My decision to apply to McGill was driven by the University’s great reputation and my father’s encouragement that I study in English.
It was a great experience but one that was also very hard given that my prior education had been in French (my first language). I had a good base in English, but suffice it to say I became good friends with my dictionary! It was formative. As they say, what doesn’t break you makes you stronger.
Graduating from McGill gave me a lot of confidence. I felt that having graduated from a great school and having gone through an academically challenging program, I could do anything. McGill’s reputation opened a lot of doors and by the end of my three years, I had honed a second language. I remember spending one summer in London with another French-speaking friend and we were immersed in an English-speaking society and we knew we could do it.
It was thanks to a McGill professor, the then-Director of Agricultural Economics (Dr. Randall Westgren), that I ended up in California. Given my interests and the job market at the time I graduated, which had been hit by the economic recession, he encouraged me to get an MBA in agribusiness and suggested that I apply to Santa Clara University. He wrote me a reference letter and I got a partial scholarship, which helped support my studies. I have stayed in California ever since.
In terms of my career path, this was pure luck. I had planned to return to Montreal after my MBA. A previous Santa Clara University student who was in the wine business and was looking for a French-speaking sales rep was my entry into the wine industry, which I fell in love with. Through my job, I have the opportunity to travel to Europe and South America, meet interesting people, make friends around the world and enjoy good food and wine. It has been a great journey, with hopefully many years to go.
My advice to current students is to travel and get experience under your belt. No matter the industry, once you’re settled in, it’s hard to travel for an extended period of time. Travel allows you to learn so much – not just about work, but about yourself and different cultures. And keep in touch with alumni. This is easy to do today, thanks to technology – I myself wish I had done more to stay connected with other alumni post-graduation. You should connect with alumni because of the value of the network, which always helps, and because it’s fun to do.