B.Sc. 1988 Majors – Biology, Physics, Psychology; Minor – Philosophy

MBA 1997

How did your time at the university shape your career aspirations?

As is evident from my varied education, I could have been described as unfocused, or simply wanting to be adept at cocktail party conversation no matter the venue. Truly, I was a very curious person who was pushed in one direction by family but veered naturally in other directions from inclination. My time at U of T helped to shape my interests and focus them on the key elements that gave me purpose – thinking – truly having to apply thought – using a logical approach, and problem solving.

What career path did you pursue after graduating from U of T?

I went from a very science focused undergraduate experience into a business and technology focused career – I quite literally fell into an amazing opportunity to learn about software development and its use in financial services. So, my career evolved into software design and development in the financial services sector, which further evolved after completing my MBA to project management, leading major transformations, human resources projects, managing data platforms and finally into the data governance space.

What are some of your fondest memories from your time at the university?

I was fortunate to have resided on campus for two years, and some of my best memories are from the friendships and shenanigans that we all got up to at University College. The camaraderie amongst the students in our house and in residence was an experience well remembered, from frosh week soccer games (where my klutzy self-managed to get concussed from a header) to a drummer practicing in the basement and watching terrible soap operas in the afternoons. Should I mention the all-night card games??

What challenges did you face as you transitioned from university to the professional world? How did you overcome those challenges, and what did you learn from them?

For me, the biggest challenge was convincing myself that despite my lack of formal education in the field I dropped myself into, that I could learn it and succeed anyways, I found out that skills are in fact transferrable – analytical skills in particular are the same no matter your industry.

What advice would you give to current students who are studying in your field? Are there specific skills or experiences you recommend they focus on to enhance their future prospects?

For me, when hiring, I’m looking for some key things: Communication skills, analytical skills, adaptability, and fit with the team. Formal learnings are useful if you are seeking employment that is directly related to the field of study and extremely beneficial in those cases. But for those who wish to move into other fields not directly related to their studies, focus on communication, ability to learn, transferable skills, and adaptability.

Have you been involved with the university since graduation, such as through alumni associations or mentorship programs?

I have been involved with the University a great deal, as a mentor, leader of workshops, and speaker at events. I’ve been very kindly recognized for my service with an Arbor Award a few years ago as well.

Looking back, what do you consider to be the most valuable aspect of your university experience?

I feel incredibly fortunate to have attended U of T. This amazing institution is large – but you also have your own smaller communities within colleges. faculties and departments. But having that inherent size enables its students to have a focus while still dabbling in other areas and experiencing learning that you just can’t get at smaller universities that don’t have the incredible resources of U of T. That’s its superpower – being both big and small.