Jessie Gill

Ivey Business School at Western University

“Multilingual, world traveler; toddler mom; committed to lifelong learning; passionate about solving complex problems.”

Hometown: Calgary, Alberta and Hemet, California

Fun Fact About Yourself: Although I was born in Canada, my first language is Punjabi. I actually did not learn English until I started school.

Graduate School and Major:

• Undergrad: University of Toronto – Biology and Psychology
• University of British Columbia – Law

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Rosewood College, Operations Manager and Legal Counsel

How has the case method enriched your learning? I am someone who learns best by doing. From my perspective, the case method is the best approximation of learning-by-doing because it forces students to tackle actual business problems. I remember being one month into Ivey’s program and thinking that I did not understand a single thing. Now that I look back, I can see how far I have come and how much I have learned. The cases selected in each class really fit together as puzzle pieces to create a bigger, more meaningful picture.

Aside from classmates and cases, what part of the school’s MBA programming led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The biggest factors in choosing Ivey were its reputation in Canada and alumni network. As I began my MBA admission journey, it became clear to me that Ivey was the best known and most respected program in Canada. I was also blown away by the willingness of alumni to connect with me before I had even started the program. I cannot wait to join this incredible network of individuals.

What quality best describes your MBA classmates and why? When I think of my MBA classmates, the first word that comes to my mind is “generous”. The Ivey MBA is intense and time is incredibly limited, but I have seen so many of my classmates give their time and energy to help their peers. From hosting extra help sessions on challenging topics to delivering groceries to students in quarantine, my MBA classmates have really gone above and beyond.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: In 2020 I led the re-licensing process for the main educational program offered at the private post-secondary institute I worked for. The updated regulatory requirements we were subject to were incredibly meticulous and required a lot of organizational changes. Together with my team, I updated and overhauled operational procedures, instituted new student records management software, created an operating budget, redesigned the website, and updated legal contracts where possible. My organization passed with flying colours and we were able to continue offering the program that generated more than half of our revenue.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: My biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far is landing one of the two Executive Director positions with the LEADER Project. The LEADER Project was started by three Western students in 1991 and aims to teach entrepreneurs in emerging economies foundational business principles using Ivey’s case method approach. The interview process for the LEADER Project was rigorous and was the first time I presented a solution to a case prompt!

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I had been working as a lawyer for a few years and had moved into a new role with a small, but rapidly growing private post-secondary institute. Although I was still doing some legal work, I was much more involved in the general management and operations of the business and absolutely loved it. As time went on, I started to feel that there were significant gaps in my knowledge and skills and decided to pursue an MBA to fill those gaps and challenge myself.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? None!

What did you do during the application process that enabled you to get accepted into Ivey? Other than really knowing my story, I think the most important thing I did was to be myself. Ivey really looks at the whole package and values authenticity and fit. By being myself, not only was Ivey able to assess my fit, but I was able to assess whether Ivey was a good fit for me.

DON’T MISS: MEET IVEY’S MBA CLASS OF 2022