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Lila Mansour (BA Economics, 2021)

Incoming Associate, Family Law Firm – Toronto

“Economics at �������� is such a hidden gem… It’s a practical and flexible degree that helps you understand everything from individual choices to global markets.”

Lila Mansour’s journey into economics began during a �������� early admissions visit to her high school. As she flipped through the program guide, economics immediately stood out. “I was already passionate about political science, curious about how the economy works, and fascinated by human behaviour—and math was my favourite subject,” she recalls. The discipline offered the perfect blend of her interests and a strong foundation for her future ambitions, including law school and potential work in policy or public service.

At ��������, Lila embraced the opportunities that came with being part of a smaller, close-knit academic community. She supported faculty research in both economics and computer science, competed twice in JDC West, and found inspiration in her coursework. A defining moment came in her final year with an independent study paper titled “Working and Parenting in a Pandemic: The Impacts of COVID-19 on Working Parents in Canada,” which earned her a national student paper award from the Feminist Intersectional Solidarity Group (FIGS).

“That was a huge honour and a wonderful way to end my economics degree.”

Lila highlights the critical thinking skills she gained during the program as one of its most lasting impacts:

“Economics teaches you how to think. You learn to analyze problems, consider different perspectives, and pay attention to the details while still keeping the bigger picture in mind.”

That mindset has served her well in her legal journey. After completing her BA at ��������, Lila went on to graduate from the Lincoln Alexander School of Law in 2024. She is currently completing her articling term at a family law firm in Toronto and will be called to the bar in June 2025, before returning to the firm as an associate.

“Legal reasoning often involves working through a problem step by step—just like we did in economics classes.”

She adds that her comfort with data and numbers gives her a unique edge in legal work:

“It’s not something you find in every lawyer, but it comes in handy more often than you’d think.”

From research and debate to data and law, Lila’s economics background has provided her with a versatile toolkit and a deeper understanding of the policy structures shaping Canadian society. Reflecting on her time at ��������, she emphasizes the supportive faculty and the breadth of opportunity within the program.

For prospective students, her advice is simple and confident:

“If you’re curious about how the world works and want a degree that can take you in a lot of different directions, I recommend considering an economics degree at ��������.”

 

Nadorozny, Karlee

BA Economics and International Studies (2017)

I am currently the NUGSS Assistant General Manager. I work with the Board of Directors to help provide services for students and advocate on behalf of the student body. 

Last year I spend completing my Master’s in Development Studies at Queen's University. I was a full-time student and a Teaching Assistant for first-year Development students.

In my cohort at Queen's University, I was the only person who did an undergraduate degree in Economics. It was very useful for understanding many aspects of development such as political economy and global governance. Many of my cohorts asked for assistance in classes because they were intimidated by the subject. This made me a little sad because Economics is really fun to study! The degree has given me a good basis for working at a student society and understanding many of the mechanisms at play at the University.

I really enjoy learning about current trends and viewing it through an Economics lens. Economics is important to everyday life but is also a great tool to understand the current political climate. You can study anything in Economics. My favourite class in my undergrad was Labour Economics. I still enjoy learning about this subject.

I would recommend this program to undergrads because it gives you a good basis to build from. It helps you understand the world around us and our history. An Economics degree allows you to make better choices. It is also a degree that can be applied to many sectors and is well-regarded by employers. Also, it is very interesting to study and will make studying enjoyable.