Maddie Secco

Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

“A bubbly, yet driven, creative thinker who loves sports, food and bringing people together!”

Hometown: Victoria, BC, Canada

Fun Fact About Yourself: I just retired from an 11-year career as a Canadian National Team field hockey player. I represented my country at 3 Commonwealth Games, 2 Pan-American Games (bronze and silver medals) and a World Cup.

Undergraduate School and Major:

Undergraduate Degree: Stanford University; BA Human Biology; Minor Communications – 2016

Current Master’s Program: University of Toronto Rotman School of Management; MBA – 2024

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Deloitte; Business Analyst in Human Capital Consulting

Integrative thinking is one of the cornerstones of the Rotman MBA experience. What does integrative thinking mean to you and how have you been able to apply it thus far? During my athletic career, I was fortunate to play field hockey professionally in Europe for 3 years. In that time, I competed with teammates from over 8 different countries. Given that setting, integrative thinking to me, was bringing diverse people and thoughts together. We all came from different backgrounds and offered unique tactical ideas, perspectives, or skills. The sum of all of our inputs was better than the individual!

What has been your favorite part of Toronto so far? Why? The people! My cohort at Rotman is extremely diverse and every person has a unique story. It has been exciting to hear about different cultural experiences and to learn from my peers.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key part of Toronto Rotman’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? I’m a very adventurous person, so for me, the global opportunities at Rotman were enticing. I’m looking forward to applying to the International Exchange Program, where I’ll get to take classes overseas!

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Toronto Rotman? Coming from an athletic background, I am passionate about sports. That’s why I stepped up to be a 1st year executive for the Rotman Sports Business Program. Through this club, I’ve had the privilege of meeting some great people in the sports and entertainment industry, and attending a couple Blue Jays games. Raptors are next!

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Last summer, I competed in the 1st World Cup for the Canadian National Field Hockey Team, in 30 years. After striving for this goal for over a decade, it was incredibly rewarding to play on the biggest international stage, against the top 16 teams in the world. Truly, a storybook ending to my athletic career!

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far? I was fortunate to be selected into the Rotman LEADS Program, an initiative that pairs MBA students with notable Rotman alumni who are industry professionals. Through 1-on-1 sessions, I’ve gained valuable insights from an extremely experienced VP Ecommerce of a major CPG company.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? The initial two terms at Rotman are quite demanding, academically. After the 1st round of final exams, my cohort celebrated together. It was wonderful to commemorate our common experiences and recognize all of the hard work we’d put in!

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into Toronto Rotman’s MBA program? Be candid and don’t worry about fitting into a “mold.” I didn’t come from a “traditional” background with extensive experience in the business world. In fact, the question on the application about “years of work experience,” almost turned me away. I didn’t know if I would be a viable candidate. What I realize now, is that Rotman values diversity. If you can communicate your passions, why you chose to pursue certain opportunities, and how you’ve cultivated transferrable skills along the way, you can be successful!

DON’T MISS: MEET TORONTO ROTMAN’S MBA CLASS OF 2024