Sweats to Suits Panelists

Investment Advisor, RBC Dominion Securities 

With over a decade of experience in the financial services industry, Jamie creates and executes sophisticated financial plans that allow you to live life on your terms. He provides a truly customized experience with wealth strategies tailored to your values and goals, and specializes in working professionals and business owners.

Prior to joining RBC Dominion Securities, Jamie worked on a prominent wealth management team at one of Canada’s leading banks, serving high-net-worth families. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) with a major in economics from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in finance and business valuation from the McMaster DeGroote School of Business.

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Manager, Data & Analytical Insights, Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI)

Joey has over ten years of experience in Risk Management - starting from small credit deals to enterprise and regulatory risk. In his current role, Joey leads a team of analysts within OSFI's Supervision Sector. OSFI is an independent federal government agency that regulates and supervises federally registered banks and insurers and is the sole regulator of banks in Canada.

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Account Executive, Professional Oral Health, Procter & Gamble

Driven Account Executive with a proven track record in sales and revenue generation. Adept at building and nurturing client relationships to drive business growth. Possessing a strong background in consultative selling and a deep understanding of customer needs, I excel in identifying opportunities and delivering tailored solutions. Committed to delivering exceptional customer service and fostering long-term partnerships.

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Senior Consultant, KPMG LLP

Jananee is a Senior Consultant at KPMG Canada in Toronto, working within the Global Infrastructure Advisory- Cities Team. She completed a Bachelor of Business Administration (2018), with a focus in Management from UTM. Upon graduation, she explored careers in Finance at Citco Canada and Operations Management at Amazon prior to returning to UTM to complete a Master of Urban Innovation (2023). The interdisciplinary nature of her graduate program led to her interest in infrastructure development to build innovative, vibrant, and sustainable communities.

Committed to community and economic development, Jananee has been volunteering with Rotary International for eleven years. Rotary has enabled Jananee to give back to the community while also helping her build key professional skills. Jananee is the current director of her Rotary District’s Young Professionals Network. She also leads the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy, and is the Chair of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.

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Bilingual Customer Solutions Representative, CDW

A recent graduate, and former student leader who served as president of two UTM clubs, that possesses a strong research background. She is now utilizing her bilingualism and administrative skills in her new role as a Bilingual Customer Solutions Representative at CDW— one of Canada’s top employers.

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ServiceNow Technical Analyst, Pentio

Kamran graduated in June of 2023 with a Computer Science Specialist and Math minor. He did two internships during his time at UofT: 16 months at IBM as a Backend Developer, and 6 months at Congero as a Software Engineer.

He participated in the recent RGOP program and through the Meet the Employer event along with the help of the program assistants was able to land his current job as a ServiceNow Technical Analyst.

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Owner, Consultant,  LC Business Innovations

As a woman-owned business with a specialization in supporting supply chain and project needs for organizations, Laura continues to be in service to her community through areas she can influence the most. Working directly for Canadian public sector and not-for-profit organizations for over 20 years, she sought several leadership opportunities, targeting both the operational and strategic challenges to help create lasting impacts and efficiencies for communities around her.

Laura’s experience in stakeholder collaboration and development, team leadership, mentorship and building sustainability and diversity into organizational initiatives crosses into supporting the next generation of industry professionals.

At Supply Chain Management Association Ontario, Laura held the positions of Board Vice Chair, Chair, and Vice-Chair of the Membership Engagement and Finance & Audit Committees. She also served on the Campus Council at the University of Toronto Mississauga and the Advisory Committees at Humber College and the University of Toronto. She is also an active member of the Project Management Institute (PMI).

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Senior Analyst, Loblaw Companies Limited

Nikolai Meek is a Senior Analyst with Loblaw Companies Limited, managing the data insights and analytics for the E-commerce Merchandising Team. She has over 5 years of experience working across several industries (finance, education, retail/CPG) with a background in providing strategic insights and project execution.

Nikolai holds a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) from the University of Toronto (Scarborough) and a Master of Information from the University of Toronto (iSchool).

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Project Manager, ADP

My name is Farishya and I am currently working as a Project Manager at ADP. I am PMP®️, and CSM®️ certified, with a passion for bridging the gap between technology and business practices. I have a background in consulting and data analytics in the financial technology space. I specialize in leading software implementation projects within various industries. I take pride in providing exceptional customer service to all my clients.

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Senior Strategy Analyst, Canada Life

Sarah currently works as a Senior Strategy Analyst for Canada Life where she drives strategic planning and executes initiatives that enable continuous and step-change growth for the Group Customer division. She also holds several Teaching Assistant positions across upper-year classes at UTM, the Graduate Diploma Program at Rotman School of Management, and Rotman Commerce.

After graduating as UTM’s Class of 2019 Valedictorian, Sarah started her career as an External Auditor at KPMG. Shortly thereafter, she achieved her Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Designation and joined Deloitte’s Finance and Performance practice to continue her career in one of the best consulting environments.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Toronto Mississauga and a Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting from the Rotman School of Management.

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Product Manager, Inbenta

Noah currently works as a Product Manager in the B2B space. His focus is on building products that users love while increasing digital engagement for services traditionally done manually. 

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Analyst, Marketing Analytics, Tonal

Abdirahman is a seasoned marketing analytics analyst who leverages the modern data stacks. Specializing in cloud-based data warehousing and automated analytics pipelines, he excels at translating complex data into actionable insights to drive business strategy and maximize ROI. Abdirahman holds a Bachelor's degree in Strategic Management from the University of Toronto Scarborough. He has a proven track record of delivering results in fast-paced environments.

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Experiential Partnerships Specialist, Northeastern University

Charmaine is a community leader dedicated to bridging the gap between learners and industry. She holds a Bachelor's degree in political science and international development from UTSC, followed by a Masters in education specializing in workplace learning from OISE.

Charmaine specializes in career development, industry engagement and has created programming for undergraduate and graduate students at various post secondary institutions in North America. In the last 8 years, she has dedicated her time to building meaningful relationships with diverse partners including employers, community leaders, students, faculty and higher education professionals. Charmaine values collaboration and aims to leverage the unique strengths of experts to co-create curricular and co-curricular activities for learners to build skills, gain experiences and build a purpose-driven career.

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Inclusive Markets Advisor, MarketShare Associates (MSA)

I am currently serving as an Inclusive Markets Advisor at MarketShare Associates (MSA). I support teams to catalyze, facilitate, and monitor inclusive systemic changes through development projects globally focused on inclusive agricultural systems, and water efficiency and conservation. I am interested in conversations that challenge the status quo around ecological and regenerative thinking, grassroots development, and anti-oppression. Before joining MSA, I served as a Market Systems Development (MSD) Advisor in projects funded by Canadian, Swiss, and Australian bi-lateral agencies. I worked within the Palladium Group’s multi-country Market Development Facility, Swisscontact, and the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) designing, delivering, and measuring Inclusive Growth programs using the MSD approach. I hold a BBA from the University of Toronto Scarborough, with a focus on Strategy and Economics. I have lived and worked in Canada, Malawi, Laos, and Sri Lanka, and spent extended time in the Czech Republic, along with short visits to countries in 6 continents thus far.

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Risk and Compliance Manager, Ooredoo Financial Services

My name is Diana Al Fara - I am a Risk and Compliance Manager with Ooredoo Financial Services, based in Doha, Qatar. I have over eight years of experience in Risk Consulting from KPMG and PwC and have my MBA from the University of Aberdeen and BBA with a Specialist in Finance and Management from the University of Toronto, Scarborough!

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Digital Transformation Analyst | Entrepreneur,  The Ministry of Digital Transformation of Trinidad and Tobago and WahWeDoing?

Hey there! I'm thrilled to be joining the Sweats to Suits Conference! As a passionate social media and digital marketing expert, I've been on a mission to be one of the world's best! Over the past year, I've led the marketing efforts of "WahWeDoing?"— my brainchild that helps people in Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) find amazing events and experiences! And I'll soon hire my 2nd employee! By day, I play a large role at the Ministry of Digital Transformation in T&T, steering their social media presence and occasionally becoming a host for their press conferences and events. 

Beyond the digital realm, you'll find me on the football field, tending to my garden, or writing poetry. It was less than two years ago when I was on the other end of this panel so I can't wait to share insights and connect with the brilliant minds here!

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Programme Coordinator, Institute for Strategic Dialogue

Sameen is a Programme Coordinator at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue for Strong Cities Network’s ‘Young Cities’ programme where she supports young people globally, most recently in Pakistan and Belgium, to build their project management and leadership skills and fund their community initiatives for social action. This includes facilitating workshops and webinars for youth activists and peacebuilders, developing training resources, managing partnerships and grants with local partners, and helping municipal governments to better support young people in their peacebuilding efforts. Her work also involves fostering collaboration between local and national government and civil society actors to address challenges related to hate, extremism and polarisation.

Sameen has also previously worked for the International Civil Society Action Network (Washington D.C.), Samara Centre for Democracy (Toronto), UN Counterterrorism Executive Directorate (NYC) and the African Youth Initiative Network (Lira, Uganda).

Sameen holds an MS in Global Affairs with a peacebuilding specialisation from New York University, and a BA in Peace, Conflict and Justice from the University of Toronto.

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Senior Manager, Financial Systems, eBay

I started in Audit with BDO Markham after graduation, moved over to Deloitte Toronto in 2015, which I spent 2 years in Audit, obtained my CPA, then transfer to Risk Advisory for 1 year, Financial Advisory for 1 year and then Risk Advisory at Deloitte San Francisco for 2 years before coming over to eBay in 2021.

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Sr. Program Manager, Amazon

I started my career in partnerships and events management in the hotel industry in Shanghai where I worked with Fortune 500 brands on sponsorship deals and organized hotelier conferences across Asia. Ready to close on my four-year chapter in Asia, I moved back to Canada and transitioned into Tech by building a partnerships ecosystem for a FinTech startup. I decide to move to the US and sought out the best option which is to attain an MBA degree – one of the best career decisions made. Currently I am a Sr. Program Manager at Amazon in Middle Mile Ops Integration team that focuses on building and launching software products and programs to improve efficiency, reduce costs and defects, and impact customer experience in the operations space. In my spare time, I love to ski and golf (sometimes on the same day!).

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TV Producer, Head of APAC Markets Coverage, Bloomberg

Ernest is a markets content producer for Bloomberg TV Asia, he helps to steer and direct the editorial content for Bloomberg TV’s Asia market coverage. Producing a live TV show is no easy task, he often has to be on alert to react to breaking news and provide clear guidance on what’s moving the market. Prior to joining Bloomberg, Ernest had spent 5 years in the financial industry working for both sellside and buyside.

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Co-founder, Kiuloper

Samina is the co-founder of Kiuloper, an innovative creative agency dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs through comprehensive digital solutions. With a passion for storytelling, she has cultivated a strong online presence as a content creator and blogger, collaborating with renowned brands such as HelloFresh, Cliff, and Netflix. Through her blog and podcast, Samina offers deeper insights into her journey and experiences, inspiring her audience with authenticity and relatability.

With her diverse background in digital marketing, content creation, and entrepreneurship, Samina is excited to lead the workshop on Elevating Your Online Presence, where she will impart valuable strategies for individuals seeking to enhance their personal brand in order to land greater opportunities.

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PhD Candidate, Kotanen Lab, University of Toronto

Vicki is a PhD Candidate at UofT, and a Course Instructor at UofT and Humber College. Her research focuses on invasive species in the Canadian subarctic, and investigates how anthropogenic factors and climate change influences the spread of non-native species in the tundra and boreal forest. Apart from research, Vicki also teaches several courses focused on quantitative methods, statistical analyses, and computational and research skills. When she's not working, Vicki is training for her next long-distance race, or reading with her cat, Remi, snuggled beside her.

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UX Designer, UTM Career Centre

Meet Nayanika, your fellow grad-to-be cruising through her Masters, majoring in User Experience Design. Beyond her academic pursuits, she's a digital enthusiast with a passion for creativity online. Whether she's tinkering with photos, crafting websites, or exploring the latest digital trends, Nayanika loves to express herself digitally. With a background in computer science and experience in healthcare, education, non-profit, and tech, Nayanika's got a diverse background that fuels her innovative spirit. As she gears up for the next step, she's excited to keep pushing boundaries and making her mark in the digital world.

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Freelance Key Animator

Hi! I'm Abdirisaq Gedleh and I'm currently a third year student majoring in CCIT and Commerce. Outside of school, I do some work as a freelance key animator in the Japanese animation industry, working on series like Blue Lock and Boruto. I'm also preparing to start my summer internship with Ontario Creates as a Communications & Projects intern. During the school year, you can find me working at the UTM Career Centre or animating in between classes 🙂

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Lead, Leader Recruitment, Trillium Health Partners

Omar is a seasoned talent strategist and leadership development expert with over a decade of experience. Currently serving as the Lead for Leader Recruitment at Trillium Health Partners (THP). Passionate about people, Omar fosters a culture of continuous growth and development within his teams at THP. He believes in empowering individuals to unlock their full potential and champions diversity, equity, and inclusion in all his work.

A graduate of the University of Toronto, Omar is a Registered Professional Recruiter and Trainer with the Institute of Professional Management. His strategic acumen, coupled with his commitment to mentorship and coaching, continues to elevate those around him. Omar is dedicated to organizational excellence, guiding individuals with courage, and compassion to embrace their unique talents and navigate their professional career journey with confidence.

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Global Lead, Early Careers & Campus Recruitment, Klick Health

As a key member of the Talent Acquisition team at Klick Inc, Luciano extensive experience in campus recruitment spans over 11 years, specializing in planning and leading early careers initiatives. Luciano plays a pivotal role, closely collaborating with the Recruiting team and business leaders to seamlessly integrate Klick's people-first culture into a dynamic early talent acquisition.

Luciano's passion extends beyond recruitment, as he is dedicated to develop and implement campus strategies to attract top early talent from colleges and universities, all while nurturing strong relationships with universities, candidates, and stakeholders.

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Sr. HR Consultant, Sun Life

Thivya is an alumni of the UTSC Management program where she obtained her BBA with a Specialist in Human Resources. She started her career at Amazon as an HR Generalist and is currently working at Sun Life as a Sr HR Consultant. She’s also currently working towards her CHRL designation.

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Campus Recruitment Specialist, Deloitte Canada

I'm a campus recruitment specialist at Deloitte. I have been with the firm for 2 years now and my experience lies within the recruitment field. I specifically recruit for our Consulting portfolio at the firm.

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Team Lead, Special Projects, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Nathalie holds Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in Psychology. After conducting research at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario on child and youth mental health in the emergency department, she turned her focus on Human Resources in the federal government. Nathalie began as a student at National Defence, working in areas of HR including programs, employment equity, learning and student recruitment. She started as an administrative assistant and is now Team Lead on a special projects team at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada where she oversees a team supporting large digital transformations. With experience in various government departments, she has learned many valuable tips for how to progress in a federal government career. She is passionate about supporting youth and, in her spare time, mentors youth newcomers to Canada, speaks on employment strategies, and co-chairs committees. She wants to help young professionals to shape the government of the future.

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