Ella van der Werff '24, Conversation to Career

How Collingwood connections and student initiative have opened doors to real-world opportunities.

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For Ella van der Werff ’24, one conversation at a Collingwood student–alumni mixer became the starting point for her first professional opportunity in university. Now a student at the UBC Sauder School of Business, she is building a foundation for her career, exploring finance, leadership opportunities, philanthropic endeavours, and the power of alumni connections.

After graduating from Collingwood, Ella focused first on adjusting to university life. “In first year, I was focused on working on my grades and everything and making sure that I was able to adjust, and this year, I’ve taken on some more work outside of just classes.”

Over the summer, Ella worked with Collingwood alum Sasha Faris '05, President of FirstTrack, a Vancouver-based development and investment company. The opportunity stemmed from a conversation at a Collingwood student–alumni mixer during her Grade 12 year – a moment that evolved into mentorship and, eventually, employment.

“Sasha definitely had the biggest impact on me,” she says. “I reached out to him when I went to university… we met up periodically for chats, and then when it was Spring and I was looking for internships, he said, ‘Well, why don’t you come and work with me!’”

At FirstTrack, Ella gained exposure to real-world investment strategy and development, seeing firsthand how projects move from concept to execution. Beyond the technical experience, the shared Collingwood connection created immediate trust and relatability.

“That was such a great opportunity because having that middle ground in knowing that we both went to the same high school… I think it's something that you get very, very rarely.”

At the same time, she broadened her analytical skill set at Eckler Ltd., an actuarial consulting firm in Vancouver.

“I also ended up working at another company at the same time called Eckler, helping with data upload for a new internal platform that they were running.”

Balancing roles at both FirstTrack and Eckler allowed Ella to experience two sides of the financial world: strategic investment thinking and the technical infrastructure that supports decision-making. While alumni support opened the door, Ella’s initiative made the opportunity possible.

“I knew people were much more receptive when it came from someone who went to the same school they did, compared to just some random person reaching out.”

That same initiative continues to shape her university experience. At UBC, Ella is involved with Compounding for a Cure, a student-run nonprofit that manages a real-money investment portfolio and donates its proceeds to ALS research.

“We do soft pitches and donate the proceeds from a student-run fund to ALS research. That's been really rewarding.”

The organization blends finance and philanthropy, requiring students to research investments, pitch ideas, and manage capital, all while contributing to a meaningful cause. For Ella, it reflects both her academic interests and her desire to make a tangible impact.

She credits Collingwood with preparing her to step into these opportunities confidently.

“Collingwood is very focused on being well-rounded.”

That emphasis on balance continues in her leadership roles on campus, including her involvement in Greek life, where she served as the Panhellenic Delegate for Kappa Kappa Gamma last year.

For Ella, however, the most important lesson has been about initiative and community.

“You have to put yourself out there so much more than you think is reasonable, find your own little pockets of community.”

Looking ahead, Ella is eager to continue building her foundation in finance. She has completed the Canadian Securities Course and is exploring exchange opportunities in Milan, London, or Spain.

Through mentorship, dual professional roles, and student-led investing, Ella is turning learning into practical experience and demonstrating how Collingwood connections can evolve into meaningful opportunities.