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.
Overcoming Challenges, Networking, Career Development, Workplace Challenges, Resilience
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
Video Highlights
1. Navigating Career Challenges as a First-Generation College Student: Zu emphasizes the significant learning curve he faced as a first-generation college student, lacking awareness of essential career-building steps like internships and networking. His experience highlights the importance of proactive learning and seeking guidance to overcome these challenges.
2. Overcoming Cultural Barriers in Finance and Tech: Zu's experiences as a practicing Muslim in investment banking and tech illuminate the cultural differences and potential exclusion he encountered due to his lifestyle choices. His story underscores the need for inclusivity and understanding in professional settings.
3. Building a Successful Career Despite Challenges: Zu's journey showcases his resilience and success despite the hurdles he faced as a first-generation college student and practicing Muslim. His career progression demonstrates that determination and adaptability can lead to significant achievements in demanding fields like finance and tech.
Transcript
As a first-generation college student and a practicing Muslim, how has that impacted how you've navigated your career?
The first-generation aspect is definitely interesting. I didn't realize what I didn't know until much later. My parents didn't go to school; they're still in Tanzania.
Lots of learning gaps were present. Things as simple as doing an internship in the summer during undergrad were completely unknown to me. I didn't know that was a thing, so I didn't do any internships. Every summer, I would just fly back to Tanzania to play golf and hang out with my friends.
Networking, building social connections, and all that was definitely challenging. I played a lot of sports and was a very competitive golfer, so that helped. But it was definitely challenging. I'd meet friends whose parents had gone to the same or different universities, and they'd say, "Well, yeah, obviously, you gotta do a summer internship." And I'd think, "Obviously, you gotta go out and meet people and stuff like that." That was definitely challenging.
As I went through undergrad and my master's program, I definitely learned a lot. There are probably a few other things too, even just how to study, what to study, and thinking about what program you want to be in. I think part of the reason I did human biology was because my parents wanted me to be a dentist or something. I always liked economics and finance for that. They did their best, and I was very fortunate they were able to send me to Canada. Those are some classic first-generation college student challenges.
On your second question, being Muslim, yes, it was definitely more challenging. I worked in investment banking and encountered many non-Muslims there. My colleagues were great, and it was a good time overall. But it's challenging when you're always out partying and people are drinking around you. There are some stereotypical behaviors that happen in investment banking.
I had no problems with it; it was just that I would get judged a lot for not participating in those activities. I loved going out, I loved music, and I even DJ'ed for a bit. I loved having a good time, but I wasn't someone who partook in substances. It was definitely challenging, and there were times where I didn't feel welcome. You don't get invited to the managing director's house or his private vineyard, where perhaps not much work stuff is happening, but definitely social bonding is occurring.
That even extends into tech. Nowadays, it's different, and people are seeing it a bit differently, but when I jumped into tech, alcohol was a big thing. You always get the question, "Oh my God, you don't drink?" And they'd ask how I managed working in banking and now at Uber, where they have a beer tap. It was definitely challenging.
Uber was very, very welcoming, though. I did not feel excluded at all. Uber would even go to the point of ordering halal food for me at the office. They were great, but in the banking world, it was definitely different.