Community Spotlight: Gurleen Gill — Financial Feminism and Women Economy Advocate
Meet Gurleen Gill, the unstoppable force making waves in the finance world with a passion for investing and a drive to empower women in industry.
From health sciences to finance, her journey is nothing short of exhilarating, marked by resilience, adaptability, and a splash of fun!
From Academia to Finance
Gurleen’s diverse educational background is a testament to her belief that thinking broadly and embracing varied experiences will set you up to succeed. Before diving into the fast-paced world of finance, she kicked off her academic career studying epidemiology and public health alongside economics. Upon graduation, she took a daring leap away from research and into finance, starting her adventure in energy investment banking with National Bank Financial.
Working with several companies in the upstream oil & gas, energy transition, and cleantech industries opened her eyes to the thrilling expanse of capital markets and the mechanisms by which an idea can grow into a billion dollar business.
Gurleen found herself drawn to the exciting realm of venture capital and early-stage investing and was introduced to Avatar Innovations, Canada’s first de-carbonization focused venture studio. She was selected to participate in the Avatar Ignite program, which develops emerging leadership talent while building corporate innovation and entrepreneurial capacity.
Immersing herself in the venture world and gaining experience supporting companies looking to raise capital sparked a newfound passion in Gurleen to activate her personal capital through private markets investing. Enter The51—a network that resonated with her values and ambitions.
Finding Her Community
Gurleen sought a community where women shared her zest for wealth creation and social change. The51 became that vibrant space!
Her journey through the Financial Feminist Investment Lab was a game-changer, allowing her to expand both her network and knowledge. FFIL provided invaluable wisdom that allowed Gurleen to navigate her first private investments. Gurleen was thrilled to be invited back to the FFIL as an alumni lead to help foster a supportive and inclusive environment where new and seasoned participants came together to learn, grow, and support each other on their financial and investment journeys.
What’s New
2024 has brought a whirlwind of changes for Gurleen. Recently, she was appointed to the Calgary International Film Festival’s Board of Directors to serve on the finance committee. As a proud cinephile, she’s excited for this opportunity to leverage her professional experience with an organization that uplifts the vibrancy and cultural richness of Calgary.
After nearly 5 years of investment banking, Gurleen was ready for a new challenge and looking to get her hands dirty learning the nitty gritty details that go into operating a company. Her latest adventure is in her new role as Associate, Finance and Investor Relations at North American Helium (NAH), a rapidly growing company dedicated to establishing a reliable, geopolitically secure, and non-hydrocarbon based helium supply.
Exploring the Helium Industry
Helium has Gurleen's full attention. It is an inert gas with unique physical properties that make it vital for several high technology applications where there is often no substitute. The low boiling point and non-reactive nature of helium make it a vital input used in space exploration, semiconductor manufacturing, and MRI machines.
NAH is the leading explorer for helium and has been growing rapidly since inception. Being able to contribute to the growth and innovation of the company keeps her buzzing and her intellectual curiosity satiated.
Embracing Opportunities
Embracing the unknown, Gurleen is all about staying open to new opportunities and challenges. Her career path, from health sciences to finance, is a testament to the unpredictable nature of professional growth.
Instead of rigid plans, she focuses on developing skills that are applicable across many domains. The most impactful problem solvers draw from knowledge across many domains rather than deeply specializing in any single area.
In the short term, she's dedicated to contributing to the exciting growth of her current company. Her long-term strategy? Stay flexible, keep learning, and chase new challenges.
Advice to Her Past Self and Women Investors
To her past self, Gurleen advises: stay curious and true to your own unique path. While having a plan is great, she emphasizes that life often has unexpected twists, and being adaptable is key.
For other women interested in investing, she encourages stepping out of comfort zones, having the confidence to ask questions, and committing to continuous learning and network-building. The51 provided a supportive community for women in investing, and Gurleen urges others to seek similar spaces. By engaging with programs like the Financial Feminist Investment Lab, women can feel empowered to make savvy investment decisions.
Looking Ahead
Gurleen Gill's journey showcases the power of adaptability and community. As she navigates her new role and explores the intriguing world of helium exploration, her story inspires others to embrace change and pursue their passions with confidence.
Connect with Gurleen Gill on LinkedIn to follow her exciting journey. Learn more about how you too can become a member of The51 and M51’s vibrant community and connect with incredible women like Gurleen by checking out one of our programs.
Join us and be part of a movement that supports and empowers women in finance and beyond!