Coming from Nigeria with plans to expand her global impact, Tolu Michaels saw the Ivey MBA as a transformative investment. Already successful in digital transformation, branding, and entrepreneurship – including building an EdTech company that’s trained over 28,000 entrepreneurs – she sought to deepen her expertise through academic tools and global frameworks.
“Most of what I know about business and management I learned through hands-on leadership,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to complement that with formal business education.”
After completing a certification at Harvard Business School and discovering the case method, she recognized the kind of learning environment that would expand her capabilities. A one-year MBA at Ivey became the answer.
“A wise woman once told me, ‘If somewhere in your heart you want an MBA, you’re always going to want it, and there will never be a perfect time,’” she said.
Now, Michaels tells others: “The time will pass anyway. One year from now, you’ll be a year older. But will you have your MBA or not?”
Why Ivey?
Initially exploring U.S. schools, Michaels was drawn to Ivey’s one-year format, case method, and values-based approach. At the same time, she and her family felt it was the right season to move to Canada, a purposeful decision affirmed by Ivey’s admissions team:
“They told me, ‘Don’t self-select yourself out. You’ve got to try. Don’t be the one to say no,’” said Michaels. “It’s true. There are so many people out there in the world telling you what you cannot do. You can’t be the one doing that to yourself.”
The team also connected her with international alumni, including some with children, and with CityMatch Inc., a relocation concierge service.
“The CityMatch advisor I was paired with had two kids the same age as mine, a girl and a boy, just like mine... We’re friends now,” she said.
Building a life in Canada
Adjusting to life in Canada had its challenges, but her children adapted quickly, easing her transition.
“We’d only visited Canada in the summer, so I wasn’t sure how they’d handle arriving in the winter. They loved it!” she said. “Snow has great PR with kids.”
Michaels appreciated how Ivey’s supportive community helped her balance parenting and academics. With faculty’s support, she was able to manage school drop-offs alongside the program. Some staff and classmates suggested local resources, including summer camps.
Small gestures stood out. She fondly recalls how a classmate learned to say “How are you?” in her home language, and how the Women in Management Club surprised moms in the class with flowers on Mother’s Day.
Finding community in a new country
While she sometimes misses the ease of being in a familiar environment, she’s embraced the exceptional diversity of Ivey’s cohort.
With more than 29 passports represented, her classmates brought perspectives from finance, law, health care, consulting, retail, and more.
“Diversity is one thing; inclusion is another. But Ivey gives you room to be who you are. Ivey pushes you to raise your hand. If you came in thinking of hiding, that’s not an option,” she said. "If you embrace it, this makes you a stronger communicator. It pushes you to engage with the system, and mirrors how the real world works."
Ivey also expanded her toolkit for Canadian professional culture, particularly the networking-intensive environment. Despite cultural differences, she built community.
“You will find your people. Most of us just need a small circle to feel at home,” she said.
Now Co-President of the MBA Student Ambassadors and a Director of the Entrepreneurship Club, Michaels continues to seize opportunities.
“Ivey gave me room to contribute. Nobody said, ‘Oh no, you can’t do that because you’re new,’” she said. “There’s this basket of opportunity… and you get to pick and choose how you want to make your mark.”
Career support and mindset
One of her strongest sources of support came from Career Management.
“You can never have too many coaching sessions with them,” she said. “If you have an interview coming up or you’re navigating something unexpected, they’ll help you prepare.”
Events like Get Connected, where students meet Ivey alumni across industries, reinforced her decision to pursue the MBA.
“It was meant to offer career advice, but my biggest takeaway was the confirmation that I made the right choice,” she said.
“Through it all, my husband, sister, and a few close friends have been an incredible support system,” she said. “You don’t have to do it alone – leaning into your people makes the journey lighter.”
Paying it forward
Now sharing her MBA journey through a weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Learning Out Loud, Michaels hopes to support prospective students and professionals navigating change. Her advice: Let people know what you need.
“For everything you need, there’s likely an Ivey alum who can provide insights... You just need to ask,” she said. “Every time I connected with Ivey alumni, they were exceptionally generous.”
Looking ahead, she is confident about the future.
I’m glad I chose Ivey. It’s a world-class education that stands alongside the best in the world.. With an Ivey degree, I see tremendous opportunities ahead. I trust my training. If I had what it takes to be here, I have what it takes to succeed out there.”
Michaels hopes to expand her career in Canada, ideally in a leadership role at a tech company. And she also challenges Canada to recognize and maximize the tremendous value international students bring.
“If you’re going to build global institutions and global economies, you must embrace a global perspective. And you can’t get a global perspective without global voices,” she said. “International students bring value that is far beyond having different languages. They contribute different strategic lenses, different standards of excellence, different approaches to innovation... That only strengthens our institutions and our competitive advantage.”
Exploring the Ivey MBA: International voices and insights
Thinking about pursuing your MBA in Canada? These three podcast episodes offer candid insights from international Ivey MBA students who’ve made the leap –from Africa, Asia, and beyond. Hear how they approached the application process, overcame personal and logistical challenges, and embraced life at Ivey. Whether you're early in your decision-making or looking for reassurance as you prepare to apply, these conversations will provide the confidence, clarity, and connection you need to move forward.
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