Finding growth beyond finance

In advance of convocation, we asked Master of Finance student, Manushi Jarmarwala, to share her personal reflections on the program, her experience as Vice President (Events) for the DeGroote Graduate Finance Club and about her time at DeGroote. 

When I first arrived at DeGroote, I expected to gain technical finance knowledge and prepare myself for a career in the industry. What I did not anticipate was how much I would grow personally throughout the journey. 

Moving to Canada and joining the Master of Finance program meant stepping far outside my comfort zone. I was adapting to a new country, a new academic environment and a cohort made up of students from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.

This experience became a catalyst for my involvement outside the classroom, including serving as the Vice President (Events) of the DeGroote Graduate Finance Club, one of the highlights of my graduate experience. What I enjoyed most was helping create opportunities for students to connect with one another and with industry professionals. Graduate school can be intense and I was proud to play a small role in fostering a sense of community within our cohort.

Another memorable aspect of the program was the opportunity to interact with MBA students during our final semester. Studying alongside students with diverse professional experiences expanded my perspective beyond finance and allowed me to build relationships with individuals from different industries and backgrounds. These interactions strengthened my professional network and reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary thinking in today’s business environment. 

While these experiences helped me grow as a leader and community builder, the program also challenged me in ways that strengthened my resilience and confidence. The academic rigour of the program was unlike anything I had experienced before. There were moments when balancing coursework, projects, networking events and career preparation felt overwhelming. One of my biggest challenges was learning the programming languages Python and R. Coming from a finance background, I had little prior exposure to programming and initially the coding assignments felt intimidating. However, the support from professors and the additional learning resources provided by the university encouraged me to embrace the challenge rather than avoid it. Through persistence, self-learning and countless hours of practice, I gradually became comfortable using these tools.

One aspect of DeGroote that I particularly appreciated was its commitment to learning beyond the classroom. The university actively encourages students to pursue professional certifications such as the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Financial Risk Manager (FRM), recognizing that continuous learning is essential in the finance industry. During my time in the program, I was fortunate to receive a scholarship that supported my pursuit of the FRM designation. This opportunity not only strengthened my résumé but also expanded my understanding of risk management and helped me develop a deeper interest in the field. Receiving the Leadership in Finance Scholarship at the end of the program was another proud moment and a reminder that hard work, initiative and involvement beyond academics are truly valued at DeGroote. 

While the coursework was challenging, what made learning particularly engaging was the teaching approach adopted by the faculty. Rather than limiting discussions to textbooks and lecture slides, professors consistently connected classroom concepts to current events, market developments and real-world financial decisions. Many classes involved roundtable discussions where students were encouraged to share opinions, challenge assumptions and analyze news from different perspectives. This approach transformed learning from a passive experience into an active one and helped us understand how financial theory applies to the constantly evolving world around us. Every professor contributed to my growth in a unique way and their passion for teaching made a lasting impact on my learning experience. 

As I reflect on my time at DeGroote, I realize that the most important lessons I learned were not found in a textbook. They came from adapting to change, overcoming challenges, learning new skills, taking on leadership responsibilities and building relationships with people from around the world.

The Master of Finance program gave me the technical foundation needed for a career in finance, but more importantly, it helped me become a more confident, adaptable and globally minded individual. For that, I will always be grateful.