With summer fast approaching, DeGroote MBA candidates are preparing to transfer their academic knowledge and business acumen to the workplace.

Several will be entering jobs in Toronto’s Financial District, working for Canada’s top banks. Employer partners such as CIBC, RBC, Scotiabank, and TD Bank Group are known for recruiting DeGroote students for a variety of positions, via the School’s Career and Professional Development (CPD) team. Below, get to know three MBA candidates who will soon be transforming business and society in the country’s financial centre.

Roman Bindas

You’ll be working at CIBC this summer. Tell us about the role you’re taking on.

I will be working as a Financial Analyst within the Funding and Liquidity Management team at CIBC. This group provides analysis, expertise, and support on all areas pertaining to the bank’s liquidity management framework. Essentially, it makes sure the bank is liquid enough to meet all short-term obligations, while remaining efficient with their liquid capital.

What aspect of your placement are you most excited about?

I am glad to be back in Toronto every day, and to take a break from the classroom. I am excited that this type of role will let me apply a lot of the theoretical concepts I have been learning at DeGroote. Also, simply being part of a company like CIBC is very exciting, and a goal I have been working toward.

Which core lessons from your DeGroote education are you eager to apply in the workplace?

In the analysis of the bank’s liquidity, the Funding and Liquidity Management team uses many of the concepts we have been studying in our accounting and finance classes. I am excited to finally use a financial ratio outside of a midterm or exam. I am also eager to apply the teamwork and communication skills I have picked-up working on countless cases and group projects at DeGroote.

What career path are you hoping to take after completing your DeGroote MBA?

I would love to return to CIBC full-time after graduating. I am hoping to utilize my summer role to network within the bank, and to get an idea of what other opportunities are available there. I am particularity interested in working in the investments and capital markets side of the bank.

What can you say about your overall experience at the DeGroote School of Business?

Within the first few weeks of school, I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly everybody was and how quickly strong friendships were made. My overall experience has been excellent, and I am very glad I decided to do my MBA here.

Ekta Jha

You’ll be working at Scotiabank this summer. Tell us about the role you’re taking on.

I will be working as a Business Analyst Summer Intern on the Wealth Management team. I will be responsible for supporting the Personal Investment Counsel Executive Office team by conducting various data and financial analyses, analyzing the competitive landscape, documenting procedures, and supporting ongoing business initiatives.

What aspect of your placement are you most excited about?

I am very excited to be doing data analysis and financial analysis. I have always been interested in numbers and trends analysis, and this role will equip me with latest tools and techniques used in the industry. I will also get a chance to network with some of the brightest minds in the industry, and I will have an opportunity to be part of Scotiabank’s co-op social committee.

Which core lessons from your DeGroote education are you eager to apply in the workplace?

The corporate finance course and data analysis tools, which I learned as part of the DeGroote MBA curriculum, will definitely assist me in achieving excellence in my work.

What career path are you hoping to take after completing your DeGroote MBA?

I would like to work in the asset management and investment banking side of the finance industry after completing my MBA. I like to do data analytics, and the finance industry has a lot of data to gain insights from. I am really looking forward to my summer internship, which will give me a taste of the functional areas of the finance industry.

What can you say about your overall experience at the DeGroote School of Business?

My experience with the DeGroote School of Business has been memorable so far. Along with excellent in-school facilities, DeGroote provides a lot of assistance for enriching the student experience outside the classroom – in terms of networking events and case competitions. DeGroote alumni are part of top-level management in various reputed organizations. Current MBA candidates have numerous opportunities to learn more about different companies and career paths.

Riddesh Ravindranath

You’ll be working at CIBC this summer. Tell us about the role you’re taking on.

I’ll be working as a Procurement Analyst at CIBC. I’ll be finalizing non-disclosure agreements, completing supplier verification processes, and processing the preparation and collection of spend approvals. I’ll also be working on the implementation of a new contract management system that CIBC plans to implement in a bid to revamp their existing system. The role is particularly interesting, and will help me gain a holistic view of the entire organization.

What aspect of your placement are you most excited about?

The fact that I’m part of a team that has influence across all the departments of the bank. Since I’m new to the country, this opportunity will give me first-hand experience of what goes into making CIBC one of the most trusted and respected banks in Canada. Additionally, I’ll also get a chance to explore Canadian work culture, which will put me in good standing upon completing my MBA.

Which core lessons from your DeGroote education are you eager to apply in the workplace?

A great deal of emphasis at DeGroote is placed on teamwork. Throughout my first year at DeGroote, I had the opportunity to work across multiple projects with classmates of different professional and cultural backgrounds. I feel this experience will help me showcase my interpersonal skills on the job, where I’m expected to work with cross-functional teams.

What career path are you hoping to take after completing your DeGroote MBA?

I hope to pursue a career in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, in a marketing capacity. This may be contrary to what I’m pursuing as an intern at CIBC. However, it has always been a goal for me to work on products consumed daily by people. I feel this is my strong-suit, and I intend to fulfill this goal. Although my career interests align with opportunities in the CPG industry, I’m keen to get the most out of my internship opportunity at CIBC.

What can you say about your overall experience at the DeGroote School of Business?  

My overall experience at DeGroote has been quite rewarding. I’ve developed great personal relationships with my classmates and the faculty at DeGroote. The senior students are also a great source of motivation, and are always open to providing assistance. Also, case competitions and integrated projects go a long way in supplementing the education we receive. Lastly, the School has given me the perfect platform to kick-start my career, and I’m very thankful for that.