Simon joined the Jarvis Talent Incubation Program as a new graduate, not knowing quite what to expect. Today, he is a Senior Manager at CIBC, a result that sits at the very heart of what TIC was designed to achieve.
Some programs define themselves by their outcomes. The Jarvis Talent Incubation (TIC) Program was built to open doors for emerging talent, and for one participant from the very first cohort, it did exactly that. We sat down with Simon Andre, now a Senior Manager at CIBC, to hear about the experience in his own words: the uncertainty, the growth, and the career path nobody saw coming.
Simon joined the program fresh out of university as a Developer in the inaugural pod. His instructor was Edward Wang, COO of Jarvis Consulting Group, who led them through a foundational curriculum covering both soft and technical skills. The entire program was conducted completely virtually, a format that, in Simon’s words, never once compromised the professionalism or structure of the experience. What started as a leap of faith for both sides has since grown into a story that speaks to exactly what the Talent Incubation Program set out to accomplish: giving driven new graduates the skills, network, and exposure to break into roles that might otherwise feel out of reach.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Q: When you were first offered the opportunity to join the Talent Incubation Program, what did that mean to you?
It was a really exciting moment. It was my first job out of university, and I was grateful that the team was willing to take a chance on me. I knew that once I got my foot in the door I’d be able to prove myself, and Jarvis gave me that opportunity.
There was some uncertainty at first, since I was part of the inaugural group and the program was still fairly new. But I took a chance on them, they took a chance on me, and it worked out really well for both sides.
Q: What problem or gap were you hoping this program would help you solve at the time?
There were two main things I was hoping the program would help with.
Building my skills and marketability as a recent grad. My background was more tech-adjacent than pure computer science or engineering, so having concrete, recognized skills to put on my resume made a real difference.
Getting my foot in the door at larger companies. As a new grad, when you looked at the job postings at banks, there just wasn’t much there for someone at my level. The network and structure that Jarvis provided helped me get past that wall and into a tech role at a larger company — something that honestly felt impossible before.
“The network and structure that Jarvis provided helped me get past that wall and into a tech role at a larger company - something that honestly felt impossible before.”
SIMON ANDRE, TIC ALUMNI
Q: How did the program change your outlook on your career in financial services and technology?
It opened my eyes to career paths I hadn’t really considered before. Growing up thinking about tech careers, the only things that came to mind were Silicon Valley, big tech companies, or startups. Those are great, but they don’t fully represent the kinds of opportunities that actually exist here in Toronto.
The TIC program helped me see the Toronto tech landscape more clearly and showed me that large financial institutions genuinely need skilled developers and that those roles are absolutely worth pursuing.
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to join, or who recently joined, the TIP?
Don’t box yourself in. A lot of people come in with a fixed idea of the role they want or the technology they want to work with, but if you find yourself excelling at something you hadn’t previously considered, follow that and see where it takes you. Being flexible about the kind of work you can do and the environments you can thrive in will open a lot more doors than most people expect.
Q: What’s something you wish you had known earlier in your career that would benefit new trainees today?
Aim to be the person your manager comes to when something goes wrong or when there’s a tough problem to solve. It takes a certain ability to perform well under pressure, but once you establish yourself as that go-to person, you stay at the front of your leader’s mind. That kind of visibility makes a huge difference when opportunities come up.
Q: What does it mean to you to be part of the first cohort and to see how far the program has come?
It’s really something to see how much Jarvis has grown. There’s something genuinely cool about having been part of the very first group in what is now a large, well-established program.
Even back then, it felt like something was being built. The space was smaller, the processes weren’t formalized yet, but the people running it kept everything professional and on track. I never had that sinking feeling of “what have I signed up for?” — and for a brand-new program, that says a lot.
Ready to Write Your Own Story?
The Jarvis Talent Incubation Program is open to driven new grads ready to launch their careers in tech and financial services.
