Line Rivard holds up a Concordia University hoodie.
Line Rivard, agent-general of Quebec in London | credit: Ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie
A strong finance program and good timing
When she decided to pursue the MBA that led her down her current path, Rivard was drawn to Concordia for its unique fit for her schedule. “I applied to and was accepted to several universities, but I wanted to start in January, and Concordia was the only place that would let me do that,” Rivard laughs.
But she was interested in Concordia in the first place because of its strength in finance, a reputation that helped her get into the banking business afterwards, even if she had to learn the ropes in departments she wasn’t drawn to at first.
“I didn’t manage to get into investment banking right away as I’d wanted, but that had less to do with the school and more to do with the fact that I was female,” Rivard recalls. Indeed, there were times that she was the only woman on her team.
Thankfully, both the gender underrepresentation and the skepticism Rivard faced in a male-dominated field have improved since she started — thanks in part to her efforts and presence.
She was director of BMO Capital Markets for nearly two decades. She has advised organizations including the McCord Stewart Museum and YMCA Quebec, as well as the governor of the Bank of Canada. And Rivard has hired and supported a new generation of leaders.
In 2023, Rivard and the Quebec Government Office in London hosted one of Concordia’s first Women Who LEAD events for female graduates to network and share their personal and professional experiences. The Women Who LEAD program helps empower alumnae around the world to connect through conferences, lectures, webinars and other special events.
“For any university to shine, it is essential to maintain constant links with its alumnae,” Rivard says. “And abroad it is even more beneficial: People are more dispersed, so offering a forum to reconnect, relive happy moments and help spread the word and develop the sense of ownership is a win-win!”