Motivated by a desire to make a difference, Ruhani Walia is determined to use her degree to improve lives and drive meaningful change.
“I'm leaving U of T with an education that's given me tools for breaking down issues I care about into their fundamentals — getting to the root cause instead of just treating the symptoms,” says Walia, who earned her honours bachelor of science degree as a member of Victoria College. She majored in economics, focusing on data analytics, with a double minor in computer science and statistical sciences.
Walia arrived on St. George campus as a U of T National Scholar, one of the university’s highest honours awarded to students across Canada for outstanding academic achievement and leadership.
She was later selected for the Laidlaw Scholars Programme, an internationally funded initiative that supports undergraduate research, leadership development and global engagement.
Beyond academics, she served in an executive role in the Canadian Undergraduates in Behavioural Science club, embarked on a fourth-year exchange to the University of Edinburgh, and performed with the Hart House Singers.
Walia intends to pursue a master's degree in economics, but for now, she is absorbing all she can as a full-time research assistant with the Bank of Canada’s macro financial modelling team.
As she prepares to cross the stage at Convocation Hall, Walia discusses her most impactful U of T memories and where she’s headed next.
What U of T experiences prepared you for life after graduation?
I learned about the Laidlaw Scholars Programme while applying to U of T and was immediately drawn to the Leadership-in-Action Experience and the opportunity to work with underserved communities around the world.
In my first summer with the program, I worked on a research paper at an economics lab in Toronto and ran my own experiment. I examined how different types of observation — video surveillance versus direct observation — impact generosity in economic decision-making scenarios. I worked with Professor Bob Gazzale, who I still consider one of my greatest mentors.
In my second summer as a Laidlaw Scholar, I travelled to a small village in the Fiji Islands where I helped build a community medical dispensary and delivered mental health workshops for youth. It taught me a lot about compassion, empowering others and celebrating a different culture. It’s true what they say: when you travel, you meet new parts of yourself.
How did scholarships enable your success at U of T?
My scholarships are the reason I got to experience so much during my undergraduate degree without the burden of financial stress.
Academic awards allowed time to network with people I may have missed if I’d had to hold down a part-time job while studying. Living in downtown Toronto — one of the best cities ever — and attending U of T as a member of Victoria College was a tremendously valuable experience and I'm grateful for every moment of it.
You describe yourself as someone who wants to study the impact that human decision-making and behaviour have on reality. Are there specific research questions you want to tackle first?
I'm intrigued by the idea of incorporating more human behaviour trends into economic models. Many of today's models assume humans are rational, but now, behavioural economics — what I specialize in — is finally gaining more traction. We know people are irrational and make consumer decisions based on emotion, so how do we turn that into a mathematical equation? I want to make models that consider the complexity of humanity.
What advice would you give to your first-year self?
Your path may be different, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. I made some unconventional choices by pursuing research and passion projects outside the classroom, and that made my day look different from the other people I knew. But I learned that's okay; you can be the first one to take a new path and define what university is.
What personal challenges did you overcome that shaped who you are today?
In my first year, I felt behind my peers in math. I questioned whether I was cut out for economics, computer science and statistics. But at U of T, it's easy to find resources and a group of friends to be your support system. Usually, the best things worth doing are hard, but that doesn't mean you won't ever be good at it. I'm so proud of myself for not giving up.