In pursuit of excellence: Alexi’s journey from student to hired

Fresh off completing his bachelor’s degree, Alexi Melanson is one of the newest graduates to join J.D. Irving, Limited’s corporate finance team. He came into the role with not only four summers of on-the-job experience; he also capped off his academic journey with the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick Silver Medal, which he earned for being the top student in the University of New Brunswick Fredericton’s Faculty of Management.

Alexi’s potential has been recognized since the start of his post-secondary studies. A recipient of the J.D. Irving, Limited NB Leadership Scholarship in 2022, Alexi finished high school with some peace of mind, but he didn’t rest on his laurels.

“It gave me the confidence to perform well in school,” he said of the scholarship, adding that once he settled in and found himself enjoying his coursework, he soon learned that with hard work, he could hit those top of class grades.

Summer co-op terms at JDI also helped cement his belief that he’d chosen the right field. Starting right out of high school into his first work term, Alexi held roles as a summer student, in financial planning and analysis, data management and in accounting, gaining a taste for the many opportunities available to him in a finance career.

After only his second summer with the company and right before he started his second year of university, Alexi had a full-time offer in hand for when he completed his degree.

Some students might have coasted after this, keeping grades just high enough to retain their scholarship. Not Alexi.

He maintained top academic standing while staying active in campus life, taking on leadership roles as President of the Finance Club and Chairman and Founding Team Member of Stock Pitch Atlantic, a student-run competition that brings together students from universities across Atlantic Canada to pitch investment ideas to a panel of industry professionals. Beyond organizing his own, he also competed in stock pitch competitions as an active member of UNB’s Student Investment Fund, which took him to Vancouver and Toronto this year.

“My biggest takeaway has been understanding how to balance the effort needed to do well across the board: work, school, relationships, personal goals, health and everything in between. The effort you put in always finds its way back to you,” Alexi said.

Now settled into his full-time role, Alexi is working towards his Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Professional Accountant and designations. He’s also looking forward to expanding his career journey as he gains exposure to various industries through his role.

“JDI offers a lot of opportunity, and with that comes the challenge of working across so many businesses, people and perspectives,” he said. “It pushes you to keep learning and adapting.”

As a top student with a promising career ahead of him, Alexi has taken what he’s learned seriously. He now has some advice of his own to impart:

“Focus on what you can control, put in your best effort, and take accountability. Those three things will carry you through anything, no matter what you’re working towards.”