Actuality¹⁴⁸

Portrait of Sodiougo Juliette Dougnon

HIRING, TRAINING AND RETENTION OF TALENTS

Par

Jeune Chambre de commerce de Montréal

As part of International Women's Rights Day, the Junior Chamber of commerce of Montreal is highlighting inspiring stories in a series of 8 portraits of women (or self-identified women) who volunteer on our various committees.

Portrait 2 - Meet the impressive Sodiougo Juliette Dougnon, volunteer co-director of the Impact Accelerator Committee.

Of Malian origin, Sodiougo Juliette is a dynamic professional who made Quebec her home eight years ago, six of them in Montreal. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in finance from Université Laval, obtained at the age of 21!

For over five years, she has held the position of Senior Analyst in Analytics - Asset Allocation, Currency and Alternative Strategies at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. With over six years' experience in the financial sector, she has developed solid skills in analysis and the development of monitoring tools for investment portfolios. She masters various asset classes and handles large volumes of data on a daily basis.

Alongside her career, her natural curiosity leads her to explore various horizons and continually acquire new skills. She has completed the Effet A program, a leadership initiative for women, as well as a training course for young directors.

Her commitment also extends to several initiatives, including an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee within her organization, and a role as volunteer co-director of the Impact Accelerator Committee at the Junior Chamber of commerce of Montreal (JCCM).

“I remain true to my values in all circumstances and devote my energy to cultivating the well-being and fulfillment of those around me.” Par

Sodiougo Juliette

Frequently asked questions

What do you see as the greatest challenge for women in 2025?

To take their place and then maintain/evolve in that place in the business world.

The second challenge is to DARE.

A woman who inspires you enormously and why?

My sister is a role model for me. She's an extremely resilient woman who manages to make the best of any situation with a smile on her face, and she wears many hats.

If you could change one thing in tomorrow's business world, what would it be?

Offer the same chances/opportunities to everyone and avoid judging a person based on stereotypes. Basically, let everyone prove themselves.

Your best failure that turned into an opportunity?

Initially, I wanted to continue my studies in France, but I was rejected from the program I was aiming for. I then enrolled at Ulaval, where I had the chance to discover the world of market finance, which I hadn't even considered in my options. And in the end, I love my field and without this rejection I would never have had the career and opportunities I have today.

What myth about your field of expertise would you like to debunk?

The world of finance is not old, rigid or archaic. And no, I don't just use Excel, today's finance is closely linked to technology and programming, and there are a huge number of career opportunities in this sector (investment, consulting, data analysis, development of decision support tools, etc.).

It's not a monotonous field at all; on the contrary, it's constantly evolving. Finance is fun 😊

Do you have any advice for young women in Montreal?

Trust yourself, listen to yourself and seize the opportunities that come your way!

Recommendations

Your favourite Montreal woman-owned business?

BKR Capital, avec Lise Birikundavyi qui est cofondatrice. Une femme inspirante qui a un réel impact dans l’écosystème et dont le parcours est impressionnant !

A book or podcast to recommend?

When asked if I have a book or podcast to recommend, I immediately think of The Alchemist. This book by Paulo Coelho, although sometimes perceived as abstract, is a real revelation. It makes us question our true aspirations in all aspects of life, our place in the world and the impact we leave behind.

My recent favorite book, which I discovered at lunch with a friend, is For Your Improvement (FYI 5th edition). It's an excellent tool for developing leadership skills, combining know-how and interpersonal skills in a professional environment. I'm convinced that it can transform our approach to work and human relations.