Shelby Banera

Bachelor of Business Administration — Financial Services '21, School of Business
Commercial Banking Associate, TD

At the tender age of 14, Shelby Banera was already setting down entrepreneurial roots. Inspired and encouraged by her grandmother and her parents, she created a successful small business by combining her love of baking with her love of cooking food that celebrates her Ukrainian heritage. Throughout her teenage years, Banera grew alongside her business, as single orders for cakes, perogies and cabbage rolls expanded into baking for her high school cafeteria and competing in national culinary competitions. Her catering gigs culminated in a wedding where Banera's five-tier wedding cake took centre stage.

Getting to that point, however, was far from a cakewalk. At the same time Banera was evolving her business, she was diagnosed with two learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which made her a target for bullying.

"School was difficult for me, but having a passion for my business helped take my focus away from negative thoughts and feelings," she says. "So did support from my parents, my church and mentors from a non-profit organization called Young Women of Power."

Banera's hard work crossed over from her small business to high school, and she learned to tailor learning materials for her learning style. Those same skills served her well at SAIT. Inspired by her grandfather to pursue a career involving math, Banera became an advocate who supported classmates struggling in accounting courses or business math. She also tutored university students in technical aspects of the stock market and, in her fourth year, published an e-book that introduces readers to investing and taking control of their money.

Today, Banera's interests in finance, business and people come together in her work as a commercial banking associate with TD. Using her SAIT degree and personal experience as an entrepreneur, she helps business clients succeed — and she has a soft spot for women-owned businesses. A member of TD's Women in Enterprise nationwide team, Banera has a knack for recognizing in her clients the same passion that made her successful.

"My background means I can put myself in their shoes," she says. "I see how challenging it can be to start a business and I want to help them find the right path forward."

When she’s not helping women entrepreneurs, Banera also uses her baking and organizational skills to raise funds for shelterless animals, offers inspiration to young women interested in financial services, and recently completed her first half marathon.