Before embarking on his journey at Ivey, Noah Suissa, MBA ’25, spent six years in engineering consulting and felt inspired to specialize his skills in business management.
The transition to Ivey’s MBA program was a courageous change that pushed Suissa to step outside of his comfort zone and face new challenges.
“Going back to school after years in the workforce and doing something completely different from engineering with a group of people I’d never met, was a big adjustment.”
Serving as the social representative of the MBA Association (MBAA) and a program ambassador, Suissa says he’s leaving Ivey not only with the degree he worked hard to earn, but also with a close-knit network of peers who helped build his confidence throughout the program.
Leaning on community support
Suissa’s choice to pursue an MBA at Ivey was sparked by a classroom visit, where he experienced case-based learning for the first time. But it was the School’s strong sense of community and its standing as one of Canada’s leading MBA programs that ultimately confirmed his path to Ivey.
“Growing up in Toronto, it would've been easy to stay home and attend another business school nearby...But I wanted to fully immerse myself in the experience,” said Suissa. “In London, very few students are close to friends or family, so your classmates really become your support system.”
Suissa said the experience of studying in a new city – combined with Ivey’s demanding, fast-paced program – enabled him to foster “incredible friendships and memories,” and he is already beginning to miss London.
Meaningful milestones
Suissa's time at Ivey inspired personal, academic, and extracurricular achievements.
Notably, he acknowledges overcoming initial feelings of self-doubt, since his undergraduate degree is in mechanical engineering.
“One highlight was getting through those first few classes with my learning team, especially coming from a non-business background,” he said. “Another [accomplishment] was finishing the last core exam and realizing I had made it through the toughest part of the program.”
Outside of the classroom in his role as the MBAA social representative, Suissa planned fun events for his cohort to "unwind and take their minds off school."
“It was one of the most rewarding parts of my experience,” he said.
Beyond organizing MBAA social gatherings, Suissa was also committed to athletics.
“I had the opportunity to represent Ivey in MBA hockey tournaments at Wharton, Harvard, and Dartmouth,” he said. “And I’ll never forget winning intramural softball with my classmates and earning the coveted purple championship shirt.”
Learning to prioritize, rather than perfect
Mastering the responsibilities of being an MBA student at Ivey requires learning new ways to stay centred while feeling the consistent tugs pulling from many directions.
“A big lesson was learning how to prioritize, knowing when to spend more time preparing for interviews and when to focus on case prep or studying,” he said. “The important part wasn’t having a perfect answer, but understanding the key insights, the class takeaways, and what the case was trying to teach us.”
That learning process was strengthened by the people around him and Suissa credits much of his growth to the collaborative spirit of his cohort.
“What helped most was the support from classmates. Whether it was working through a tough case together or doing mock interviews, everyone was willing to help and share their time,” he said.
Life after Ivey
Suissa said he’s now planning to take some time to stop and smell the flowers before he returns to working life.
“After a long but amazing year, I’m taking the summer off to travel and relax before starting a strategy consulting role at Accenture in September,” he said.
Anticipating this new career opportunity, Suissa reflected on how Ivey helped pave the road ahead for him.
“I’m excited to begin the next chapter, and I feel ready. The MBA program gave me the confidence that I can take on anything,” he said. “Ivey has provided me with all the necessary business fundamentals. But more importantly, it gave me the soft skills needed to excel in an ever-changing work environment.”
Suissa said he intends to stay active within the School’s community and cheer on the next generation, hoping others will experience the encouraging morale he attributes much of his own success to.
“In addition to starting my career, I plan to stay connected to Ivey and support future students however I can through coffee chats, recruiting events, and of course, supporting the next MBAA social representatives to make their year the best it can be,” said Suissa.
Thinking about an MBA but don’t come from a business background? You’re not alone.
Like Noah Suissa, many Ivey MBA students come from diverse fields and are new to case-based learning – and they go on to thrive. Hear firsthand how they made the transition and what helped them succeed. These podcasts are a great starting point for your own journey.
