I applied to McGill because of the reputation and recognition it has always garnered – nationally and internationally. That was important to me because I wanted to attend a school that would serve as a passport to opportunity. McGill, with its rich culture, its worldly sensibility, and its North American roots, fit the bill. To boot, I was also intrigued by the prospect of a bilingual education set in a world-class city.
Growing up in a prairie town in Alberta, there weren’t a lot of opportunities to immerse myself in French culture. That changed when I spent a year abroad at a French Lycée outside of Paris. Really learning the language and experiencing a different culture than my own fueled my ambitions and opened the door to the Parliamentary Page Program during my undergraduate studies in Ottawa, which, in turn, immersed me in the world of politics and government, giving me a front-row seat to see how laws are made. That’s what ultimately led me to study law at McGill.
What made my McGill experience transformational was the people. You could always feel the intellectual horsepower and curiosity of the students and professors. The mix of people, diversity of thought and academic rigor was energizing but also had me intellectually challenged more than ever before. I reveled in the strong culture and sense of community with weekly social events like Coffeehouse at the Faculty of Law. I have fond memories playing Bubble Hockey in the basement of Chancellor Day Hall or shooting pool in the graduate students’ lounge (and not so fond memories of the old library). Looking back, I am lucky to have made lifelong friendships and appreciate the network I built with classmates from around the world.
The global, multi-cultural outlook at McGill also stuck with me. The comparative approach of embracing other legal systems and ways of doing things was an invaluable experience and helpful to what I do today, working across jurisdictions at a multi-national company.
McGill prepared me to think about what else was out there. Not having had a strong career direction when I got to McGill, being accepted into the joint Law/MBA program opened my eyes to how laws and regulations impact business and vice versa. This exposure to business was a critical turning point that set me in a different direction, especially since I thought I would work in constitutional law or end up in public service, because that was my starting point. These interdisciplinary studies of law and business allowed me to chart the course for my career, first as a corporate and securities lawyer at a major law firm in Toronto, then at a tech law firm in the Silicon Valley, and then in-house for leading tech companies.
In terms of advice, I would be remiss not to encourage students to network throughout their time at McGill, not only with their peers, faculty and administrators but also with alumni and others. The world is much smaller and accessible today because of the internet and social media, and students shouldn’t be surprised to find a receptive audience of professionals and leaders that are willing to share their insights and learnings. As a student, I didn’t quite understand the extent of the opportunities out there or how to tap into them, and frankly was a bit bashful to ask. But in looking back, it’s clear to me that almost every great opportunity I’ve been given has in some way been sourced through my network. That’s why I’d encourage everyone to build that cadre of peers and mentors that can help shape friendships and careers. It pays dividends in many unforeseen ways and can enrich anyone’s McGill experience and life journey.