Ideas with Impact
UNB Faculty of Management

From Lagos to Bay Street: How Nancy Nzekwe discovered her strengths and a new career path with UNB's MQIM program

Author: Faculty of Management

Posted on Jun 23, 2025

Category: Students , Alumni


When Nancy Nzekwe made the decision to leave a 14-year career in commercial and Corporate banking in Lagos, Nigeria, she wasn’t just looking for a new job, she was searching for a whole new way to see the world of finance.

What she found at the University of New Brunswick’s Master in Quantitative Investment Management (MQIM) program was more than she ever imagined: a chance to discover hidden strengths, build new skills, and launch an exciting career in Canada’s financial sector.

Nancy knew that the financial world was evolving fast. “Business analytics was becoming a thing and this caught my attention,” she says. Determined to stay ahead of the curve, she began exploring programs that would help her pivot from traditional banking to a more data-driven field.

That’s when UNB’s MQIM program stood out, not just because of its focus on business analytics, but because it blended finance, mathematics, and computer programming to tackle real-world challenges in the financial markets.

“I had no programming experience or a strong math background, but I was captivated,” Nancy shares. “I wanted to challenge myself, and I was thrilled when I got admitted.”

What makes Nancy’s journey inspiring is how she embraced every opportunity the MQIM program offered, even the ones that took her far outside her comfort zone.

One of those opportunities was the Professional Development course. Weekly presentations, mock interviews, and constructive feedback helped her conquer her fear of public speaking. “I always shied away from it in the past, but this course boosted my confidence and taught me to master the art of communication,” she says.

Then there was the Student Investment Fund (SIF), a highlight of the MQIM experience. Nancy took on the challenge of covering the consumer staples sector, learning to evaluate companies, perform stock valuations, assess risks, and make recommendations.

“The idea that I would initiate coverage on a stock, analyze it, and recommend actions, it was mind-blowing,” she recalls. It wasn’t just classroom learning, it was hands-on, real-world experience that directly prepared her for her next big step.

Nancy’s MQIM experience opened doors. During her interview for an internship at CIBC, she was asked to explain the SIF program.

“I showed so much excitement about the program and depth of knowledge about the stocks under my coverage,” she says. The result? Just two days later, Nancy was invited to join the CIBC team. Her internship turned into a full-time Financial Analyst role with the Finance team at CIBC’s head office in Toronto, her first professional experience in Canada.

“I had a great experience during my internship,” she says. “I was always open to learning, applying myself, and communicating with my supervisor. The transition to a full-time role was smooth.”

Nancy’s MQIM journey wasn’t just about earning a degree, it was about seeing the connections between what she learned and how it applies in the real world. The annual SIF field trip to Bay Street and 25th SIF anniversary reunion gave her the chance to meet industry professionals and see firsthand how relevant her learning was.

“I could relate to all the presentations, both quantitative and fundamental aspects, and it made me aspire to challenge myself even more.”

Nancy encourages students to fully engage with all parts of the MQIM experience:

  • Be involved and network as much as you can.
  • Master soft skills, especially public speaking and communication.
  • Take Excel, PowerPoint, and Wall Street Prep training seriously, these will give you an edge.
  • Once you’re hired, use your time wisely. Learn something new every day.

Nancy’s story is an example of what happens when you embrace discovery of programs, of new skills, and of your own potential. At UNB’s MQIM program, she didn’t just find a way to pivot into a data-driven career, she found the confidence and expertise to thrive in a new country and a new industry.

Photo: Nancy Nzekwe came from Nigeria into UNB’s Master in Quantitative Investment Management (MQIM) program where she discovered a new world of finance and a career with CIBC’s finance team.

Learn more about UNB’s Faculty of Management and Master in Quantitative Investment Management (MQIM) program.

Media contact:
Liz Lemon-Mitchell
Lizabeth.Lemonmitchell@unb.ca