From Campus Community to Career Impact: Ophelia Chang (BCom, 2009)

For Ophelia Chang, leadership has always been rooted in community. From her time as a deeply engaged student leader at UTM to her career in risk management and governance, she has consistently looked for ways to identify gaps and build meaningful solutions. A Bachelor of Commerce graduate from 2009, Ophelia credits UTM with shaping not only her academic foundation, but also her values around mentorship, inclusion, and service. Today, as a Risk Management Director and board member across multiple sectors, she continues to draw on the lessons she learned on campus. In this Q and A, Ophelia reflects on her UTM journey, her career path, and the experiences that continue to guide her leadership. 

What first brought you to UTM, and what made your time on campus so meaningful? 

I was drawn to UTM because it offered the perfect balance. An academically rigorous commerce program within a close-knit campus community. I wanted a university experience where I could build strong connections, not just attend lectures and leave. What made my time so meaningful was the sense of belonging and opportunity to grow beyond academics. UTM gave me space to lead, mentor, and innovate, while still feeling supported by faculty and peers. It was not just about earning a degree. It was about shaping who I wanted to become. 

You lived on campus for all four years. How did that experience shape your sense of community and belonging? 

Living on campus for all four years was transformative. As a Residence Peer Academic Leader for three of those years, I supported a diverse residence population through structured learning programs. That experience gave me a global worldview. I interacted daily with students from different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives. It taught me how to build inclusive communities and create spaces where people feel supported academically and personally. Those lessons continue to influence how I lead today. 

Q: You supported many first year and international students as a Peer Academic Leader. What did you find most rewarding about that role? 

The most rewarding part was seeing students feel supported and confident in a completely new environment. Many students arrive with uncertainty about academics, culture, and everyday life. One moment that stands out was helping students prepare for their first Canadian winter during a residence shopping trip. Everyone came together to ensure no one was left unprepared. That sense of community was incredibly fulfilling. 

During your final year, you helped create new career readiness programming for commerce students. What gap were you hoping to address? 

I noticed a clear gap between academic preparation and workplace readiness. While students were gaining strong technical knowledge, skills like professional communication, networking, and navigating workplace expectations were not always explicitly taught. With support from the Department of Management, I helped create programming that focused on building those competencies before graduation. UTM’s culture encouraged student driven ideas, which made it possible to turn an observation into a meaningful initiative that supported students in their transition to the workforce. 

You graduated in 2009 during a challenging economic period. How did you navigate the early stages of your career? 

Graduating in 2009 was challenging, as the job market was extremely competitive. I leaned heavily on UTM resources, especially the Career Centre, for guidance on resumes, interviews, and job opportunities. That support played a key role in helping me secure my first accounting position. From there, I focused on building a strong foundation, staying adaptable, and seeking roles that allowed me to continue learning and building credibility. 

Your career has moved from accounting to audit, IT audit, and now risk management. What guided those transitions? 

Each transition was guided by curiosity and a desire to understand risk from a broader perspective. Accounting provided a strong technical foundation, while audit allowed me to see how controls functioned in practice. As technology became increasingly central to business operations, moving into IT audit helped me understand systems and data integrity. Risk management ultimately brought all of those experiences together, allowing me to take a strategic, enterprise-wide view and contribute at a higher level. 

What does your current role as Risk Management Director involve? 

As the first Director of Risk Management, I’ve built a framework that enables leaders to make informed and confident decisions across financial, operational, and technological areas. I’m particularly proud of developing a senior leadership dashboard that makes risk insights clear, accessible, and actionable. In addition, I lead in-depth root cause analyses that have significantly reduced incidents and outages. The work is especially meaningful because it combines strategic thinking with practical, hands-on improvements that strengthen the organization’s overall resilience. 

You recently launched Women in Risk and Governance Leadership (WRGL). What inspired you to create it? 

I was inspired to create WRGL after consistently seeing a lack of representation in leadership and governance roles. I wanted to build a space that offers mentorship, accessible resources, and a strong sense of community to help address that gap and support more women and underrepresented professionals as they move into positions of influence. 

What advice would you give to current UTM students preparing for their next chapter? 

Take full advantage of the resources available to you, especially career services, mentorship programs, and opportunities to connect with others on campus.  

Focus on building skills beyond the classroom, such as communication, adaptability, and problem solving, because those are just as important as technical knowledge. Be open to paths that may not look like your original plan. Every role, experience, and challenge teaches you something valuable and often leads to opportunities you didn’t expect. 

What motivates you as you look ahead? 

I’m motivated by the opportunity to build systems that help both organizations and people thrive. Whether through risk management or mentorship, my focus is always on creating meaningful and lasting impact. I want the work I do to strengthen organizations, empower individuals, and leave things better, more resilient, and more inclusive than I found them.