Natasha Lala, Chief Product Officer, EQ Bank, is a proud alumna of the University of Toronto’s Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) program. When asked, she is candid about the future of the field: “I’m not sure what the future of ECE is — that’s why I like it.”
For Lala, uncertainty is an opportunity. “There’s always going to be a technology that is transformative,” she says, reflecting on how the internet was the next big thing when she graduated. “The future is for us to write.”
Now, well into her career, Lala credits her success in part to the strong foundation she built at the University of Toronto. “One of the things that surprised me was how much my degree from the University of Toronto mattered,” she says.
She points to two key takeaways: a deep understanding of first principles — something she applies daily — and the high standard U of T represents. “When I’m interviewing with the CEO of a bank, he cares that I went to U of T and studied computer engineering, which is amazing to me.”
That prestige is well-earned. U of T’s ECE department is one of the largest in Canada, offering a wide range of opportunities thanks to its scale, top-tier faculty, and flexible curriculum. Over 33% of students are women, and the faculty is known for its commitment to excellence, innovation, and diversity. These values, Lala says, make U of T a place where “high achievement and hard work bring out the best in everyone.”
For Lala, the future of ECE is in the hands of today’s students — her message to current and future students is clear: the next chapter of ECE is yours to shape.