Be an agent of change, stay true to yourself and remain open to unexpected opportunities — these are some words of advice by successful Rotman MBA alumni who want to empower a new generation of leaders in the Black, African-Canadian and Afro-Caribbean communities.
Mo Banjoko (MBA ’18), Wale Oyebanjo (MBA ’20) and Phil McDonald (MBA ’17) reflected on their MBA experience and unique career journeys at the Future Black Business Leaders Conference earlier this month. The annual event was co-hosted by the Rotman African Caribbean Business Club (RACBC) and Students Against Anti-Black Racism (SABR), two student-run groups at the School.
“Our goal for this event was to spotlight Black Excellence in the Rotman community by creating space for business professionals, faculty, students and alumni to share their perspectives and insights," says Charles Locoh-Donou (MBA '22), SABR's vice-president of events and co-president of RACBC.
"It also helps to build continuity in the conversation around anti-Black racism beyond the academic environment — through to its implications in corporate Canada — which is a primary element of our mandate. We're passionate about events like this as they're highly inspirational and encouraging for prospective Black students who consider Rotman in their pursuit of advanced studies like the MBA program."
Here’s what the alumni shared.
Mo Banjoko (MBA ’18) on networking in a new cultural environment
Senior Manager, Business Consulting at EPAM Systems
As an international student from Nigeria, Mo Banjoko was met with a sharp learning curve adjusting to a new culture in Toronto.
“Networking did not come naturally to me at all and I didn’t know anybody. Reaching out to someone on LinkedIn or being the only Black person in the room at a networking event was always a little scary,” says Banjoko, who pursued an MBA to pivot her accounting career into strategy and technology.
She says it helped to change her mindset and see the discomfort as a learning opportunity.
“I’ve realized people are very willing to share their experiences and help you, but you also need to help them by going in prepared and being more deliberate with your questions,” she says.
Working with career coaches through Rotman career services was a “lifesaver,” giving her tools and tricks for interviewing and presenting that she uses to this day.
“If you see something around you that can be improved, you can speak up and people at Rotman want to help.”
—Mo Banjoko, MBA ’18
Senior Manager, Business Consulting at EPAM Systems
“It takes a team of people to help you reinvent yourself, to give you feedback and tell you where your strengths are,” Banjoko adds. In her current role, she oversees process collaboration and stakeholder engagement in the payment systems space.
Banjoko says she’s encouraged to see more Black students at Rotman, along with scholarships and funding to support future classes.
Rotman has launched several new scholarships for Black and Indigenous students, including the Morning and Evening MBA Black Students Advancement Scholarship, which was endowed as part of the inaugural Rotman Giving Day in 2021; and the Rotman African Caribbean Business Club Scholarship, which received a generous gift from the Laidlaw Foundation.
Ten per cent of the Rotman Full-Time MBA Class of 2023 identified as Black.
“It’s moving the needle. I think it shows that if you see something around you that can be improved, you can speak up and people at Rotman want to help,” she says.
Wale Oyebanjo (MBA ’20) on the power of a diverse city
Investment Banking Associate at Scotiabank
Before Wale Oyebanjo worked in finance, he was an emergency room physician in Nigeria.
His transition into the finance industry began in Nigeria, but Oyebanjo was determined to enter the larger North American market to expand his reach in investment banking.
“Education is culture. If I wanted to understand the business culture, I knew I needed to start with education,” he says. When it was time to pursue an MBA program, he looked to Rotman, since it was in the heart of Toronto, a global city and finance hub.
“It’s a very diverse environment and you get to see things from a global lens.”
—Wale Oyejanjo, MBA ’20
Investment Banking Associate, Scotiabank
“The professors are world-class and it’s a very diverse environment,” Oyebanjo adds. “You have people from every part of the world, so you get to see things from a global lens. That’s something that stuck out for me.”
He says refining his financial modelling skills was the most valuable thing he gained from the program, along with having a massive alumni network to tap into.
“That’s led me to where I am today,” says Oyebanjo, who currently specializes in technology and healthcare deal transactions at Scotiabank.
“The upside to an MBA at Rotman is massive and you want to catch the opportunity now. There are tons of resources waiting for you to explore,” he says.
Phil McDonald (MBA ’17) on starting new initiatives at Rotman
Vice President, Business Development at Headset
Phil McDonald calls himself a data geek and entrepreneur at heart. It’s only natural that during his MBA at Rotman, he started the Rotman Business Analytics Club to bring people together to build digital literacy skills.
“Data is the new oil: something that’s going to drive businesses for generations to come,” says McDonald, who currently leads strategic partnerships and growth initiatives at Headset, an analytics and market intelligence company focused on the cannabis industry.
“Go in with a plan and understand what you want to get out of it and work backwards. But also, be open because you never know what could happen.”
—Phil McDonald, MBA ’17
Vice President, Business Development at Headset
“If there’s something you want to bring to Rotman, you have the supports in place. If you have something in mind, it’s on you to make it happen and I encourage everyone to lean into that,” he says.
In addition to highly relevant courses in strategy, McDonald says the coaching he received from the Joe Weider Foundation Leadership Development Lab in his first year was invaluable to his success as a leader.
“I didn’t realize that I paced a lot while I spoke, so having that real-time feedback from coaches and professors who care about your development was fantastic,” he says.
His advice for those considering an MBA?
“Go in with a plan and understand what you want to get out of it and work backwards. But also, be open because you never know what could happen.”
Written by Jessie Park | More Student Stories »