Trailblazer Oricia Smith

As one of Canada’s most powerful women, Oricia Smith believes power comes from asking the right questions.

“As a female in a male-dominated industry, I see the value I can bring in building relationships and the power in asking the right questions,” Oricia tells Business Chief just days after being named among Canada’s Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network (WXN).

Committed to being an authentic and transparent leader, one who champions growth and innovation across her team and business, Oricia says her biggest learning over the years is that as females “we need to ask for help” – it’s not a sign of weakness.

“You don’t need to know all the answers. What you need is to be able to ask the right questions. There is value in getting to the root cause of the issue. The simplest questions sometimes lead to the best discussions and insights.”

It’s a lesson in leadership that has helped Oricia not only climb the corporate ladder but break the glass ceiling and become the first female president of Sun Life Global Investments.

“Being powerful is one thing, but I also believe it’s important to have a strong team who shares the same vision as you. Having the right people, with the right skills all working together, aligned to the same purpose, is what drives success.”

Since joining Sun Life in 2016, Oricia has been responsible for the governance of more than CAD$150bn of assets invested globally.

Relationships have value

I am where I am because of the relationships I have. I love connecting with people. When doing so, I need to remind myself to get out from behind my desk and connect, be genuine, and help people out. Building a network will benefit you personally in your career.

Be confident

You don’t need to know all the answers. What you need is to be able to ask the right questions. The industry has its own language. Don’t let the terminology used scare you. The simplest questions sometimes lead to the best discussions and insights.

Take risks earlier in your career

Put your hand up and get involved in projects outside of your current role. Try different things and get different experiences.

But what she is particularly proud of, she says, is to lead a business that has the power to impact society – by helping Canadians save for retirement and achieve lifetime financial security – and that has made sustainability and diversity a priority.

Passionate about supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion, Oricia is committed to bringing more women to the asset management table. Her leadership both within the organisation and the community (she is co-founder of 100 Women Who Care Toronto West) coupled with her dedication to championing equality and breaking down barriers for the next generation of leaders to come has been widely recognised, recently garnering her a place on the Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada list.

As a leader responsible for a company that employs more than 400 people, Oricia tells Business Chief that her focus is on building a business that provides jobs to the next generation, creates a work environment that has a positive impact on mental health, and does good in the world.

“My ambition for Sun Life Global Investments is to be the most forward-looking investment manager and the asset manager of choice in Canada,” she says.

“As a leader, I have a vision to drive the business forward and I love to bring people together on that journey. It’s also critical as a leader to be vulnerable and allow others to see and know me. At times we fail, but we must see the opportunity to learn, adjust, and move on.”

Oricia believes that as we emerge from the pandemic and face increased market volatility and inflation, leaders need to be open to listen more than ever before.

“We need to seek to understand what advisors, clients and employees want. We need to be curious and take time to learn, unlearn and relearn. We also need to define the outcomes we want to achieve as a business and empower