“In a world where women are constantly told what they’re not, knowing your own value is everything.”
In the world of finance, Abi Coman-Walker stands out for her dynamism and charisma, as well as for her expertise and leadership. Originally from London, England, she began her career in consulting, working at PwC before it was acquired by IBM. That early experience paved the way for her admission into HSBC’s elite International Management Program, where she was one of just 20 participants selected globally from a pool of 2,000 applicants. Designed to develop future CEOs, the program took her through 16 distinct areas of the bank and ultimately brought her to Vancouver, where she now serves as Chief Operating Officer of Nicola Wealth.
When Abi joined HSBC in 2004, senior women leaders were scarce. Women were present within the organization, but largely absent as visible leadership role models. Early on, Abi learned the importance of recognizing her own value and leaning into her strengths rather than trying to conform.
“In a world where women are constantly told what they’re not, knowing your own value is everything,” Abi reflects, noting that our differences are often where our greatest strengths lie. “You have to stop trying to be one of the boys. It’s not who you are, and it’s not where your power comes from.”
She acknowledges that confidence sometimes needs to be built before you feel you deserve it, and she cautions strongly against shrinking to fit existing systems. Self-belief, she argues, is fundamental to leadership, alongside clear communication and the courage to take up space. “I see so many women undervalue themselves and compromise in order to succeed, and I don’t think they should.”
One area where Abi sees this play out most clearly is negotiation. “Women rarely negotiate,” she observes. “They assume the offer is fair, and often it isn’t.” Negotiation, she emphasizes, is not about being difficult. It is about believing you belong at the table.
Reflecting on what she believes she did right in her own career, Abi points to her intentional focus on building support networks rather than seeking popularity. She deliberately cultivated circles of allies. Advice she offers to younger women, and to anyone entering business, includes simple but powerful guidance: ask people for coffee, be curious rather than transactional, and reframe networking as genuine connection.
In a workplace increasingly dominated by technology, Abi believes human connection has become one of the most valuable skills left. “Communication skills are fundamental to success, but they’re often overlooked,” she says. “Ironically, women are usually quite good at them. Being able to tell your story, and tell it in a way people can hear, is an underrated career skill.”
That said, she is clear that communication in leadership is not about comfort. It requires fairness and honesty, even when conversations are difficult. Abi is candid that she is paid to collaborate, not to be popular, and that avoiding conflict ultimately limits growth.
When speaking specifically about leadership, she emphasizes that the role demands courage rather than people-pleasing. Kindness, she notes, does not mean being “nice” at all costs. Leaders can be both empathetic and decisive.
When advising young people, Abi often reminds them that “early in your career, it’s not about choosing perfectly. It’s about learning fast.” Her early years in consulting exposed her to diverse environments, stakeholders, and challenges. “It’s a real crash course in how organizations actually work, and a fantastic way to learn quickly.”
Abi is also open about the fact that her career path was intentionally non-linear, taking her from consulting to global banking, to biotechnology, and ultimately to wealth management. She readily describes herself as a “variety junkie” and believes it is not only acceptable, but healthy, to leave environments that do not align with who you are. You do not have to have everything figured out in advance.
On International Women’s Day, Abi reflects the kind of leadership our workplaces need more of: self-aware, values-driven, and confident enough to step boldly and collaboratively into the C-suite.