Usman Moorad

As is true of many of my classmates, my journey to Ivey was fairly non-traditional. I grew up in London, England, briefly lived in Karachi, Pakistan, and settled in Mississauga, Canada at the age of 11. Much of my background comes from my lifelong role in the family liquidation business, where I had the chance to be involved in every aspect of running a business. This hands-on experience has given me tremendous insight into negotiating and connecting with various stakeholders in different business situations. From there, I sought to pursue my interest in science and went on to study Neuroscience and Psychology. Although I did not practise in this field, I feel many of the scientific principles have provided me with unique perspective that will assist me in my future career. I went on to work with Zebra Pen, a Japanese consumer goods brand, and over time handled the Canadian sales and marketing operations. I managed key accounts such as Walmart and Staples and was able to work on a variety of projects, including initiating a partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Since formally joining the workforce, I felt that an MBA would be the perfect way to reflect on my past experiences, key skills, and future direction. Seeking an advancement in my career, I quickly realized Ivey’s tremendous reputation with recruiters and unsurpassed alumni network. With the option of rejoining the workforce in only one year, Ivey became the obvious choice.

Having no formal education in business, I was initially quite worried about jumping into an MBA without necessarily having the technical knowledge. Admittedly there were challenges early on, but that is where my fantastic peers came into play. Your classmates become your lifeline here at Ivey, with everyone bringing something to the table. I even realized that I brought forward certain viewpoints that may seem obvious to me, but revolutionary to others. You are able to share unique values from each of your group members and come to thorough and creative solutions.

I cannot speak highly enough of the Case-Method Learning preached here at Ivey. Coming from a lecture-based academic environment, my classes at Ivey are completely different. Each case is a multi-faceted discussion, with different viewpoints debating against each other, resulting in a tremendously engaging experience. It is also remarkable to reflect on how much I have learned in such a short amount of time and the fact that I can recall key lessons from each case well after the class. The real business situations also provide clear insight into a number of diverse industries.

The Ivey MBA has been a transformative experience, and I am confident that the skills and capabilities I have developed since starting the program will positively impact my career for years to come.