TFS - Canada's International School

As part of the executive office at Goldman Sachs, Tanya Baker advises clients on technology innovation and strategic growth at one of the top financial services firms in the world. With an acute mind for innovation and finance, she previously founded and led GS Accelerate, the firm's first-ever FinTech incubator, spearheading investments in multiple new business ventures, many of which remain active today. Prior to joining Goldman Sachs in 2008, Baker spent four years at Microso as a Program Manager in the Windows Mobile Division. She holds a degree in computer engineering from McGill Universi and an MBA from New York Universi's Stern School of Business, and is passionate about both giving back to her communi and actively mentoring individuals pursuing careers in technology and finance. TFS: Can you describe the impact TFS had on your career path? Tanya: It had a huge impact. In Level V, I was invited to a dinner at TFS for select students who had achieved certain grades and I was seated next to a woman who literally changed the course of my professional life. She asked 'What are you going to study?' I told her I didn't know and she said, 'Why don't you take computer engineering?' Her argument at the time was that it was a really hot, up and coming field and that it would be an amazing foundation for any career that I may ultimately decide to pursue. 'If you like math and logic, you'll probably be good at it. And if you have a computer engineering degree, you can go to med school or you could go to law school, if you decide to later on.' I went home that night and started reading up on the field and selected it as my major at McGill. The rest is history. TFS: How did your education influence the person you've become? Tanya: TFS shaped a big part of who I am. I was always intellectually curious about other cultures and other countries. Even though I grew up in Canada, my mother is from Holland and my father is from South Africa. I went to TFS where we were speaking French. People would come to Canada from other French-speaking countries for a year or two and send their kids to TFS because it was a natural place to be. We did the International Baccalaureate program, so I was constantly exposed to a variety of people and perspectives from places foreign to me. I developed a love for different languages and cultures and continue to have a real passion for travel and meeting people. Today I maintain many friends and colleagues and connections from all over the world. And that all stemmed from TFS. TFS: What did you learn as a student that you continue to apply today? Tanya: One thing great about TFS was that if you were struggling with something, there was always a way to get help. You could always approach your teacher or your peers. We didn't have a thousand people in a grade, the classrooms were not crowded and a lot of the teachers had been there for many, many years, so this was not only their career, but their passion. I always felt that I had the right support system and have applied that in life. I have created a network of mentors and resources to seek support and insights from throughout my career. You want to spin your wheels a little bit and work and try to figure it out. But it is often also valuable to leverage your network for guidance or to get a different perspective. TFS: What advice would you give students studying at TFS today? Tanya: Try to capitalize on any opportunity you have. Don't lead your life with fear. Take risks. Try to live in a different country. Try to meet different people. Try different courses. Life is long. These are the times in your life where you can fail. People do not grow in straight lines and your relationships and your EQ are just as important as the rest. It's not just about the grades. Your challenges will shape you. Everyone has to live their life and figure out their own path. That said, as much as I love the 'follow your passion and do what makes you happy' advice, the most successful people are people who followed their passion and their passion happened to be something that they made into a career. Whatever courses you end up taking, try to understand what the career options will be on the other side of it. TFS: Tell us about a teacher who had an impact on you. Tanya: Mrs. Seftel. She left before I graduated, a very long time ago. She taught American history. And history was not my favourite subject at all. But she made the stories come to life and taught it not as facts, dates and events that you had to memorize, but as personalities and egos. She would use voices and tell the stories. The passion and energy she brought to it was so phenomenal that to this day I still remember many of the elements that she taught. Today I maintain many friends and colleagues and connections from all over the world. And that all stemmed from TFS. 57 TFS

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