“Data plus algorithm equals output.”

Martin Wildberger, RBC’s Executive Vice President of AI Innovation and Technology, shared that idea with a full room of emerging technologists from the Departments of Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering during the Tech@RBC Insider Series on February 25.

This series is a collaboration between the Faculty of Arts & Science, the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering and Tech@RBC. Together, we are building a three‑year, 12‑event program to help students develop industry-ready skills, make meaningful connections and explore new directions in AI, cybersecurity and innovation.

RBC is supporting the series and investing directly in our students. The bank has created two new scholarships that will benefit 10 students each year. This year’s computer science recipients are:

James Han
Amber Liu
Kiarash Sotoudeh
Dhairya Thakkar
Helen Zhao

Reflecting on the keynote, RBC Scholar Dhairya Thakkar says the discussion shifted how he thinks about his future in tech.

“The biggest thing I’m taking away is something Martin said: you and someone else can have the exact same data but end up in completely different places because of your ‘algorithm’ — the way you think, how you approach problems, the perspectives you bring. That really changed how I think about my path in tech.”

The audience enjoying the Tech@RBC Insider Series keynote with Martin Wildberger. *(Photo: Jeff Beardall)*

Student impact went beyond the keynote. They attended two program tracks: a hiring insights and résumé workshop, and career micro-chats with RBC experts who work across the bank’s tech teams.

“Talking to RBC’s data engineering team showed me how central data governance and compliance are at an enterprise level,” said Carmen Chau, a third-year CS specialist and statistics major. “As CS students, we focus a lot on coding but tonight helped me see how those skills connect to real, large‑scale problems.”

The value of the Tech@RBC Insider Series comes in many forms: it shifts perspectives, sparks new ideas about the future and gives students a clearer sense of where they see themselves in the tech landscape.

“Talking with the data team from RBC Borealis really opened my eyes,” said Krisha Kalsi, fourth-year CS specialist. “In school, we focus so much on coding, but in industry, data work intersects with compliance, governance and even national‑level priorities. Seeing that bigger picture was eye‑opening.”

Students were able to participate in a resume workshop and industry-expert micro chats. *(Photo: Jeff Beardall)*

Thakkar says attending events like these matters to him as a computer science student.

“As a CS student, it almost felt necessary to be here. AI is changing so fast, and hearing how Canada’s largest bank is approaching it — especially in fintech — was invaluable. It helped me understand where the industry is heading and how I might fit into that future.”