I applied to McGill because it was the best university in Canada. My uncle had gone to McGill, and I wanted to build a tradition for our family. Today, my sister Mary, my brother-in-law Mack, and my cousins Serena and Kelvin are all McGill grads.
The food in Montreal is unique: poutine, bagels, Greek souvlaki, Italian pizza, midnight dinner in Chinatown, smoked meat... even the famous Montreal Pool Room's hot dog!”
The most outstanding thing about my McGill experience was the people. For me, the school (which I think of as the “hardware”) and the curriculum (the “software”) are constants. The variable that can make or break it is the people. The Principal, the Dean, the professors, the supporting staff, and the students at McGill really made my experience unique and invaluable. Spring breaks, beer bashes, late nights at the computer labs, midnight dinners, last-minute study hacks before finals... all these are precious memories for me.
Another important aspect was diversity. Today, everyone is speaking about the importance of diversity and inclusivity, but McGill was already truly diversified back in the early nineties. That helped shape my global vision and made me who I am today. I only wish technology was readily available back then to help me to stay connected with my friends and mentors!
Diversity is also what I love most about the city of Montreal, including how it comes across in the large variety of cuisine. The food in Montreal is unique: poutine, bagels, Greek souvlaki, Italian pizza, midnight dinner in Chinatown, smoked meat... even the famous Montreal Pool Room's hot dog! Montreal's history, culture, cuisines, and people are great. I can't imagine I could have had the same student experience elsewhere in Canada.
I have always loved technology, even when I was a kid. I regret not studying computer engineering when I was young, so now, in my career in venture capital, I choose to invest in supporting other people's dreams.