Monday, January 8, 2018

Meet Toronto Rotman’s MBA Class of 2019 - Poets&Quants

Some of the MBA students in the Class of 2019 at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management

Business schools often take on the character of their cities. That’s one of the distinctive features of the Rotman School of Management, which mirrors the forward-thinking ethos of Toronto. Famously described as “New York if it was run by the Swiss” by actor Peter Ustinov, Toronto carries a certain vibe that can described as multicultural, neighborly, open-minded, and modest. It is a place where you can start anew – or simply embrace who you really are

Like New York, Toronto is a city of distinctive neighborhoods, one with low crime, affordable housing, and vibrant culture – not to mention free healthcare. Diverse, imaginative and wired to the hilt, Toronto boasts more than just a high quality of life. It is also one of the world’s great commercial hubs. According to CBRE, the city added 22,500 tech jobs over the past year, more than San Francisco and New York combined! In a 2016 PwC study, Toronto finished third overall in a global cities study – scoring among the top five in benchmarks like sustainability, intellectual capital, and entrepreneurship. Such innovation starts with infrastructure – and Toronto is a global leader in both traditional (aerospace and banking) and emerging (biotech, communications and healthcare) sectors. This wealth of resources has not only creates synergies, but a virtuous cycle where large and small firms foster each other’s growth.

“A NEW WAY TO THINK”

In an eclectic powerhouse like Toronto, MBA students can’t help but feel inspired. This spirit filters down to the Rotman curriculum. Look no further than the school’s tagline: “A new way to think.” Translation: Rotman is a school that demands new ideas and has little patience for the half-hearted or self-satisfied. Notably, the program is built around integrative problem-solving, a rigorous and inclusive discipline that pulls the best from a range of options – even conflicting ones – to forge the best possible outcome. This framework is only amplified at Rotman, a program where nearly three quarters of the full-time MBAs were born outside Canada. Such diverse backgrounds expand the possibilities inherent to Integrative thinking and gives the program a trademark cosmopolitan feel.

“I was amazed that there were almost no two people with the same background,” says Ronald Replan, a Philippines native and product manager who is among the 350 students who compose Rotman’s Class of 2019.

For Cadence Peckham, a Californian who studied music as an undergrad, coming to Toronto (and Rotman in particular) has been like a homecoming. “Having lived in Switzerland as a child, a large part of my identity comes from the experiences I had and the friendships I forged during those four years. Visiting Toronto, I was struck by the diversity of the city and further excited to see that that diversity extended into Rotman’s student body. Diversity was a cornerstone of my international childhood; I had friends from almost every continent. Stepping onto campus at the University of Toronto and at Rotman, I was reminded of my time in Europe.”

Toronto, Canada

A CLASS THAT HAS IT ALL

On the surface, you could tag Rotman as the best-kept secret among international MBA programs. However, the program’s trajectory shows otherwise. Since 2012, the school has seen its applications volume double. Indeed, the incoming class will enjoy a wealth of resources beyond just Rotman. One of the world’s top research schools, the University of Toronto consists of 60,000 students and 14,000 faculty. In other words, it is expansive enough to expose MBAs to nearly any discipline and build a network with any population. Even more, the campus is just a five minute ride to downtown Toronto – and the wealth of employment, entertainment, and shopping venues that come with it.

Long story short, Rotman is Canada’s top business school, one that’s located in the heart of a definitive city. Beyond location, Rotman is defined by a genuine prestige, incomparable momentum, innovative framework, distinct vision, and vast resources. You’ll find the Class of 2019 – a class of advocates, entrepreneurs, artists, and humanitarians – matches the school with their curiosity, creativity, and open-minded approach.

Look no further than René Chen, who went from graphic design to instructional design to entrepreneurship – even tapping into her “nerdy side” to teach herself how to program. He wasn’t alone in showcasing an impressive level of commitment. Take Vanessa Matos Tudela, a Venezuelan immigrant who is “invested in improving our planet through the private sector.” How invested? “I am part of a group of activists called the Climate Reality Corps and I am a Climate Reality Leader,” she says. “I was trained by Al Gore himself on climate science and storytelling in order to work towards solutions to the climate crisis.” If you’re an investor, consider Replan a sure bet. “I founded three education ventures, all of them still active,” he notes.

22 YEAR OLD MANGER EXCELS…DESPITE NOT SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE

It is also an adventurous class that’ll fit into Toronto’s biting winters and balmy summers. Heather Beatty, a Dartmouth art history major who became a financial auditor, is a competitive downhill ski racer who has been clocked at 75 miles per hour on the slopes. Camryn DeLooff competes in skiing, wakeboarding, and kneeboarding…and she’ll even stand atop a three-tier show ski pyramid. And Kunal Khosla, who has already launched two startups of his own, claims he has participated in almost every sport possible.

Looking over the class’ accomplishments, it is clear that they seek out solutions that serve the greater good. As a senior analyst at Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Replan factored CO2 emissions into his machinery choices, which resulted in “significantly cutting down the company’s costs and greenhouse emissions.” Marcelo Garza García cut back on wasted food at Sigma Alimentos by developing packaging that maintained freshness over multiple uses – an innovation that also boosted sales by 57%. At the same time, Stephanie Alavedra Falvy helped launch a social responsibility program in Scotiabank’s wholesale division, which spearheaded blood drives and children’s education campaigns.

The 2019 class also wasn’t afraid to clear new paths, regardless of risk. In Brazil, Rodrigo Paolucci launched a venture that distributed and monetized online videos – a venture that yielded millions of dollars in sales and investment. Matos Tudela sold the first commercial scale solar PV system in the Bahamas. And how would you like to be Steffi Rebello? After earning her aerospace engineering degree, her first job was to manage a team of 50 people – who spoke a different language. Wise beyond her 22 years, Rebello thrived in her first assignment at General Electric.

“I was one of the few female managers in a male dominated, highly unionized environment,” she recalls. “However, I focused on my targets and did not give up. Within six months, I was able to deliver and change the perspective my team and manager had of me. Additionally, I set up the Women’s Network to help women (and men) to network and take on leadership positions.”

A 30% JUMP IN APPLICATIONS

Rotman graduates at convocation.

Traditionally, Rotman neither discloses the number of applications it receives nor the number of candidates it accepts. However, the school revealed in a fall news release that applications had increased by 30%, ranking it among the most appealing business schools during the 2016-2017 cycle. Despite this, the student population held steady at 350 students – meaning the school became even more selective than ever.

Overall, 52% of the class hails from overseas – one of the largest international cohorts in North America. The class includes 35 nationalities who speak 28 languages, a testament to just how diverse the full-time MBA program really is. In addition, all Rotman graduates are eligible for a three-year work permit; this creates a safety net for students that mitigates risk for employers as well. While the percentage of international students remained the same, the class grew more diverse through an influx of women. Overall, the Class of 2019 attracted a 40% share of women. Up six points over the 2018 class, this mark is Rotman’s best-ever – and places the school in the same company as the University of Chicago and the University of California-Berkeley.

Academically, the class’ average GMAT score rose three points to 665, though its median score remained fixed at 660. The same is true of average GPA, which came in at 3.4. Business majors comprise nearly a third of the class at 32%. Quants take up another 38%, headed by engineering and applied sciences (22%), life sciences and physical sciences (12%), and math and computer sciences (4%). The rest is comprised of soft side, including economics (13%), social sciences (10%), humanities and fine arts (5%), and law (2%). In fact, 18 members of the class – 5% – are pursuing joint JD-MBA degrees.

Like past years, financial services and consulting are heavily represented. 32% of the class have experience with the former. The latter, however, enjoyed a big jump to 22% – double its percentage over the previous year. The same is true of technology, which went from 10% to 22%. On the other side, Rotman remains a big supplier of finance and consulting talent. 44% of 2017 graduates entered finance-related institutions, with another 21% swooped up by consulting firms. Contrary to public perception, Rotman is hardly a finance school though.

Go to page 2 to see in-depth profiles of incoming Rotman MBA students.

Rotman School of Management

AN AMBITIOUS PROGRAM THAT DOESN’T REST ON ITS LAURELS

“We also have a very strong management consulting track, as well as a variety of cutting edge programs focused on entrepreneurship, like the Creative Destruction Lab, robust business design and marketing practices, and an emerging group focused on Real Estate Management and Economics,” says Alice Walker Turner, a 2017 Best & Brightest grad who joined McKinsey. “Rotman offers a variety of degree specializations, concentrations, and majors. While finance is definitely one of our strengths, it is far from the end of the story!”

In fact, you can think of Rotman is a story without end, a program always on the move. This stems less from a restless spirit and more from closely monitoring the marketplace and using integrative thinking to broaden the options and anticipate needs down the road. Dean Tiff Macklem points to recent implementations, including adding a new Gender and the Economy (G+E) Centre and “scaling up” both the Behavioural Economics in Action at Rotman (BEAR) Centre. He also shares that the school is pouring massive resources into the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), adding another 25 AI-based ventures and opening a stream for new quantum machine learning launches.

“These centres are at once both research labs — on gender in the workplace, the application of behavioural economics to public policy and business problems, and innovation and entrepreneurship – and working partnerships with business and governments,” he tells Poets&Quants in a statement. “They connect business, the entrepreneurial community and policy makers with the latest thinking, bring real time business and societal problems to the faculty and students, and provide unique experiential learning opportunities for students at the forefront of these areas working with leading companies and new ventures.”

EVEN GREATER COMMITMENT TO FINTECH AND FACULTY MENTORING

Dean Tiff Macklem

Macklem adds that the school has also invested in G+E Fellowships, which support, in his worlds, “co-designed project with the Institute and CDL Fellowships, with guaranteed summer internships at CDL ventures” for entrepreneurship-minded students.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Niki Da Silva, managing director of the full-time MBA program, touts the introduction of the flexible internship, which pairs each student with a faculty member to provide coaching and mentoring. In doing so, faculty can help student fulfill technical expectations while navigating interpersonal and political issues. “This shifts more choice for students about when and where they do their internship (either in summer, or, fall, or winter after completing first year) opening up hundreds of new roles and increasing the depth and breadth of opportunities available,” she tells P&Q.  “Beyond career flexibility this structure flips experiential leaning on its head and wraps a course focused on maximizing the value of the internship, complete with the guidance of an experienced mentor.”

This inclination towards innovation also manifests itself in the school’s increasing attention to fintech. “This year we are launching a new fintech hub building on our leadership in both finance and entrepreneurship,” adds Brian Golden, vice dean for MBA programs. “We’re also launching a new Management Data Lab to enhance and facilitate learning and research with big data, using the latest in data analytics. These initiatives will provide new learning opportunities for students at the intersection of finance and new technology, and the application of data analytics and model-based decision making to business problems.”

A MORE OPEN AND HOLISTIC APPROACH TO PROBLEM-SOLVING

If you asked the Class of 2019 to boil down the Rotman experience to one phrase, you would likely hear “integrative thinking.” What does this really mean? The word itself gives it away. “Integrative” means to unite or balance what has been separate. For example, the theoretical, practical and creative are often treated as individual entities, much like finance, operations, and sales. In reality, they share many connections. This applies both in terms of shared needs and cause-and-effect, which can outweigh their differing means and natural tensions.

So how is this different than standard analysis? Rather than seeking solutions, integrative thinkers start by expanding possibilities by tapping into a larger pool of thought and welcoming divergence. Relying on openness and curiosity, they step outside themselves to remove the personal constraints, biases, and past experiences that can straightjacket them. Instead, they examine issues holistically, balancing analytical rigor with intuitive sensibility, to simplify conflicts to their essence and build back up with the best ideas from a variety of viewpoints. In other words, they understand how to best frame and structure issues, taking extremes and ego out of the equation. Thus, they are freed to play with processes and variables until they define a path that softens conflicts and fosters an encompassing path forward.

For Replan, the framework was the most “striking” feature of the program. “Instead of teaching only the traditional business courses through case studies,” he explains. “Rotman teaches self-development, integrative thinking and business design (more relevant in today’s world), and does so through “mental frameworks.” Based on experience, mental frameworks make seemingly complicated business concepts simple and straightforward and as a result, the concepts become more memorable and useful. Mental frameworks also make the concepts more universal so they can be applied to problems in other industries, or functions.”

CREATIVE DESTRUCTION LAB CAPTURES THE CLASS’ IMAGINATIONS

One example of this philosophy in action is Rotman’s Creative Destruction Lab, a seed stage program for entrepreneurs. Here, students break down their startup ideas to better target their prospects, sharpen their pitch, and maximize their market value and ultimate returns. The program demands that students thoroughly vet all of their assumptions and analysis. As a result, many take their ventures into entirely unexpected directions. At the same time, the lab introduces students to accomplished entrepreneurs and VCs who can add hard-won experience to their integrative frames.

Rotman Classroom

The program may be demanding, but Paolucci says that’s exactly what he needs to turn his ideas into sustainable ventures. “After meeting the CDL and its initiatives for incubating startups and generating new ventures, I was fascinated by how Rotman is pushing hard on innovation and disruptive technology,” he explains. “I could perfectly picture myself working in the lab with the entrepreneurs and also cooking up new ideas for my next venture. My rationale was that if I was able to launch and develop a business in unfavorable conditions, doing it in within this environment will accelerate my odds for success.”

Even more, adds Garza García, the CDL is a platform to spark creative solutions – not to mention a safe space to test and even fail. “Courses like the Creative Destruction Lab will teach me how to apply economic and analytical tools to evaluate industry appeal, market scope, competitive strategies, and financing opportunities, to make better professional decisions throughout my career. In Rotman, I will find an environment in which I learn to lead change and try out new ideas, risk-free, with my classmates.”

SELF-DEVELOPMENT LAB TEACHES SELF-AWARENESS

The same can be said for the school’s coaching culture. Call it a two-year exercise in self-awareness. Each student is assigned a coach, who’ll work with them on their interpersonal and leadership skills through individual sessions and workshops. Notably, the program offers a Self-Development Lab that covers everything from their communication style to their problem-solving abilities to prep students for the grueling interview process – and far beyond.

“I have yet to directly supervise a team of my own,” Falby admits. “I chose Rotman to improve my skills to lead and develop highly productive teams. I firmly believe that the Self-Development lab and the individual coaching sessions with the career center will be key to boost these abilities. I don’t just want to be a leader; I want to be a great and inspiring leader who helps the company achieve its goals and increase its value, who encourages the team to grow personally and professionally, and who has a positive and meaningful impact in the community.”

So what’s ahead for the Class of 2019? Paolucci, for one, hopes to become “a hands-on tech entrepreneur who wants to impact a billion people.” In the meantime, he intends to take advantage of everything that Toronto and Rotman have to offer. “After the first year I want to feel that school is contributing to my primary mid-term objective: get inserted in the local tech scene. I will use the opportunities in the school to meet new people, attend to conferences and size opportunities in the area.”

For Khosla, a successful first year would mean that he wasn’t distracted from what brought him to Rotman in the first place. “Keeping in line with my sustainability goals, I want to work in or create a business embedded with a double bottom line principle. If, by the end of my first year, I have recognized opportunities with this concept and how to adopt them efficiently, I will consider my program a success.”

At the same time, Rebello hopes that what she learns does more than just entertain or enlighten her.“After my first year of business school, I would like to look back on the new topics I learned through class, the wide variety of clubs, and my cohort and be able to say I used those topics to tackle real world problems.”

To read profiles of incoming Rotman MBA students — along with their advice on tackling the GMAT, applications, and interviews — click on the links below.

DON’T MISS: MEET TORONTO ROTMAN’S MBA CLASS OF 2018 OR THE PIONEERING MBAs OF THE CLASS OF 2019

 

Students Hometown Alma Mater Employer
 Heather Beatty  Toronto, Canada  Dartmouth College  Manulife Financial
 René Chen  Tongren, China  Communication University of China  LeadMaster EdTech
 Camryn DeLooff  Grand Rapids, MI  Oakland University  Parasol Medical
 Stephanie Alavedra Falvy  Lima, Peru  Universidad del Pacifico  Scotiabank Peru
 Marcelo Garza García  Monterrey, Mexico  Penn State University  Sigma Alimentos
 Kunal Khosla  New Delhi, India  Indiana University  gabilife.com
 Vanessa Matos Tudela  Caracas, Venezuela  American University  Inter-American Investment Corporation
 Rodrigo Paolucci  Barbacena, Brazil  Instituto Brasileiro de Mercado de Capitais  YContent
 Cadence Peckham  Walnut Creek, CA  Lawrence University  Novo Group
 Steffi Rebello  Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates  Embry Riddle Aeronautical University  GE Heathcare
 Ronald Replan  Nueva Ecija, Philippines  University of the Philippines  NutriAsia

Heather Beatty 

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I’m an empathetic leader that you’ll often find on a mountain, no matter what season.

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Fun Fact About Yourself: I used to be a competitive downhill ski racer and have been clocked at going 120km (75mi) per hour!

Undergraduate School and Major: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH. Major – Art History

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

  • Manulife Financial, Internal Auditor
  • Canadian Tire Corporation, Category Implementation Specialist
  • Canadian Tire Corporation, Forecasting Analyst

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  My biggest career accomplishment so far is not a neatly packaged award or achievement. Instead, it is an attitude shift that I’ve seen in myself. As a liberal arts undergraduate with a major in the humanities, there was a time when I didn’t think I had the quant chops to make it in business. Through my career though, I’ve pushed myself to take on increasingly quantitative roles and not only have I found success in those roles but I’ve really enjoyed them too!

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants?  In terms of the GMAT, the best two pieces of advice I can give are to leave more time than you think you’ll need to get the score you want and to get serious about addressing your weaknesses early in the process.

In terms of interacting with admissions and completing your written application and interview, I would recommend spending the time finding your authentic voice and being confident in what you bring to the table. No seriously, I mean it. If you can’t articulately answer, “Why do you want to go to this business school?” and “Why are you a good fit here?” then you’re not setting yourself up for success. Admissions is not interested in speaking with a candidate who is projecting what they think the perfect candidate is, they want to get to know YOU!

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  Rotman’s sense of community and support for its students was unparalleled through the application process. I was immediately impressed by the admissions team who did everything in their power to help me get a better understanding of the school, and answer any questions I had through the process. The experience I had with the admissions team coupled with the incredible faculty, and the programs Rotman offers like the Self Development Lab, the Global Consulting Projects, and the Creative Destructive Lab make it a great fit for me!

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  When I look back on my first year at Rotman, I will measure success based on the personal and professional transformation that I went through, the relationships I built, and the global impact I’m learning to have.

René Chen 

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Creative entrepreneur who reflects on the past and looks into the future

Hometown: Tongren, China

Fun Fact About Yourself: After seven years of art and creativity related work, I realized a nerdy side of me and taught myself programming.

Undergraduate School and Major:

Communication University of China

Education

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Co-founder, LeadMaster EdTech (Shanghai, China)

Instructional Designer, Apple Inc. (Shanghai, China, and Cupertino, USA)

Customer Trainer, Apple Inc. (Beijing, China)

Sales, Apple Inc. (Beijing, China)

Animator and Graphic Designer, Beijing Oriental Story Cultural Communication Co. Ltd. (Beijing, China)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: When people were still watching the stock price of Apple jump up, I reflected on myself and my goals during the MBA application process and eventually decided to leave my comfort zone and found my own company to leverage education with technology and the internet. Even though the decision was scary, I can see how much I have grown, when applying what I have learned from Apple and the MBA application process to design my products and services, lead my team, and communicate with various resources.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants?  Start as early as possible. Identify a preparation strategy and a schedule that suits yourself and helps you get the most out of the preparation, because the process of the application itself is valuable. You will need to talk with people who you trust and reflect on yourself and your goals so that you can discover aspects of yourself that might be hidden from your eyes but seen by others. This self-awareness not only helps when you write your essays and prepare your interviews, but also positively impacts the significant decisions that you will have to make in the future.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  The learning environment.

As a kid from a small town in the mountains in China, I was determined to extend my reach to the world. So making connections with people from all over the world is the first filter that I used to figure out which program I want to be part of and Rotman’s location in Toronto, Canada and the diversity of the class were a perfect fit.

Rotman also has a strong reputation of a healthy learning environment. As an education professional, I understand deeply how valuable that is for internalizing knowledge. Of course, practice makes perfect, but practice without understanding first will undoubtedly lead to detours. I believe that with a clear understanding of myself and my goal to become a better entrepreneur, some skills, such as finance, analysis, and strategical thinking, are necessary for me. The connections and resources in Rotman happen to align well with those skills, and, thus, complete my skill set to help me become a better startup leader.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? I want to expand and apply my knowledge about customer experience in startups; learn from people in other fields that I have not experienced, such as investment, finance, strategy and operation, about the skills that are crucial to entrepreneurs; and build friendships with people from all over the world while working with them on various projects that have positive social and economic impact.

Camryn DeLooff 

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: The result of serendipity and perseverance.

Hometown: Growing up, I spent the majority of my time in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area, but I have been living and working in Chicago, Illinois since I graduated from undergrad.

Fun Fact About Yourself: I used to compete in slalom water skiing, wakeboarding, and kneeboarding. At the age of nine, I was sponsored and ranked second in the nation. I also did show skiing and was the top of a three-tier pyramid.

Undergraduate School and Major: Oakland University, United States, BS, Bioengineering with a specialization in molecular engineering biology

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: Parasol Medical: Head of Life Sciences Division (Chicago, Illinois, USA)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:  During my first year working for Parasol Medical, my name was submitted on three patents that are currently pending. Two of the patents involve Parasol’s antimicrobial, MicrobeCare, which I quickly became the in-house expert of at the company. Additionally, I am published both as a co-author and as a technical contributor in two different peer-reviewed publications.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants?  I am a huge advocate for GMAT Club and I highly recommend that prospective candidates utilize it throughout the admissions process. I personally used it for every aspect of applying to business school – reading through GMAT questions and explanations, essay tips, interview advice, and school specific feedback from current students. I spent several hours on the website every day leading up to my admissions decision.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  Rotman’s Creative Destruction Lab definitely caught my attention when I started researching prospective MBA programs. With my educational background in engineering and experience in the startup space, the CDL had my name written all over it. I was selected as one of the first fellows to the program, which affirmed my decision to study at Rotman.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? My biggest goals are building a strong network and landing an internship at a top consulting firm or investment bank.

Stephanie Alavedra Falvy 

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Collaborative economist, passionate dancer, and believer in the power of smiles and positive attitude.

Hometown: Lima, Peru

Fun Fact About Yourself: Peruvian cuisine is considered among the best in the world, but my favorite food will always be pizza and Kit Kats.

Undergraduate School and Major: Universidad del Pacifico, Economics (majored in Finance and Macroeconomics)

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Scotiabank Peru:

Senior Associate – Corporate Finance (Structured Loans & Syndications) (2015 – 2017)

Senior Credit Solutions Manager – Corporate Banking (2013 – 2014)

Senior Credit Solutions Manager – Commercial Banking (2011 – 2012)

Interbank:

Relationship Manager – Commercial Banking (2010 – 2011)

Commercial Assistant – Commercial Banking (2008 – 2009)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment so far was receiving Scotiabank’s International Best of the Best Award, and a grand trip to the Caribbean with other outstanding international performers. The year I received the award, I faced many challenges that came from moving to a different area, the Corporate Banking division, and earning new responsibilities. I had to adapt to a new environment, unfamiliar people, and a unique portfolio of clients composed of the largest companies in the country. To win the award, I elaborated several of the most important credit presentations of the year that represented USD 110 million of additional assets and more than USD 4 million in revenues for the bank. Through these deals, I was able to contribute to our clients’ fierce expansion strategies, and to strengthen our relationships with them.

Additionally, I and other Scotiabankers, founded the Wholesale Division’s Social Responsibility Program to organize volunteering activities and encourage other employees to actively participate in them. We set up semiannual blood donation campaigns with private and public health institutions, and even taught personal finance classes, such as smart budgeting and wise credit use, to children from less favorable environments. The Social Responsibility Program continues to attract other co-workers and to positively impact our community after four years since its founding. These milestones helped me stand out from thousands of people in the bank, and finally obtain the most recognized award in Scotiabank worldwide.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? No matter your background and experience, make sure you dedicate enough time to understand yourself and what motivates you before tackling the application essays. These can be overwhelming for many future business school applicants. So take a deep breath, exhale and have fun! See the essays not only as an opportunity to stand apart from other applicants, but also as a moment of self-awareness. It is a space to do some self-analysis and identify the reasons why you are pursuing an MBA and what you will try to accomplish afterwards. After finishing writing the essays, you should have someone who knows you very well read through them to confirm the essays reflect who you are and what you want to do. It’s important that your essay genuinely communicates the reasons why you are pursuing an MBA, and how those reasons connect with your passion and your long-term goals.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The key factor that led me to Rotman, was its focus on creating well-rounded global leaders and thinkers. Rotman’s unique and innovative approach called “integrative thinking” allows the students to analyze business problems in a creative way, to step outside the traditional thought process, and to generate solutions that reveal a whole new range of possibilities. This distinctive framework allows students to apply how the best leaders think for future challenges, rather than just looking at the past. I believe that in today’s constantly changing world, a creative thinking process to do business and solve business problems is more necessary than ever.

I was also attracted by Rotman’s vast resources and efforts to develop the soft skills necessary to become an exemplary leader. In my personal experience in Scotiabank’s corporate finance team, I have led and motivated people from different areas to get involved within the execution of structured lending deals, but I have yet to directly supervise a team of my own. I chose Rotman to improve my skills to lead and develop highly productive teams. I firmly believe that the Self Development lab and the individual coaching sessions with the Career Center will be key to boost these abilities. I don’t just want to be a leader; I want to be a great and inspiring leader who helps the company achieve its goals and increase its value, who encourages the team to grow personally and professionally, and who has a positive and meaningful impact in the community.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  I would value success by the size and diversity of my network and by the opportunities to gain valuable professional experience outside my home country.

Despite being always around co-workers from different backgrounds, I have yet to develop lifetime friendships with people from other countries, and I am confident that in Rotman I will be able to meet remarkable individuals and form a talented global family.

I will also prioritize procuring a challenging summer internship, as it will only help me to grow personally and professionally in order to fulfill my long-term goal. I picture myself as a senior executive in the finance or strategy unit of an international organization. Even more, I see myself as an inspiring leader who makes a difference in the company, and who builds a collaborative and productive environment for everyone.

Marcelo Garza García 

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less:  Seeker of innovation to improve daily life. Epicure who loves the food industry.

Hometown: Monterrey, Mexico

Fun Fact About Yourself: When I’m not at my corporate job, I put on my white button-down shirt and red bow tie and transform into Marcelo the Ice Cream Man! I have been creating mouthwatering ice cream flavors since college.

Undergraduate School and Major: Penn State University, Food Science

Employers and Job Titles since Graduation: 

  • Manager of Packaging Innovation and Assistant to the Chief Technology Officer at Sigma Alimentos (youngest manager in the multinational refrigerated food company)
  • Trainee in Youth Development Program at Sigma Alimentos

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: A food scientist by education, I oversee all food packaging design innovation for Sigma Alimentos, a global food company. Few realize this, but investment in food processing and packaging technology is expensive and mistakes can damage a brand. I am therefore proud of leading Sigma´s packaging and marketing team in collaboration with equipment and material suppliers to create a package that keeps deli meat fresh throughout multiple uses. The package features an easy-to-open, easy-to-close snap top that gives an audible “click” when the top is secure, reassuring consumers that the meat will be kept fresh and free from contamination. As a result, less food is wasted.

Our team received a Silver Award in the DuPont Awards for the international Packaging Innovation competition. More importantly, monthly sales of the product increased by 57% after we introduced the packaging. To me, that demonstrated that consumers respond to good design.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants?  Don’t give up on the GMAT, and don’t get discouraged. It’s OK to take the exam several times. At the same time, the GMAT score doesn’t define who you are or your intellectual capacity… it’s just a test. Pick an MBA program that fits with yourself (personality, values, and of course future career goals). The exam has little to do with the value that you bring to your school’s community.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Rotman’s design thinking model will teach me how to integrate creativity and business to reach great outcomes. Courses like Creative Destruction Lab will teach me how to apply economic and analytical tools to evaluate industry appeal, market scope, competitive strategies, and financing opportunities, to make better professional decisions throughout my career. In Rotman, I will find an environment in which I learn to lead change and try out new ideas, risk-free, with my classmates.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? Rotman will give me the analytical and emotional abilities that I need to become a human-centered business leader. Success will be the moment that I can mix my currently strong technical skills with strong business skills I have learned at Rotman, and put them both to work for my employer and in my entrepreneurial projects.

Kunal Khosla 

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Aspiring Jack-of-all-trades. Life offers numerous opportunities, trying to experience them all

Hometown: New Delhi, India

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have participated in pretty much every sport possible. From In-line Skating to Squash to Hockey to Boxing to Fencing. I have played them all (at least at club level).

Undergraduate School and Major: Finance and International Business, Kelley School of Business, Indiana University.

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

Founder, gabilife.com 2010-2017.

Founder, www.boxershorts.co.in 2015-2017.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My Biggest accomplishment has been getting selected for the Indian version of Dragon’s Den (The Vault) from over 10,000 entries and being only 1 of the 13 to receive a funding offer.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? The one piece of advice I would give to future business school applicants is to network as much as possible with admissions representatives. When I started looking at business schools, I was unsure where to begin. I chose 10 schools that interested me and e-mailed them requesting a meeting when they were visiting India. Five replied with meeting times and I pounced at the opportunity to get one-on-ones with them. It was during my meeting with Rotman, that I was captivated by the offerings of the school and the attitude with which they approached students. The tete a tete gave me a great perspective about the program, immediately making Rotman my first choice.

Furthermore, the ease with which I could chat with the admissions team and the rapport we formed made me extremely comfortable during my formal interview. I felt like that allowed me to be my best self and my chances of being accepted into the program exponentially increased and it allowed Rotman to appreciate that I would be great fit for the school as well.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  At a time when the world is getting increasingly segregated and climate change is a worldwide epidemic, I wanted a program that values diversity and focuses on global positive social impact. This led me to choose the Rotman MBA and the Sustainability major in particular. Canada is known as one of the most encompassing nations and Rotman as the number one school in the nation, offering this niche major, made it the clear choice.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? Keeping in line with my sustainability goals, I want to work in or create a business embedded with a double bottom line principal. If, by the end of my first year, I have recognized opportunities with this concept and how to adopt them efficiently, I will consider my program a success.

Vanessa Matos Tudela  

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I am a resourceful Venezuelan immigrant invested in improving our planet through the private sector. 

Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela

Fun Fact about Yourself: I am part of a group of activists called the Climate Reality Corps and I am a Climate Reality Leader. I was trained by Al Gore himself on climate science and storytelling in order to work towards solutions to the climate crisis.

Undergraduate School and Major: 

American University, School of International Service

Major in International Relations, Minor in International Business.

Employers and Job Titles since Graduation:

The Inter-American Investment Corporation (IIC)-Washington DC, USA: The IIC is a member of the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDBG).

Investment Analyst, Technical advisor Energy Efficiency Guarantee Mechanism 

The Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDBG), Washington DC, USA: The Inter-American Development Bank is the largest source of development financing for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Private Finance Operations Research Analyst

The Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), Washington DC, USA:   The PADF is a non-governmental and non-political organization created by the Organization of American States (OAS).

Programs Associate

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Most of my professional growth has been in a multilateral development bank, an institution in which the viability of projects is not measured solely by financials or by the creditworthiness of a borrower, but by developmental impact.  My focus for the past four years has been in climate finance, more specifically demonstrating through private sector clients the viability of investing in renewable for self- consumption.

Among the best accomplishments in my career I would highlight closing the first commercial-scale solar PV system in the Bahamas. It was quite a rush! Convincing clients to move their entire source of energy from the traditional reliability of fossil fuels to a somewhat new technology is not an easy task anywhere, but so especially so in Latin America and the Caribbean. Not only did our team accomplish installing a rooftop solar PV system in a country that is keen on improving their energy sources, we also spurred further interest by other private companies on the island to follow the lead and in parallel spurred the development of a skilled new workforce trained in solar PV technology.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Ask to get connected to current students and use the admissions interview for your advantage! Sometimes, we are so focused on our own profile and are so concentrated in all major components of our applications that we forget to ask questions to the program themselves. Remember, this is not just about getting into business school. This is also about the next two years of your life.

I was lucky enough to speak to first and second year students and got so much out of these conversations! Rotman’s admissions team opened the doors to their school, their culture, and current students. By the time I had my admissions interview, I felt like I knew the school very well, but I also felt I could ask more questions and truly dig into the nitty gritty of the second year classes I had my eye on, the concentrations that I liked, about funding for new concentrations, etc.! Make sure you leave the interview feeling like you know the program and the culture more so than before!

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Since very early on in my career, I have been  trained to measure investments incorporating environmental and social implications. Therefore, I needed a program were I would feel at home in cultivating the marriage of two driving forces: environmental stewardship and financial gain.  Many would argue that these are competing priorities. However, I needed an MBA program and a platform where these forces were not seen to be at odds, and that is what I found at Rotman.

I attended a sustainability panel at work, where expert panelists were discussing different areas of what it means to be a truly sustainable business. One of the panelist, Sarah Kaplan, was heavily focused on gender lens investing. I did a little research on her book and on the subject and was immediately drawn from the Stanford Business Review, to Rotman School of Management. In another opportunity, after I had already gone through most of the vetting form MBAS, I attended an Open House at Rotman.

I travelled from DC to Toronto for the event and was absolutely taken by a speech Don Tapscott gave on block chain. He not only spoke of a new digital frontier, but also how this new era of the internet enabled transparency, protected intellectual property, and inevitably would something he called “shared prosperity.”

Long story short, I was drawn to Rotman and I chose Rotman because I felt motivated by their faculty and I could see that they would guide me through business school with a purpose I can align with, one that has been part of my career since the begging: creating impact and going beyond business as usual.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?   I think the first year of business school is all about the development of core skills and about getting to know your fellow classmates. I think that success to me in 2018 would mean I felt confident with 60-70% of core skills. Yes, I’m not assuming a 100% (and not even an 80%) because the second part of what success would look like to me is feeling like I know my classmates – having developed friendships with them and (most importantly) I have felt constantly challenged by them.

Rodrigo Paolucci 

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: A hands-on tech entrepreneur who wants to impact a billion people.

Hometown: Barbacena, Minas Gerais (Brazil)

Fun Fact About Yourself: Besides having born in a small city in the upcountry of a state famous for its mountains (and known as the redneck state of Brazil), when I lived in Hawaii I worked against my odds and abilities in the ocean and tried to surf in the mecca of surfing. Of course, the result, as one could predict, was a total disaster.

Undergraduate School and Major: Business Administration, Instituto Brasileiro de Mercado de Capitais (IBMEC)

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

YContent – Founder & CEO

Samba Tech – Co-Founder and Chief Revenue Officer

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: When I was CRO at Samba Tech, during a hack week we developed a concept of a platform to help distribute and monetize online videos in thousands of publishers and for in a massive audience. After mapping the players and talking to potential customers, I figured out that this product had the right fit in the advertising industry and it could become a stand-alone business generating millions in revenues.

Then I quickly started working on a business plan and pitching potential investors so we could spin off the operation. A couple of weeks later, we raised a seed money from investors in Brazil, Israel and USA followed by future rounds that summed $2 million. After four years of operations and distributing videos to half of the internet population in Brazil, we sold the company to one of the largest media groups in Brazil.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? If you have the chance, meet the school in person. Visiting the institution was extremely important to me so I could get in touch with the team, attend a class, and have a tangible sense of how my daily activities would be. During those days, I walked around the campus, met with student housing, and spoke to current first-year students so I could understand the pros and cons of studying and living abroad.

For a foreigner, an MBA is a significant change in life in every single aspect – from breaking your work routine to changing habits, food and culture – and you need to get to know how your future activities will be, understand how the environment you where you will be immersed works, and if you fit within it. After visiting Rotman, I was more than sure that it was the right place for me.

If you are in a relationship, make sure you bring your significant other to meet the school and get inserted in your future context. Attending an MBA in a marriage is a dream to be pursued by both of you; you need to make sure that as a couple you are on the same page and share the same vision.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The key element was how Rotman’s vision for entrepreneurship aligns with mine. As an entrepreneur, I want to keep impacting as many people as possible through great products and have the opportunity to launch in Canada a company that can scale and impact people globally, and Rotman offers a substantial program for entrepreneurs.

After meeting the CDL (Constructive Destruction Lab) and its initiatives for incubating startups and generating new ventures, I was fascinated by how Rotman is pushing hard on innovation and disruptive technology. I could perfectly picture myself working in the lab with the entrepreneurs and also cooking up new ideas for my next venture. My rationale was that if I was able to launch and develop a business in unfavorable conditions, doing it in within this environment will accelerate my odds for success.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  First, success to me will be feeling that I made the right choice for my life doing such a significant change and that my family and I are completely adapted to this new environment.

Second, besides all the valuable knowledge and content acquired in the classes, after the first year I want to feel that school is contributing to my primary mid-term objective: get inserted in the local tech scene. I will use the opportunities in the school to meet new people, attend to conferences and size opportunities in the area.

Cadence Peckham 

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management  

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: If my personality were an activity, it would be summer camp.

Hometown: Walnut Creek, California

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve hiked Half Dome three times (1,600 meter elevation gain), twice of which starting at 12pm midnight.

Undergraduate School and Major: Bachelor of Music, Horn Performance

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation: 

Delta Gamma Fraternity Executive Offices – Collegiate Development Consultant

Novo Group, Inc. – Associate Recruiting Consultant, Recruiting Consultant

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I had the opportunity to significantly impact the recruiting process and overall satisfaction of my employer’s largest client. Through careful evaluation, process development, and relationship building, I refined and implemented an efficient, more cost-effective, and highly-rated recruiting experience for the North American Sales and Marketing Commercial Division of a major, global CPG manufacturer.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? Work backwards in your MBA search. Start with what you want to do and where you want to do it. Then, work backwards from there to uncover if the MBA is the right path for you. If it is, determine which MBA program best matches the experience and academic and recruiting opportunities that you are looking for. You may surprise yourself; I certainly did!

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? As I narrowed my search, it became apparent that there were a handful of schools that could offer the academic and professional recruiting experience I was looking for in an MBA program. For me, the deciding factor among those schools came down to something less tangible. As an American, Rotman posed a unique opportunity to not only venture to a new city, but also to broaden my international horizons.

Having lived in Switzerland as a child, a large part of my identity comes from the experiences I had and the friendships I forged during those four years. Visiting Toronto, I was struck by the diversity of the city and further excited to see that that diversity extended into Rotman’s student body. Diversity was a cornerstone of my international childhood; I had friends from almost every continent. Stepping onto campus at the University of Toronto and at Rotman, I was reminded of my time in Europe. Ever since I returned to the US from Switzerland, I have missed that international community. Accepting my offer to attend Rotman felt a little like promising life back to my dormant roots. My decision encompassed both ‘the data points’ and the non-tangible, my gut.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? To me, success after my first year of business school would be landing my dream internship as a Human Capital Consultant with one of the big four. It would also be walking away with plans to travel with my classmates and the opportunity to mentor incoming Rotman students the following fall!

Steffi Rebello 

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Someone with a global perspective who enjoys learning and improving my surrounding situation and myself.

Hometown: Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was named after Steffi Graf, the famous German tennis player. I grew up playing tennis. Unfortunately I did not play as well as Steffi Graf. But it was a funny coincidence when I moved to Germany for work and everyone thought I was German. 

Undergraduate School and Major: 

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, BSciEng of Aerospace Engineering 

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Operation Management Leadership Program – GE Energy  (UAE, France, Germany & UK)

Materials Manager – GE Power Conversion (Berlin, Germany)

Product Sourcing Leader – GE Healthcare (Salzburg, Austria)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Leading a team of almost 50 people at the age of 22 in a foreign language.

After completing a leadership program with GE, I got the opportunity to lead a team in a newly-acquired GE site. I always had a passion for leading teams and jumped at the opportunity. After starting the position, I figured out my team spoke almost no English (and I spoke no German, at the time). Additionally, I was one of the few female managers in a male dominated, highly unionized environment. However, I focused on my targets and did not give up. Within six months, I was able to deliver and change the perspective my team and manager had of me. Additionally, I set up the Women’s Network to help women (and men) to network and take on leadership positions.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? First, figure out what you want to get out of an MBA program. Then, reach out to current students or alumni to talk to them about the program. It will help you get a more in-depth understanding of the program and it is a great way to develop your network. These discussions can help you decide if the program is a good fit for you.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you?  There are two main factors that led me to Rotman. First, at the rate the world is changing economically and politically, it is imperative to change the way we tackle challenges. Rotman encourages a new approach to problem solving. By promoting integrative thinking, I feel I will be equipped with the skills to help organizations solve the issues they will face in the future.

Second, one of the key reasons I decided to do any MBA was I wanted to improve my presentation and communication skills. Through the Self Development Lab, I feel I will be able to improve my skills in those areas through a collaborative and effective method.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school? After my first year of business school, I would like to look back on the new topics I learned through class, the wide variety of clubs, and my cohort and be able to say I used those topics to tackle real world problems. Additionally, I would like to obtain an internship position at a consulting firm during which I could use my past experience and new learning to help companies achieve their goals.

Ronald Replan 

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: I am an education advocate. I founded three education ventures, all of them still active.

Hometown: Nueva Ecija, Philippines

Fun Fact About Yourself: I could qualify as an extremophile. I grew up in the hottest area in the Philippines where heat index reaches 52 deg C but surprisingly, I enjoy winter hiking in the Canadian Rockies.

Undergraduate School and Major:

University of the Philippines, Business Administration

Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Japanese Language and Business Culture

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

NutriAsia, Finance Business Partner (New Businesses)

Globe Telecom, Product Manager (Broadband)

Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Senior Analyst (Capital Investments)

Mitchell Madison Group, Analyst

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: With thorough analysis, I recommended investments in machinery that minimized Coca-Cola’s CO2 footprint, significantly cutting down the company’s costs and greenhouse emissions. Who knew you could save money and save the environment with the same initiative?

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? At first, I felt embarrassed to reach out to people from my target schools because I hardly knew anyone from the MBA circle; it turned out to be the best decision I have ever made. Although combing through websites and reading books helped, talking with these people unearthed valuable insights and inside information that made my application materials coherent, well-researched, and polished. Not available on brochures and ranking websites, information from alumni/students will let you know the school more deeply and will let you assess better how you will fit with the institution. In your application, it’s imperative that you relay this “fit” convincingly.

At information sessions, do not be shy to ask for their e-mail address or to contact them on LinkedIn. You will be surprised at how eager they are to answer questions even if they don’t know you very well. Some of them would go as far as helping you check your resume and essays.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Rotman’s most striking features are its curriculum and teaching pedagogy. Instead of teaching only the traditional business courses through case studies, Rotman teaches Self-Development, Integrative Thinking and Business Design (more relevant in today’s world), and does so through “mental frameworks.” Based on experience, mental frameworks make seemingly complicated business concepts simple and straightforward and as a result, the concepts become more memorable and useful. Mental frameworks also make the concepts more universal so they can be applied to problems in other industries, or functions.

Rotman’s curriculum and teaching pedagogy are most helpful to those like me who are exploring or switching careers.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  After talking to most of my classmates, I was amazed that there were almost no two people with the same background. A great advantage of studying in a top school is that you can forge lifelong friendships with such brilliant and inspiring people who have proven themselves in their respective and unique fields.

 

The post Meet Toronto Rotman’s MBA Class of 2019 appeared first on Poets&Quants.



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