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Ilham Hoque

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2009 University College

Inside the Classroom

  • Major: International Relations
  • Major: English
  • Minor: Political Science

Alongside the Classroom

  • Constituency assistant intern, Ward 8 Councillor’s Office, Toronto City Hall

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

  • Contract work, City of Toronto
  • English tutor, Kumon Learning Centers, 2009

Finding permanent work was difficult, having graduating amid the Great Recession, even with my years of volunteering, student leadership, on-campus and off-campus work, networking, and informational interviewing.

I had gained practicum experience in this sector through my studies at Seneca College’s SSW program.

  • Education sector:
    • Field placement coordinator, Social Service Worker Program, Humber College
    • Senior academic advisor (counselling, academic policy advising)
  • Published author (children’s picture book): Wonder Walk (Iguana Books, 2019)

Do not be afraid to go on international student exchange if you can. You not only get some wonderful life experiences and can grow, but what amazing memories and a cool story to have for the rest of your life! I do wish I had taken advantage of the international student exchange opportunities; it may have even helped me in getting that first job out of graduation too.

And another thing: get to know your Career Centre well. They hold a vast number of events to help current students figure out how your degree can be applied to that first job out of graduation and throughout your career.

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Jiayue Wu

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBSc 2022 Innis College

Inside the Classroom

  • Specialist: Mathematical Applications in Finance & Economics
  • Specialist: Statistical Science: Methods & Practice
Alongside the Classroom

  • Intern analyst, Asset Management Department, Bank of Guangzhou
  • Intern investment assistant, Investment Department, Fortune Venture

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

In the Media

Engage more and be brave 🙂

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Tapfuma Musewe

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • BSc 2006 Innis College

Inside the Classroom

  • Major: Biology
  • Major: Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations
  • Minor: African Studies

Alognside the Classroom

  • NSERC Scholarship for summer research internship, Professor Emerita Patricia Romans lab (malaria research), Department of Zoology

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

  • Community development with youth and refugees, South Africa, 2006-10
  • Social entrepreneurship, logistics company, South Africa, 2010-14
  • Business development, Pargo (e-commerce/logistics start-up), South Africa, 2015
  • Senior operations manager, In On Africa (market intelligence company, consulting multinational companies seeking to break into African markets), 2016-17
  • Founder, Eschaton Solutions and Afrifursa (highlighting and facilitating trade/investment with African markets), Canada, 2017
  • Managing director, Raygan Mills (private equity investing in African growth companies), Canada, 2021-present
In the Media

Focus on building a network with your future aspirations in mind and be diligent about maintaining it.

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Shane Wallace

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2012 Innis College

Inside the Classroom

  • Major: Equity Studies
  • Major: Sociology

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

  • Registrar, Transitional Year Programme, U of T
  • Recruitment and admission officer, U of T
  • Research assistant, Office of Student Recruitment, U of T
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Lisa Smart

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2011 Innis College

Inside the Classroom

  • Major: English
  • Major: Woman & Gender Studies

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

Get involved as much as you can during your undergrad. You can do this by building your Co-Curricular Record or getting involved in the wider community. The post-secondary experience shouldn’t only be about getting good grades. It’s a place for you to connect, establish new relationships, and start building your network!

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Michael Lewis

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBSc 2005 Innis College

Inside the Classroom

  • Specialist: Human Biology
  • Minor: Anthropology
  • Minor: Mathematics

Outside the Classroom

  • Varsity football
  • Intramural sport
  • Student council

Further Education

  • MBA, York University, 2009
  • CFA, CFA Institute, 2011

Career Accomplishments

  • Partner, Boyden (executive search)
  • Managing director, Thorek/Scott and Partners (executive search)
  • Retail, commercial, and corporate banking
  • Alternative lending
  • Private equity
  • Commercial real estate

In the Media

Be open-minded; be kind.

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Rachel Samuel

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBSc 2018 Innis College

Inside the Classroom

  • Major: Anthropology
  • Major: Human Biology

Alongside the Classroom

Outside the Classroom

  • Executive team member, U of T African Students’ Association
  • Student caller, U of T Telefund
  • Vice president, Children of Hope Uganda Club
  • Student organizer, U of T Swahili cultural events
  • Work study, Innis College Registrar’s Office
  • Executive team member, Innis College WUSC Local Committee
  • Mentor, Innis InSIGHT (peer mentorship)

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

  • Administrative assistant, Enrolment Services, U of T
  • Intern, Ontario Public Health
  • Research assistant, Department of Psychology, York University

It is not just about the destination. Be present and enjoy every moment of the process.

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Aliyyah Ahad

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2012 Innis College

Inside the Classroom

  • Major: Political Science
  • Major: Sociology

Alongside the Classroom

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

  • Senior advisor, Bermuda Government, Cabinet Office
  • Associate policy analyst, Migration Policy Institute, Brussels
  • Bermuda Government, Brussels Office

Follow your passions and everything else will fall into place! But if you intend to do further education, it’s worthwhile to write an undergraduate thesis. It’s not only useful preparation, it will also allow you to get to know professors who can become excellent references.

And, of course, enjoy yourself and invest in your friendships!

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Francisca Wiafe-Amoako

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBSc 2021 Innis College

Inside the Classroom

  • Major: Neuroscience
  • Major: Physiology
  • Minor: Spanish

Switched programs from: Cell and Systems Biology, Global Health

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

Career Accomplishments

  • Graduate nursing student, Johns Hopkins University

In the Media

Set out your goals and surround yourself with like-minded people who will help support you on your journey to achieving those goals (and vice versa).

Get involved in extra-curricular activities as they really enrich your academic experience.

Don’t compromise your health and well-being for academics.

Networking is really important! Make friends among your peers and the faculty/staff of your program/college.

Take pictures of your experiences. Undergrad goes by so quickly, and you want those memories captured for a lifetime!

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Brandon Bastaldo

FacetDescription
Graduation Year

  • HBA 2012 New College

Inside the Classroom

  • Major: Cinema Studies
  • Major: English

Outside the Classroom

Further Education

  • Certificate in project management, University of Toronto

Career Accomplishments

  • Production lead, Loblaw Digital
  • eCommerce/digital product launches and project management: Dyson, Canopy Growth Corporation

Take your time to learn more about yourself.

Reach out, talk to professors, challenge other students and yourself to think and engage.

Use your classes to create your voice and your approach. Understand how to ask questions and get your ideas across in difficult situations.

Reach out to TAs, Professors, other students who you might find interesting and who can share some perspective.

Once you leave university, the ability for this to happen organically sometimes dramatically decreases. Approach the world with wonder.