Every day, people with diverse backgrounds, education and skills come to the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto to become tomorrow’s business leaders. This was the case for Steven Lin (MFin ‘19), who came to Rotman with the objective of transforming his career trajectory. We sat down with him to discuss his story, why he chose Rotman, and his plans after graduation.

Why the Master of Finance?

Steven was a stage in his career where he felt his previous role in accounting was not something he was passionate about over the long term. He knew it was time for him to consider a switch in career, but wasn’t certain what he wanted to do. After significant research and discussions with friends and family, pursuing a Master of Finance at Rotman became the best option for advancing his career. There were three reasons:

• It provided a wide range of in-depth courses within Finance, including Risk/Portfolio Management, Fixed Income Banking, and Investment Banking
• It would have a unique cohort with classmates working in various roles across different companies, which had the potential of expanding his professional network
• A postgraduate degree would help accelerate his career

The Rotman advantage

The primary reason why Steven chose Rotman was because of its global reputation and a strong Finance faculty, such as professors John Hull and Alan White. He particularly appreciated Rotman’s strong network connections within the finance and banking industries. Steven also valued the program’s various student-run associations, such as RFA (Rotman Finance Association) and RAMA (Rotman Asset Management Association).

These associations often host case competitions that involve industry experts coming in as panel judges, and offer various interview prep/career advice sessions, which I have learned from past members to be incredibly useful and a great way to get your hands dirty.

Steven discovered what he was truly passionate about through these case competitions: corporate/investment Banking and Private Equity. He also found the broader Rotman community to to be incredibly diverse. Having always had a hobby in film/video production, he was able to find other students who shared this interest through clubs such as the Rotman Entertainment and Media Association (REMA).

Highlights and Future Plans

Steven had many rewarding experiences during his studies at Rotman, including the case competitions and extracurricular activities he participated in. The National Investment Banking Competition in 2017 was a notable experience, as was the Rotman Private Equity Competition in 2019.

Besides academic-related activities, Steven valued the Master of Finance Soccer tournament in 2018, when Rotman’s team obtained second place after having competed against Queens and Schulich. This competition helped serve to build the bonds of his cohort beyond the classroom.

As for his future plans, Steven’s immediate objective is to start over in his career and find a job in Corporate and Investment Banking. Before entering the Master of Finance, Steven was unsatisfied with his previous career path. After the program, Steven found his true passion and acquired the knowledge and skillset to accomplish his career objectives.

The opportunity to study at Rotman gave me the confidence to achieve my future goals.

This post was written while Steven was a student in the program.

Accelerate your finance career by earning your Master of Finance. Our innovative 20-month program features top-ranked faculty, cutting-edge curriculum and dynamic connections to Bay Street. From classic corporate finance to fin tech disruption, gain valuable knowledge and skills that will have an immediate impact on your current role – and transform your future.