Wondering what to do with your Economics Degree? Want to meet York Alumni and other professionals who have an educational background in Economics and are working in various roles and fields?
Connect with professionals currently enjoying their careers and get the inside scoop on what it’s really like to work in this field. During this panel, professionals will share their personal stories about breaking into the field, how their career paths took them from graduation to where they are now, what knowledge, skills and experience helped them succeed in their jobs and what types of opportunities are available in the field. The panel will be moderated by one of the Career Centre’s team members and followed by an open forum where students will have an opportunity to ask the panelists their own questions.
Registration is required. You may register for this event on Experience York (you will be able to sign in using your Passport York and register for appointments and events on the system).
Participating Panelists
Joseph Silva
Director, Strategy & Transformation and Deputy Treasurer, The Regional Municipality of York
Alumnus: BA Honours, BEd, Education, Economics, Statistics, 2005
After York, I pursued graduate studies and became an economist in the federal government. I had the opportunity to work on all sorts of policy files, from supply management to environmental clean-up, and my journey brought me to all three levels of government. I value learning and became a Chartered Professional Accountant along the way. I am currently a deputy treasurer at York Region, where my portfolio ranges from payroll to print shop.
Lynelle Dos Santos
Senior Policy Advisor, Ministry of Government and Consumer Services
Alumna: Spec. Hons. BA, Economics and Business, 2009
I decided in my second year at York University to pursue a career within the public sector. Little did I know about the breadth of opportunities in this field, or the competitive advantage I'd have with a degree in Economics. My career in the Ontario Public Service has been challenging and fulfilling. I take pride in my work knowing that the advice I give to decision makers can impact lives.
Diana Imonikhe
Senior Analyst - Data Strategy and Governance, TD Bank
Alumna: BA, Economics, 2008
Being an entrepreneur at heart and after completing a degree in Economics, starting a business was a nature fit. In turn, I enjoyed lots of positive experiences such as hosting an event with a partnering organization where I met and introduced the Mayor of Toronto. Over the years I evolved into a Treasury and Governance professional. Some notable companies I have worked with include CIBC Mellon, CPPIB and TD bank.
Hafiz Kanji
Senior Product Manager, Quandl
Alumnus: BA, Economics, 2010
As an Economics student, I wanted to work in investment banking. I was an active trader in-between classes with a strong interest in financial markets. After graduating from York, I started working on the private investment team for one of the largest mutual fund companies in North America. After a few years, realizing the impact technology will have on this industry, I decided to make the switch to product management. I worked on 2 of my own startups, where I raised seed capital and launched my product for the Ontario market, working with companies like TD, Aviva, and Uber. Currently, I work as a Senior Product Manager at Quandl, which was recently acquired by Nasdaq. In this role, I work with big-data from over 300 sources to deliver core financial and alternative data products to the worlds largest hedge and pension funds. I also act as an Advisor to a number of startups in Toronto and currently serve as a Board Member for TEDxDonMills.
