On Wednesday, January 15th, McGill University witnessed its inaugural “Being Black in Finance” event, a momentous occasion for the Black community within Desautels and the broader McGill population. What began as one student’s deeply personal project evolved into a gathering that brought together over 40 attendees, including a panel of four accomplished Black professionals: Stanley Desgrottes (Director of Compliance, Crédit Agricole CIB), Ange Beremwoudougou (Analyst; Venture Capital & Growth at CDPQ), Vanessa Allen (Vice President & Director at TD Asset Management), and Joseph Clement (Institutional Equity Trader at Raymond James Ltd).
Steve-Florian Maniratanga, the U4 Desautels student who launched this event, has spent much of his academic journey as one of few Black students in his classrooms. His experience in Desautels pushed him to explore the systemic barriers that Black students face within McGill’s business faculty. His research uncovered many sobering truths about the underrepresentation and isolation many Black McGillians have felt during their time here, which in turn, sparked him to act: “Reading the survey responses from other students like me was tough,” Steve admitted, “but it also made me realize how much we needed something like this.”
He took his findings to the Dean of Students, Robin Beech, whose support turned Steve’s research into the foundation for an event aimed at representation and empowerment.
Upon hearing about this initiative, Micha Abbas – a U3 Desautels student and Vice President of Sustainability, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the MUS – was so moved by Steve’s work that she stepped in to help bring the idea to life. “I remember watching his research proposal and feeling heartbroken,” Micha shared. “To think there was this entire community at McGill who felt disconnected because they didn’t see themselves represented – I really took it to heart. I knew I had to be part of this.” Together, they transformed the vision into reality.
During the event, the panelists spoke with honesty and purpose. Vanessa Allen addressed the challenges Black professionals face head-on. “You’ll often find yourself as the only Black person in the room,” she said. “Be confident in who you are and what you bring to the table.” Her words struck a chord with the audience especially as she moved on to tackle workplace bias, acknowledging that “bias exists, but don’t let it shake you. Trust your instincts and advocate for yourself.”
Joseph Clement reflected on how far representation has come stating that “[he] didn’t have events like this when starting out but seeing all of you here today gives me so much hope for the future.”
Ange Beremwoudougou highlighted the power of community: “Diversity matters but so does supporting each other. Build connections, lift each other up – that’s how we create change”.
For many attendees, the event was transformative. Laurena Brathwaite, a U4 management student, shared, “finance has always felt like a space where there have been few Black faces, but today I learned the best thing to do is to be my authentic self.”
Prudence Mouzou, a U3 student, added, “Hearing from professionals who’ve faced the same struggles I’m experiencing was really good to hear, and I wish something like this existed earlier in my journey.”
Other U3 and U4 Desautels students, Camille Kouadio and Mariama Ba, mirrored this sentiment, expressing that if they “had something like this in [their] first year[s], it would’ve changed a lot.” Furthermore, many students echoed their calls for more Black professors and mentors in finance to act as role models for future Black professionals.
As the event wrapped up with the final networking session, Steve and Micha sat together, reflecting on what they had built. Steve turned to Micha – his voice steady but emotional – expressing his gratitude for her helping to bring his vision to life. “She’s truly been such a huge part of this,” he turned back to her, “your passion, your dedication – it’s made all the difference.”
Micha, her eyes welling with tears, told The Bull & Bear that his “research inspired [her] so much. Seeing how important this is, how much it means to people – it’s overwhelming and inspiring.”
Steve smiled back and went on explaining that even though it’s his last year at McGill, he’s thrilled he was able to see the event come to fruition at least one time. He turned back to Micha again, “I know I am leaving this in good hands. I want you to take over as President next year,” Micha began to tear up as he continued, “you’ll do amazing things, and I wouldn’t want anyone else to carry this event forward.”
It was a poignant moment – a passing of leadership that underscored the event’s lasting importance. The torch was handed off, and with it, the promise that “Being Black in Finance” would continue to grow and thrive.
“Being Black in Finance” gave Black students a platform to connect, share experiences, and feel represented in their fields. For Steve, this event was the culmination of years of work: “This event shows how much this space was needed. I’m proud to leave this as my legacy.” Micha saw it as the start of something bigger: “We want to thank everyone who came out today! We’re here to build a lasting community.” The event empowered attendees to see their potential in the industry and was a testament to the remarkable drive and ambition of Black students at McGill in finance and beyond.
