A woman of many talents, Varsity Blues tennis standout Veronika Podobed aims to continuously challenge herself. Whether working through puzzles at home, facing tough competition on the court, or working through a creative solution in the classroom, she finds joy in the everyday challenge. 

This is what led Podobed to the U of T engineering program, majoring in industrial engineering with certificates in engineering business and artificial intelligence. And it has allowed her to further understand how her constant aim for problem-solving has benefitted her both as a tennis player and a student in engineering. 

"Every match feels like a problem to solve. You must adjust your strategies, react to your opponent's shots, adapt to the environment, and remain composed under pressure. That same adaptability and strategic thinking are at the heart of engineering: analyzing dynamic environments, optimizing responses, and continuously learning from feedback. I realized that the mindset I bring to the court is the same one that drives innovation in technology." 

This mindset has served her well in both spaces as Podobed has garnered U SPORTS academic all-Canadian honours, while also playing a key role in back-to-back provincial championships in 2024 and 2025. A key component to that on-court success for U of T, Podobed secured crucial points during both championship finals, winning singles and doubles matches in each gold-medal matchup.  

Somehow, amongst all the training as a member of the Varsity Blues tennis team and studying for the rigorous academic program, she has also still found time to engrain herself even further into the engineering community at U of T. This has included being a part of Blues in Engineering, a club connecting varsity athletes within the various engineering programs. As well, membership with the University of Toronto Formula Racing (UTFR) Deep Learning team, focusing on 3D object detection and analysis to improve autonomous driving capabilities and real-time decision-making. And serving as Marketing Co-Director for Engineers Without Borders, helping lead outreach and engagement initiatives for the club.  

But a specific event pulls together all these engineering passions into a memory Podobed holds onto, showcasing the even larger scale of U of T's world-renowned program. 

"One of my favorite memories at U of T so far has been attending the 150th Engineering Gala. It was an incredible experience celebrating the achievements of U of T engineering, from inspiring keynote speakers to meeting alumni and connecting with students across all years. The event made me feel part of a larger, unified community of engineers, past and present. It also reaffirmed my choice to pursue engineering at U of T, seeing firsthand the impact and success of those who came before us and the support that continues to guide our journey." 

Looking ahead to what comes after graduation, Podobed possesses a clear direction fueled by her passion for understanding. 

"I'm very excited about what's ahead after my degree. I plan to pursue graduate studies to deepen my understanding of artificial intelligence, deep learning, and analytics, as these are fields that are transforming the way we think, decide, and create. My goal is to work in environments where strategy, innovation, and technology come together to enhance human performance and decision-making, and one day, to build my own company that brings these ideas to life." 

She additionally shares one final parting message for those pondering the choice of U of T for themselves. 

"It truly has something for everyone, from world-class academics and research opportunities to incredible athletics and extracurriculars. Whether you're interested in joining clubs, pursuing innovative projects, or training in top-tier sports facilities, U of T provides the resources and support to help you grow. What makes it special is the vibrant, connected community, professors, coaches, and students all support one another and push each other to reach their best. Choosing U of T has been one of the best decisions I've made!"