Saijal Patel

Saijal Patel

Job Description

I teach people how money works—like a money guide or coach. You know how you might be thinking about your first job, saving up for a car, or even college one day? Well, I help people—especially women—understand how to make smart choices with their money so they can do all those things without stressing out. Most people were never taught how to manage money, so I break it down in a simple way, kind of like showing them the cheat codes to adulting.
And I get to do it through courses, videos, podcasts, and even big talks at companies and schools!

Relevant School Subjects

Business

Areas Of Expertise

Business & Finance

Career Story

After graduating high school in Thompson, Manitoba, I went to university in Winnipeg to study business and finance because I wanted to understand how money works—something that affects every part of our lives, but most of us aren’t taught. My first jobs were in the financial advisory world, helping people invest their money, plan for taxes, and make smart decisions for their businesses. I then moved to work on Bay Street in Toronto (kind of like Canada’s Wall Street), analyzing companies and stock markets.

Then something totally unexpected happened—I ended up on TV! I got into business journalism by chance and became a news reporter and anchor, first at BNN in Canada and then at CNBC. That job took me to Asia, where I lived for 11 years, mostly in Singapore and Hong Kong. I covered stock markets across the world, explained what was going on with the economy, and was fortunate to interview some of the brightest minds in business! I even interviewed some pretty big names—including Prime Minister Stephen Harper. And when I wasn’t working, I got to travel all over Asia —Japan, Thailand, Indonesia—you name it!

But the most important thing I learned through all of that? Most people—no matter how successful they were—didn’t fully understand how to manage their money or how money works. And I believe that learning this is a life skill, like learning how to swim or cook. So in 2018, I took everything I’d learned and started my own financial education company to teach people—especially women—how to take control of their money and their future. And today, I run online courses and in-person workshops, I work with some of the biggest global banks in the world, and I host Canada’s only national personal finance show, Strictly Money.

It’s been a wild ride, but I absolutely love what I do, and seeing the difference it’s making in people’s lives!