Student Spotlight 2018
John Sibbald,
BCom'18
profile from 2018
Hometown: Sutton, Ont.
Why I went to business school: I’m someone with a wide range of interests. I knew that business school would only ever open doors for me; it would never limit my possibilities. Also, the skills learned in business school are applicable in nearly every field, so I knew it was the best fit for me.
One thing I learned at Smith I’ll never forget is that there are certain things you will fail at; it’s inevitable. You just need to “fail forward” – learn from your mistakes and grow.
A highlight of my time at Smith: Founding Q+, the LGBTQ+ alliance at Smith, was a challenging journey that taught me more than I could have imagined. I love seeing the impact that it has made, ranging from inspiring individual students to be confident with themselves, to a major attitude shift of the greater Smith community.
A professor who inspired me: Dr. Nicole Robitaille inspired me to always go the extra mile. If you set high standards for yourself, others will take note.
My motto: “Be bold.”
Favourite business book: Same Words, Different Language by Barbara Annis
Best advice to future students: People do business with people. For that reason, it’s important that you remain authentic to your true self. Embrace and celebrate who you are — whether that be your culture, background, sexuality or gender identity — and you will increase not only your happiness, but also your potential.