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Tech Connect at Sun Life: Insights from Industry Leaders

 

On November 26th, Sun Life hosted its Tech Connect event, bringing together industry leaders to share their career journeys, lessons learned, and advice for aspiring professionals. The event featured insightful talks from Allan, Richard Burke, Nola Banjo, and Terez Akuma, each offering a unique perspective on growth, resilience, and opportunity in the tech and insurance sectors.

Allan: Curiosity, Adaptability, and Resilience

Allan summarized his 15-year career journey in three words:

  1. Curiosity – His fascination with cybersecurity and understanding how systems work has been a guiding force throughout his career.

  2. Adaptability – Allan highlighted the importance of learning across various platforms, embracing change, and continuously expanding skill sets.

  3. Resilience – From navigating unexpected outages to managing vendor surprises and exploring generative AI, resilience has been key to his success.

Skills and qualities for success

  • Empathy – Understanding people and building meaningful relationships.

  • Accountability – Owning responsibilities and building credibility through consistent follow-through.

  • Strategic Thinking – Seeing the bigger picture and aligning actions with organizational goals.

Advice for students and early-career professionals:

  • Be open to opportunities that stretch your abilities; they often lead to unexpected growth.

  • Focus on building relationships through co-ops, internships, or networking—it pays off in the long run.

  • Don’t be afraid to take chances. Failure teaches valuable lessons and often opens doors you never expected.

Richard Burke: Persistence Pays Off

Richard shared how determination led him to Sun Life:

  • Interested in exploring a new industry, he was drawn to Sun Life by the company’s slogan, “Last Breath Under the Sun.”

  • After applying to multiple roles with no initial response, he didn’t give up. A friend suggested attending the BFUTR virtual conference, where he discovered opportunities at Sun Life and connected with the talent team.

  • Richard described his hiring experience as a “perfect match” and emphasized Sun Life’s inclusive culture, strong technology foundation, and commitment to diversity.

Nola Banjo: Seizing Opportunities

Nola shared her journey transitioning from a pharmacy degree to a career in procurement in Canada:

  • She quickly adapted to a new environment, applying for a role shortly after arriving.

  • Just before completing her studies, she received an offer, highlighting the importance of proactivity and staying informed about opportunities.

  • Nola emphasized the value of continuous improvement and contributing to a better experience for colleagues and clients alike.

Terez Akuma: Growth, Inclusion, and Giving Back

Terez’s story highlighted the importance of embracing opportunities and diversity:

  • Starting in cloud infrastructure and regulation compliance, Terez recently expanded into AI chatbots.

  • She first learned about Sun Life through a BFUTR conference booth, demonstrating the power of networking and open-mindedness.

  • Terez appreciated the company’s inclusive environment, stating that Sun Life values the contributions you make over how you look or sound.

  • She highlighted several unique advantages of working at Sun Life:

    • Investment in career growth through coaching and training sessions

    • Ease of transitioning between teams

    • Support for work-life balance

  • For Terez, Sun Life is a place where she can give back while thriving professionally, making it a truly rewarding workplace.

Key Takeaways

The Tech Connect event offered a clear message: success is built on curiosity, adaptability, resilience, empathy, and accountability. Sun Life’s culture encourages professionals to embrace opportunities, build relationships, and grow continuously, all within an inclusive and supportive environment.

Whether you’re a student, early-career professional, or experienced leader, the stories shared by Allan, Richard, Nola, and Terez remind us that persistence, openness, and a commitment to growth can lead to meaningful and fulfilling careers.


Thank you !!!



Feel free to connect with me here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/abhibhagat/


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