From uncertainty to unstoppable: How three DeGroote MBA students are navigating the world of finance

In a candid and empowering conversation, three exceptional DeGroote Co-op MBA students — Jigyasa Sachdeva, Oluwaseyi (Seyi) Oloyede and Neha Tayal — came together to reflect on their journeys through education, career pivots and personal transformation. From diverse academic backgrounds in biochemistry, psychology and traditional finance, these women have carved unique paths into the competitive world of capital markets and financial services.

Together, Jigyasa, Seyi and Neha are not only recipients of the prestigious Heather L. Main Memorial Scholarship — an award dedicated to advancing women in capital markets — but also powerful voices for equity, empowerment and the audacity to dream big. In a recent conversation, they reflected on the barriers they’ve broken, the sisterhood they’ve built, and the futures they’re forging, pursuing their careers across Canada’s financial landscape with leading institutions like TD, CIBC and BMO.

Here are some key excerpts from their conversation. To hear the full interview, check it out on YouTube.

Oluwaseyi Oloyede: I was at a point in my career where I had worked for about three years after my undergrad. Although I studied psychology, I found myself in an operations role, which was totally off, right? And I remember thinking, “Okay, I’m in this role. But what’s my next step? When I envisioned my future, I saw myself stepping into a leadership role and taking on greater responsibilities. What can I do after this?” The one thing that came to mind was an MBA.

Doing my MBA has been an opportunity for me to grow into a new person; grow my capacity and knowledge of different business aspects. I’d never done anything in finance, economics, or any accounting at all. But now I have the opportunity to do that. I also have new relationships, which I’ve built within the MBA program and externally, with all the other organizations that I’ve worked with.

Jigyasa Sachdeva: It’s a very different world than what we would have imagined before coming in. I feel like every few months the MBA experience completely changes. It leaves the group with the opportunity to alternate between [professional] work and academic [work]. I feel like I learned so much more about myself in both aspects where I didn’t know I was capable of this, and that revelation just makes the next moment so much better.

Neha Tayal: It has been a transformative journey. I see all of us going through that change. I look at the whole cohort and feel like we’re more evolved, grown-up versions of us, and that is exciting to watch.

Jigyasa Sachdeva: DeGroote and the program, in general, has equipped us with that. I think that’s what kind of at least for me helped with the Heather L. Main scholarship. It was a huge accomplishment—both professionally and personally—considering the scale and the cycles we went through. Now, we’re getting closer to reaping the benefits of all our hard work. I think it’s having validation that does stand true and getting an opportunity to now progress in my career through this scholarship and being paired up with a great opportunity as a stepping stone. It feels great. And I’m sure you guys must have similar feelings about this. So, what do you think? How are you feeling about that like? How is it going to shape your journey?

An inspiring journey ahead

Neha Tayal: You have encapsulated the entire Heather L. Main Scholarship process so well: it’s a character-building process altogether, because it’s a two-month long process from the first essay you write till you get a yes or a no. But I think one of the things that I took away from that process was the thought that there are no losers here. When I was surrounded by 30, 40 women in the same room, I was inspired. I wanted everyone to win, and I wanted everyone to succeed.

Oluwaseyi Oloyede: As you mentioned, it was a great opportunity to have ladies come together, but you find that sometimes in corporations and organization in the industry, like in finance, for example, there are not a lot of women in the field. So, how do we ensure that we’re actually creating spaces like this, where women can feel like it’s not competition; where it’s us collaborating or encouraging and empowering each other?

Jigyasa Sachdeva: I think, for me, having this opportunity was a big wake-up call to realize that, yes, there are not a lot of women in these spaces, but there are always efforts being made and spaces being created. It instills confidence that even if today, if I don’t win this scholarship, or if I win this, I will still be privy to this unique knowledge and this unique feeling that there will be spaces that always exist. And then it’s on me that as I move forward in my journey, whether it’s my personal life or my career, to hold myself accountable in these moments: how do I show up for these people? How do I create those spaces? I should try to open as many doors as possible, because now you know how hard it was, and when you’ve got everything that you wanted, why wouldn’t you want to make it possible for others.

Neha Tayal: It’s always about paying it forward. It’s not about paying it back. I don’t like saying paying it back, because it’s not a transaction. If I can smoothen the road for someone, I would do it and give it my all to make it easier for someone to make it in their lives and get to wherever they want to go. I think empowering and lifting people up is all we can do, and it goes a long way. I have a question: I know that this journey was not easy for any of us; we had to break through barriers, break through those glass ceilings. Could you tell me more about the obstacles or problems that you faced during this journey?

Challenges along the way

Oluwaseyi Oloyede: I think that for me it’s being more assertive in the spaces that I find myself. I’m trying to ensure that I’m audacious in every way possible; to be more daring to do what I normally wouldn’t do. You miss 100 per cent of the chances you don’t take. If you don’t take it, then you’re going to disqualify yourself before anyone disqualifies you. It has been a big challenge. It’s being able to actually bet on myself sometimes; let me speak up in that conversation; let me actually share my opinions because of the fear of maybe that’s something that everyone already knows, or maybe that’s just general knowledge. I find that being in spaces where I feel uncomfortable and being in spaces where you hear other people talking, you realize that the only way you can stand out is by being asserted by believing what you say; by believing that you know what you’re doing there; that those spaces were created for you. And if they weren’t, then you have to actually create the space for you.

You guys inspire me! And I hope that people can watch this and feel like they can also inspire others. We should create spaces and help others who are trying to figure out life. We’re one step ahead of where we were before. So, there are some people who might be at the step we were yesterday. Do you have any advice on how they can navigate to make sure that they don’t have to face the same difficulties or challenges or self-doubts that we faced?

Advice on navigating the future

Jigyasa Sachdeva: Whether it was life, career or the scholarship, I think the biggest thing that I got, and the biggest thing I can give is believe in yourself. That is where it ends, and that’s where it begins. The moment you kind of lose that within yourself. I don’t think anybody external can really help.

Neha Tayal: I completely agree! My advice would be to have the audacity, the courage, the belief, the grit, the resilience to go and break free of the chains that we put on ourselves. Also, be courageous enough to go and ask for what you want.

Oluwaseyi Oloyede: I would say to please reach out if you have any questions. Always reach out to the people around you. I know it can be scary to just send a message on LinkedIn, but I promise you, people are more willing to help than you think.

Also, go outside of your mind. There are people who are going to see things differently — who have the experience of seeing things differently as well — and we can also encourage and make that journey easier for you.

I think another piece of advice that I had, I think while Neha was speaking, was, yes, being audacious is one thing, but also saying yes to uncomfortable situations. Of course, it’s hard. No one wants to be in an uncomfortable situation. But the one thing I’ve learned is: we only grow in uncomfortable situations. If you’re always comfortable, then you’re not going to achieve the greatness that’s in you. And that’s something I’m learning constantly. Comfort is an enemy to growth.

About the Heather L. Main Memorial Scholarship

Established in memory of Heather L. Main, this scholarship honors her legacy by empowering the next generation of women in capital markets. The Heather L. Main Memorial Scholarship offers $25,000 toward the final year of a full-time MBA, along with a paid summer internship at a participating financial institution. Recipients also benefit from a women’s leadership training program, executive coaching, mentorship from a senior capital markets professional, and a one-year student membership with Women in Capital Markets (WCM).