Jacqueline Armstrong Gates
BA ’91 Political Science; 2017 Arts Alumni Achievement Award recipient
What do you consider to be your greatest professional achievement and why?
Each year, since becoming a lawyer in 1996, brings its own professional achievements. Originally it was becoming a lawyer; a goal of mine that started when I was about four years old. Thereafter it was: success with various cases; observing clients relieved that the stress of their matter was eliminated; working with the OBA Law Day and observing the impact on students across Ontario; working within the community; mentoring students; and being recognized over the years for my leadership, skill set and community involvement. And of course, one of the highlights was this October 2017 at the UWaterloo convocation where I received this award.
What advice would you give your 19-year-old self?
Be yourself. Get involved. Try new things. It is ok to ask for help. You do not need to know everything. Set high goals. Do not be afraid if you stumble along your way to your goals. Pick yourself up and try again. Life is long - pace yourself. Be proud of your choices.
Franca Gucciardi
BA ’94 Political Science; 2017 Arts Alumni Achievement Award recipient
Your greatest professional achievement?
I feel quite fortunate that for the last 13 years I was able to lead the Loran Scholars Foundation. I am a first-generation Canadian and first-generation university student. Becoming a Loran Scholar was transformational. It gave me the means to attend the University of Waterloo, but the scholarship also demonstrated belief in my potential at an early stage and surrounded me with mentors who showed me that I had both the skills and the responsibility to contribute positively to the world. By becoming the foundation’s CEO, I was in turn able to provide this same support to hundreds of young talented people across country.
What advice would you give your 19- year-old self?
At that age, one feels such pressure and impatience to decide what to be in life. I would advise the younger me to focus more on who to be. It’s impossible to plan for every turn life takes but you can train yourself to be adaptable, to take advantage of the opportunities that come, and to build resilience and more quickly overcome difficulties. Fear of failure will stop you from realizing who you are supposed to be. In your undergraduate years, be bold and curious and take meaningful risks – for example, go on an academic exchange in a country where you don’t speak the language, take a course outside your comfort area, get a job in a sector completely unknown to you, and volunteer your time to issues that matter.
Hyder Hassan
BA ’12 Liberal Studies; 2017 Arts Young Alumni Achievement Award recipient
Your greatest professional achievement?
12 years ago when I started my first job at CIBC as a credit counsellor, I was calling clients who were facing difficulties in making their payments. Clients would take out their frustrations on me and many of them would just hang up. There were many times where I wanted to quit as it was brutal work. My manager assigned me a coach who helped me with assertiveness training and advising me not to get "hooked" on the emotions of the clients. I slowly started becoming better and started to help them objectively. I knew I had to spend at least a year in that position before I could move on to a career I wanted in head office. At the end of the year, I was offered to become a trainer and also received an "exceed expectations" rating, which helped me get into portfolio management. Looking back, this is where I started learning about financial planning, thinking about innovating banking one day, and developing my leadership, which led me to my current career as a financial services leader.
What advice would you give your 19- year-old self?
Be more organized and don't procrastinate. The future is bright and the situation you are in now will become better as you continue your success journey. Continue to focus on your self-development, stop seeking validation from other people, and continue to give back to your friends/family/community.
