By Sophia Findlay As the Regional Manager for Black Community Business Development and Women in Enterprise at TD Bank Group (TD), Latanya Housen is a driving force behind positive change. With a passion for amplifying the TD brand and fostering growth, she leads her team in providing essential support to Black Communities. Housen’s financial expertise coupled with her role as part of the Black Community Business Development team, helps make her a vital part of the bank’s work in welcoming Black business and entrepreneurs to the bank. As part of the bank’s Black Community Business Development team, she and her colleagues across Canada are helping to shine a spotlight on TD and to grow both personal and business portfolios of Black communities by working to deepen existing customer relationships. Housen knows all too well the uphill slope of working to establishing oneself, especially as a minority. Her journey in the financial services sector began way before she touched Canadian soil in 2016 as a permanent resident, and like some immigrants fresh to the country, she experienced firsthand the challenges and frustration that comes with trying to excel in a foreign land. “I had to reset my career starting from scratch because of some barriers that we faced, such as being educated but without Canadian experience,” she recalled. This mother of two boys, who came to Canada with her husband and children, hails from Manchester, Jamaica, and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Nova Southeastern University and a double major Bachelor of Science degree in both Management and in Psychology from the University of the West Indies.This has helped her to become an instance part of the TD enterprise. “I bring passion to my role and feel a strong sense of purpose by being part of a solution center as well as working to advocate on behalf of my customers in my daily work life.” “Additionally, I am a Woman in Enterprise Certified Banker, a TD Wellbeing Ambassador, TD Diversity and Inclusion Community Volunteer, strong advocate for the TD Black Employee Network, as well as an integral champion of the Black Community Business Development team. I am an active participant in coaching and mentorship opportunities across non-profit organizations centered around financial literacy and stakeholder impact,” Housen said.’ Through the Black Community Business Development program, regional managers across Canada act as ambassadors are the first point of contact for Black communities interested in learning more about how TD supports and works with personal and business clients in Black communities. “I am a trusted advisor to leadership teams across the TD enterprise on how to reach out and liaise with Black communities,” she advised. The TD Black Community Business Development program came about after years of close working relationships with Black organizations in Canadas, and by working with entities s like the Black Opportunity Fund, Federation of African Canadian Economics- F.A.C.E Coalition, Black Hxouse, as well as getting involved with Black community programs, such as, the Boss Women Entrepreneurship Training program. The Black Community Business Development program is designed to focus on creating better relationships with Black communities, and Housen said it includes a dedicated team of market leaders, advisors, and colleagues from across the Bank that provide Black communities and businesses with access to banking products and services, investing advice, and other custom hands-on experiences that are working to help drive progress toward a more equitable and inclusive future. According to a 2020 TD Stories article, Bharat Masrani, Group President and CEO,TD Bank Group, shared the additional ways TD would start to work to help combat systematic racism and its impacts and now, in 2024, the bank is starting to see the fruits of those seeds planted in 2020. Since joining TD in 2017, she has steadily climbed the ranks, transitioning through various retail roles to her current position as Regional Manager.With over a decade of experience in Management, Business Development, Leadership. Operations, and Customer Service across Jamaica’s financial sector, Housen has brought a wealth of expertise to her role. All of that she said,“compliments and enhances my abilities to meet the TD mandate of striving to provide legendary experiences to clients and colleagues.” “We are learning more about the unique issues and needs of Black communities and striving to deliver elevated advice and service directly to these communities to help empower them to participate fully in society,” she stated. Also from the Black Opportunity Fund, whose mandate is to dismantle anti-Black racism by establishing a sustainable pool of capital to fund Black-led businesses and Black-led not for profit organisations and charities,The Black Entrepreneur Loan Program can be accessed. It is an inclusive lending program for Black entrepreneurs, to improve the social and economic well-being of Canada’s Black communities and is described as a pathway through the Black Entrepreneur Credit Access Program.This helps to foster economic inclusion to Black entrepreneurs who have been unable to secure funding to-date through Canadian financial institutions, that they may be eligible for loans of up to $50,000, thus providing more equitable access to credit to those who disproportionally face hurdles securing funding for their businesses. The Black Opportunity Fund prioritises initiatives around education, health, women, criminal justice, entrepreneurship, arts & culture, and youth that impact the quality of life in Black communities across Canada. Nothing was left to chance and Housen is on top of her game leading and designing ways to help Black business owners drive their visions forward, for which she’s proud. Not bad for a Jamaican immigrant in the forefront that takes pride in epitomising the Black Customer Experience through TD’s Black Customer Experience Strategy. Empowering Black Communities Strategy at TD Bank Group To learn more about the TD commitment to a more inclusive tomorrow visit TD.com/MarchForward. LATANYA MONTEITH HOUSEN I Regional Manager, Black Community Business Development, Metro West I Women in Enterprise Banker (WE Banker). THE MONTHLY GLEANER | APRIL 11 - MAY 11, 2024 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | ADVERTISEMENT 5 AS THE Regional Manager for the Black Customer Experience team and Women in Enterprise at TD Bank Group (TD), Latanya Housen is a driving force behind positive change. With a passion for amplifying the TD brand and fostering growth, she leads her team in providing essential support to Black Communities in Canada. As part of the bank’s Black Customer Experience team, she and her colleagues across Canada are helping to shine a spotlight on TD and to grow both personal and business portfolios of Black communities by working to deepen existing customer relationships. Housen’s financial expertise coupled with her role, helps make her a vital part of the bank’s work in welcoming Black business and entrepreneurs to the bank. Housen knows all too well the uphill slope of working to establishing oneself, especially as a minority. Her journey in the financial services sector began way before she touched Canadian soil in 2016 as a permanent resident, and like some immigrants fresh to the country, she experienced firsthand the challenges and frustration that comes with trying to excel in a foreign land. “I had to reset my career starting from scratch because of some barriers that we faced, such as being educated but without Canadian experience,” she recalled. This mother of two boys, who came to Canada with her husband and children, hails from Manchester, Jamaica, and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Nova Southeastern University and a double major Bachelor of Science degree in both Management and in Psychology from the University of the West Indies. This has helped her to become an instant part of the TD enterprise. “I bring passion to my role and feel a strong sense of purpose by being part of a solution center as well as working to advocate on behalf of my customers in my daily work life.” “Additionally, I am a Woman in Enterprise Certified Banker, a TD Wellbeing Ambassador, TD Diversity and Inclusion Community Volunteer, and strong advocate for the TD Black Employee Network. I am an active participant in coaching and mentorship opportunities centered around financial literacy and stakeholder impact,” Housen said.’ Through the Black Customer Experience team, regional managers across Canada act as ambassadors and are the first point of contact for Black communities interested in learning more about how TD supports and works with personal and business clients in Black communities. “I am a trusted advisor to leadership teams across the TD enterprise on how to reach out and liaise with Black communities,” she advised. The TD Black Customer Experience Strategy came about after years of close working relationships with Black organizations in Canadas, and by working with entities like the Black Opportunity Fund, Federation of African Canadian Economics- F.A.C.E Coalition, as well as getting involved with Black community programs, such as, the Boss Women Entrepreneurship Training program. The Black Customer Experience Strategy is designed to focus on creating better relationships with Black communities, and Housen said it includes a dedicated team of market leaders, advisors, and colleagues from across the Bank that provide Black communities and businesses with access to banking products and services, investing advice, and other custom hands-on experiences that are working to help drive progress toward a more equitable and inclusive future. According to a 2020 TD Stories article, Bharat Masrani, Group President and CEO, TD Bank Group, shared the additional ways TD would start to work to help combat systematic racism and its impacts and now, in 2024, the bank is starting to see the fruits of those seeds planted in 2020. “We are learning more about the unique challenges and needs of Black communities and striving to deliver elevated advice and service directly, to help empower them to participate fully in society,” she stated. In 2023 TD launched the Black Entrepreneur Credit Access Program to help provide more equitable access to credit for Black entrepreneurs. Housen is proud to help Black business owners drive their visions forward and takes pride in having a key role in helping elevate the Black Customer Experience. By Sophia Findlay As the Regional Manager for Black Community Business Development and Women in Enterprise at TD Bank Group (TD), Latanya Housen is a driving force behind positive change. With a passion for amplifying the TD brand and fostering growth, she leads her team in providing essential support to Black Communities. Housen’s financial expertise coupled with her role as part of the Black Community Business Development team, helps make her a vital part of the bank’s work in welcoming Black business and entrepreneurs to the bank. As part of the bank’s Black Community Business Development team, she and her colleagues across Canada are helping to shine a spotlight on TD and to grow both personal and business portfolios of Black communities by working to deepen existing customer relationships. Housen knows all too well the uphill slope of working to establishing oneself, especially as a minority. Her journey in the financial services sector began way before she touched Canadian soil in 2016 as a permanent resident, and like some immigrants fresh to the country, she experienced firsthand the challenges and frustration that comes with trying to excel in a foreign land. “I had to reset my career starting from scratch because of some barriers that we faced, such as being educated but without Canadian experience,” she recalled. This mother of two boys, who came to Canada with her husband and children, hails from Manchester, Jamaica, and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Nova Southeastern University and a double major Bachelor of Science degree in both Management and in Psychology from the University of the West Indies.This has helped her to become an instance part of the TD enterprise. “I bring passion to my role and feel a strong sense of purpose by being part of a solution center as well as working to advocate on behalf of my customers in my daily work life.” “Additionally, I am a Woman in Enterprise Certified Banker, a TD Wellbeing Ambassador, TD Diversity and Inclusion Community Volunteer, strong advocate for the TD Black Employee Network, as well as an integral champion of the Black Community Business Development team. I am an active participant in coaching and mentorship opportunities across non-profit organizations centered around financial literacy and stakeholder impact,” Housen said.’ Through the Black Community Business Development program, regional managers across Canada act as ambassadors are the first point of contact for Black communities interested in learning more about how TD supports and works with personal and business clients in Black communities. “I am a trusted advisor to leadership teams across the TD enterprise on how to reach out and liaise with Black communities,” she advised. The TD Black Community Business Development program came about after years of close working relationships with Black organizations in Canadas, and by working with entities s like the Black Opportunity Fund, Federation of African Canadian Economics- F.A.C.E Coalition, Black Hxouse, as well as getting involved with Black community programs, such as, the Boss Women Entrepreneurship Training program. The Black Community Business Development program is designed to focus on creating better relationships with Black communities, and Housen said it includes a dedicated team of market leaders, advisors, and colleagues from across the Bank that provide Black communities and businesses with access to banking products and services, investing advice, and other custom hands-on experiences that are working to help drive progress toward a more equitable and inclusive future. According to a 2020 TD Stories article, Bharat Masrani, Group President and CEO,TD Bank Group, shared the additional ways TD would start to work to help combat systematic racism and its impacts and now, in 2024, the bank is starting to see the fruits of those seeds planted in 2020. Since joining TD in 2017, she has steadily climbed the ranks, transitioning through various retail roles to her current position as Regional Manager.With over a decade of experience in Management, Business Development, Leadership. Operations, and Customer Service across Jamaica’s financial sector, Housen has brought a wealth of expertise to her role. All of that she said,“compliments and enhances my abilities to meet the TD mandate of striving to provide legendary experiences to clients and colleagues.” “We are learning more about the unique issues and needs of Black communities and striving to deliver elevated advice and service directly to these communities to help empower them to participate fully in society,” she stated. Also from the Black Opportunity Fund, whose mandate is to dismantle anti-Black racism by establishing a sustainable pool of capital to fund Black-led businesses and Black-led not for profit organisations and charities,The Black Entrepreneur Loan Program can be accessed. It is an inclusive lending program for Black entrepreneurs, to improve the social and economic well-being of Canada’s Black communities and is described as a pathway through the Black Entrepreneur Credit Access Program.This helps to foster economic inclusion to Black entrepreneurs who have been unable to secure funding to-date through Canadian financial institutions, that they may be eligible for loans of up to $50,000, thus providing more equitable access to credit to those who disproportionally face hurdles securing funding for their businesses. The Black Opportunity Fund prioritises initiatives around education, health, women, criminal justice, entrepreneurship, arts & culture, and youth that impact the quality of life in Black communities across Canada. Nothing was left to chance and Housen is on top of her game leading and designing ways to help Black business owners drive their visions forward, for which she’s proud. Not bad for a Jamaican immigrant in the forefront that takes pride in epitomising the Black Customer Experience through TD’s Black Customer Experience Strategy. To learn more about the TD commitment to a more inclusive tomorrow visit TD.com/MarchForward. LATANYA MONTEITH HOUSEN I Regional Manager, Black Community Business Development, Metro West I Women in Enterprise Banker (WE Banker). 7 For the past 17 years, Clifton Flushy has been a part of the TD Bank Group (TD) landscape in various capacities. He started out as a Customer Experience Associate at the Bramalea Branch in Brampton, Ontario. Over the span of his career, Flushy worked in various markets in the Greater Toronto Area, including past roles as Financial Advisor, Branch Manager, Group Manager, Manager and Segment Strategy, which equipped him to navigate his involvement with the TD Black Employee Network, which he says, “was the place where we, as a Black community within the Bank, would come together.” Fast forward to today, where he leads the charge for the Black Customer Experience (BCE) Strategy as National Manager, Black Community Business Development and you’ll find a proud Black man of Jamaican descent, enjoying the thrill and challenge of being a leader. In his role with the TD Black Employee Network, he helps the team to promote awareness and enhance the employee experience. They put together townhalls and send out newsletters to Black employees and allies, to inform them of what is going on in the Black community and help community members navigate the corporate environment. “At the end of the day, it is education on what Blackness is and what anti-Black racism is also,” explains Flushy, who holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science from York University and an MBA from the University of Guelph. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the Bank made a number of commitments including to expand the diversity of its leadership teams and extend the support and services it offers to Black, Indigenous and other minority communities. Flushy’s current role, supporting the Black Customer Experience Strategy, was created as part of these changes. “Our lived experience is very different from people who are of the majority… My voice matters, and my team’s voice should matter as well,” he says. In an interview with The Gleaner, Flushy shares that he is still astounded by the huge influx of community members and allies who have joined the Black Employee Network at TD since its creation. “Initially when I started, the Black Employee Network had about 700 members and I am proud of where the network has grown now standing at 5,000 members, which is a big deal because there are over 95,000 total employees,” remarks the banker, who also leads the allyship pillar of the TD Wealth Visible Minority Council. Flushy says he is similarly encouraged by what he’s seeing in his day job. “My current role as National Manager, Black Community Business Development is incredible. It’s a great role where we go out and thank Black customers for their business and say thank you for being with us. The goal is to bring the Bank to Black communities with the intention of bettering the financial services and support provided by the Bank to Black communities.” As part of the Strategy, Flushy’s team is focused on creating better relationships with Black communities and businesses in which TD Black leaders, managers and personal bankers across Canada have been trained to provide elevated advice and a tailored customer experience for Black Customers, all backed by a research-based approach. “The strategy is defined by the belief that we must take the initiative to better our financial services by recognizing gaps in service and addressing them ourselves through proactive outreach to Black communities,” says Flushy. Clifton Flushy commits to Black excellence Clifton Flushy-National Manager, Black Community Business Development - TD Bank Group The Black Customer Experience Strategy also provides financial literacy to community organizations the bank has worked with through the TD Ready Commitment, the bank’s corporate citizenship platform. “We do a lot of work - both internally and externally- to make sure that people know that we want to do Black business,” he reiterates. Flushy is happy to see positive change and reflects on the times in his past role where people would mistake a Caucasian colleague to be his boss and were surprised when he was the one in-charge. He hopes for a time when that bias no longer exists. According to Flushy, the Black Employee Network is working to change that as it educates employees internally, helping them gain a better understanding of the unique perspectives of Black communities. Flushy has worked hard to achieve his well-deserved success at the Bank, including receiving several internal awards recognizing his accomplishments and zeroing in on his leadership around the Black Customer Experience Strategy. His work on that initiative has helped strengthen the financial services and support provided by TD to Black communities and accelerated the corporation’s broader and long term goals around Diversity and Inclusion. Sponsored by Sophia Findlay ® The TD logo and other TD trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank or its subsidiaries. THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 22, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | ADVERTISEMENT 7 For the past 17 years, Clifton Flushy has been a part of the TD Bank Group (TD) landscape in various capacities. He started out as a Customer Experience Associate at the Bramalea Branch in Brampton, Ontario. Over the span of his career, Flushy worked in various markets in the Greater Toronto Area, including past roles as Financial Advisor, Branch Manager, Group Manager, Manager and Segment Strategy, which equipped him to navigate his involvement with the TD Black Employee Network, which he says, “was the place where we, as a Black community within the Bank, would come together.” Fast forward to today, where he leads the charge for the Black Customer Experience (BCE) Strategy as National Manager, Black Community Business Development and you’ll find a proud Black man of Jamaican descent, enjoying the thrill and challenge of being a leader. In his role with the TD Black Employee Network, he helps the team to promote awareness and enhance the employee experience. They put together townhalls and send out newsletters to Black employees and allies, to inform them of what is going on in the Black community and help community members navigate the corporate environment. “At the end of the day, it is education on what Blackness is and what anti-Black racism is also,” explains Flushy, who holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science from York University and an MBA from the University of Guelph. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the Bank made a number of commitments including to expand the diversity of its leadership teams and extend the support and services it offers to Black, Indigenous and other minority communities. Flushy’s current role, supporting the Black Customer Experience Strategy, was created as part of these changes. “Our lived experience is very different from people who are of the majority… My voice matters, and my team’s voice should matter as well,” he says. In an interview with The Gleaner, Flushy shares that he is still astounded by the huge influx of community members and allies who have joined the Black Employee Network at TD since its creation. “Initially when I started, the Black Employee Network had about 700 members and I am proud of where the network has grown now standing at 5,000 members, which is a big deal because there are over 95,000 total employees,” remarks the banker, who also leads the allyship pillar of the TD Wealth Visible Minority Council. Flushy says he is similarly encouraged by what he’s seeing in his day job. “My current role as National Manager, Black Community Business Development is incredible. It’s a great role where we go out and thank Black customers for their business and say thank you for being with us. The goal is to bring the Bank to Black communities with the intention of bettering the financial services and support provided by the Bank to Black communities.” As part of the Strategy, Flushy’s team is focused on creating better relationships with Black communities and businesses in which TD Black leaders, managers and personal bankers across Canada have been trained to provide elevated advice and a tailored customer experience for Black Customers, all backed by a research-based approach. “The strategy is defined by the belief that we must take the initiative to better our financial services by recognizing gaps in service and addressing them ourselves through proactive outreach to Black communities,” says Flushy. Clifton Flushy commits to Black excellence Clifton Flushy-National Manager, Black Community Business Development - TD Bank Group The Black Customer Experience Strategy also provides financial literacy to community organizations the bank has worked with through the TD Ready Commitment, the bank’s corporate citizenship platform. “We do a lot of work - both internally and externally- to make sure that people know that we want to do Black business,” he reiterates. Flushy is happy to see positive change and reflects on the times in his past role where people would mistake a Caucasian colleague to be his boss and were surprised when he was the one in-charge. He hopes for a time when that bias no longer exists. According to Flushy, the Black Employee Network is working to change that as it educates employees internally, helping them gain a better understanding of the unique perspectives of Black communities. Flushy has worked hard to achieve his well-deserved success at the Bank, including receiving several internal awards recognizing his accomplishments and zeroing in on his leadership around the Black Customer Experience Strategy. His work on that initiative has helped strengthen the financial services and support provided by TD to Black communities and accelerated the corporation’s broader and long term goals around Diversity and Inclusion. Sponsored by Sophia Findlay ® The TD logo and other TD trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank or its subsidiaries. THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 22, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | ADVERTISEMENT 7 For the past 17 years, Clifton Flushy has been a part of the TD Bank Group (TD) landscape in various capacities. He started out as a Customer Experience Associate at the Bramalea Branch in Brampton, Ontario. Over the span of his career, Flushy worked in various markets in the Greater Toronto Area, including past roles as Financial Advisor, Branch Manager, Group Manager, Manager and Segment Strategy, which equipped him to navigate his involvement with the TD Black Employee Network, which he says, “was the place where we, as a Black community within the Bank, would come together.” Fast forward to today, where he leads the charge for the Black Customer Experience (BCE) Strategy as National Manager, Black Community Business Development and you’ll find a proud Black man of Jamaican descent, enjoying the thrill and challenge of being a leader. In his role with the TD Black Employee Network, he helps the team to promote awareness and enhance the employee experience. They put together townhalls and send out newsletters to Black employees and allies, to inform them of what is going on in the Black community and help community members navigate the corporate environment. “At the end of the day, it is education on what Blackness is and what anti-Black racism is also,” explains Flushy, who holds an undergraduate degree in Political Science from York University and an MBA from the University of Guelph. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, the Bank made a number of commitments including to expand the diversity of its leadership teams and extend the support and services it offers to Black, Indigenous and other minority communities. Flushy’s current role, supporting the Black Customer Experience Strategy, was created as part of these changes. “Our lived experience is very different from people who are of the majority… My voice matters, and my team’s voice should matter as well,” he says. In an interview with The Gleaner, Flushy shares that he is still astounded by the huge influx of community members and allies who have joined the Black Employee Network at TD since its creation. “Initially when I started, the Black Employee Network had about 700 members and I am proud of where the network has grown now standing at 5,000 members, which is a big deal because there are over 95,000 total employees,” remarks the banker, who also leads the allyship pillar of the TD Wealth Visible Minority Council. Flushy says he is similarly encouraged by what he’s seeing in his day job. “My current role as National Manager, Black Community Business Development is incredible. It’s a great role where we go out and thank Black customers for their business and say thank you for being with us. The goal is to bring the Bank to Black communities with the intention of bettering the financial services and support provided by the Bank to Black communities.” As part of the Strategy, Flushy’s team is focused on creating better relationships with Black communities and businesses in which TD Black leaders, managers and personal bankers across Canada have been trained to provide elevated advice and a tailored customer experience for Black Customers, all backed by a research-based approach. “The strategy is defined by the belief that we must take the initiative to better our financial services by recognizing gaps in service and addressing them ourselves through proactive outreach to Black communities,” says Flushy. Clifton Flushy commits to Black excellence Clifton Flushy-National Manager, Black Community Business Development - TD Bank Group The Black Customer Experience Strategy also provides financial literacy to community organizations the bank has worked with through the TD Ready Commitment, the bank’s corporate citizenship platform. “We do a lot of work - both internally and externally- to make sure that people know that we want to do Black business,” he reiterates. Flushy is happy to see positive change and reflects on the times in his past role where people would mistake a Caucasian colleague to be his boss and were surprised when he was the one in-charge. He hopes for a time when that bias no longer exists. According to Flushy, the Black Employee Network is working to change that as it educates employees internally, helping them gain a better understanding of the unique perspectives of Black communities. Flushy has worked hard to achieve his well-deserved success at the Bank, including receiving several internal awards recognizing his accomplishments and zeroing in on his leadership around the Black Customer Experience Strategy. His work on that initiative has helped strengthen the financial services and support provided by TD to Black communities and accelerated the corporation’s broader and long term goals around Diversity and Inclusion. Sponsored by Sophia Findlay ® The TD logo and other TD trademarks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank or its subsidiaries. THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 20 - MARCH 22, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | ADVERTISEMENT By Sophia Findlay I Regional Manager By Sophia Findlay As the Regional Manager for Black Community Business Development and Women in Enterprise at TD Bank Group (TD), Latanya Housen is a driving force behind positive change. With a passion for amplifying the TD brand and fostering growth, she leads her team in providing essential support to Black Communities. Housen’s financial expertise coupled with her role as part of the Black Community Business Development team, helps make her a vital part of the bank’s work in welcoming Black business and entrepreneurs to the bank. As part of the bank’s Black Community Business Development team, she and her colleagues across Canada are helping to shine a spotlight on TD and to grow both personal and business portfolios of Black communities by working to deepen existing customer relationships. Housen knows all too well the uphill slope of working to establishing oneself, especially as a minority. Her journey in the financial services sector began way before she touched Canadian soil in 2016 as a permanent resident, and like some immigrants fresh to the country, she experienced firsthand the challenges and frustration that comes with trying to excel in a foreign land. “I had to reset my career starting from scratch because of some barriers that we faced, such as being educated but without Canadian experience,” she recalled. This mother of two boys, who came to Canada with her husband and children, hails from Manchester, Jamaica, and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Nova Southeastern University and a double major Bachelor of Science degree in both Management and in Psychology from the University of the West Indies.This has helped her to become an instance part of the TD enterprise. “I bring passion to my role and feel a strong sense of purpose by being part of a solution center as well as working to advocate on behalf of my customers in my daily work life.” “Additionally, I am a Woman in Enterprise Certified Banker, a TD Wellbeing Ambassador, TD Diversity and Inclusion Community Volunteer, strong advocate for the TD Black Employee Network, as well as an integral champion of the Black Community Business Development team. I am an active participant in coaching and mentorship opportunities across non-profit organizations centered around financial literacy and stakeholder impact,” Housen said.’ Through the Black Community Business Development program, regional managers across Canada act as ambassadors are the first point of contact for Black communities interested in learning more about how TD supports and works with personal and business clients in Black communities. “I am a trusted advisor to leadership teams across the TD enterprise on how to reach out and liaise with Black communities,” she advised. The TD Black Community Business Development program came about after years of close working relationships with Black organizations in Canadas, and by working with entities s like the Black Opportunity Fund, Federation of African Canadian Economics- F.A.C.E Coalition, Black Hxouse, as well as getting involved with Black community programs, such as, the Boss Women Entrepreneurship Training program. The Black Community Business Development program is designed to focus on creating better relationships with Black communities, and Housen said it includes a dedicated team of market leaders, advisors, and colleagues from across the Bank that provide Black communities and businesses with access to banking products and services, investing advice, and other custom hands-on experiences that are working to help drive progress toward a more equitable and inclusive future. According to a 2020 TD Stories article, Bharat Masrani, Group President and CEO,TD Bank Group, shared the additional ways TD would start to work to help combat systematic racism and its impacts and now, in 2024, the bank is starting to see the fruits of those seeds planted in 2020. Since joining TD in 2017, she has steadily climbed the ranks, transitioning through various retail roles to her current position as Regional Manager.With over a decade of experience in Management, Business Development, Leadership. Operations, and Customer Service across Jamaica’s financial sector, Housen has brought a wealth of expertise to her role. All of that she said,“compliments and enhances my abilities to meet the TD mandate of striving to provide legendary experiences to clients and colleagues.” “We are learning more about the unique issues and needs of Black communities and striving to deliver elevated advice and service directly to these communities to help empower them to participate fully in society,” she stated. Also from the Black Opportunity Fund, whose mandate is to dismantle anti-Black racism by establishing a sustainable pool of capital to fund Black-led businesses and Black-led not for profit organisations and charities,The Black Entrepreneur Loan Program can be accessed. It is an inclusive lending program for Black entrepreneurs, to improve the social and economic well-being of Canada’s Black communities and is described as a pathway through the Black Entrepreneur Credit Access Program.This helps to foster economic inclusion to Black entrepreneurs who have been unable to secure funding to-date through Canadian financial institutions, that they may be eligible for loans of up to $50,000, thus providing more equitable access to credit to those who disproportionally face hurdles securing funding for their businesses. The Black Opportunity Fund prioritises initiatives around education, health, women, criminal justice, entrepreneurship, arts & culture, and youth that impact the quality of life in Black communities across Canada. Nothing was left to chance and Housen is on top of her game leading and designing ways to help Black business owners drive their visions forward, for which she’s proud. Not bad for a Jamaican immigrant in the forefront that takes pride in epitomising the Black Customer Experience through TD’s Black Customer Experience Strategy. Empowering Black Communities Strategy at TD Bank Group To learn more about the TD commitment to a more inclusive tomorrow visit TD.com/MarchForward. LATANYA MONTEITH HOUSEN I Regional Manager, Black Community Business Development, Metro West I Women in Enterprise Banker (WE Banker). By Sophia Findlay As the Regional Manager for Black Community Business Development and Women in Enterprise at TD Bank Group (TD), Latanya Housen is a driving force behind positive change. With a passion for amplifying the TD brand and fostering growth, she leads her team in providing essential support to Black Communities. Housen’s financial expertise coupled with her role as part of the Black Community Business Development team, helps make her a vital part of the bank’s work in welcoming Black business and entrepreneurs to the bank. As part of the bank’s Black Community Business Development team, she and her colleagues across Canada are helping to shine a spotlight on TD and to grow both personal and business portfolios of Black communities by working to deepen existing customer relationships. Housen knows all too well the uphill slope of working to establishing oneself, especially as a minority. Her journey in the financial services sector began way before she touched Canadian soil in 2016 as a permanent resident, and like some immigrants fresh to the country, she experienced firsthand the challenges and frustration that comes with trying to excel in a foreign land. “I had to reset my career starting from scratch because of some barriers that we faced, such as being educated but without Canadian experience,” she recalled. This mother of two boys, who came to Canada with her husband and children, hails from Manchester, Jamaica, and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Nova Southeastern University and a double major Bachelor of Science degree in both Management and in Psychology from the University of the West Indies.This has helped her to become an instance part of the TD enterprise. “I bring passion to my role and feel a strong sense of purpose by being part of a solution center as well as working to advocate on behalf of my customers in my daily work life.” “Additionally, I am a Woman in Enterprise Certified Banker, a TD Wellbeing Ambassador, TD Diversity and Inclusion Community Volunteer, strong advocate for the TD Black Employee Network, as well as an integral champion of the Black Community Business Development team. I am an active participant in coaching and mentorship opportunities across non-profit organizations centered around financial literacy and stakeholder impact,” Housen said.’ Through the Black Community Business Development program, regional managers across Canada act as ambassadors are the first point of contact for Black communities interested in learning more about how TD supports and works with personal and business clients in Black communities. “I am a trusted advisor to leadership teams across the TD enterprise on how to reach out and liaise with Black communities,” she advised. The TD Black Community Business Development program came about after years of close working relationships with Black organizations in Canadas, and by working with entities s like the Black Opportunity Fund, Federation of African Canadian Economics- F.A.C.E Coalition, Black Hxouse, as well as getting involved with Black community programs, such as, the Boss Women Entrepreneurship Training program. The Black Community Business Development program is designed to focus on creating better relationships with Black communities, and Housen said it includes a dedicated team of market leaders, advisors, and colleagues from across the Bank that provide Black communities and businesses with access to banking products and services, investing advice, and other custom hands-on experiences that are working to help drive progress toward a more equitable and inclusive future. According to a 2020 TD Stories article, Bharat Masrani, Group President and CEO,TD Bank Group, shared the additional ways TD would start to work to help combat systematic racism and its impacts and now, in 2024, the bank is starting to see the fruits of those seeds planted in 2020. Since joining TD in 2017, she has steadily climbed the ranks, transitioning through various retail roles to her current position as Regional Manager.With over a decade of experience in Management, Business Development, Leadership. Operations, and Customer Service across Jamaica’s financial sector, Housen has brought a wealth of expertise to her role. All of that she said,“compliments and enhances my abilities to meet the TD mandate of striving to provide legendary experiences to clients and colleagues.” “We are learning more about the unique issues and needs of Black communities and striving to deliver elevated advice and service directly to these communities to help empower them to participate fully in society,” she stated. Also from the Black Opportunity Fund, whose mandate is to dismantle anti-Black racism by establishing a sustainable pool of capital to fund Black-led businesses and Black-led not for profit organisations and charities,The Black Entrepreneur Loan Program can be accessed. It is an inclusive lending program for Black entrepreneurs, to improve the social and economic well-being of Canada’s Black communities and is described as a pathway through the Black Entrepreneur Credit Access Program.This helps to foster economic inclusion to Black entrepreneurs who have been unable to secure funding to-date through Canadian financial institutions, that they may be eligible for loans of up to $50,000, thus providing more equitable access to credit to those who disproportionally face hurdles securing funding for their businesses. The Black Opportunity Fund prioritises initiatives around education, health, women, criminal justice, entrepreneurship, arts & culture, and youth that impact the quality of life in Black communities across Canada. Nothing was left to chance and Housen is on top of her game leading and designing ways to help Black business owners drive their visions forward, for which she’s proud. Not bad for a Jamaican immigrant in the forefront that takes pride in epitomising the Black Customer Experience through TD’s Black Customer Experience Strategy. Empowering Black Communities Strategy at TD Bank Group To learn more about the TD commitment to a more inclusive tomorrow visit TD.com/MarchForward. LATANYA MONTEITH HOUSEN I Regional Manager, Black Community Business Development, Metro West I Women in Enterprise Banker (WE Banker). Supporting the Black Customer Experience Strategy at TD Bank Group
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