Originally from Mexico City and raised in Houston, Texas and Palm Beach, Florida, Aria Soria settled in Halifax during her final year of high school. Aria is a second-year Bachelor of Commerce Co-op student intending to major in Accounting and pursue both the CPA and CFA designations. “I chose Dalhousie because of its strong reputation across the Atlantic provinces and its mandatory co-op program, which provides invaluable real-world experience early in your degree.”
During her first two years at Dalhousie, Aria embraced any professional development opportunities that came her way. She has participated in seven case competitions, including podium finishes at Rumble in the Rowe (2nd place), Challenges Within National Case Competition (2nd place), and Strategic Solutions Summit (1st place). “Beyond competing, I’m also coordinating and overseeing the Atlantic Invitational Case Competition, which has been one of my most rewarding leadership experiences so far.”
Aria also focuses on prioritizing opportunities for professional networking. “I make it a point to attend every networking event I can, both on and off campus. Showing up consistently, with a strong resume and genuine curiosity, has opened doors for me and helped me secure opportunities like my upcoming co-op at EY and my current internship at Marsh MacLennan.” Her participation in the 2025 Toronto Corporate Tour also helped her gain exposure to Toronto’s professional landscape through visiting corporate offices and making connections at the alumni and employer partner networking reception.
Aria’s drive comes from her sense of curiosity. She holds executive roles across multiple societies, including Dalhousie Commerce Society as HR Director, Dalhousie Accounting Society as VP Community, Dalhousie Investment Society as Marketing Rep, Dalhousie Consulting Association as Academic Co-chair, Dalhousie Black Business Student Association as VP Finance, and Dalhousie Unity in Business Society as President and Founder. “Being involved in multiple societies allows me to meet and collaborate with incredible students while giving back to the Dal community. I truly prioritize these roles because they’ve shaped my university experience and allowed me to grow as both a leader and a learner.”
Outside of Dal, Aria has developed her professional experience through roles at Deloitte and Marsh MacLennan. As a Tax Analyst at Deloitte, she assisted with preparing and reviewing corporate and personal tax returns while managing multiple client files under tight deadlines, which taught her the importance of collaboration, time management, and how to stay calm under pressure. At Marsh, she works in the Captive Management division, contributing to “the preparation and analysis of monthly financial statements for captive insurance entities and conducting financial benchmarking and variance analysis in Excel to evaluate performance.” She says the role has strengthened her technical and analytical skills and reinforced her belief that involvement beyond classroom is essential for building confidence.
With goals to build an international career that blends accounting, finance, and strategy, Aria is excited to begin her winter co-op with EY and continue to build on her professional skills and experience.