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3 alumni share their journeys navigating new careers

January 24, 2022
Ruth Susi, Business Technology Management ‘18, Henry Mai, Architectural Science ‘18, Debbie Verduga, Crime Analytics ‘21

Ruth Susi, Business Technology Management ’18, Henry Mai, Architectural Science ’18, Debbie Verduga, Crime Analytics ’21

The new year is typically a time for self-reflection and forming resolutions. But, as we try to navigate these uncertain times during a global pandemic, many find ourselves considering a career switch. According to  (PDF file) Morneau Shepell's monthly Mental Health Index (external link)  (4 Mb PDF), 24%—or 1-in-4 Canadians said the pandemic has led them to consider changing careers. But, what does that look like? 

In the spirit of new beginnings, we interviewed three alumni who have made career transitions to find out how and why they did it and what advice they can offer for those of us considering taking the plunge.

Ruth Susi, Business Technology Management ‘18
Ruth Susi

Product Designer/Illustrator at Rvictorias Studio (external link, opens in new window) 
Business Technology Management ’18

Ruth Susi is a self-employed Product Designer/Illustrator in the visual arts. Her journey as a full-time entrepreneur began in April 2020 after the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in her being laid off from a job in tech. But this unexpected situation was the push Ruth needed to pursue a passion she's had since childhood.

"As a kid, all I can remember is that I would always draw or paint and get lost in the process," she recalled. "In high school, I had an art teacher who believed — that I could make a career out of art — but growing up, in my Filipino family, creativity was not seen as a stable, viable career path."

Instead, Ruth enrolled at the university's Ted Rogers School of Management and studied Business Technology Management. After graduating, she worked as a technology consultant for KPMG, an international accounting firm. In this role, Ruth dealt with clients directly and worked on internal projects for the company. While she attempted to weave her love of creativity and art into her very corporate job, Ruth still found herself feeling unfulfilled. Fast forward to April 2020 — we're one month into the global pandemic, everywhere is locked down, projects are plummeting, and KPMG had to lay off Ruth and more than 200 other employees within a month.

"This was the breaking point where I realized I needed to figure out how I can use my passion for art and education in business technology," said Ruth. "So I pivoted to product design and creating art pieces full time."

Shortly thereafter, Ruth founded her company Rvictorias Studio (external link, opens in new window) , which offers illustration, graphic design, and product design services with the mission of creating art pieces and creative experiences that inspire communities.

What do you love most about your new career? 

What I love most about my career is inspiring people to create. Since starting my business, an audience of people who felt they lacked creativity in their everyday life has expressed their appreciation for my art and pursuing my passion. Nothing feels more fulfilling than knowing I have inspired people to take control of their lives. Creativity isn't limited to painting—it’s everywhere; it's how you manage your day and how you do anything. 

Another fulfilling aspect of my career is that I have brought awareness and representation to women of colour by portraying them as powerful, beautiful human beings. Most of my digital illustrations portray beautiful women of colour taking their power back from a society that tried to shape them into smaller versions of themselves. I try to portray them as bigger than life to show they deserve to take up space in this world.

Do you have any advice for people looking to make a career switch?

My advice for other business students looking to make a career change is just to start. Start with where you are and start with what you've got. The longer we contemplate doing anything, the more likely it is that we will not do it. We tend to keep waiting for the perfect time to start doing something that we are passionate about—but I have learned there is no ideal time. There is a saying for painters: you have to paint all of your bad paintings out to get to the great ones. You can create all the planning you want, but you have to start at some point. Second, networking is critical. We are in a unique time where we could take advantage of virtual networking since most people are focused on it right now. So, take the time to make your brand known through social media and network with like-minded people who have gone through a similar path as the one you want to take. Lastly, keep creating. Whatever you are called to do, have faith in yourself and keep going. 

Are there any upcoming projects that you're looking forward to?

I'm currently working on a digital illustration project. My focus is on bringing awareness to the pre-colonial Filipino culture. In March 2022, I'm scheduled to release an art series I have been working on. I have been drawn to go back to my roots and feel called to raise awareness of the Filipino identity and culture before being colonized for 300 years. After researching and reading plenty of books and connecting with professionals who have contributed to this awareness, I can finally put together a series of art pieces to represent the pre-colonial culture and identity.

Henry Mai, Architectural Science ‘18
Henry Mai

UX/UI Designer, Scotiabank
Architectural Science ’18

Henry Mai is a Scotiabank user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) designer. While he spends his days designing customers' experiences in the cyber world, believe it or not, he was pursuing a career in creating physical spaces first. Henry graduated from the university's Architectural Science program in 2018. Despite these differences, Henry found the work to be just as meaningful.

"Although buildings and digital apps are quite different, the result is a product that should improve the lives of its occupants and users," he said.

While studying at Toronto Metropolitan University, Henry immersed himself in his program entirely. He was involved in many student leadership programs and amassed several design-build projects as experience. After graduating, he landed a job at an architectural firm. He worked on projects developing designs for a luxury commercial mixed-use building in Yorkville and a residential development in Guelph, Ontario. Although Henry was able to get his foot in the door at architectural firms early on in his career, when the pandemic hit, he realized he wanted to pursue a different path. 

"I wasn't completely happy working in architecture and wanted a career that would be both meaningful and have a good work and life balance," said Henry. "So I decided to take a leap of faith."

Henry enrolled in a boot camp for user experience design. The 12-week intensive course gave him the tools he needed to develop skills, build a portfolio, and network with like-minded individuals. Now Henry works in the industry full-time as a UX/UI designer at Scotiabank. His projects are related to financial advice and well-being. Customers will experience his products through features and services on the mobile banking app and website.

What do you love most about your new role/industry?

I love that the work I do will end up in the hands of millions of people. This certainly sounds scary and full of pressure, but I also see it as an opportunity to design products that can improve people's experiences. 

How do you feel working in this industry compared to your previous job?

I'm a lot happier working in tech compared to architecture, especially with the work and life balance. I think the opportunities I have now will shape our experiences with technology and digital spaces in the future. And though I still love architecture and buildings, I realized that working in the architecture field wasn't for me.

What advice do you have for people considering making a career pivot?

First, if you're thinking of a career change, I will encourage you to do some reflection and follow that inkling of curiosity. Do some research into the industry, set up coffee chats with individuals in roles you are interested in, look at courses or boot camps that can help level up your skills. Exploring your options and reflecting on your career path can do wonders. This leads me to my next point. I believe that it's essential to do work that you find meaningful. When you spend many hours of your day doing something that you don't like, I'm sure that it can begin to negatively affect other aspects of your life. However, I would also argue that meaningfulness doesn't necessarily equate to work that changes the world; work that can afford you a healthy balance with your personal life is just as important.

Debbie Verduga, Crime Analytics ‘21
Debbie Verduga

Senior Crime Analyst, Toronto Police Service
Applied Digital Geography and GIS ’12, Demographic Analysis ’13, Crime Analytics ’21

Debbie Verduga is a Senior Crime Analyst for Toronto Police Service (TPS), Canada's largest municipal police service. She has been working in the Geographic Information Systems industry for the last 13 years, but five years ago, she decided to pivot into crime analysis. Debbie was drawn to this line of work by the possibility of helping people. 

"The biggest difference between my current work in Crime Analysis and my previous roles is the complexity of the projects and their impact on the community," Debbie said. "At TPS, I have the opportunity to lead projects that make a difference and impact our everyday lives."

Debbie’s previous positions provided her with strong business intelligence, spatial analysis and project management skills. However, she was always interested in developing new skills and a deeper understanding of her field. Throughout her career, she stayed up to date with the latest advancements by enrolling in certification courses at The Chang School. She has graduated from three programs since 2012, earning certificates in Applied Digital Geography and GIS, Demographic Analysis and most recently, Crime Analytics. 

Debbie's pivot into crime analysis was no surprise to anybody that knew her well. She has always been fascinated with crime, having grown up watching and reading about true crime stories. As a teenager, she even considered a career in forensic science. However, she also had a passion for geography, so crime analysis allowed her to combine both interests. 

"I became a good problem solver during my years as a GIS analyst, and this became handy as it is a skill constantly required in the policing world," she said. "I enjoy helping people and providing analytical tools that make their job or life easier."

Now, five years into her new career, Debbie is leading a team of divisional crime analysts and researchers. Their work focuses on analyzing data, creating analytical tools, leading projects and overall supporting intelligence led-policing.

What challenges did you face during your transition into crime analysis?

When I joined the Toronto Police Service, I came in with strong business intelligence, spatial analysis and project management skills. However, I did not have a policing or criminology background. I didn't understand the terminology or policing in general. I felt pretty lost, and it took me some time to gain some organizational knowledge. As I gained more responsibilities, I realized the value of a good foundation for crime analysis. This led me to my decision to go back to school. The program at Toronto Metropolitan University helped me fill in some educational gaps to further succeed in my role.

What advice do you have for people who may be considering a career switch but are afraid to take the plunge?

My advice for someone looking to switch or enhance their careers is not to be afraid of failure. Exploring something new outside of your comfort zone can only lead to learning something new that can benefit your growth. Whether what you attempted ends up being something you enjoy or dislike, it's still a lesson learned. I have not been successful at everything I have tried. But within those attempts, I was able to find what truly motivated me.

Are you involved in any volunteer efforts related to your work?  

As time permits, I try to volunteer. For example, I am a GIS Ambassador, a program developed by ESRI, a GIS Software provider. This program focuses on outreach to young students, which allows experienced GIS analysts to share and educate about the work we do, hoping that it may inspire them to pursue a career in GIS. At work, we do a lot of academic engagements with various schools at all educational levels. It's gratifying to mentor students, teach them skill sets that have taken me years to develop, and then see them grow and succeed in their career paths.  

Are you looking to get ahead at work or transition to an entirely new industry? Check out the education opportunities at The Chang School (opens in new window)  to make your professional goals a reality.