Canadian University Dubai (CUD) alumni, Saarang Ahuja and Ambareen Golandaz, are making their mark in North America’s finance industry after fulfilling their ambition to move to Canada to further their professional development. Having both completed courses at the University of Toronto (U of T), Golandaz has risen through the ranks with two of the Big Four accounting firms, while Ahuja is working with a prominent financial institution, alongside a recent venture into filmmaking in Hollywood.
After transferring his credits from CUD’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) programme, Ahuja graduated with honours from the Bachelor of Science programme at U of T. He quickly transitioned into the dynamic world of data science and software development and now works in fintech with a leading corporate and investment bank.
Explaining his motivation to transfer, Ahuja says, “I was driven by a quest for excellence and the pursuit of new opportunities. I was also drawn to the country’s welcoming and diverse culture, and its reputation for innovation in the fintech sector. The strong academic foundation and supportive community at CUD were instrumental in preparing me for my journey.”
Twenty-five-year-old Ahuja has also recently applied his technical talent to a new venture in Hollywood. He explains, “I have been privileged to work as an Assistant Executive Producer with Executive Producer Joaquin Phoenix, and Co-Directors Kip Andersen and Kameron Waters, on a groundbreaking documentary. I’ve helped in developing the marketing strategy and in running data analysis to make data-driven decisions.”
With ambitions to contribute to reshaping the financial landscape, while pursuing impactful projects in the entertainment world, Ahuja concludes, “My experiences at CUD, in Hollywood, and in the Canadian financial sector have laid solid foundations for these aspirations, and I am excited to see what the future holds.”
Fellow CUD alumni, Golandaz graduated with a BBA in Accounting and Finance from the university before completing the Chartered Financial Analyst Level 1 exam. Progressing from intern to Senior Finance Associate during her three years with Deloitte in Dubai, Golandaz moved to Canada, taking up a role with another Big Four firm, PwC, and built her professional profile with certifications from the U of T School of Continuing Studies.
Speaking about her decision to move, Golandaz says, “I wanted a change of environment and to experience living in a different country. Having studied at CUD, I had always heard good things about Canada and the Canadian education and environment, and I had friends from CUD who had moved here who encouraged me as well.”
Having moved from the UAE where she was born and raised, Golandaz saw an immediate contrast in the living environment. She explains, “Canada is a huge country in comparison to the UAE, so there was an element of culture shock, but now I am enjoying this beautiful country. I want to focus on building relationships with people here, exploring the country and learning more about the culture. I also want to focus on continually developing myself professionally.”
Ahuja and Golandaz are among the cohorts of CUD students who have taken the opportunity to further their education and professional development in Canada. Dr Dima Jamali, Vice President of Academic Affairs, says, “We are proud to see so many CUD alumni in Canada and around the world creating impact through their professional endeavours. Graduate employability is a central pillar of our practice-based curriculum and aims to prepare students to make a valuable contribution to the workforce from the outset of their career, which we are now witnessing among our alumni both in the UAE and overseas.”
