News

Before his start at Waterloo, Chester Dawes (BMath ’99, PDAcc ’99) didn’t know what a high-powered career in finance could look like. To begin with, his parents emigrated from Jamaica in the early ‘70s to start a new life; Chester and his two brothers grew up going to schools in Canada where most kids did not look like them. As a child growing up in an immigrant family environment, Chester’s career goals were quite humble: “My measure of success was a career where I could go on a vacation and not worry about where the money came from.”  

A conversation with Shana Laurie de Hernandez (MAcc’98, PwC Audit Partner and Chair of the Supervisory Board of PwC Europe) sheds light on the impact that the pandemic has had on women’s participation in the workforce.

In the span of only a few months, a large number of women have lost their jobs, lost advancement opportunities, or have voluntarily dropped out of the workforce. According to a new study from the Royal Bank of Canada, women's participation in the labour force has reached its lowest level in 30 years due to COVID-19.

SAF grad Julia and Patrick Lann's love story started on campus.

"We first met at co-op interviews at Needles Hall during our second year.  Pat and I had not crossed paths much during our first year at UW.  During the co-op interview period, Pat had two conflicting interview times and needed to swap interviews with someone, and that’s how we met. We ended up spending quite a bit of time together throughout the interview period, and by the end of those two weeks, we both knew there was something special about the other. "

Sarah Cheng (BAFM ’08, MAcc ’09) stepped into the Dragons’ Den with her five-year-old daughter while eight months pregnant. The Waterloo Alumnus pitched her small business, Bluish, and ended up striking a deal from Canadian investor Arlene Dickinson.

Historically, roles within the finance industry have been dominated by men with very little representation from women. Lana Paton’s (BMath ’93, National Managing Partner, Business Units, PwC Canada), generous gift to establish the Lana Paton Women in Finance Scholarship hopes to bridge this gap.

Upkar Arora (BA '85, MAcc '85) understands just how powerful our investments can be.

He joins us to talk about his work at Rally Assets, an impact investment firm. Plus, he speaks about his personal investments to Waterloo as an alumnus, donor and committed volunteer. Why does he care so deeply about our University community? How does he hope these investments will impact the world? How can others make an impact too?

Every year, we have a challenge: to select just 100 women to receive our Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100 Awards. These are women who personify what it means to be powerful through the way they empower and champion others, influence change and stand up for all of us. And as Top 100 winners, they stand among more than 1,000 powerful leaders across Canada who share that honour… and our thanks.

Bill Anderson, Chairman of Sun Life Financial Inc. (TSX: SLF) (NYSE: SLF), announced today that Sun Life President and Chief Executive Officer, Dean Connor intends to retire August 6, 2021.

Kevin Strain, currently Executive Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, will be appointed as President and a member of the Sun Life Board of Directors effective February 15, 2021. He will assume the Chief Executive Officer role upon Mr. Connor's retirement. Mr. Connor will also retire from the Sun Life Board of Directors in accordance with company policy.

The Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPA Ontario) celebrated the appointments of those named to CPA Fellowship. Among the 50 newly named FCPAs, were 8 SAF alumni and Dave Vert, retired faculty member of Waterloo’s School of Accounting and Finance (SAF).