Alex

Name: Alex Monk
Position: Senior Analyst and Controller
Age: 27
Hometown: Kanata, ON
Millennial Type: Stampeder

Contact Him:
Email: alex@abacusdata.ca

As a kid, what was the first thing you wanted to be when you grew up?

The first thing I can remember wanting to be was an astronaut.  As a kid I was really interested in science and space.  From my Lego sets to the documentaries I watched and the museums I spent my weekends at, most things I did when I was young related to space in some way.

Where did you go to school?

I did my undergraduate degree in political science and economics at Carleton University, where personal interest led me to use a number of my elective choices on accounting and finance courses.  Upon graduation, I considered enrolling in a Masters degree in the same stream as my undergrad or an MBA.  Ultimately, I chose to pursue a designation of Certified Management Accountant (CMA) and am currently a CMA Candidate.

What is your favourite food?

Egg rolls from Golden Palace on Carling Avenue. So good.

What is your biggest pet peeve?

It bothers me when people inappropriately use (usually unknowingly) heuristics and bias in reasoning; particularly representativeness, availability, and the confirmation bias.  Also when people walk slowly and take up the entire sidewalk.

On a Saturday evening, what would you most like to do?

It’s hard to beat an evening out with friends: some live music and microbrew in a small pub.  It’s even better if that pub is near a mountain and the next day is filled with skiing.

What role do you play in Abacus Data’s the Canadian Millennial research practice?

Within our Millennial practice, I work directly with clients to build objectives, author reports, conduct focus groups, and program online surveys; I am also responsible for financial control and administration

What do you most like about your job at Abacus Data?

I like that my job is always something different.  For me, a great appeal of working with a small company is the dynamic atmosphere and the challenge.  At Abacus, I have the fortune of working with a great team of people across a wide range of projects and disciplines – it’s never routine.