I came to the Full-time MBA at Smith School of Business because ...

over the past few years working as a paramedic, I began to notice that many of the challenges my patients faced were connected to broader issues within the healthcare system. While I find frontline care deeply meaningful, I became interested in understanding how systems operate and how strong leadership can improve access, quality and patient experience. This growing interest led me to explore graduate programs that would help me develop both my analytical and leadership skills.

What appealed most to me about the Smith MBA was its emphasis on team-based learning, experiential opportunities and developing principled, values-driven leaders. The collaborative culture and exposure to real-world challenges stood out to me as an ideal environment to grow beyond my clinical background and gain a broader strategic perspective. I was also drawn to Smith’s close-knit community and strong focus on mentorship and reflection, which aligns well with how I learn and grow.

If I could give myself advice from a year ago, it would be to trust the process and remain patient with long-term goals. Taking time to reflect, seek guidance and enjoy the journey. For future applicants, my best advice is to be authentic and intentional. Clearly connect your experiences to your motivations and demonstrate how the MBA fits into your broader purpose.

Through the MBA, I aim to strengthen my leadership, financial and systems-thinking skills to support my long-term goal of advancing into senior leadership roles within paramedic services and quality improvement, where I can contribute to building more effective, compassionate and sustainable healthcare systems.

• Hometown: Welland, Ontario
• Country of Origin: Canada
• Prior Industry: Paramedicine and Frontline Healthcare
• Career Focus: Healthcare Systems Leadership/ Quality Improvement/EMS Management