Meet Toronto Rotman’s MBA Class of 2019

Stephanie Alavedra Falvy 

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management 

Describe yourself in 15 words or less: Collaborative economist, passionate dancer, and believer in the power of smiles and positive attitude.

Hometown: Lima, Peru

Fun Fact About Yourself: Peruvian cuisine is considered among the best in the world, but my favorite food will always be pizza and Kit Kats.

Undergraduate School and Major: Universidad del Pacifico, Economics (majored in Finance and Macroeconomics)

Employers and Job Titles Since Graduation:

Scotiabank Peru:

Senior Associate – Corporate Finance (Structured Loans & Syndications) (2015 – 2017)

Senior Credit Solutions Manager – Corporate Banking (2013 – 2014)

Senior Credit Solutions Manager – Commercial Banking (2011 – 2012)

Interbank:

Relationship Manager – Commercial Banking (2010 – 2011)

Commercial Assistant – Commercial Banking (2008 – 2009)

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: My biggest accomplishment so far was receiving Scotiabank’s International Best of the Best Award, and a grand trip to the Caribbean with other outstanding international performers. The year I received the award, I faced many challenges that came from moving to a different area, the Corporate Banking division, and earning new responsibilities. I had to adapt to a new environment, unfamiliar people, and a unique portfolio of clients composed of the largest companies in the country. To win the award, I elaborated several of the most important credit presentations of the year that represented USD 110 million of additional assets and more than USD 4 million in revenues for the bank. Through these deals, I was able to contribute to our clients’ fierce expansion strategies, and to strengthen our relationships with them.

Additionally, I and other Scotiabankers, founded the Wholesale Division’s Social Responsibility Program to organize volunteering activities and encourage other employees to actively participate in them. We set up semiannual blood donation campaigns with private and public health institutions, and even taught personal finance classes, such as smart budgeting and wise credit use, to children from less favorable environments. The Social Responsibility Program continues to attract other co-workers and to positively impact our community after four years since its founding. These milestones helped me stand out from thousands of people in the bank, and finally obtain the most recognized award in Scotiabank worldwide.

Looking back on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to future business school applicants? No matter your background and experience, make sure you dedicate enough time to understand yourself and what motivates you before tackling the application essays. These can be overwhelming for many future business school applicants. So take a deep breath, exhale and have fun! See the essays not only as an opportunity to stand apart from other applicants, but also as a moment of self-awareness. It is a space to do some self-analysis and identify the reasons why you are pursuing an MBA and what you will try to accomplish afterwards. After finishing writing the essays, you should have someone who knows you very well read through them to confirm the essays reflect who you are and what you want to do. It’s important that your essay genuinely communicates the reasons why you are pursuing an MBA, and how those reasons connect with your passion and your long-term goals.

What was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? The key factor that led me to Rotman, was its focus on creating well-rounded global leaders and thinkers. Rotman’s unique and innovative approach called “integrative thinking” allows the students to analyze business problems in a creative way, to step outside the traditional thought process, and to generate solutions that reveal a whole new range of possibilities. This distinctive framework allows students to apply how the best leaders think for future challenges, rather than just looking at the past. I believe that in today’s constantly changing world, a creative thinking process to do business and solve business problems is more necessary than ever.

I was also attracted by Rotman’s vast resources and efforts to develop the soft skills necessary to become an exemplary leader. In my personal experience in Scotiabank’s corporate finance team, I have led and motivated people from different areas to get involved within the execution of structured lending deals, but I have yet to directly supervise a team of my own. I chose Rotman to improve my skills to lead and develop highly productive teams. I firmly believe that the Self Development lab and the individual coaching sessions with the Career Center will be key to boost these abilities. I don’t just want to be a leader; I want to be a great and inspiring leader who helps the company achieve its goals and increase its value, who encourages the team to grow personally and professionally, and who has a positive and meaningful impact in the community.

What would success look like to you after your first year of business school?  I would value success by the size and diversity of my network and by the opportunities to gain valuable professional experience outside my home country.

Despite being always around co-workers from different backgrounds, I have yet to develop lifetime friendships with people from other countries, and I am confident that in Rotman I will be able to meet remarkable individuals and form a talented global family.

I will also prioritize procuring a challenging summer internship, as it will only help me to grow personally and professionally in order to fulfill my long-term goal. I picture myself as a senior executive in the finance or strategy unit of an international organization. Even more, I see myself as an inspiring leader who makes a difference in the company, and who builds a collaborative and productive environment for everyone.

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