Information Technology Services (ITS)
IT@UofT People — Keshav Raina
Published on: April 16, 2025
The backbone of any successful team is its hard-working people. The University of Toronto’s information technology professionals are no exception. IT@UofT is made up of a diverse range of people with an even greater diversity in their interests and talents.
In this segment, entitled “IT@UofT People,” we will get to know our IT@UofT community across all three campuses and find out more about their hidden or not-so-hidden talents and/or pursuits outside of work.
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Department: Planning, Governance and Assessment, ITS
Title: Administrative Officer (Data Analyst)
How long have you worked at U of T?
I joined U of T as an undergrad in 2014, started working here as a student in 2016 and kept working here after I graduated in 2018. It’s like Hotel California—you can check out, but you can never leave.
What is your secret or not-so-secret talent or hobby outside of work?
I play the guitar and sing.
How and why did you get involved in this hobby?
My sister, Shivani, played the guitar before me. She really wanted me to play with her, but as a 13-year-old, I was more interested in playing video games. She made a bet with me one day (I can’t recall what it was about), and if I lost, I’d have to learn the guitar from her. I lost, started playing and once I started, I couldn’t stop.
Do you have any professional training in this field?
Aside from learning from my sister, I learned flamenco guitar for a few months in Cyprus from a Greek Cypriot teacher. He was one of the warmest, kindest teachers I’ve ever had. Thanks to him, Spanish guitar now always reminds me, ironically, of Cyprus.
Do you have any outstanding memories or accomplishments from this hobby?
I’ve played at events and uploaded song covers to social media, but my favorite memory is from my first year as a student at U of T. It was late at night, and I was heading home from a jam session with my college club (Innis JamZ). I stopped to charge my iPod at a common room full of older students before I headed out. I stood and waited, carrying my acoustic guitar on my back.
The older students were teasing me, asking me to play a song for them. I knew they were just picking on me (in a friendly way), but I yielded. I played a funky cover of Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix. Nothing technically impressive, but it was catchy. As I played, I noticed a couple sitting together in my impromptu audience. They looked at each other and smiled.
There was something about the way they looked at each other: it wasn’t even about me. They just liked the music for what it was. It was a great feeling knowing I did that and made their night a bit cooler. I walked home dreaming of becoming a star musician. That’s not what I chose to do in the end—and it totally was a choice; I of course would have become rich and famous with a snap of my fingers (joking). In everything I do, I’ve chased that feeling ever since: doing something people appreciate for what it is and makes them say or think, “Wow, this is cool.”
Who/what are your inspirations?
Musicians of any genre inspire me. There’s a lot of good music out there, and it’s never been this accessible to everybody.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Learn to play an instrument! You don’t have to be great (I still am not), but it’s fulfilling, and it’ll make you listen to music differently and appreciate it more.