1. Why do you think it is important for women in finance to have courage? 

I want to preface this by defining what courage means to me – it means being comfortable with being uncomfortable, learning from failure and embracing diversity. Courage is a defining characteristic. For women in finance, it is important to adopt a risk-taking mindset vs being risk averse. High risk means high reward, right? – the classic trade-off. The traditional sense of courage is standing out in a male dominated field, but that’s changing. It is now a combination of courage, commitment to the field, and changing views about what finance really entails. Now more than ever, careers in finance are getting niche, and the options are increasing – whether that’s banking, trading or even venture capital. Having the courage to explore different avenues is necessary because it helps us visualize the “what’s next”, and create long-term plans that we work so hard towards, but will fulfill ourselves as well.

2. Please provide a brief introduction of who you are. 

I am Qhalisa, and I’m a recent alumna of the Accounting and Financial Management program. I moved to Canada from Kenya for university about 5 years ago. This meant that I was unaware of the career landscape, not even knowing what the “big 4” was, or whether finance was for me. A huge learning lesson, through my own experiences and seeing others, is that it’s ok not to know what you want, in fact it is more exciting to not know. So, I decided to take advantage of my co-op terms to discover what I didn’t know. I began at EY, which was a great first corporate experience, although the work didn’t excite me. I moved on to the Manulife investments team which provided me with a valuable team experience. My interest in finance began to peak at this stage, where I pursued the Student Investment Fund (SIF) and took more finance courses. I did my third co-op at the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in private market valuations which honed my technical skills, although I realized that technical valuations wasn’t my passion. My last co-op term was very serendipitous! I was lucky to get a position at a healthcare venture capital fund, iGan Partners, which is where my initial spark for VC was born – it was that “aha” moment of, “I think I know what I want for now” – stress on the “for now” since my goals are always changing. Since then, I took on opportunities that broadened that skillset such as BET courses, getting more involved in the robust Waterloo innovation ecosystem, doing some work with Front Row Ventures etc.  I also worked part-time with a healthcare start-up, Adra Care, and had an opportunity to work with Information Venture Partners for a few months as I finished university. During this time, I gained interest in the impact investing landscape and began my recruitment process with Amplify Capital (formerly the MaRS Catalyst Fund). Then COVID hit, which pushed my start date out a little – but that brought on a new and amazing opportunity to work at Georgian Partners, Canada’s leading growth equity investor – so, I’ve had the privilege of seeing almost all stages of the VC landscape. This year has certainly taught me the importance of being versatile and adaptable to unexpected events. I started at Amplify Capital about 3 months ago and now I know what excites me, after a long journey. For now, my long-term goals involve going back home to Kenya to work in the entrepreneurial ecosystem there, and impact investing is one step in that direction, despite my constantly evolving goals.  ​

3. How did you develop courage at school? 

My experience was a little unique because I was an international student. My courage was developed not just through my career, but largely from my personal experiences – there is always an overlap. I strongly believe that when we can demonstrate courage outside of our careers, we can reflect that inwards, in the decisions we make. I translated the novelty of a new environment into my professional career or what I did at school. For example, trying a new experience for every co-op experience despite being tempted by the comfort of a stable job. It goes back to the not knowing, and being comfortable with being uncomfortable. I slowly realized that I would never have the opportunity to try four different workplaces, every four months – that is truly the chance of a lifetime, no thinking of the “what if’s”. Throughout this, I also enforced the idea that building good relationships meant a lot. In terms of clubs and activities, I think it’s great to join SIF and the Student Venture Fund (SVF), but It is also valuable to explore extracurricular activities outside of that to meet new people. As I mentioned earlier, diversity is one of the platforms for success. 

I will add that the quality of relationships is far more important than the quantity, which requires a lot of courage. Recalling some of my first year networking experiences, it used to be about “how many people did I meet” – but it should be about “who did I meet and did I build a genuine connection” - that involves having courage. 

4. How do you think your career in finance helped you gain more courage? 

Each career has their own skill-building abilities: whether that’s being the only woman in a room full of males or working on a challenging task, there’s a range of situations that help you to build courage. I think all careers, not just in finance, will provide you with pathways to build courage. 

5. Was there a time where you struggled to take courage? 

There are always moments where courage lapses – especially when we face imposter syndrome – “do I fit in?, do I know enough?” – we all experience this more than we know. It’s about focusing on inward reflection and continuing to work hard. 

6. When was a time you’ve taken courage or applied it at co-op? 

I think transitioning into full time work takes courage. The good thing about Waterloo is that we have co-op, so the transition to a full-time job is made much simpler for us. However, again, just because it’s easy doesn’t mean it’s right. And this is where I continue to stress that not knowing what you want to do is ok. Venture capital is not an easy industry to break into – and it has taught me resiliency and adaptability. I find that we are all guilty of forgetting that we are young, and can take risks - we don’t always have to chase that stability in our lives. We need a less rigid mindset and embrace one that is more open minded. Let’s take risks because that long term reward is totally worth it. 

7. What tips would you give students trying to develop this trait? 
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There are four main takeaways I have for you: the biggest one is being less risk averse and taking more risks. Second, I would recommend looking at the big picture for both short and long-term goals. Sometimes you just have to take a step back and look at things in a different way. Third, demonstrate courage both in your professional life and personal life since they reflect one another. Take advantage of the supportive community. We’re fortunate to have lots of women in finance and many who are willing to help. Lastly, I recommend getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Embrace diversity and adopt that growth mindset.

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