I chose to study at McGill because of the quality of the engineering program, its high academic standards and rigor, all of which made for a great training ground (plus the draw of one of the great cities of the world, Montreal). The diversity of students and professors also made for an incredible learning opportunity. The plethora of experiences that everyone brought to bear stays with you throughout your life.
My McGill experience reinforced the importance of community. I was involved in student government and became the President of the Electrical Engineering Student Society. That community of students and faculty taught me the importance of identifying common goals and working together to achieve them, which remains relevant to my life today.
The student community also took every opportunity to connect with the broader world. I remember my trip to Silicon Valley through the IEEE student branch. This was an eye-opening experience that gave me the chance to visit different engineering campuses and technology companies, meet with fellow students and prospective employers; to see how people learn, apply and commercialize technology. Those experiences were invaluable to me and others in helping to launch our careers and lives post-graduation.
As I approached graduation, I participated in interviews with several world-class companies organized by the career placement office at the Faculty of Engineering. I ended up starting my career in Ottawa, working for one of the telecom companies with whom I interviewed. I then attended business school, started my career in consulting, and have since worked across the technology industry.
My path to my current role has a lot to do with intellectual curiosity, which McGill certainly helped to spark. I work with technology companies, and engineering is about the use and application of technology, so it connects back to my time at McGill. I find it inspiring how technology can have such an impact on how we can work and live, and my training as both an engineer and in business helped prepare me for the career I have today.
Looking back, McGill Engineering equipped me with the skills I use every day, from problem-solving to teamwork to understanding technology – a truly formative experience.
My advice to current students is to always be out there asking questions and forming new connections to create learning opportunities. Reflect on what excites and drives you and how you can make that part of your post-graduation pursuits; finding that intersection is key!