Yalda Farzanegan

Course: Financial Markets (RSM230)

At RCEO, I support external partnerships and relationship-building by researching prospects, maintaining stakeholder engagement through follow-ups, and contributing to sponsorship proposals. My efforts aim to expand student access to entrepreneurial opportunities by securing industry support, while also significantly boosting the organization’s visibility and financial resources.

At RCVC, I contribute to the marketing team by developing content that showcases our events, initiatives, and educational resources in the venture capital space. My work helps strengthen RCVC’s presence on campus and support its mission of connecting students to the VC ecosystem through engaging and accessible communication.

As the VP of Technology and Design at UTIRAN, I lead a dedicated team responsible for managing the club’s digital presence and visual identity. I oversee the development and maintenance of our website, ensure brand consistency across all platforms, and create visual materials to support outreach, promotions, and events. I also collaborate closely with other departments to address their design and tech needs, while improving UTIRAN’s digital infrastructure to enhance engagement and accessibility.

I worked closely with the VP of Finance and the executive team to bring our largest student-led events to life while staying within budget. We collaborated with other departments to assess feasibility, allocate funds effectively, and plan strategically around what we could realistically afford. We also reached out to sponsors to help stretch our resources and fund higher-quality programming. I learned how to balance ambition with constraint and how thoughtful budgeting can make or break the impact of an event.

I was selected as one of the top 20 students from nearly 100 applicants to join Rotman’s Capital Markets Accelerator Program. I am currently participating in exclusive weekly workshops, technical training, and speaker sessions with industry professionals to strengthen my skills in valuation, financial modeling, and capital markets. Alongside strong team members, I have been applying these skills to areas such as forecasting, valuation, and strategic analysis. For example, we built a DCF and comparables-based valuation for Butterfly Network and developed the strategic rationale and financial model for Deckers’ proposed acquisition of Geox. These experiences are sharpening my analytical, strategic, and presentation abilities while preparing me for a career in investment banking and capital markets.

I led weekly study sessions in Microeconomics (ECO101) for a group of 7 peers at U of T’s St. George campus. I created a collaborative plan that supported different learning styles, making each session more engaging and effective. The experience strengthened my ability to break down complex ideas and guide conversations so everyone could learn together.

I worked as a private tutor for high school students in math and accounting, taking on students on a case-by-case basis depending on availability and need. Most of the time, people found me through word-of-mouth or reached out directly when they were struggling, and I would step in to help when I could. I created personalized lesson plans across calculus, functions, and financial accounting. One of the students I worked with was failing calculus with a 30 percent, and over a few months of consistent, tailored support, they brought their mark up to 85 and earned admission to university.

We started Ahura as a team of four with an initial budget of $20000, and I was chosen to lead as the manager, taking responsibility for operations, finances, marketing, and client experience. I built our website from scratch using Wix, created systems for consultations and invoicing, and managed our $10,000 monthly credit card. To attract customers, I ran targeted campaigns through Meta Ads Manager on Instagram and Facebook, led our in-person outreach campaign with flyers and local conversations, and kept our Instagram page active with original content. I personally designed all marketing materials, including business cards, posters, and online ads, and handled the photography and video editing. I also managed our budgeting to ensure we could keep the business running, especially during the harsh winter months when customer demand dropped. I had to carefully allocate spending between supplies and equipment to improve our services and advertising to grow our client base without running into losses. As we grew, I negotiated partnerships with a car dealership, pet shops, and a construction company, offering tailored detailing packages and affiliate programs. I also designed a high-end membership program and pitched it to a luxury eyewear entrepreneur whose designs have been worn by Drake. We proposed a collaboration that exchanged network reach for a stake in the program. It was not always easy. There were missed calls, tight margins, and stressful weekends. However, I got to see what it means to bring something real into the world and keep it running. I learned how to lead across functions, make financial decisions under pressure, communicate clearly, and show up for my team even when things got messy. View our Google Business page: https://g.co/kgs/QfcwsCi

I led Sadra Nasseri’s campaign for York Region District School Board trustee, helping a previously unknown candidate earn a third of the total votes. I directed a team of 50 volunteers, coordinated canvassing efforts and outreach logistics, and helped with the management of campaign funds to maximize impact.

Honours & Awards: $225,000 - University of Toronto International Scholar Award (University of Toronto Scarborough), 2023 Awarded to incoming full-time international students on the basis of merit; valued at $180,000 over four years, or $225,000 for five-year direct-entry programs. $100,000 - University of Toronto International Scholar Award (University of Toronto Mississauga), 2023 Awarded to incoming international full-time students on the basis of merit. $10,000x2 - President’s Scholar of Excellence Award (UTM & UTSC), 2023 Offered to a small number of highly qualified students; includes a $10,000 entrance scholarship in the first year and access to faculty mentorship, seminars, and research opportunities. $7,500 - University of Toronto Scholar Award (Faculty of Arts & Science, University of Toronto St. George), 2023 Awarded to students entering the Faculty of Arts & Science based on outstanding academic achievement; valued at $7,500 for the first year of study.

Honours & Awards: Mathematics Award - June 2023 Awarded for achieving the highest mark in Mathematics and an excellent overall average across all three Grade 12 Mathematics courses. Business Studies Award - June 2023 Recognized for exemplary employability skills in the senior year within the Business Studies Program at AMHS and commitment to pursuing Business Studies in post-secondary education.