This summer, we are asking you to share your hobbies with us as part of our new wellbeing-focused Life Beyond the Office series.
The wealth managment sector did not disappoint and we will be sharing your hobbies every Friday, so please do keep getting in touch.
This week, thewealthnet spoke to Francine Sheremeta, a senior manager, and Daniela Abu, an associate, both at RBC, who spend some of their free time volunteering.
Ms Sheremeta is on the board of directors for the Shoebox Project UK and Ms Abu is the mentorship manager at WCAN (Women in the City Afro-Caribbean Network).
Here's what they had to say about their respective projects.
How did you get into your volunteering projects?
Ms Abu:
WCAN is an amazing network that looks to connect young women from ethnic minorities to women in the corporate world, using a number of networking events and conferences. I became a member of the network during my time at university and ended up becoming the student ambassador.
After graduating, I realised I still wanted to ensure my passion for increased diversity in the corporate world was being fulfilled. As a result of this, I accepted the offer to become the Mentorship Manager for the Network in the summer of 2021 – and I am currently working on my second year of the mentorship programme that looks to pair WCAN members with mentors in their chosen corporate field.
Ms Sheremeta:
Before relocating from Toronto to London, I knew I wanted to get involved in my new community. The organisation that I am a part of, The Shoebox Project UK, is affiliated with an organisation of a similar name in Canada that I was very familiar with. A few months before the big move, I reached out on social media and had conversations about the mission and operations of The Shoebox Project UK and how my experiences and interest align to its growth plans.
Shortly after arriving in the UK, I was made an official volunteer, and have since joined the board with the aim of accelerating our plans to serve additional communities.
What do you find most rewarding about your voluntary role?
Ms Abu:
The most rewarding thing about my role within WCAN is definitely seeing the fruition of the hard work that we put into pairing and connecting mentees and mentors.
It is even more rewarding to see the mentees being offered positions in their ‘dream’ firms or receiving the promotion they have been working hard to obtain.
A shoebox package
Ms Sheremeta:
The Shoebox Project UK gives me the time and space to think about how others in my community are living. It is, unfortunately, easy to take for granted the purchases of everyday items such as lip balms, deodorant, nail polish, and other self-care goods.
Knowing that I have the ability to bring joy to women who reside in shelters around London by providing them with such items and other little luxuries is extremely rewarding and humbling.
Do you find fitting everything in challenging?
Ms Abu speaking at a mentoring event
Ms Abu:
It can definitely be a challenge, but to be honest, WCAN is something I really enjoy working on, so finding the time to fit it in to my work schedule isn’t as hard as it would otherwise be. I enjoy the work and I am inspired by all the women I get to work with.
Ms Sheremeta:
I am a new mother to a beautiful, curious and energetic daughter, and having just returned from maternity leave, I find it to be very eye-opening to juggle my home life, professional life, and my activities with The Shoebox Project UK.
Thankfully, I have a wonderfully supportive partner, encouraging colleagues, and a nursery full of caring staff who make juggling all of these things possible. Life is about choices, so how I spend my time is something I am very mindful of.
What do you value most about your voluntary role?
Ms Abu:
I value the friendships and relationships I have built – not only with the rest of the WCAN team, but also the mentees and mentors involved in our programmes.
Ms Sheremeta:
I value the opportunity it provides me to leverage my personal and professional experiences for a cause I care so deeply about. Knowing that I am able to use what I know about fundraising, operations and strategy development to help benefit The Shoebox Project UK is an incredible gift.
