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Meet Françoise E. Lyon, a financial executive with a passion for advancing women
Françoise E. Lyon, the newly appointed president and managing director of of DGC Capital, boasts an outstanding track record in creating and managing highly successful teams at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and National Bank Financial Group, among others. A longtime advocate for the advancement of women in finance and the arts, she has served as President of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts’ Women of Influence Circle, a project she initiated to bring together women patrons who value the presence of women at the MMFA. She sits on the board of directors of the Association of Quebec Women in Finance and is also President of the International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation, which is based in Washington, D.C.
My first job ever was… Being a very young babysitter at 11.
I chose my career path because… As an accidental tourist. Then I quickly fell in love with the rush of the markets.
My proudest accomplishment is… Still standing strong, considering how tumultuous the financial markets have been over the last 25 years.
My boldest move to date was… Moving to the sell side of the financial markets. Most of my compensation now depended on my capacity to convince and sell.
I surprise people when I tell them… My last name is British, not French.
My best advice to people starting their career is… It’s ok to fail and make mistakes, but do it fast and recover quickly. And never stop learning.
My best advice from a mentor was… Never lie and never compromise your values.
I would tell my 20-year-old self… Stop wanting everything to go so fast. Take time to savor each step, each milestone, etc.
My biggest setback was… One of my employers being caught in a major scandal. I was at a standstill for almost nine months.
I overcame it by… Never losing faith something good would come out of it. And a lot of chocolate…
Work/life balance is… An imperfect ebb and flow situation with many balls in the air. But I always make sure I don’t drop one of my crystal balls, the ones that can’t be put back together or bounce back.
If you googled me, you still wouldn’t know… I can read faster than anyone I know. I once took a speed reading class and at the start of it, I read faster than the teacher!
I stay inspired by… Meeting new people regularly and traveling extensively. I’m also a passionate gardener…it not only inspires me but keeps me grounded (pun intended!)
The future excites me because… We are living through one the of the biggest change hurricanes our society has ever seen. To me, this translates to endless opportunities if one is willing to learn how to dance in the eye of the storm.
My next step is… Making this new venture capital/private equity adventure a resounding success.
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