Mimi Shih

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management

“I wanna be the very best  #wealthandhealth.”

Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia

Fun Fact About Yourself: I ran the Tokyo marathon dressed as Pikachu.

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Southern California, Business Administration

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: CIBC Wood Gundy, Investment Advisor

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I am a millennial female, raised in Canada, and am able to work with both Eastern and Western cultures and connect with clients from an older generation in a different language.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? Eager to learn. Speaking with them, you notice the excitement they hold for themselves and society at large.

Aside from your classmates, 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? Location, location, location. I worked in Vancouver in Wealth Management and the connections in Toronto, the financial capital of Canada, will be pivotal for my career going forward.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? The Letters Club – I am passionate about social advocacy and look forward to bringing MBA candidates in the Toronto community together.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? The MBA at Rotman will provide the network and portfolio management skills I need to further my career.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? It’s an investment in my career and myself, so it was a no-brainer.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? Only part-time at Sauder and Rotman this year.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? I looked at the programs and the professors and spoke to alumni. I considered my long-term goal and whether the school would help me achieve it. I visited the campus, sat in on class, and spoke to 2nd years about their experience. The feel of the city also helped in my decision making process.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? The death of my close friend in college made me re-evaluate my life and prioritize helping people in whichever method I could.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? Continue to refine myself personally and professionally – it’ll be a life-long endeavor. Focus on my career in wealth management and my five year plan.

Where do you see yourself in five years? Cultivating my brand presence in the Vancouver, Toronto, and Asian Private Wealth Management market.