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FROM Ivey MBA Admissions Blog: Ivey MBA Student Feature Profile: Stephen Reddin |
Stephen Reddin, MBA 2015 Degree: Bachelor of Engineering, Memorial University Hometown: St. John’s, Newfoundland After spending five years in technical engineering and business leadership positions I decided to pursue an MBA at Ivey. My career so far has been at the intersection of technical innovation and business, with time spent leading teams to develop both cloud software products and drone systems. When I graduated from Mechanical Engineering at Memorial University, I started a business building software for large telecommunications companies to offer cloud communications services. After establishing customers in Europe, South America, Australia, and the United States we sold the business in 2012 to a partner company. Afterward, I worked on another start-up venture that built sensor systems for commercial drones. Even though I had extensive practical business experience, I wanted to learn structured approaches I could apply to help grow the companies I work with in the future. When I visited Ivey, it was immediately apparent that the faculty, staff, and students have a shared pride in Ivey and the desire to make the school even better. I have always been interested in culture of organizations and in recent history have sought to understand if I will fit with a team prior to joining. When I arrived at Ivey, I came to quickly appreciate that there is an “Ivey way” and certain expectations that come with being a student here. I think it is particularly evident in the warmth and way that Ivey people welcome and greet guests. The difference in my background is the start-up business perspective. From a tactical standpoint I have attempted to implement in one way or another many of principles that we are discussing in class and with most topics we cover I can think back to a time when I would have found it useful. This is helpful to me in getting maximum value from the program. As much as possible I try to share that perspective with my classmates and communicate the virtues or benefits I see in the material we study. In addition I had the good fortune to work with numerous multi-functional teams and that has given me an appreciation of the perspectives and experiences of everyone else in the program. Teaching of the case method differentiates Ivey. I remember when I first encountered this style while visiting Ivey; I could not help but think that this is the way all of my university education should have been taught. The practice that students come to class prepared and actively participate in the learning process means that where in lecture-based teaching I would get distracted or bored, in case-based teaching as a student I have to be engaged and following the learning all the time. In terms of development as a business leader, it means that I am now much better able to articulate points concisely and communicate with peers the pertinent aspects of any argument. It really is a great way to learn. |
FROM Ivey MBA Admissions Blog: New and Improved Application! |
Some exciting changes have been made to the way we handle your application here at Ivey. The application requests the same information as in previous years; however, applicants will notice some major improvements to the overall online submission process. As a program and a school, we are excited about our new application system and what it means for our applicants and their ability to smoothly and quickly move through the admissions process. We are happy to bring these new systems to applicants through the power of Salesforce. To highlight, here are just a few of the major improvements applicants will notice:
Our next deadline is coming up Monday, November 17. Good luck to everyone who applies! |
FROM Ivey MBA Admissions Blog: Why Quality Matters |
With our Round 2 Application Deadline coming up on Monday, November 17 we thought it would be worth talking again about the importance of quality, what that looks like in an Ivey MBA candidate, and why it matters so much in the classroom. Quality Matters Although we receive hundreds of applications each year and our process is competitive, Ivey is looking for great people, not just great applications. With Case-Method Learning, the quality of your classmates truly matters at Ivey more than it might at other programs — this is because much of your learning is done through the contributions of and discussions with your classmates. Your class will be full of people who have had unique experiences and come from diverse backgrounds ranging from military and medical to banking and consulting to arts and communications to law and engineering. What we are looking for is the best MBA candidates; those who show leadership potential, bring a strong professional skill-set, and have demonstrated a track record of success and achievement in their work experience. What does a quality candidate look like? Management experience and 700-plus GMAT scores do not guarantee admission just as lower GMAT scores and entry-level experience do not automatically eliminate candidates. We want well-rounded people who will both contribute and be willing to learn from the contributions of those in the class; candidates who recognize the skills and knowledge they bring to the discussions and who have an established, focused goal to accelerate their career success. A quality class is only achieved through thorough evaluation of complete applications, a rigorous admissions interview process, and an understanding of the candidate’s fit. Recruiters respond to quality Our selective evaluation process ensures that our recruiters are getting the top talent they have come to expect from Ivey. In fact, our recruiters see Ivey’s admissions process as a type of pre-screen for the high-calibre candidates they are looking for because they are familiar with our rigorous admissions process. It’s why our recruiting partners continue to come back to Ivey year over year (even in tough market conditions when they may not be recruiting from our competitors) and why our employment rate is the highest of all the Canadian business schools (92% for 2013). The top organizations in the world recruit at Ivey because they know we have skimmed the top of the pool for the best talent. Meeting the challenge If you want to learn from the best, you have to be surrounded by the best. That’s why we put our students in a classroom full of people who will motivate, challenge, and support each other. The entire environment at Ivey is dynamic and collaborative; your faculty and fellow students will support you in your personal and professional growth, encourage your development, and push you outside of your comfort zone to build your confidence and leadership skills. At Ivey we believe that education can be a transformational experience and it’s our job as the Recruiting and Admissions team to put together a class that makes this transformation happen. It’s an intensive and challenging year that will push your boundaries — but quality candidates who are up for the challenge will gain more in one year than they could have ever expected from any other MBA program. If you want to learn more about what we’re looking for and how our admissions criteria aligns with your background and experience, please get in touch with us at mba@ivey.ca or submit a resumé for feedback — we’d be happy to speak with you! |
FROM Ivey MBA Admissions Blog: Ivey MBA Feature Profile: Sapna Mehta |
We’re excited this week to feature another one of our incredible MBA students! Sapna Mehta, Ivey MBA 2015 Degree: Bachelor of Applied Science in Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto Hometown: Brampton, Ontario From developing customer and channel strategies to building complex mathematical models and planning significant business and technology transformations, I have gained a breadth of experience in management consulting as a generalist spanning multiple industries and functional areas. I have applied these skills as an experienced consultant in my community, solving challenges for five not-for-profit organizations. Having developed a unique combination of skills bridging strategic thinking and analytical expertise, I chose to pursue the Ivey MBA to supplement my engineering education with a credible toolkit of business skills. Ivey’s MBA Program was a natural choice for me as I contemplated the next stage in my career. My primary goal was to develop a strong network of Canadian business leaders. As Canada’s oldest business school, the size and calibre of the alumni network is unparalleled. Furthermore, your classmates form the foundation of this network and in speaking with each and every one of my peers I can confidently say that the classroom is full of a wealth of invaluable experience. In addition, the case-based method provides an opportunity to not only apply your experiences to real-world problems every day, but challenges you to constantly make and justify business decisions. This is a critical trait that distinguishes a strong performer from a strong leader, and thus I knew that Ivey was the right school for me. Prior to joining the program, I was apprehensive about transitioning from hands-on on-the-job learning back to more passive learning in a classroom setting. My fears were quickly put to rest, however, as the relentless focus on quality contribution during case discussions ensures that each individual is actively engaged. Not only have I accumulated a plethora of knowledge about different geographies, industries, and functions, but my learning has also been substantially augmented by the personal experiences of my peers. Furthermore, the curriculum teaches you the technical fundamentals, but even the most technical courses have a strong focus on the managerial interpretation, which is key for every business leader. Above and beyond the program itself, I am most amazed by the strength of the relationships that I have built with my classmates. I truly feel that I have developed a “home away from home” here at Ivey. Even a couple of weeks into the program, I knew that I had made a number of lifelong friendships with my classmates. The prospect that this one-year program will finish in the blink of an eye is both exciting and daunting, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything else. |
FROM Ivey MBA Admissions Blog: Beyond Your Application: What Makes Someone a Great Fit for Ivey? |
An application is sometimes the first introduction we have to our Ivey MBA candidates. On paper, we’re looking for a strong package of quality work experience, GMAT score, references, academic history — just to name a few. In our interviews, we evaluate professionalism, verbal communication, and overall business sense and presence, not to mention calm under pressure! But what about those other personality traits that make a successful MBA candidate — those x-factor characteristics that make someone a great fit for Ivey? Interest in Business This isn’t exactly a personality trait, but some candidates really struggle to articulate this point and it’s at the core of any successful MBA student. Consider why you are doing the MBA. If it’s simply because someone has suggested that you should, or because you’re not sure what else to do at this point in your career, perhaps a re-think is necessary to decide whether it’s really the avenue for you. Any MBA program is intense, and if you are not truly interested in business issues you’ll have a hard time keeping up. Self-Awareness Do you know what your strengths and weaknesses are? Have you spoken to work colleagues and friends about it? Have you identified which skills will add value in the Ivey classroom and which ones you will need to strengthen during your MBA? In this team-intensive and interactive environment, we’re looking for candidates who recognize how they can add value and what they need to learn from others. We don’t expect everyone to come in as an expert in everything — we admit a diverse range of students so that you can both learn and contribute to each other’s MBA experience. Work Ethic There’s no room for hiding here; doing the homework and keeping up on assigned readings/cases and current events is critical to being successful in the Ivey classroom. Class contribution makes up a large percentage of our students’ grades and is determined based on the value of what you say and contribute in class, not how many times you speak. Open Mind A strong candidate needs to have a steadfast willingness and openness to listen and learn from his or her classmates, just as much as he or she is willing to teach them. Everyone in our MBA class is intelligent, successful, and accomplished — we set the bar high for the quality of our candidates; however, our MBA classes are also made up of a diverse range of students with varying levels of experience, cultural backgrounds, and areas of expertise. We choose such a broad student base so that our MBAs can leverage the contributions of their classmates for their own learning. Recognizing the diverse talent, intelligence, and value of what those around you have to offer is the best way to be successful and to make the most of the MBA program. Ambition We’re certainly not asking that you carve your future career goals in stone before you arrive at Ivey. But, as one of the only business schools that incorporates Career Management into the interview process, we are looking for candidates who can recognize how elements of the MBA will supplement their goals post-MBA and who can provide some educated and researched thoughts about their short- or long-term career aspirations. Ambition is a key indicator of the drive and persistence that candidates are willing to contribute in order to achieve their career goals. Think about some of these traits before submitting your application and/or attending your Ivey interview. These are the characteristics that we have identified in some of our most successful Ivey students, and they are key contributing factors to producing successful business leaders and great people! Our final deadline for the 2015 March start is January 12! Best of luck to all applicants! |
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