How four RC women took on 30 teams of actuarial students nationwide...and won!
It doesn’t have to be International Women’s Day to celebrate the remarkable achievements of women at Rotman Commerce. A shining example is the all-female team that triumphed at the most recent Actuarial Students National Association (ASNA) X Society of Actuaries case competition.
Last January, Ying (Cathy) Cong Zuo (BCom ‘25), Sanjana Karkhanis (BCom ‘26), Teya Knightingale (BCom ‘26), and Shreya Ravi Shankar (BCom ‘26) faced off against 30 teams from across Canada.
Their challenge
The team collaborated to develop a renewable energy strategy and budget for a fictional town. While most competing teams came from actuarial science backgrounds, they were the only students from a business program. Driven by their curiosity to explore new fields such as data analysis, statistics, sustainability, climate science, and actuarial science, the team members stepped outside their comfort zones. Shreya recalls, “Amidst all the regression analysis, probability calculations and data manipulation, we managed to incorporate concepts such as ESG and even developed a realistic capital budget.” They came to enjoy the learning process and rapidly grasped new skills. In fact, their unique backgrounds played an important role in their success.
Sanjana Karkhanis (BCom ‘26)“I believe that our diverse perspectives as women fostered creativity and innovation, allowing us to build a unique solution. My teammates and I have a diverse array of specialists and minors, which allowed us to view each problem through different perspectives and come up with the most effective solution.”
Learnings from Rotman Commerce stayed with them
Throughout their journey, the team of four looked back at the knowledge and hands-on teamwork skills they gained at Rotman Commerce. The resources provided by Rotman Commerce, particularly the Centre for Professional Skills (CPS), played an important role in their success by assisting the team in developing fundamental capacities essential for their win. Sanjana explains, “CPS has always highlighted the importance of constant and meaningful communication among team members during our in-class workshops, and this definitely proved to be useful in maintaining team cohesion.”
Teya Knightingale (BCom ‘26)“It’s very easy to compare yourself to others and believe they understand or accomplish more than you. But, once you realise most people – especially in university – feel this way about various areas of their life, you see that we are all constantly learning and figuring things out. Remembering this and being proud of what we achieve is key in navigating these difficult feelings.”
Imposter syndrome rears its head
Despite their final success, the experience was not always smooth sailing. At times, especially during the beginning, the team felt overwhelmed by the unknowns and unfamiliarity of this case. Teya recalls, “Imposter syndrome is something we faced at certain points during this competition…Halfway through the preparation period for the first round…we were questioning our ability to address the problems and calculate the key elements of our proposal. I noticed myself picturing the other teams, composed of actuary students, and wondering if they were facing any of the challenges we were facing….Working in a new area with unfamiliar tools and concepts led to self-doubt.” Cathy also was well aware of their competitors’ abilities. “As we moved through the competition, we were consistently awed by the creative approaches to data-driven problem-solving that is undertaken by actuaries.”
The women fought back
As a team, they collectively overcame their uncertainties by deciding to give the project their all, celebrating what they could learn and create, and showing themselves love and grace. Teya says, “We all supported each other, constantly sharing reminders of how well we can do if we continue on and fully utilize our business and communication skills. This motivation we shared took us through the whole competition journey – all the way until the moments before we presented on stage.” Early on, they recognized the importance of frequent communication and mutual encouragement. Cathy’s statement illustrates the group’s attitude: “Our team [was] constructed of the most supportive, uplifting, and talented women I know.”
“No pressure!”
The culmination of their teamwork, persistence, and hard work resulted in a rewarding and exciting experience. The team, as one of the top three finalist teams, was invited to Montreal to present its proposal to a panel of judges at the annual convention of the Actuarial Students National Association (ASNA).
They knew it wouldn’t be easy. There would be tense moments and a lot of stress. They had to excel in front of a very specialized and knowledgeable audience–the largest gathering of actuarial students, professionals, and academics across Canada. Ultimately, their exceptional skills, strong motivation to support each other and their confidence in their own abilities helped them triumph against long odds. The team secured a first-place position and a cash prize of $2500.
What they took away from the experience
Team members share some final reflections on what they learned from the case competition (in addition to some actuarial science):
Shreya: “Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself! We often feel uncomfortable when attempting difficult tasks outside our comfort zone. However, it’s these experiences that ultimately result in growth— both in a professional and personal context…When we started the competition, our goal was to grow and challenge ourselves. Regardless of whether we won, we gained a lot of knowledge through this experience. It’s sometimes the challenging moments that teach you invaluable skills and help you learn more about yourself.”
Teya: “As a female student, I am always seeking opportunities to build confidence and share my ideas and voice with others…It’s very easy to compare yourself to others and believe they understand or accomplish more than you. But, once you realise most people—especially in university—feel this way about various areas of their life, you see that we are all constantly learning and figuring things out. Remembering this and being proud of what we achieve is key in navigating these difficult feelings…Since winning, I have felt even more drawn to taking on new challenges and stepping outside my comfort zone. Growth involves a lot of learning and change, which this experience brought.”
Cathy: “Apart from winning the competition, we [were] especially grateful for the opportunity to work and bond with such an amazing team and to explore a new field of study. Navigating through the challenges associated with working on a new discipline as a team has, in its own, strengthened our confidence in our abilities to learn new things and adapt to new situations, supporting us to feel more confident and better-equipped when addressing future challenges.”
Empowerment and inspiration go hand-in-hand
The team’s win in a male-dominated field was not only empowering for Cathy, Sanjana, Teya, and Shreya but also inspiring for aspiring female professionals at Rotman Commerce. They noted that all three of the finalist teams were composed of women. As we celebrate the accomplishments of women, let’s draw a lesson from this team’s experience and cultivate an environment and culture that empowers women to flourish and seize opportunities for growth.
By Sonia Singh (BCom ’24)
