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Empowering Black professionals

Fostering belonging and opportunity as we shape the future with confidence.

Meet Obehi and how he approaches leadership and inclusion

Meet Deiandra and her perspective on curiosity and innovation

At EY, we strive towards continuous progress, fostering the professional development and empowerment of Black professionals. We actively celebrate success, acknowledging and cherishing all the ways our Black professionals’ invaluable contributions enhance our business, and benefit our clients.

We proudly celebrate the incredibly talented Black leaders and future leaders within our firm and the undeniable value they bring every day. But we recognize the hurdles we still need to overcome to reach greater parity — and we are working to make sustained progress throughout the year.

Learn how we’re driving tangible progress and fostering an inclusive environment where all differences are valued, practices are equitable and everyone experiences a sense of belonging.

Celebrating Black History Month and the 10‑year anniversary of the Black Professionals Network

We’re engaging in conversation with our Black professionals and community partners to hear their voices, understand their values and support their professional development.

How?

The EY Black Professionals Network (BPN) creates opportunities for members to build connections and share experiences, while helping the firm to reimagine what recruiting, retention and engagement must look like for Black professionals to thrive.

The BPN orchestrates dynamic events across our Canadian offices to celebrate Black History Month through thought-provoking panel discussions and community engagement initiatives, as well as an accredited learning session tailored exclusively for the Black diaspora. These initiatives enable our people to explore various strategies for enhancing the potential of Black professionals across the firm, fostering an environment that promotes their inherent, power-building competencies.
While Black History Month is an essential reminder for all Canadians, conversations and intentions must continue forward as we aim to create long-term, purposeful change. That’s why the BPN works alongside other internal employee resource groups to help recognize and embrace the deep diversity and intersectionality within the Black community, and the strengths and perspectives that everyone brings, all year long.
We’re fostering belonging and broader collaboration with our people, clients, vendors and communities to propel progress and sustained change

How?

The EY Entrepreneurs Access Network is our newest business accelerator program. It supports high-potential Black and Indigenous entrepreneurs across Canada in building sustainable, scalable business enterprises through coaching, connections and curricula.
We’re making meaningful progress against the targets set out by the BlackNorth Initiative. This includes advancing the recruitment of Black professionals at all levels of our organization, evolving our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy and training platforms, and supporting Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs.
Through our EY supplier diversity programs, we’re creating diverse ecosystems for minority-owned businesses in Canada.
Since our inception, we’ve been on a journey to build a more equitable working world — and we’re also helping our clients do the same. We’re supporting Canadian businesses in their journey to generate lasting value by growing board and supplier diversity and developing people-centric solutions to realize positive impact through the power of DEI.
We’re bringing our talents, experiences and passions to non-profit organizations and social enterprises that improve the lives, and further the careers, of individuals in underrepresented groups.

How?

Through EY Ripples, our global, skills-based corporate responsibility program, our people have the opportunity to volunteer with organizations that support critical priorities, including racial equity. We’re proud to work with organizations like makingTheMove, the BlackNorth Initiative, and Focused Dreams Forward to help newcomers, entrepreneurs and youth in the Black community reach their full potential.

With the FACE Coalition, we support Black entrepreneurs applying for loan funding with accounting and tax services to help finalize their applications. Through makingTheMove, we provide career coaching to skilled African immigrants in Canada and connect them to industry leaders. Over the last several years, EY people have played a vital role in coaching and mentoring hundreds of program participants — many of whom have gone on to secure job interviews or positions at various companies, including EY Canada.

Since the inception of makingTheMove in 2020, EY Ripples has played a vital role in coaching and mentoring over 200 participants across emerging fields such as cybersecurity, data analytics, diversity, equity and inclusion… helping our clients secure multiple job offers.

Teniola Onabanjo

ounder & CEO of makingTheMove
We’re informing ourselves and enabling others to be strong allies and advocates in the workplace and beyond.

How?

At EY, inclusive leadership training and other learning opportunities help us understand the barriers Black communities face, and actively support and drive meaningful change.

We also proactively share and publish learning, insights and perspectives in the broader marketplace. Through ongoing thought leadership, research, panel discussions and more, we’re enabling colleagues, allies, clients and other stakeholders to learn more about the impact of inclusivity for Black professionals and how to take action.

Explore our perspectives here:

Aim beyond the buzz of inclusive culture to truly foster high-performing organizations

Accelerating the democratization of entrepreneurship for Black entrepreneurs

From the rink to the boardroom: lessons to “light the lamp” on inclusivity

Connections with Black colleagues can have a far-reaching impact

Entrepreneur Mentoring Community

Relevant content

Colorful boats

EY Global Executive Diversity & Inclusion Statement

The EY GE have signed a statement to demonstrate their commitment to leading inclusively and an increased focus on D&I progress.

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Office employees discussion

Aim beyond the buzz of inclusive culture to truly foster high-performing organizations

Creating an inclusive culture requires an organization to put humans at the centre of structures, programs, processes, policies and communications..

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Man looking at woman

BlackNorth Initiative pledge

EY Canada was an early signatory of the BlackNorth Initiative pledge with a strong commitment to addressing anti-Black racism in corporate Canada.

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