2020 THROUGH THE EYES OF PRITESH PATEL PRITESH PATEL '09 College | STORY BY: Dolly Liu '22 College
Pritesh Patel is a Regional Manager in the High Client Division of the Direct Investing field at TD Bank. Upon graduating from Rundle College in 2009, Pritesh earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Calgary.
I asked Pritesh to tell me about what he does on a day-to-day basis. As a Regional Manager in the Direct Investing Field, Pritesh acts as a “concierge service” to clients who are looking for answers to everything related to investing. His main goal is to keep his clients and their money in a secure and happy place. Most of Pritesh’s time is spent communicating with clients through calls, emails, and Zoom. Before COVID-19, he met with clients through dinners, lunches, and coffee chats. Pritesh admits that it has been difficult to connect with his clients on a personal level in 2021, as virtual meetings are more “down-to-business” and less personable than meeting with them face-to-face. Still, Pritesh is optimistic and is making the best of his current situation; he is looking forward to the day that he can return to his office in a COVID-free world.
What is one word that he would use to describe his job in 2020 and why? “Unprecedented.” Pritesh explains that the banking industry is constantly evolving as the pandemic goes on, causing fast and unpredictable changes in his everyday life. He noted that in March 2020, markets were moving at insane levels: “the stock market had just gone haywire.” Pritesh had to face the pressure of confused clients, system failures, and utmost chaos from the isolation of his own home. Pritesh’s unfamiliar and ever-changing work environment really attests to how truly “unprecedented” life can be in 2020.
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What is one major way that COVID-19 has affected banking in general and how has he overcome this challenge? As in-person interaction shifted to online platforms, Pritesh noted that clients could no longer come to the branch. In fact, the TD building was quite literally empty, causing a major loss of interaction and connection within the TD community. Despite this, Pritesh’s versatility allowed him to maintain personal interactions differently by initiating virtual discussions. One important thing that Pritesh emphasizes is taking that first step to reach out to someone else. Whether it be cold calling, checking in, or just having a chat, everyone is more than happy to talk, especially in this time of isolation.
What is one thing that he has accomplished in 2020 and is most proud of? Pritesh’s ability to “adapt on the fly” while staying positive is something that he is most proud of and something that all of us can relate to. For Pritesh and everyone around him, flexibility and positivity aided in the success of their turbulent transition from in-person to online banking. Even though it may seem simple, everyone deserves to congratulate themselves for how much they have already accomplished just by remaining positive and being adaptable.
If he could go back in time and speak to his high school self, what would he say to him? “I just didn’t know what I wanted to do when I was in high school, and I would say to myself, "that’s ok.” Pritesh
2021 ASCENT MAGAZINE | RUNDLE COLLEGE SOCIETY ALUMNI
