IWD 2023: Yanique Forbes-Patrick is removing barriers to success for women and girls

YANIQUE Forbes-Patrick’s passion for enabling young people to achieve optimal potential began when she was a student at Immaculate Conception High School. Her more than 17-year career within the marketing and communications field has, in many ways, allowed her to continue to pursue this passion. A mother of two young children, a wife and career-oriented woman, she remains grateful for the opportunities that she has been given to uplift and inspire persons facing disadvantages.

In her current role, Forbes-Patrick is charged with leading strategic initiatives that address varying needs of the Scotiabank’s external stakeholders across the English-speaking Caribbean region including matters of diversity and inclusion as well as its philanthropic efforts in the community.

Whether it has been championing gender inclusivity in sports through varying sports sponsorships, providing opportunities for teen and adolescent mothers using digital technology, enabling access to online academic support for hundreds of teen girls preparing for exams or creating platforms to showcase the work of female entrepreneurs, in her role as Scotiabank’s vice-president, public affairs and communications she is proud to play her part to foster a more gender-equal and equitable world.

“At Scotiabank, we believe that achieving excellence is not limited by gender, nor should the opportunities to achieve excellence be. Despite significant progress made both locally and globally to enable women to realise their full potential, there is still work to do to address the challenges and barriers that still exist,” Forbes-Patrick said.

With this as a constant driver, she says she keeps a keen eye open for initiatives and opportunities to support students and other vulnerable groups including women and girls, female entrepreneurs and women living with disabilities. Across her seven-country regional remit, she has been able to direct millions of dollars to support these causes — which also coincide with the ongoing commitment and focus of Scotiabank across its global footprint.

As for her own success as a senior banking executive, she credits the vision of her mentors including her parents and sister who helped her to clear any roadblocks and enabled her with countless opportunities while growing up, to pursue her own dreams without limitations.

“Growing up, I never believed that being female was a hindrance to what I could achieve and much of that had to do with my upbringing that was centred around the fearless pursuit of excellence — regardless of my gender,” she shared.

Eager to pay it forward, for Forbes-Patrick says she gets a great sense of fulfilment and pride knowing that the work she does everyday is helping to pave the road for the future success of other women.