Although I am a Canadian, I didn’t have much knowledge about the country I was born in. My father was in the oil business, so I grew up in the Middle East, in Europe and in the US. When it was time to think about going to university, I decided I wanted to come back to Canada. My guidance counsellor showed me a book of all the universities in the US, and when I flipped to the page with Canadian universities there was only one page with one school, and that was McGill University. Montreal sounded like a great place to live, so I applied and I got in.
When I reflect on my time at McGill, there are a few things that stand out for me. Firstly, how great the city of Montreal was. I didn’t know what to expect because I had never been to Montreal before applying to McGill. Living in the McGill Ghetto and having my classes on the downtown campus with Montreal as the backdrop is something I will always remember fondly. I also have the fortune of coming back often, as my wife, whom I met while at McGill, is Québécoise.
Thirty years later, I still think about my economics professor Chris Green and the huge impact he has had on my life. His macroeconomics course made everything clear to me and is what led me to do an MBA, and ultimately to a successful career in finance, working for firms like Goldman Sachs, Deustche Bank, and Merrill Lynch. His teaching style, his love and excitement for the topic and the way he shared the information with his students is what I still remember. He is the best professor I have ever had.
Ultimately, I can thank my Arts degree and McGill for giving me a breadth of knowledge in many areas and topics and for making me a well-rounded person, which has led to success in my career and a wonderful life. It also teaches you to give back to society and to the people around you, which is very important.