Sohaib Shahid

Director, Economic Innovation

About

Sohaib Shahid is the Director of Economic Innovation at The Conference Board of Canada. He leads the Economic Innovation team where he provides thought leadership, coaching and mentoring to his team members. In his role he functions as the senior subject matter expert and spokesperson for the Board.

Past Work Experience

Throughout Sohaib’s career he has provided economic thought leadership for both the public and private sectors, including Senior Economist for TD Bank where he led TD’s global economic forecast. He worked as an Economist for the IMF where he contributed to the Global Stability Report as well as IMF’s G20 Working Group. Sohaib began his career at the World Bank in Washington DC where he worked on a wide variety of economic issues for a diverse set of countries. His work has been featured in various national and international publications.

Academic Credentials

Ph.D.

Academic Background

Doctorate of Economics, Graduate Institute of International Development Studies
Master of Arts in Economics, Graduate Institute of International Development Studies

Contact

shahid@conferenceboard.ca

Economics impacts everybody, everywhere, all the time. Be it through GDP growth, government spending or monetary policy. I decided to pursue economics because I saw it as one of the most important ways to make a difference in people’s lives.

Get to Know Sohaib

What brought you to the Conference Board?

Having worked in some prominent organizations such as the IMF, World Bank, and TD, I was already familiar with the Conference Board’s stellar reputation. Throughout my career, I’ve enjoyed combining cutting-edge economic research with economic policy. So, when I saw the job opening at CBoC, I knew I had to apply and become a part of our country’s foremost independent applied research organization. A major factor in me accepting the offer was also knowing that the Board was not only stating its values but also living them every day.

What impact do you hope to see from your work?

Economics impacts everybody, everywhere, all the time. Be it through GDP growth, government spending or monetary policy. I decided to pursue economics because I saw it as one of the most important ways to make a difference in people’s lives. And here I am. Nothing makes me happier than knowing that my team’s economic analyses, forecasts, and policy recommendations help Canadian’s make more informed decisions and improve their lives. It’s what gets me up every morning.

What do you do when you’re offline?

I live by the motto, family first, and spend as much time as I can with my loved ones. Not to forget, my beloved Labradoodle who is always by my side. He has decided to become my officemate during the pandemic, so if you see a tail wagging in the background during video calls, it’s him! I also enjoy playing golf, cycling, and reading. And to anyone who hasn’t already read it, I strongly recommend The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It’s for those who have dreams and are on a journey to fulfil them.