Meet the BCom students behind ‘UVic Girls that Invest’ club

By Jennifer Ivanov

It started as a conversation among friends while away on a weekend trip. If they were interested in learning more about how to properly invest their money, then surely there were others just like them.

That idea has since evolved into a thriving community on campus known as UVic Girls that Invest. Since launching the club in the fall of 2025, BCom students Aliyah Minter, Cynthia Lu, and Zena Urquhart have organized more than a dozen events, bringing women working in personal finance, wealth management, and investment banking to campus to share their insights and experiences. In less than a year, the club has grown to more than 150 members, with nearly 1,000 followers online.

“We just really wanted to build a community, a place where women could learn from one another no matter their level of experience,” explains Aliyah. “We came into this with limited knowledge ourselves, but a strong desire to learn.”

The club’s mission is to make investing more accessible by breaking down barriers and creating a welcoming environment where women feel comfortable asking questions, building confidence, and developing financial literacy. Through beginner-friendly workshops, peer-to-peer support, and guest speakers, UVic Girls that Invest aims to empower women to take control of their financial futures.

“We are always talking about investing,” says Cynthia. “As we started university, we became more interested in understanding our finances and learning how investing could help us build savings. We looked into a few existing groups on campus, but none really felt like the right fit. Eventually, we thought, why not start something ourselves and learn together?”

From the classroom to the real world

Both Cynthia and Aliyah credit the courses they took at Gustavson with developing their interest and knowledge in finance. They say the classes not only introduced key concepts but also helped them see the real-world impact.

“I think it’s important to learn about finances and plan your financial future no matter what age you are,” says Cynthia. “The courses I took at Gustavson didn’t just teach me concepts—they gave me the confidence to actually start applying those ideas.”

Common misconceptions about investing

“I think there are a lot of myths with investing,” explains Cynthia. “We’ve had a lot of people tell us they assumed it was only for the super-rich, or that it’s really hard to get started, or that you have to do tons of research and that’s simply not true.”

The club encourages women to start where they are and build their knowledge over time.

“Yes, research is important,” adds Aliyah, “but it can be as simple as getting started, trying things out, and learning as you go. I began learning alongside my parents when I was 14. We know students don’t always have a lot of money, but we see this as an investment in yourself—it’s worth learning.”

“There are so many different ways to learn,” explains Cynthia. “I used an investing simulator until I turned 19 and could start investing for real. It lets you practice without using actual money, which makes it really fun and a low-pressure way to build confidence.”

Their events cover everything from the basics—like how dividends work or what a bull market is—to more advanced topics such as wealth-building strategies and asset management.

“The space can be very male-dominated, which makes it intimidating for women to join or even ask questions,” adds Cynthia. “We try to cover a wide range of topics that we think are important for students, and we focus on making everything approachable, engaging, and inclusive.”

Making investing fun for everyone

“I think what’s unique about our group is that we’re learning in a fun and welcoming way,” says Aliyah. “We do have guest speakers, but we don’t want to lecture people. We want to make learning interesting, so we’ve hosted trivia nights, played Jeopardy, and even organized networking events.”

Looking ahead, the group is already planning events for the coming school year and hopes to continue growing its membership, welcoming anyone interested in investing. They have also begun partnering with other student organizations to co-host events across campus.

“We know not everyone is as nerdy about investing or finances as we are,” jokes Cynthia. “I just think it’s important to learn and plan your financial future and that’s the message we want to share. You might want to enjoy your time as a student, travel, and see the world—but starting to invest, even in small ways, can help make those goals possible down the road.”