Our Volunteers in Action: Getting to Know Our University Relations Committee with Danielle Filistin, CFA

Danielle Filistin has been volunteering with CFA Montréal for the past 10 years. As the current chair of the University Relations Committee, she is quick to identify education as the passion that fuels her commitment. Find out more about his background and the invaluable contributions this committee makes to the Montreal financial community.

 

Tell us a little more about CFA Montréal’s University Relations Committee.

It’s a committee that interacts with the entire academic community in the Montreal area, the goal being to inform more students about the CFA program, educate them on the whole spectrum of professions in the financial industry and give them a better idea of what the CFA designation can bring to their career. Everything we do is to support students. We spearhead a range of networking activities that put them in direct contact with the financial ecosystem and organize events like Career Day, the Research Challenge and the Ethics Challenge, all of which are very eye-opening to up-and-coming professionals.

What prompted you to volunteer with the University Relations Committee?

I think education is a springboard for getting ahead in life and making a contribution to society. It’s something that means a great deal to me personally, and I support various facets of education in my day-to-day work. My involvement with this committee lets me give back some of what I have received over the years. When I was a student myself, I got to know lots of charterholders through the CFA program, and I considered myself very fortunate to be able to tap into their expertise. They helped me advance academically, but they were also instrumental in my career and personal growth. I wanted to do the same for the next generation and make sure they had access to the right tools to make the financial industry more accessible and kick-start their career.

How would you describe the role your committee plays in the professional development of CFA charterholders?

The University Relations Committee is one of the cornerstones of the CFA Montréal ecosystem. It serves as a bridge between the students and student associations of several universities, their faculty members and stakeholders across the financial industry. This is especially important these days, given the challenges of the labour shortage. More and more employers are recruiting students in the CFA program. We’re seeing situations where students in the last year of their degree are already getting internship and job offers. Our role is to inspire students and CFA candidates to move forward along this path.

What is one of the initiatives you are particularly proud of?

My committee has been very proactive in the past few years. We’ve doubled the number of associations and universities we deal with (and then some!). As a result, we’re in contact with even more students than before. And that’s something I find very exciting.

What would you say to anyone who would like to join the University Relations Committee?

The volunteers on our committee are people who have gone through the CFA program themselves and who enjoy sharing their insights. There’s no particular set of skills or profile required, just the willingness to invest some of your time in making a difference in students’ lives. And volunteers get a lot out of the experience as well. The discussions you engage in with your fellow committee members, and with the students, employers, financial professionals and university representatives you interact with, help broaden your perspective. You’ll be doing important work helping students gain a better grasp of the financial industry and raising Montreal’s profile in the international financial arena — one student at a time.

Interested in getting involved with a dynamic, forward-looking association? There are lots of ways you can contribute to CFA Montréal. Be sure to let us know how you’d like to make a difference by filling out this form: https://www.cfamontreal.org/en/get-involved