Featured Member: ATB Financial

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it’s crucial to shine a light on some of the initiatives that are making a tangible difference in empowering women in the business community.

With many women today facing unique challenges and barriers in their businesses, companies such as ATB Financial have taken the lead in finding more inclusive and supportive ways to bolster their growth and evolution. Through W by ATB, ATB aims to offer women not only a business banking experience that addresses the barriers that they face, but the tools, resources and support they need to succeed.

Powering Possibilities

Nikki Briggs, Head of W by ATB, understands the importance of championing women business owners and leaders.

Arriving from New Zealand ten years ago, Nikki wasted no time in making her mark at ATB. She took on various challenging roles, including serving as an Associate Director and Credit Adjudicator before ultimately assuming the role of Director on the Project Finance team. In the summer of 2021, Nikki transitioned into her current position, where she spearheads the development and execution of ATB's strategy to support the success of women business owners and leaders.

“Our goal is to support [women] to become the most successful version of themselves imaginable. Our strategy also involves championing our very own women team members in-house with career support and internal tools”, she says.

With women business owners and leaders at the heart of the program, W by ATB seeks to differentiate the client experience and power the possibilities of their clients.

An Authentic and Intentional Approach

Established within ATB Business in June 2021, W by ATB took two years to develop as they laid the internal foundation within their organization. With an authentic and intentional approach to their strategy top of mind, W by ATB started educating their business team members to provide a gender intelligent banking experience with their W by ATB Everywoman Accreditation Program.

Through this program, over 770 team members became Accredited W by ATB specialists.

Recognizing the importance of this program, Nikki explains, “women-owned and led business clients expect more from us. They want a relationship with their bank; a partnership that supports their success and the success of their business.”

Following the building of this strong foundation, W by ATB continues to prioritize creating a differentiated client experience that not only understands the barriers that women face but addresses them.

Understanding, Empowering and Connecting

At its core, W by ATB is a testament to ATB's commitment to fostering an environment where women in business thrive. With a strategic focus on understanding, empowering, and connecting women business owners and leaders, W by ATB aims to break down barriers and unlock the full potential of women-owned and led businesses.

"I am continually asking myself; how can we make success possible for all of our ATB Business women clients? How can we support each and every woman to be the most successful version of themselves?” says Briggs. "We learn to look beyond the numbers and the business, to understand the women behind the business. To see her, to hear her, and to understand her."

When it comes to gender-intelligent support, W by ATB offers capital funding, network connections and industry expertise that can power growth, innovation and success. With gender-based perceptions considered such as problem-solving, work style, management style and views on workplace conflict, W by ATB seeks to continue recognizing what women need from their bank and providing an environment that is thoughtful and intentional in its design.

Looking Ahead

As W by ATB continues to evolve and expand its reach, the vision remains clear: to empower women in business and create a more inclusive and equitable future. Through collaboration, innovation and a steadfast commitment to the success of women business owners and leaders, W by ATB is poised to make a lasting impact on the business landscape of Alberta and beyond.

To learn more about W by ATB, visit: https://www.atb.com/business/industry-expertise/w-by-atb/