Alumni stories

Year of Graduation: 2021
Bachelor of Commerce in Finance

Choosing to study Finance at the Ted Rogers School of Management (TRSM) is one of the best decisions I've made – and that's a conviction that's only grown stronger since earning my CPA in 2025.

When I enrolled at TRSM, my goal was clear: build the foundation I needed to pursue my CPA designation and a career in finance. The program delivered on that in ways I didn't fully appreciate until I was deep into my career. The Finance curriculum overlaps meaningfully with the CPA preparatory courses, which gave me a genuine head start when the time came. Professors Else Grech and Romi-Lee Sevel were instrumental in this – they didn't just teach accounting and finance, they taught us to think the CPA way: always starting with the user, understanding their objective, and working methodically toward a solution. That framework has stayed with me every single day of my professional life. It's not just an exam technique – it's a way of approaching every problem, every client, and every decision.

On the finance and modelling side, professors like Yuanshun Li, Mike Inglis, and Adam Prokop brought real-world rigour into the classroom. Through financial modelling, investment strategy, and case-based scenarios, they gave us problems that felt less like coursework and more like practice for the job we were about to step into. That practical grounding meant that when I moved into corporate finance, I wasn't starting from scratch – I was building on something solid.

Beyond the classroom, TRSM gave me opportunities to grow as a leader. I served as Vice President of Finance for the Real Estate student club, where I took on real financial responsibility for the organization and learned what it means to lead a team toward a shared goal. I also gave back to the community as a Co-op Student Peer Mentor, supporting fellow students as they navigated their own career journeys. These experiences taught me things no course could – accountability, leadership, and the value of investing in the people around you.

The co-op program itself was another turning point. Getting real work experience while still in school accelerated my development in ways that are hard to overstate. By the time I graduated in 2021, I had both the academic foundation and the professional exposure to hit the ground running.

Today I work as a Controller in the commercial real estate industry, and I can trace a direct line from those classrooms and experiences to where I sit now. TRSM gave me breadth – across finance, accounting, real estate, and investment – and that breadth is what allowed me to move up quickly and contribute meaningfully from early on in my career. For anyone considering this program, especially with a long-term goal like the CPA in mind, TRSM gives you a head start that truly matters.

Year of Graduation: 2009
Bachelor of Commerce in Finance

Alex Lelievre is the quintessential "success story" of volunteerism at the Ted Rogers School of Management. As a proud alumnus (BComm, Finance) and a current Associate Vice President at TD Bank, Alex has translated his professional success into a profound legacy of service to his alma mater.

Alex’s contribution is distinguished by his unique perspective as both a graduate and an industry executive:

Alex’s commitment to TMU began long before he joined the Advisory Council. He was the visionary who introduced the "Battle on Bay Street" case competition. What started as his initiative has grown into one of Canada’s premier undergraduate finance competitions, providing thousands of students over the years with the opportunity to showcase their skills to top-tier firms.

In his role as industry Chair of the SAF Advisory Council, Alex provides a bridge between the classroom and the boardroom. He leverages his senior leadership experience at TD Bank to ensure that the SAF curriculum remains agile and responsive to the needs of the financial sector, emphasizing both technical excellence and the "Bay Street" mindset.

Alex serves as a powerful role model for current students. He is a frequent presence at school events, where he shares his career trajectory and provides candid advice on navigating the corporate world. His ability to mobilize his professional network for the benefit of the school has significantly enhanced the "real-world" readiness of our graduates.

Alex Lelievre does not just advise the school; he actively builds it. His work ensures that the same opportunities he had as a student are expanded and improved for the next generation of finance leaders.

Year of Graduation: 2018
Bachelor of Commerce in Finance

Kyle Yancan joined Hazelview Investments in July 2018 as an Associate, Global Securities Investments. In his current role as Partner, Kyle is responsible for researching, underwriting and valuing new investment opportunities and providing formal investment recommendations to the portfolio management team.

Prior to joining Hazelview, Kyle completed several work programs including roles as Corporate Access Associate at RBC Capital Markets, and Junior Analyst, U.S. Equities at RBC Global Asset Management where he worked alongside portfolio management to develop portfolio valuation and monitoring models. While completing his Commerce degree, Kyle was CIO of the Ryerson Investment Group student Fund.

Kyle holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from the Ted Rogers School of Management and is a CFA® charterholder, CFA Institute.

Year of Graduation: 2009
Bachelor of Commerce in Finance

Jamie joined Cidel in 2013. He works extensively with institutional investors, consultants and private clients in Cidel’s Institutional and Asset Management division.

Prior to joining Cidel, Jamie worked in Capital Markets focused on Foreign Exchange and has over 10 years of financial services experience, 7 of those years with Cidel.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Ryerson University and is a CFA® Charterholder.

Jamie has been actively involved with the CFA Institute’s exam development over the past 5 years while also being a member of the CFA Institute and Toronto CFA Society.

Year of Graduation: 2017
Bachelor of Commerce in Finance

After graduating from the Ted Rogers School of Management in 2017 with a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance, I joined National Bank Capital Markets through their Capital Markets Rotation Program. This program allowed me to gain experience across a variety of departments—Equity Capital Markets, Debt Capital Markets, Equity Sales & Trading, Derivatives, and Corporate & Investment Banking—before being placed in Credit Capital Markets.

The foundation I built at TRSM was instrumental in preparing me for these early roles. The practical, hands-on courses such as Financial Modelling, Intermediate Accounting, Business Law, and the Capstone projects equipped me with both the technical skills and the critical thinking necessary to succeed as an Analyst and Associate. The professors’ real-world experience, combined with the program’s experiential learning approach, helped bridge the gap between academic theory and professional application.

Since those early years, I have continued to build on that foundation—advancing to more senior positions at BMO Capital Markets, OceanaGold, and two private equity–backed portfolio companies. Today, I lead the Academy and Investments division at Contrarian Thinking, managing a team of approximately 20 direct reports and a total of 30 professionals report to me.

Looking back, choosing to study at the Ted Rogers School of Management was an excellent decision to begin my journey into the world of finance. Its practical curriculum, engaged faculty, and proximity to Toronto’s financial district made it an ideal launchpad for success in capital markets and beyond.