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Accelerate Action: Sharing a Leadership Toolkit for Women

Mar. 20, 2025

Guests: Tamara Finch, Executive Managing Director, Head of Global Transaction Banking, TD Securities and Christina Petrou, Chief Operating Officer, TD Securities

Host: Lisa Thomas, Managing Director and Deputy Head of Global Research, TD Securities

Three women in positions of leadership share the key relationships with other female mentors who helped guide and shape their journeys. Christina Petrou and Tamara Finch open-up about their personal experiences and insights with host, Lisa Thomas. Together, they discuss turning points in their career trajectory, the strength of partnership and what they've learned from their best (and worst) experiences.

Join us for an in-depth conversation on what tools make it easier for women facing a work/life balance, slow progress in gender parity and other challenges when looking to accelerate and advance their career.

Listen to additional episodes for more perspectives from a variety of thought leaders on key themes influencing markets, industries and the global economy today.

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This podcast was originally recorded on March 11, 2025.

Full transcript to come.

This podcast should not be copied, distributed, published or reproduced, in whole or in part. The information contained in this recording was obtained from publicly available sources, has not been independently verified by TD Securities, may not be current, and TD Securities has no obligation to provide any updates or changes. All price references and market forecasts are as of the date of recording. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are not necessarily those of TD Securities and may differ from the views and opinions of other departments or divisions of TD Securities and its affiliates. TD Securities is not providing any financial, economic, legal, accounting, or tax advice or recommendations in this podcast. The information contained in this podcast does not constitute investment advice or an offer to buy or sell securities or any other product and should not be relied upon to evaluate any potential transaction. Neither TD Securities nor any of its affiliates makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the statements or any information contained in this podcast and any liability therefore (including in respect of direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage) is expressly disclaimed.

Portrait of Tamara Finch

Executive Managing Director, Head of Global Transaction Banking, TD Securities

Portrait of Tamara Finch

Tamara Finch
Executive Managing Director, Head of Global Transaction Banking, TD Securities

Portrait of Tamara Finch

Tamara Finch
Executive Managing Director, Head of Global Transaction Banking, TD Securities

Tamara Finch is Executive Managing Director and Head of Global Transaction Banking at TD Securities. Tamara joined TD Securities in 2019 to lead the successful growth of TDS’ Financial Sponsors business as a trusted advisor to Private Equity, Infrastructure, and Canadian Pension Plan investors globally and a collaborative internal partner to TDS industry and product partners, Global Markets, TD Commercial Bank and TD Wealth. In her 25+ years of private equity, investment and corporate banking experience, Tamara has built a reputation for being an entrepreneurial change agent, building trust, achieving consensus, and driving value.

Tamara is seen as a senior female role model in Finance, a believer in talent being the key driver of value in all companies, and a passionate advocate of the advancement of women and diverse talent in the workplace, on boards, and in the community. Tamara believes that diversity in teams and board rooms leads to better discussions, better decision making and ultimately better performance. She Co-Chairs the Inclusion & Diversity Leadership Committee for TD Securities and sits on the boards of Women in Capital Markets and the YMCA-GTA.

Prior to joining TD, Tamara was a direct private equity investor and built the successful value creation business for Ontario Teachers’, creating a systematic, repeatable transformation agenda across the global 60+ company direct investment portfolio that consistently delivered top quartile returns. Tamara sat on the Private Capital Underwriting Committee, chaired the Portfolio Monitoring Committee, and took on key leadership roles in strategy, talent and digital innovation for the Canadian pension fund.

Tamara began her finance career at Scotiabank in Corporate Credit focused on leveraged buy-outs. She has extensive board experience including Amica Senior Lifestyles, Exal Group, Alliance Laundry Systems and Women’s College Hospital.

Tamara holds a BA Honours Economics from Queen’s University and an MBA from the University of Toronto. She is a CFA charterholder and holds the ICD.D designation. Outside of work Tamara enjoys community service, spending time with family and friends, and a good tennis match.

Portrait of Christina Petrou

Chief Operating Officer, TD Securities

Portrait of Christina Petrou

Christina Petrou
Chief Operating Officer, TD Securities

Portrait of Christina Petrou

Christina Petrou
Chief Operating Officer, TD Securities

Christina Petrou is the Chief Operating Officer of TD Securities and brings over 25 years of financial services expertise and strategic planning. In this role, she supports the advancement of the firm's overall business strategies, overseeing global initiative portfolios, governance, operations, and technology teams.

Since joining TD Securities in 2014, Christina has held varying executive positions as the US Chief Operating Officer, US Chief Compliance Officer and Head of Global Operations and Business Services. Across her mandates, she has furthered the firm's transformation initiatives and strengthened its US franchise and global client capabilities through effective risk management.

Christina is recognized both internally and externally for her extensive industry knowledge and strong relationships with regulators. Prior to joining TD, Christina built her expertise across various financial services platforms including Investment Banks, Private Banks and Private Wealth institutions where she held varying roles across Compliance, Risk Management and Front Office. Christina began her career as a U.S. regulator with the New York Stock Exchange.

She is passionate about talent development and building diverse, inclusive, and resilient teams. Outside of work, Christina supports various charities including ones focused on first responders and law enforcement, the LGBTQ+ community, and the New York food bank. She is also a member Women in Payments and the Women's NY Bar Association.

Christina holds a Juris Doctorate and dual bachelor's degrees in Banking and Finance, and International Business. She is admitted to the New York State Bar Association.

Christina lives in New York with her husband and two young daughters.

Portrait of Lisa Thomas

Managing Director and Deputy Head of Global Research, TD Securities

Portrait of Lisa Thomas

Lisa Thomas
Managing Director and Deputy Head of Global Research, TD Securities

Portrait of Lisa Thomas

Lisa Thomas
Managing Director and Deputy Head of Global Research, TD Securities

Lisa Thomas is Managing Director, Deputy Head of Global Research. She joined Cowen in 2016 from Nomura, where she was COO and associate director of research, serving as a founding member of the senior research management team responsible for establishing and rapidly growing the firm’s U.S. business beginning in 2010. Prior to joining Nomura, Ms. Thomas was a managing director and associate director of equity research at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where she had earlier been assistant general counsel for the firm’s equity and fixed income research businesses.

Ms. Thomas began her career as an M&A and securities attorney in private practice with the law firms of Shearman & Sterling and Covington & Burling, working on a diverse range of significant international mergers, public and private financings, and regulatory investigations.

She holds an MBA from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business and an LLB (JD) from McGill University.

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