Anna Belford: Not a Typical Résumé for a B2B Information Services Firm

Not everyone at Dialectica studied business, finance, or economics. Talent here doesn't depend on your degree. It depends on your drive. That's Anna Belford's story.

Before joining Dialectica, Anna, originally from St. Catharines, Ontario, studied sustainability and urban studies at McGill University, and her first job out of school was in sustainable business development at a textile startup. Nothing about that path pointed toward a leading B2B information services firm. But what drew her in wasn't the industry itself. It was the shape of the company.

"I consider myself to be drawn to high-growth environments where you can see the direct impact of your work," Anna said. Researching Dialectica's growth in its first decade was enough to convince her. What sealed it was something more specific: a visible route from entry level associate to manager. She made that her goal from day one, and has since lived it. Anna joined as an Associate in August 2024, moved up to Senior Associate by October 2025, and was promoted to Manager in January 2026, reaching that goal in under a year and a half.

Learning on the Job

Reaching that goal meant learning a business she knew nothing about, on the job. "Despite not having a background in business education, I was excited to have the opportunity to learn this type of role. I was given the tools I needed to excel in a new field and have not looked back."

That learning curve hasn't slowed down. Anna describes her days as a race against the clock, delivering client insight as efficiently as possible across an unpredictable range of industries. One project might mean speaking with senior executives at major software companies; the next, calling the owner of a small business she'd never otherwise have crossed paths with. "Both come with their own challenges and their own excitement."

What Keeps Her Here

Ask her what's kept her there, and the answer isn't the variety of the work. It's who she does it with. "My coworkers truly make me feel like a part of a community of young and similarly minded individuals." Add in daily conversations with experts across every industry imaginable, and the job becomes less about tasks and more about who you get to learn from.

Advice for the Next Person

Her advice to anyone eyeing a similar leap into an unfamiliar field is straightforward: don't let the unfamiliarity be the deciding factor. "When I started, I wasn't very knowledgeable about this industry, but that shouldn't discourage anyone. Everyone is capable of succeeding here if they're ready to learn."

Anna didn't come to Dialectica with the résumé this industry expected. She built one instead.

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