by us; the mentors who inspired us and even those who passed through our lives quickly but who helped open a door, gave us a nudge, or shared some wisdom. I have a long list of women whom I am grateful to have known. But I have an equally long list of men who have helped me along the way.
While I appreciate the history of International Women’s Day and the need to continue the fight to end the oppression of women around the world, I hope that in the future, we don’t need a designated day to advance equality along gender lines.
What challenges have you faced during your career in a traditionally male-dominated profession in the finance sector?
Honestly, I can’t say that I have ever faced serious discrimination. I have been lucky. I have worked in a law firm, a large Canadian bank, and an international insurance group. Certainly, these are tough and competitive environments and I had my share of challenging situations to deal with. But what stands out for me are the people who had my back, not those who stood in my way, and there were many of them. In fact, one of my colleagues in the banking industry brought me into the credit union sector and it is here that I have found the space and encouragement to build a career with purpose.
What is one of your proudest achievements?
For me personally, the achievements I am most proud of are related to my children and my family. But on the work front, the things that stand out are the projects I worked on (with others) that fostered opportunities for credit unions – federal credit union legislation; the founding of CCUA as the national trade association and the restructuring of Interac are ones that come to mind.
What motivated you to become a leader in this space?
I enjoy working with talented and committed people and tackling business challenges. Working in the credit union system has given me the opportunity to do both.
As a proud mother of three young men, what advice would you give as a leader to young men and women?
I have three amazing sons and they make me proud every day. My advice is – ignore the traditional markers of success and find your place. When you are in the environment that is best for you, that is when you will be your best. I always come back to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s advice on success…
“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate the beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch Or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!”