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

I chose the Smith MBA because my decision was driven by fit, not by hype. I wanted an MBA that emphasized applied learning, strong peer dynamics and real accountability. Smith stood out because it attracts people who don’t just talk strategy, they test it. The collaborative culture, small cohort feel and case-driven approach mirrored how decisions are made in consulting, M&A and leadership roles.

If I could go back and give myself advice one year ago, I’d tell myself to stop waiting for perfect clarity and start moving faster. Progress beats perfection. The biggest lessons come from action, joining conversations early, raising your hand and learning in motion. The MBA reinforced that momentum opens doors which create leverage.

A tip I could offer would be to be honest about “why now?” Smith values intentionality. If you can clearly articulate what you want to accelerate, pivot or build and how the MBA fits into that, you’ll extract far more value.

I’m using the MBA to sharpen my thinking around M&A, consulting and growth strategy, while surrounding myself with people who think like builders and operators.

• Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
• Country of Origin: Canada
• Prior Industry: IT Consulting, Software Sales
• Career Focus: M&A/Consulting/Sales