Chasing growth and new possibilities from India to Waterloo
Ketna Khattar turned her move from India into an investment in herself, earning big returns through taking risks, planning and executing.
Ketna Khattar is a second-year Arts and Business student majoring in Economics with a Finance specialization. She explains how she brought a fresh perspective to her first co‑op term, shaped by her move from India, and her drive to adapt and excel.
Ketna’s co-op journey
Digital strategy and visioning intern, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), Toronto, ON
Ketna conducted market research to identify new digital trends and technologies. She analyzed industry best practices and competitive landscapes to inform clients of possible digital transformation strategies.
Q&A with Ketna
Why did you decide to move from India to come to the University of Waterloo?
“Moving across countries and packing your whole life in two suitcases is a big decision. What excited me about Waterloo wasn’t only the faculty variation, but the co-op program! I think co-op is a great way to get your foot in the door and figure out your strengths, weaknesses and interests before committing to a full-time position. It’s great that by the end of a co-op student’s degree you’ll have about two years of work experience.”
I like how Waterloo encourages balancing academics with real work opportunities.
Why did you decide to study economics?
“Studying economics equips me with frameworks that help me understand how money moves in the market and gives me a better understanding of complex systems and data. There are also a lot of aspects in this major that align with my personal interests such as problem solving, analytical thinking and strategic decision-making. It’s a great fit for me because of the added value of the business aspect, making it more than just a blend of economics.”
What sort of challenges did you face as a first work-term student?
“Adapting to the fast-paced professional environment. On study terms, everything is very flexible and you can adapt your schedule according to your preferences. Hence, the transition to the fixed lifestyle of having a nine-to-five job was not easy; it took me some time to adjust.”
“Moving to Canada from India to pursue my undergraduate studies also required an adjusting period. I had to get used to the new country, culture and educational system. Nevertheless, what started as a challenge became an opportunity for growth.”
“Another challenge I faced was balancing what I was learning while also focusing on making meaningful contributions to the company. In a four-month co-op, it's important that you are learning all the time to gain experience, but you must be mindful that your role is meant to add value to the organization. Achieving this takes motivation and good communication with your team. I think having a supportive team helped me because they would present me with those opportunities where I could add value and feel useful.”
What do you think is important to focus on when applying for roles?
“It’s important that your interests align with the role and you like the work and responsibilities you’ll have to do every day. If you enjoy your work, you’re more likely to stay motivated, which leads to dedication and good results, which makes you stand out. So yes, it's important to go for the brand, title and prestige, but don’t forget to make sure it aligns with the type of work you’re seeking and the experiences you want to gain.”
“Another thing that helped me was personalizing my résumé for each application. Tailoring your résumé helps you understand the job responsibilities and whether you yourself are a good fit for the role or not.”
What has been the most rewarding part of co-op?
“Landing a job I am interested in is an achievement on its own! In terms of my work at RBC, I've had the opportunity to contribute to real life projects and digital strategies. I've been given a lot of opportunities to contribute meaningfully and add value, thanks to RBC’s inclusive and supportive culture.”
“What made it rewarding was balancing planning with execution. I set personal goals at the start of my internship and created an Excel tracker to monitor my progress and learnings. Sometimes people plan well but struggle with follow-throughs. For me, having clear goals and a system to track my execution and the feedback I received along the way, kept me motivated and action-oriented. Having evidence of my accomplishments allowed me to see how much I grew over the four months.”
What's next for you?
“I've been planning my study term for the summer on top of looking for on-campus opportunities and volunteer experiences. Whenever I'm on a study term, I indulge myself in clubs; I was a part of Ascend and UW Formula Electric. I think clubs are a great way to learn and prepare yourself for co-ops because they give you that leadership and volunteering experience.”
“I'm going to start applying for my next co-op soon because applying early was something that really helped me this time around. I've been trying to have coffee chats and network with individuals outside my team and department to try and make any connections as they could be beneficial to me in the future.”
