Security or risk?
Stability or growth?
The 21st century has broadened the scope of what a ‘dream job’ truly means. The question has shifted: no longer is it which Big 3/4/5 you dream of working for, but whether you should trade that Big N offer for that of a small — but tantalizing — startup. The opportunities in the financial technology (fintech) space stand as some of the boldest new frontiers demonstrating this shift. There’s no denying that technology and AI dominate the market, but the challenge is whether you are audacious enough to take the leap of faith — to embrace the risk that leads to uncapped growth.
Imagine this: fintech companies replace commercial banks, where physical branches transform into virtual hubs. Each account is accessible at your fingertips, and transactions are executed by your command, in real-time. Using technology — such as open banking, which allows data-sharing between traditional banks and third-party providers — fintech unlocks a whole new realm of possibilities for the tech-savvy, the ambitious, or even the opportunistic. Although anchored by the ebbs of today’s political landscape, there’s no denying that fintech could be the future of banking. But of course, taking a leap of faith without scoping out what’s below is risky.
Ivey Fintech Club, the largest of its kind in Canada, handpicks high-quality, high-growth fintech companies to partner with for their Pro-Bono Consulting Program, allowing first- and second-year students to catch a glimpse behind the scenes, and potentially broaden their career prospects. The industry can be notoriously hard to penetrate, with most insights reserved for company founders with first-hand experience or those already entrenched in the space. However, by using consulting as a medium to gain exposure, the program offers a rare, hands-on opportunity for pre-Ivey students to foster a deeper understanding of this fast-evolving field. Aqib Sami, co-Project Lead, guides his team of consultants to make tangible impacts for FreshBooks, a fintech company with a market cap of US $1.5B and backed by big names like JPMorgan and Barclays.
With over 30 million customers, the business-to-business (B2B) enterprise accounting software turned to Ivey Fintech for recommendations on monetising their invoicing iOS app. A team of seven analysts has been delivering weekly reports to support Freshbooks’ transition from a free app to a full enterprise solution, creating slide decks and learning on the fly. From financial feasibility to pilot tests, the team sees through the project from idea to implementation, mirroring real-world processes. The differences? Although the early stages of any analyst’s career are often associated with duller tasks, Ivey Fintech’s pro-bono consulting is anything but; analysts are selected for, and exercise, their problem-solving and creative abilities rather than fluency in arranging company logos. And despite experiencing a taste of the responsibility that accompanies being a consultant, the stakes are lower, and you can count on your Project Leads to hold your hand through the process. So, if you’re interested in the fintech industry or consulting, don’t let a lack of experience deter you.
The tight-knit culture within consulting teams extends to the rest of the club as well. Comprised of a diverse group of students, such as incoming investment bankers, signed consultants, and prospective product managers, a shared interest in fintech (or maybe an acknowledgement of its growth potential) propels the club. Despite lacking the tenure that fosters strong networks over time, the achievement of Ivey Fintech’s alumni spotlights a critical differentiator: expansive ambition. While Ivey Fintech is not a distinct pipeline into a single opportunity, it attracts members with diverse placements who want to contribute to Ivey Fintech as a natural extension of their success, reinvesting in the community. They prove that the club gives you the leverage to tackle other opportunities with more strategy, experience, and technical acumen; it equips you with the tools to help you excel in both parallel and intersecting disciplines.
As detailed by Steven Nguyen, VP of Consulting, Ivey Fintech cultivates an environment that exemplifies breadth over all else. It antidotes cut-throat competition and success is not reduced to the ability to break into one specific field, but rather finding meaning in sprawling directions, pursuing those pathways, and ending up in different positions that are equally fulfilling. Joining Ivey Fintech doesn’t necessarily mean connecting with alumni who can tell you a clear-cut path to their roles; neither does it promise you a career in the field. But if you're a first- or second-year student — or even a high school senior contemplating your future — there’s no need to rush into a single leap of faith. Instead, take the staircase Ivey Fintech provides, where opportunities unfold at your pace.