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

it was a clear next step in my professional growth, to help expand my perspective and prepare me for leadership roles with broader responsibility. With a background in healthcare and digital marketing, I had developed strong functional expertise, but I still wanted a deeper understanding of how organizations make complex decisions across finance, operations and strategy. The Smith MBA experience appealed to me because of its strong sense of community, emphasis on leadership and the team-based learning model. The smaller cohort structure and experiential learning opportunities stood out, as I knew I would learn just as much from my peers as from the classroom.

If I could offer advice to myself one year ago, it would be to recognize my skills and experiences as assets, not things that I needed to perfect before taking the next step. I’ve learned that growth is a continuation, and it happens by trusting your capabilities and allowing your environment to challenge and refine them, rather than waiting until you feel completely “ready.”

My advice to future Smith applicants is to come ready to fully immerse yourself in this experience. This year moves quickly, so it’s important to go beyond academic learning by stepping outside your comfort zone, whether that’s leading clubs or initiatives, participating in networking opportunities or building meaningful connections with your peers. By the end of the program, you won’t just leave with an MBA, but with greater confidence in your ability to lead and contribute.

Through the MBA, I want to strengthen my strategic and leadership capabilities while pushing beyond my comfort zone to explore unfamiliar topics and fully embrace the opportunities available throughout the year. This experience will prepare me to become a healthcare transformation leader, bringing together my background in marketing and healthcare to help organizations navigate change, improve access to care and deliver sustainable impact.

• Hometown: Brampton, Ontario
• Country of Origin: Canada
• Prior Industry: Marketing
• Career Focus: Healthcare Transformation