CONSULTANT, RISK ADVISORY AT DELOITTE
Hometown: Port Moody, B.C.
Saskia Vaisey
How did your economics degree prepare you for life after graduation?
More than any specific application, economics teaches you how to think – how to approach problems systematically and empirically, with careful consideration of causation. This skill will be useful throughout my career and everyday life.
Why study economics at UBC?
UBC’s high quality faculty in economics bring interesting research applications into the classroom and offers a rigorous academic curriculum. Studying at a large university also provides access to a wide variety of resources, extra-curricular opportunities, and elective courses. Plus, you really can’t beat Vancouver’s mountains and ocean as a backdrop to your studies.
Why did you choose the BIE program?
I liked the idea of a cohort model, which creates a tight-knit community within the larger university. BIE also allows you to take core economics courses earlier and has smaller first-year class sizes.
What skill have you learned with your degree that you value the most?
As mentioned before, I value the disciplined way of thinking that economics teaches. Studying economics changed the way I interpret the world around me, from reading the news to interpersonal interactions.
What was your most memorable or best experience at the VSE?
I don’t know if it qualifies as one experience, but I’ll never forget the friends I made during my undergraduate years. In fact, I’ll be living with one of them next year!
What advice do you have for BIE students?
Challenge yourself: take hard classes, join extra-curricular activities, and reach out to new people. Those are the experiences where I’ve learned and grown the most.
Favourite place in Vancouver?
I love the hiking and running trails around Vancouver. Some of my personal favourites are the trails above Buntzen Lake. On a more daily basis, I would have to pick chilling with friends on the second floor of the VSE’s Iona Building with a cup of coffee from Great Dane.
