When Gillian Vincent walked on stage to accept the Barrie Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Award for Intrapreneur of the Year, she wasn’t just celebrating a professional milestone - she was highlighting a different way to lead.
Vincent, a senior private banker with BMO Private Wealth, was recognized for her ability to combine entrepreneurial thinking with corporate leadership, while staying deeply connected to the Barrie community.
“I think intrapreneur is a lot like entrepreneur, but it’s somebody that works within a company already,” Vincent told Barrie 360's What Barrie's Talking About podcast. “Although I'm working within this corporation, the role that I'm in allows me to be really entrepreneurial.”
Listen below to our interview with Gillian. It begins at the 51:43 mark
Vincent’s path to senior banking wasn’t a straight line. After studying advertising, psychology and sociology - and even spending several years teaching English in South Korea - she returned home unsure of her next steps. A job as a bank teller quickly turned into a nearly 20‑year career with BMO, fueled by mentorship, ambition and a willingness to ask for the next opportunity.
“I remember my manager said, ‘you should apply for the next job,’” she recalled. “That really changed everything for me.”
Today, Vincent works with high‑net‑worth individuals and business owners, managing complex lending and long‑term wealth planning. But what sets her apart, she says, is her focus beyond the office walls.
“I think I spend less time in the office for one. I'm really out in the community as much as I can be,” she said. “I focus on the community and who I can help in any way.”
That commitment includes mentoring young women, leading fundraising initiatives and serving as board chair for Barrie Families Unite. Last year, she helped organize a successful fundraising event - with another planned for November - and has supported the launch of the organization’s new thrift store, Give Back Racks, with proceeds staying local.
Recognition from the Women and Business Awards carried personal meaning, especially as her teenage daughter sat beside her at the ceremony.
“What a privilege it has been in my life to be able to have my daughter sit in rooms like that,” Vincent said. “Seeing these incredible women - that was really special for me.”
Despite her success, Vincent sees her current role as a destination, not a stepping stone.
“I love what I do and I feel like I get to make a difference for people,” she said. “That feels really good.”
For Vincent, intrapreneurship isn’t about climbing endlessly upward - it’s about creating impact where you stand, and pulling others up along the way.
