💬 What’s the Best Career Advice You’ve Ever Given?

Last week, I was speaking at the Club Canadien de Toronto during the Francophone Summit on Finance and Investment 2025.
The panel was about Power, Leadership, and Investment: Who Shapes the Finance of Tomorrow?

But the moment that stayed with me came from the Q&A.
 A young woman in the audience asked:

“What advice would you give to someone like me starting out in finance?”

My co-panelists gave wonderful, practical answers — build a network, find mentors, invest in yourself.
All true. All helpful.

My answer was different.

I told her the most important investment she’ll ever make isn’t in a fund, a skill, or a connection —
 it’s in her own self-belief.

Because sometimes, the real barrier isn’t a glass ceiling above you — it’s the one you’ve built in your own head.

I’ve seen (and lived) how self-doubt quietly sabotages careers long before bias or circumstance ever could.
 The voice that says “you’re not ready,” “you’ll fail,” “they’ll find out.”
 That’s the one to silence first.

So when people ask me for career advice, I don’t start with strategy.
 I start with psychology.

Because the future of leadership — in finance or anywhere else — belongs to those who learn to trust their own potential before anyone else does.

👉 Listen to my latest podcast for the full story

#Leadership #CareerAdvice #Finance #WomenInFinance #Mindset #SelfBelief #ImposterSyndrome #PensionFunds #Canada #ValueCreation

Peggy Van de Plassche is a value creation strategist and senior advisor with over 20 years of experience in private equity, financial services, healthcare, and technology. She works with investment firms, boards, and C-suite leaders to accelerate portfolio company performance, drive operational transformation, and unlock long-term value. Peggy specializes in the execution of complex value creation plans—spanning capital allocation, digital enablement, transaction advisory, and leadership alignment. Her work consistently bridges strategy and implementation, helping investors and operators maximize EBITDA and enterprise value. A founding board member of Invest in Canada, she also brings deep expertise in public-private partnerships and institutional capital deployment—critical levers for competitive advantage in today’s global landscape. Her clients have included BMO, CI Financial, HOOPP, OMERS, GreenShield Canada, Nicola Wealth, and Power Financial. Learn more at peggyvandeplassche.com.

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