I grew up in New York City, but had family members who lived in Montreal. The city’s vibrant and bilingual culture appealed to me and I liked McGill’s central location and proximity to Mont Royal. I and several friends from my high school decided to apply to McGill.
As I embarked on my university studies at the age of 17, I didn’t know what career I ultimately wanted to have. I chose to study History and quickly fell in love with the subject. I still remember the fascinating classes given by Valentin Boss, who taught Russian history. I also developed a keen interest in American history and the Industrial Revolution thanks to another great professor. My passion for history continues to this day and I enjoy reading about historical subjects whenever I can.
After graduating, I worked as a consultant in the energy and power sectors for several years before joining Rogers, where I have been for the past seven years. I have worked in various areas of the company, from innovation and business development, to strategic partnerships and chief of staff to the Chief Technology Officer. I am currently responsible for cloud engineering, operations, governance and strategy across Rogers Communications.
At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be much of a connection between my love for history and my work in the technology sector. But in fact, there is. Mark Twain once remarked: “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes”. Studying history at McGill taught me to identify patterns, to synthesize multiple perspectives and to write consistently. These skills have helped me succeed throughout my career.
As it turns out, I developed more than a love for history while I was at McGill. I also fell in love with a woman who would later become my wife. We have many fond memories of our time living on St Laurent Boulevard as neighbours during our McGill years.