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Zu, Director of Strategic Finance at Tala: Advize Career Interview
A dual degree in financial economics and human biology launched a career path that unexpectedly transitioned from risk management and investment banking at BMO Capital Markets to a strategic finance role at Uber, then a startup culminating in a Director of Strategic Finance position at Tala following a successful business sale.
This journey involved mastering financial modeling, data analysis, and communication skills—essential for success in a fast-paced, data-heavy environment.
The work includes collaborating with various teams to ensure profitable business decisions, optimizing marketing spend, and creating financial reports.
A significant highlight is the impactful work in microfinance, providing loans to underserved communities and witnessing the positive change firsthand.
Challenges involved aligning cross-functional teams and navigating the "scrappy" startup environment.
Advice to aspiring professionals includes gaining foundational experience in finance, honing strong technical skills, prioritizing soft skills like proactive meeting preparation, and embracing the power of data.
A unique perspective, shaped by experiences as a first-generation college student and practicing Muslim, adds another dimension to a truly inspiring career trajectory.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Zu Daya
Director of Strategic Finance
Tala
University of Toronto
MBA, University of Toronto
Biology & Related Sciences, Economics
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Finance
International Student, Honors Student, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Student Athlete
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Career path of a Director of Strategic Finance at Tala
Zu's career path, starting with a dual degree in financial economics and human biology, unexpectedly led from a risk management rotation program and MBA at BMO Capital Markets to investment banking, then a surprising pivot to tech at Uber in 2016, leveraging their "four years of finance and banking" experience. This ultimately led to a strategic finance role at a startup, culminating in their current position as Director of Strategic Finance at Tala after a successful business sale.
Main Responsibilities of a Director of Strategic Finance at Tala
Zu, Tala's Director of Strategic Finance, ensures "the company make profitable business decisions" by collaborating with various teams, focusing on product development—analyzing costs and customer behavior impacts—and user acquisition, optimizing marketing spend across channels like "Facebook ads" and "Google Ads." This involves both "classic finance work," creating financial reports for stakeholders, and strategic financial planning to support Tala's microfinance operations.
A Day In The Life Of A Director Of Strategic Finance At Tala
A Director of Strategic Finance at Tala spends 70% of their time working with business partners, ensuring decisions "make financial sense," such as analyzing a new product's financial viability through testing and analysis. The remaining 30% involves high-level strategic planning with senior leadership, setting "the overarching objective and goal" for the company, and translating this into financial models for investors and the board.
Most Important Skills for a Director of Strategic Finance at Tala
Zu, a Director of Strategic Finance, emphasizes that essential skills vary depending on company stage, noting that early-stage companies prioritize "really good financial modeling skills," "data skills," and "being creative," adapting models beyond traditional three-statement formats to encompass operational, headcount, and sales pipeline analyses. Effective communication, simplifying complex models for diverse audiences using creative methods such as GIFs, is also crucial for success, as highlighted by their interview process's complex case studies.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Director Of Strategic Finance At Tala
Zu, a Director of Strategic Finance, finds the most rewarding aspect of the role to be its cross-functional nature, acting as "the connective tissue for the company" and offering a broad skillset applicable to various career paths. The most enjoyable recent work involved collaborating with the product team, using "that whiteboard" to help design new products and strategies, highlighting a shift from earlier career focuses on modeling and data analysis to a more strategic, collaborative approach.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Director of Strategic Finance at Tala
Zu, Director of Strategic Finance at Tala, identifies "folks being on different pages of the same book" as the biggest challenge, requiring significant cross-functional alignment efforts—a task that involves "a lot of...admin work" to ensure everyone is on the same page. This contrasts with their preference for data-driven work, highlighting the importance of data proficiency in strategic finance roles and advising aspiring professionals to embrace data analysis ("data will be part of your job").
Favorite Parts Of Working In The FinTech Industry As A Director Of Strategic Finance
Zu, a Director of Strategic Finance at Tala, finds the most rewarding aspect of the FinTech industry to be the positive impact on emerging economies; providing microloans to those lacking traditional bank access and witnessing firsthand "how much impact" these loans have on lives, from school uniforms to starting small businesses, a deeply personal experience given their upbringing in East Africa. The remote work culture, a significant benefit of a globally distributed company, complements this fulfilling work.
What Type of Person Thrives in the FinTech Industry According to a Director of Strategic Finance at Tala
Zu, a Director of Strategic Finance at Tala, emphasizes deep customer understanding as crucial for success in FinTech, recommending firsthand experience— "getting on the phone, interviewing them"—to truly grasp customer needs. Further, strong technical skills, meticulousness ("triple check your work"), and collaborative relationship-building across the company are highlighted as essential for career advancement, particularly in senior roles, where alignment toward a shared company goal is paramount.
What a Director of Strategic Finance at Tala Wishes They Knew Before Entering Finance
Zu, a Director of Strategic Finance at Tala, wished they had known the "data heavy" nature of the role and the "scrappy" startup environment beforehand, contrasting their previous experience in structured banking with the ambiguity and excitement of a startup. The need for strong SQL skills was highlighted, although this proved less critical than initially anticipated.
Entry-Level Positions For Aspiring Strategic Finance Associates Or Analysts
Zu, a Director of Strategic Finance, recommends that undergraduate students seeking entry-level strategic finance positions gain "two to four years of experience" in investment banking, consulting, accounting, audit, or FP&A roles beforehand. This foundational experience, the interviewee says, will greatly improve a candidate's chances of becoming a "strong strategic finance associate or analyst."
Significant Career Lesson From A Director Of Strategic Finance At Tala
Zu, Director of Strategic Finance at Tala, emphasizes the importance of "soft prep"—briefly preparing for meetings, even informal ones, to anticipate questions and ensure a smoother, more impactful interaction. This approach, honed during Zu's time at Uber, allows for a more natural and engaging presentation of ideas, ultimately leading to better outcomes and career advancement.
How College Helped A Director Of Strategic Finance At Tala Succeed
Zu, a Director of Strategic Finance, credits their undergraduate double major in financial economics and human biology for fostering "a different style of thinking," combining logical finance with the creative problem-solving of biochemistry. This, along with extracurricular activities like case competitions and networking, proved invaluable in developing the "creativity" Zu considers essential for success in finance, exceeding the importance of simply knowing formulas.
How Identity Has Influenced a Director of Strategic Finance's Career at Tala
As a first-generation college student, the Director of Strategic Finance at Tala faced challenges like "learning gaps" and a lack of awareness regarding internships, navigating these hurdles through competitive sports and later academic success. Their experiences as a practicing Muslim in finance and tech revealed instances of exclusion due to not partaking in alcohol consumption, contrasting starkly with the welcoming environment at Uber, where the company went so far as to "order halal food" for them.
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