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

I just completed my third year in the Accounting and Financial Management program at the University of Waterloo. I’ve had diverse experiences with extracurriculars and co-op work terms throughout my university career. During my first year, I was involved with AFSA in Internal Services. I also joined ACE Consulting for 3 years where I recently ended as a Managing Director, and I was a part of the Student Investment Fund (SIF) for three terms covering the Technology, Media and Telecommunications sector. I have completed terms in audit at EY, private equity at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and am currently completing a co-op at CIBC in investment banking.

2. Why do you think it is important for women in finance to have self-regulation? 

Self-regulation is the ability to monitor and manage our emotions, thoughts and behaviors in pursuit of long-term goals. It’s how we deal with stressors in our lives, whether that be from academics, work or personal relationships. Depending on which career path you choose, whether that be accounting, investments, private equity and more, hours might be longer than the typical 9-5, where you’ll have to learn how to manage that change in pace. However, self-regulation is not only important in finance, but in all aspects of our daily lives. Given that academic, career and personal responsibilities can pile on at times, we want to practice and improve our ability to self-regulate so that we can pursue our ambitions, while ensuring that we don’t burn out. 

3. Was there a time at school where you struggled to maintain self-regulation and how did you overcome it?

While my ability to self-regulate is constantly improving, I remember that my 2B term was particularly stressful. I had a lot on my plate, being a part of the Student Investment Fund and ACE Consulting Group while recruiting at the same time. It was my first time recruiting through WaterlooWorks and there was plenty of uncertainty in terms of which job I would land, if any. More times than not, various deadlines would pile on top of each other and I was stuck in this constant cycle of sleep, eat, class, library, repeat. It took some time to get used to it, but I had a strong support system of friends and people who had similar experiences that I could rely on and share my experiences with. I had to stay grounded and motivated, constantly reminding myself of my goals and that eventually, my hard work would pay off. All of these experiences, success or fail, no matter how hard, are extremely valuable steps in the right direction to achieving your goals.

4. How do you think your career in finance helped you become more aware or improve your self regulation? 

Whichever career path you choose to pursue will have its challenges and rewards. Depending on what finance path you choose, recruiting involves a variety of aspects including understanding the industry through speaking to alumni and industry professionals, interview preparation and skills development. Your work schedule varies and there is a learning curve, and so throughout my co-op terms, I’ve had the opportunity to develop my time management and self-regulation skills working towards achieving a work-life balance that works best for me. 

5. What tips would you give students trying to improve this trait?
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It can get difficult juggling numerous events and responsibilities on your plate and to combat this, I would offer the following three tips:

1. Maintain a positive mindset: As we progress throughout our careers and continuously learn, it’s important to acknowledge that we will make mistakes, and that’s okay. A positive attitude and sense of resiliency to bounce back will be extremely beneficial as you reflect on your experiences. Think about what you did well, what you could improve on and set goals for future experiences. 
2. Develop realistic expectations: Understand your capacity levels and how much you can personally handle. Although it can be difficult, I strive to ensure that I have the capacity to give my 100% effort to all my commitments. Be strategically selective and continuously work on challenging yourself by exploring new things and taking on more responsibility but, try not to bite off more than you can chew.
3. Use an online calendar: To stay organized, I schedule everything from classes, interviews and workout sessions to birthdays on an online calendar. I’ve made use of a helpful tool online that helps convert one’s Quest schedule into a calendar form that can be imported into your calendar of choice. At the beginning of each term, I add every assignment due date and midterm, which makes it a lot easier to keep on top of my academics. Using a calendar has been a life saver throughout my university career, as it helps plan out my days, weeks and months, ensuring that I’m able to meet all my academic, extra-curricular and co-op responsibilities while making time for friends and family.

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