Michelle Lo

Position you are running for: AFSA Board of Directors

What do you believe are the main concerns for students in SAF right now? How would you like to approach fixing them?

I believe that one main concern for students in SAF right now is the lack of opportunities for professional development. One of the best ways to learn more about the industry, and the process of going into the industry, is to hear it from people who have prior experience. I would like to see more events catered towards professional development such as mentorship programs, by leveraging relationships with SAF alumni.

Another concern is the mental well-being of students. I believe that there should be more accommodations and flexibility for students to prioritize their mental health. I would like to continue supporting students' well-being through various events, such as continuing to plan exam de-stress care packages, as I have done so in the past. Students should also be given additional resources, such as a buddying system, where first-year students can be paired up with upper-year students to ask academic, personal, or coop-related questions.

What do you know about the roles and responsibilities of a Board of Director? In addition to general executive oversight and advocacy, what are some tangible deliverables that you would “want to see happen” during your 12 months as a Board of Director?

AFSA’s Board of Directors performs various duties, ones that I am well suited to, given my past experiences. I know that they perform multiple financial duties including acting as the trustees of the AFSA fund and approving any budgets that the executive team sets. They also perform different management activities including providing annual audit reports for the club and providing different recommendations on different ways the club could progress. In addition, they work with many students both inside and outside of the organization, where feedback can be addressed.

During my time on the Board of Directors, I would like to contribute and work alongside my fellow directors and SAF to continue to give back to the community that has made such an impact on my undergraduate career thus far. This includes ensuring that executives are on track with their work and communicating with organization members to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Place your platform for your position here:

As a member of the Board of Directors, I would commit to working toward the betterment of the Accounting and Finance Student Association, and students in the SAF community. Being in AFSA for the past two years as a project manager for the Internal Services department, I have had the opportunity to help further the professional development of SAF students. This includes Tax Clinic, Virtual Lounge, Networking for Newbies, Excel Workshop, and Care Packages.

I was given the opportunity to make many meaningful connections, and I have met some of my closest friends through this organization. Being a part of AFSA has allowed me to build a close network with my peers, which made me eager to involve myself in other clubs such as Women In Finance. Being an executive member of WIF allowed me to present myself as a member of the SAF community, where I was given the opportunity to deliver a speech to industry professionals at the 10th Annual Women in Accounting and Finance Summit.

My hope is that other students get the chance to involve themselves more, and continue to help grow AFSA, just as it has allowed me to grow over the past few years. I would like to continue serving this organization and work towards fostering an environment where everyone feels safe and included.