Director, global equity sales, Scotiabank

Where did you grow up?

I was born in Ghana and left the country when I was eight for Edmonton, Alta., where my dad completed his PhD. We moved to Papua New Guinea three years later after my Dad graduated. That’s where I spent most of my time until my twin and I moved to St. John’s to attend Memorial University in 1997.

What is your current position?

I am a director, global equity sales at Scotiabank. This means I am responsible for managing relationships with several of the bank’s institutional investment management clients. These clients use Scotiabank’s research and trade equities through the bank’s institutional trading desk.

Why did you choose the Faculty of Business Administration at Memorial?

As ex-pat kids in Papua New Guinea, we theoretically could have gone anywhere in the world for post-secondary education. My sisters and I considered universities in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, Australia, United States and Canada.

There were a number of reasons why my sister and I (and parents) settled on Memorial. First, we were very interested in the co-op program as a means to gaining some relevant experience before graduation.

Second, I already knew I wanted to pursue accounting and Memorial was highly-regarded across the international universities we looked at for its accounting program.

Third, my parents felt that Newfoundland was a safe province and were comfortable with us living there alone. Our parents had never been to Newfoundland prior to us moving there to attend university, but my dad made several friends from Newfoundland through his studies in Canada (he did four degrees in Canada) and was convinced that they were the friendliest people he’d ever met!

Finally, it was great value for money, both for university costs and living expenses. This was especially important to my parents since there were two of us entering university in the same year.

What is a highlight of your time at the Faculty of Business Administration?

The highlight for me was definitely the strong sense of community. Perhaps it was a function of the co-op program, but there was a great deal of opportunity to connect with fellow students and professors.

Attending the semester rotations together (especially during summer semesters when the rest of the school was empty) brought us closer together. This gave me the opportunity to make very strong connections, which was helpful when we were thousands of miles away from family.

What is your fondest memory about your time at the business faculty?

Landing my second co-op as an M&A analyst with Aliant was a terrific highlight of my time at Memorial. I was one of a few women taking advanced finance classes and everyone in our class was interested in that role when it was posted. Landing the job was one of my proudest moments and truly launched my career in the capital markets.

What was your favourite or most memorable class?

My first finance class. I thought I wanted to be an accountant until that class. It opened my eyes to a whole new world that I didn’t really know existed previously.

How were your professors? Do you have any memorable ones?

I found the professors to be very fair and balanced and willing to be available and provide guidance. After I did poorly in my first business law assignment, I remember asking my business law professor what I had to do to excel in his class. It seemed like such an obvious question, but his answer and the conversation were exactly what I needed to redirect my approach to the course. He made me feel like he wanted me to succeed as well and that was important for me.

All my professors were great, but my favourite was Dr. Alex Faseruk. He taught my first finance course and I hung on his every word. I think he did a great job of making what can be a very theoretical course very practical.

Tell us about any extracurricular activities you were involved in and how they enhanced your experience.

I was involved with the faculty’s business council as the co-op rep. I also participated in a business case competition. We didn’t place, but it gave me the opportunity to meet and connect with other students and to practice different skill sets.

Off campus, I volunteered with the Canadian Blood Services and helped with the Sunday School at my church.

How did your experience at the business faculty help you find your first position after graduation?

The finance courses I took provided a strong foundation for a career in the capital markets. That opened the door to my co-op placement as a mergers and acquisitions analyst with Aliant where I ultimately completed two placements. My education and the mentorship I received from my supervisor and the head of M&A at Aliant helped to position me strongly to compete in Toronto.

Ultimately, by the time I moved to Toronto I had already completed the Canadian Securities Course and was already enrolled in the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Level 1 program.

My hard skills (and grades) were good, but admittedly, they didn’t set me apart when I was hunting for my first, and subsequent, roles. What truly set me apart was my confidence, determination, perseverance and passion. These are all traits I cultivated from my experience at Memorial and work terms.

What skills or knowledge did you learn throughout the program that you found most useful in your career?

Presentation and financial analysis skills. Presentation and public speaking are an important part of my career and brand. I dreaded all the presentations that I had to do in university, but cultivating those skills really allowed me to get my points across well in both formal and informal settings.

On the financial analysis front, learning how to evaluate company (and hence equity) performance and potential is a big part of my current role and my previous roles.

What did you initially hope to do for a career and how does that align with your current employment?

I wanted to be an equity research associate/analyst so I could eventually become a portfolio manager. I checked those boxes off with prior roles during my career.

In my current role, buyside analysts and portfolio managers are my clients.  The fact that I’ve walked in my clients’ shoes as a portfolio manager helps to build credibility with my clients and further strengthens the relationships I have with them.

What community organizations do you currently support? How do they align with your values?

I currently support: Toronto Humane Society, Daily Bread Food Bank, Children Believe, Women’s College Hospital Foundation, UHN Foundation, United Way, and Crossroads International. I am on the board of the GTA Chapter of the Memorial University Alumni Board.

I’m a big believer in paying it forward and to the notion that everyone has the opportunity to live their best life. To me, that means donating my time and money to mentorship, volunteering and my favourite charities, which include child welfare, animal welfare, hospitals, gender equity and food/shelter security.  

What’s the best business decision you’ve ever made? How so?

Leaving my first role out of university without a job lined up was scary but ended up being the best decision I could have made. I was working with an independent investment advisory firm and really enjoyed the role, but I had dreams of becoming a portfolio manager and I found the courage to hand in my resignation before I had another role lined up.

As scary as this was, it allowed me to focus all my efforts on searching for a role that better aligned with my career aspirations. It also helped me to get comfortable with taking on some risk with my career.

What’s the best personal decision you’ve ever made?  How so?

Adopting my twins. I met them on a holiday to Ghana when they were toddlers and decided to adopt them two hours later. It was definitely an emotional decision. I’m a pretty pragmatic person, so I don’t make emotional decisions often. That decision changed my life in ways that I would never have imagined and I’m forever grateful for.

What advice do you have for business students as they consider their future?

There are three key things that I think students should keep in mind.

First, you get what you put in. It’s amazing to me how much going the extra mile pays off. If you really want something, just keep putting the effort and believe that it will ultimately pay off.

Second, make sure you establish a strong network and lean on it. Your network is going to be the biggest driver for your career growth, especially as you get further in your career.

Finally, don’t panic if things don’t go according to how you originally envision. Very little has gone according to my plans, but I made everything work for me, which allowed me to achieve my ultimate goals. No experience is a waste of time.

What would you say is your greatest accomplishment?

I always like to think that my greatest accomplishment is yet to come, but I was very honoured to be recognized by Catalyst, a Canadian organization that focuses on the advancement of women in the workplace, as a 2022 Champion. It means a lot to me to be recognized for supporting women in my industry.

You’ve been very successful in your career. Is there something else you hope to accomplish?

One hundred per cent. I feel like I’m only just getting started. I came to Scotiabank because it’s an excellent platform for a career in finance and I want to keep advancing. As far as I’m concerned, the sky’s the limit.

If you could pick one thing in the entire world to spend your time doing, what would it be?

I’d sit with my parents in their courtyard in Ghana with a glass of wine. They’re my inspiration in my career and in life, and I value any time I can spend with them above anything else.

Tell us a random fact about you that most people wouldn’t guess.

I am absolutely terrified of caterpillars.  I can’t even say or look at the word without getting repulsed. I don’t want to see them, think about them or talk about them.  Give me a snake, spider or rat any day.