Communicating with Confidence: An RBC Capital Markets and CSA Partnership
On October 19th, 2026, RBC Greater Toronto Region Reach, an Employee Resource Group focused on employee abilities as opposed to their disabilities, hosted Communicating with Confidence, a one-hour virtual panel held during International Stuttering Awareness Week in partnership with the Canadian Stuttering Association. The event brought together lived experience and professional insight to explore what confident communication really looks like — and the role listeners play in making it possible
About the Organizer
The event was organized and moderated by Naevin Abeyasekara, a Vice President in Global Transaction Banking at RBC Capital Markets and a person who stutters. Naevin has been open about his experience with stuttering in professional settings. Read Naevin's story. He wanted to create a space where colleagues could hear directly from people who navigate communication challenges every day — not as a lecture, but as an honest, practical conversation. The event was supported by RBC's broader commitment to inclusion and accessibility in the workplace.
How the Event Came About
The idea grew out of Naevin's own experience as a person who stutters working in RBC capital markets for the 8 years he has spent with the investment bank across various geographies, where communication is central to everything. He connected with the Canadian Stuttering Association to bring clinical perspective and lived experience together in a format that would resonate not only with people who stutter, but with anyone who has ever held back in a conversation. The timing — during International Stuttering Awareness Week, just days before landmarks across Canada light up sea green on October 22 — made the moment feel right.
The Panel
Three CSA representatives joined as panelists: Carla Di Domenicantonio (Speech-Language Pathology Relations Officer), Katie Miller (CSA Volunteer), and Matthew Coffen (CSA Volunteer Coordinator). The panel explored themes of self-advocacy, preparation, the power of listening, and how confidence in communication is built rather than performed.
Attendance and Reception
Forty-five RBC employees attended the virtual session, and the feedback reflected just how personally the conversation landed. One attendee shared that they have a close relative who stutters but had never truly thought about how he manages his daily life until hearing the panelists' inspiring stories. A new mother in the audience said the session hit close to home and made her more aware of how she should pay attention to her child's speech development to provide early support. Another colleague described the event as deeply insightful and educative about a disability that really doesn't get enough attention or awareness, adding that it's important the conversation be spread across the organization to better support colleagues who are struggling to find their voice.
A Message from Naevin
"We all carry a kind of inner stutter — those moments where the words don't come out the way we planned, where nerves take over, or where we hold back because we're afraid of how we'll sound. Disfluency is part of being human. My hope is that this event helped people see confident communication not as sounding a certain way, but as having the space, the tools, and the support to express yourself authentically and be taken seriously."
Words of Thanks from Katie Miller
"As a person who stutters working in communications, public speaking has always been something I’ve struggled with. But as someone who is also passionate about advocacy, I know how important it is to step outside my comfort zone, share my experiences, and make space for other voices.
Thank you to RBC for hosting this webinar for your employees and creating space for people who stutter to share our stories, our lived experiences, and our perspectives on communication. It’s a reminder that there isn’t just one way to communicate, and that confidence isn’t about how fluently we speak, but about having the opportunity and the courage to be heard."
Words of Thanks from Matthew Coffen
"Any opportunity that is given to reach an engaged and attentive audience, and attempt to educate them on this very important subject, is an opportunity I feel very fortunate to have.
Much appreciation to Naevin and RBC for bringing attention to this subject, furthering the agenda and their willingness to partner with the CSA."
Words of Thanks from Carla Di Domenicantonio
"As a longtime ally and supporter of persons who stutter, I sincerely appreciate the opportunity provided by the RBC to raise awareness, support staff and educate about differences in communication, and about stuttering. I commend Naevin for his leadership in giving stuttering a front row seat at the RBC, and the RBC for its commitment to fostering inclusion and accessibility for staff and customers with various abilities and disabilities. Thank you for partnering with the CSA for this meaningful event."
Thank you to those who were in the audience, asked great questions, conveyed compassion for people affected by stuttering, and provided positive feedback regarding the webinar. We hope to be able to continue the conversation at some future point.
Naevin Abeyasekara is Vice President, Data Intelligence and Business
Initiatives in Global Transaction Banking, Capital Markets, based in Toronto.With a background spanning fund operations, data analytics, and AI, Naevin
leads GTB's data intelligence, efficiency, and automation agenda from
operational reporting and dashboard development to AI-driven solutions
that support data-driven decision making. He holds a Master's in
Management and Artificial Intelligence from Queen's University and applies
expertise in Python, SQL, and visualization tools to build scalable data
products and digitize client processes.Before moving to his current role, Naevin spent several years with RBC
Investor & Treasury Services in Malaysia, where he helped grow the Private
Capital Services function from a team of 6 to a department of over 120 and
led fund accounting, shareholder services, and operational risk initiatives for
private equity and real estate clients.Naevin is a multiple recipient of RBC's Quarterly and Annual Performance
Awards. He is an active member of the RBC Reach Employee Resource
Group committee, where he has organized and participated in numerous
events that focus on employee abilities rather than disabilities. Outside of
work, Naevin is a dedicated paddler on the RBC Dragon Boat team, having
secured podium finishes at multiple regattas.