We sat down with Shannen Itty who recently joined the Stride Capital team as a Sales Coordinator to ask her about her previous experience and what she’s looking forward to during her internship. Keep reading to get to know Shannen better and learn more about her education, past work experience, and interests outside of work.

Tell us about your previous work experience and education and how it led you to Stride.

I am currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration in Financial Services at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. At SAIT, I have built a strong understanding of the finance industry, learning to offer tailored advice, assess client needs, and work through different financial solutions. Alongside school, I also worked in the hospitality industry for several years as a Server and later as a Front of House Supervisor. These roles helped me develop strong communication and leadership skills and taught me how to stay focused and adaptable under pressure. I was also introduced to the equipment financing industry by helping out at my dad’s equipment financing brokerage during the summers, which gave me early hands-on experience with preparing credit applications, document collection, and deal packaging. That experience sparked my early interest in the industry and ultimately led me to Stride!

What are you looking forward to about your new role as Sales Coordinator for Stride?

I’m really looking forward to getting to know all the different teams at Stride and working alongside them to achieve shared goals. I’m especially excited to be part of a collaborative team, build hands-on experience, and see what it takes to support a high functioning team.

What opportunities do you see as part of Stride and within this new role?

I see this role as such a valuable learning opportunity for someone like me who’s driven by growth and curiosity. I see the opportunity to learn directly from knowledgeable individuals and take initiative in supporting the team in any way I can. More than anything, I’m excited about the chance to grow with a team that’s passionate about what they do and share a culture of learning and collaboration.

Can you tell us a bit about your experience working in a team environment, managing client relationships, and doing financial analysis? How will this experience help you excel in your role?

I have spent the last few years in fast-paced, customer-focused environments where working as a team was essential. Throughout my experience in the hospitality industry, I regularly coordinated with multiple departments including servers, hosts, kitchen staff, and management in order to provide smooth operations and a positive guest experience. This experience taught me how to prioritize tasks, communicate clearly, and stay organized under pressure. My education in Financial Services has also introduced me to managing credit, risk, and financial decision making which I will be able to apply to day-to-day responsibilities within my role at Stride.

What is your life like outside of work?

Outside of work, I enjoy staying active, whether that’s going on hikes, attending a yoga or pilates class, or just getting outside whenever I can. I especially enjoy exploring scenic trails and lakes in Banff and Kananaskis. I also value quality time with my friends and family, and I’m a coffee enthusiast who loves discovering new cafes to read or catch up on schoolwork in!

Learn more about Shannen and get in touch today.