Immigrants of Tech - Divya Ramaswamy

Meet Divya Ramaswamy! Divya is the VP of Growth at Super.com. Here she shares her winding road to Marketing, advice for newcomers looking to enter tech and what she's loved about building her career in Canada.

You've been a Marketing leader in tech for a while coming via Dubai and Singapore - what's your story?

Sure! It’s been a fun ride, and completely accidental, really. I actually started out wanting to be a writer and journalist full-time. I grew up in Dubai and began writing at the age of five, thinking, "This is it. This is what I’m going to do with my life." I loved it. But when I went to university to study journalism and psychology, I got bored and picked up business on the side.

That’s when things took a turn—I ended up getting a job offer from Google, without having formally applied. I was planning to continue my studies, but one of my professors suggested I take the offer. She had sent my CV across without telling me, and I figured I might as well give it a shot. I was more creatively inclined, so getting into data felt like the opposite of what I wanted. But working at Google showed me how creativity and data can complement each other, and that’s where my love for digital marketing began. From there, a lot of my career has been about conscious but accidental choices, guided more by work culture and the people I work with than by a fixed plan.

What was it like working in travel and marketing during the pandemic?

It was interesting! I had just finished a stint in banking, which I realized wasn’t for me. Startups are where I thrive—there’s more ownership, and I love working with smart, empathetic people, which startups often attract.

When I returned to Canada during the pandemic, Super.com was still mainly a travel company. Their product offering was unique, with great distribution, and the potential to grow exponentially. We had gone from zero to five, and it was time to go from five to 10—or five to 100! The audience and product were a natural fit for my skills. I remember stepping in and thinking, “I hope I don’t mess this up!” But we focused on what worked, studied the data, and diversified to help us grow even more.

Working during the pandemic wasn’t as bad as it could have been, because people were still traveling—just differently. They were looking to reconnect with nature or escape the constant news cycle, so our product still had relevance.

Could you tell us more about Super.com’s value proposition and the growth you’ve been a part of?

Absolutely. Super.com started as Snaptravel, a hotel booking engine, but we’ve since evolved into an all-in-one savings and earnings app. Our mission is to help people put more money in their pockets through a range of offerings, from travel to credit products to subscriptions. Our travel offering is global while our cash and credit products primarily serve US customers, especially those who find it hard to boost their credit or afford travel.

Our product suite includes a set of travel offerings, a cash advance product, a set of travel offerings, and a subscription, all designed to save and earn more. Whether it's through discounts on theme parks like Disney or affordable hotels, we’re focused on making travel and experiences accessible for everyone, regardless of budget.

Given your extensive experience in the space, do you have any predictions for the future of travel or travel tech?

Before the pandemic, it was predicted that travel would be a $1 trillion industry by the early 2020’s. I think that number might still hold, but right now we’re seeing a leveling off. There was a massive surge in "revenge travel" post-pandemic, but that’s calmed down.

Additionally, there’s growing concern about over-tourism. Many cities, particularly in Europe, are pushing back against too many tourists coming in all at once. I think we’ll see more balance in the future, with travelers becoming more conscious of their carbon footprint and how they impact the places they visit. There’s room for growth in eco-friendly travel, and I hope that accelerates.

What drew you to build your career here, and do you have advice for newcomers looking to enter the Canadian tech ecosystem?

Canada feels like home to me in many ways. I associate it with both family and choice. It was the first place I proactively chose to move to after doing research, and even after living in Singapore for a while, I always wanted to come back. There’s a sense of balance here that I didn’t find elsewhere—great work-life harmony and a welcoming, accepting culture.

For newcomers, I would say patience is key. The Canadian tech ecosystem can move a bit slower than in the U.S. or parts of Asia, especially in terms of adopting new technologies. However, if you can communicate effectively, build strong use cases, and demonstrate the value of what you’re doing, you can help accelerate that pace within your organization.

1. Highlighting global experience that translates well locally, and using quantitative and qualitative data points are very helpful. 

2. Drawing parallels between customer and / or process similarities shows adaptability and flexibility, which are highly valued.

3. Indicating the size and scale of past companies worked with in the resume can give potential employers a sense of budgets managed, the kind of stakeholders you've collaborated with, and the scale you've worked with.

4. Sending out feelers and connecting with people well in advance of making the move can also help cultivate relationships and familiarity, which  helps you ease into a new environment.

To wrap things up, what’s a standout Canadian experience you’ve had, either personally or professionally?

I’ve had so many! Personally, I just came back from Vancouver Island, where I went on a kayaking trip. I saw orcas, humpbacks, sea lions—it was breathtaking. I love that Canada has so much untouched nature.

Professionally, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished at Super.com—growing from one vertical to many, expanding the business, and building a team I’m really proud of. Despite working remotely, we’ve built a strong sense of camaraderie, and it’s been rewarding to see our hard work translate into real value for our customers.