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Lucy Qi has spent her career walking into rooms she was never specifically trained for. Every time, she was ready. 

Qi leads a team of 80-plus professionals at OMERS, one of Canada's largest pension plans with over $150 billion in net assets, and she chairs the Finance and Audit Committee at Sheridan College. Her credential, she says, is what has allowed her to walk into all of those rooms and contribute. 

The role of a finance professional has changed fundamentally. The foundation that prepares you for it hasn't. 

"That technical foundation and ability to connect different concepts, to bring different perspectives, to build consensus — that was what started me on this journey from the beginning." 

The accounting education Qi received at The School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) gave her something beyond the technical. It gave her access. "Even as a junior in an accounting firm, you are constantly in front of very senior audiences that you don't otherwise have the opportunity to connect with. That is an excellent way to apply and practice your communication and presentation skills that will really build and propel your career over time." 

For Qi, a career isn't a sprint. It's a marathon. "The underrated truth is how you handle setbacks and failures. We're all writing our own stories. As with any good book, the main character doesn't win all the time. The resilience to persevere and bounce back is just as important in being able to grow your career with longevity and with depth." 

As a member of SAF's Director's Advisory Council, Qi finds it genuinely encouraging to see the School’s programs evolving to meet the profession as it exists today. "There is a lot of thought put into what makes a successful finance professional in the world that we live in today." 

For students entering the profession today, Qi's message is straightforward: the credential opens the door. What you do with it is up to you.