Amanda Jones

Ivey School of Business, Western University

“Veteran and vocal mental health advocate with an ever-growing crafting habit.”

Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Fun fact about yourself: In high school, while most of my friends were focused on learning to drive, I was studying to win scholarships to attend pilot training through Air Cadets. I earned my glider and private pilot licenses four and three years before my first-ever driving lesson.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering, Carleton University

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school?

Before Ivey, I served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as an Aerospace Engineering Officer. My last position was working within the Department of National Defence as the Deputy Project Manager for CH146 Griffon.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? N/A – Ivey is a one-year program

Where will you be working after graduation? Boston Consulting Group – Consultant

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

Rosemary Schauf Pahl MBA Award

Richard Ivey Excellence Award

Social Impact Committee Senator

Ivey Ambassador

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? When I look back on my MBA experience, I am proudest of being invited to speak as a panelist for the MBA Mental Health Symposium.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Looking back at my career to date, I am proudest of my contribution to the recovery of a Griffon helicopter from a remote location in Northern Alberta.

In December 2018, I was in an operational support role at the Air Force’s operational headquarters, and received a call that a helicopter had made an emergency landing in a remote clearing. We began investigating options to recover the helicopter since it couldn’t be repaired for flight in situ. We determined that, given the location, aerial recovery would be the only viable option. At the time, the military didn’t have a complete solution for recovering helicopters, so a working group was convened in Edmonton to solve the problem. I was selected to represent the Air Force and provide updates and recommendations back to the headquarters.

Once I arrived, I focused on building relationships with the representatives of various organizations supporting the working group, both in Edmonton and across Canada. Throughout the week I worked to remove barriers and cultivate cross-organizational support so the experts could focus on solving this critical issue. Within a week, we had designed and tested an aerial sling system that could not only recover this helicopter, but be standardized for broader deployment across the CH146 and CH147 fleets.

Why did you choose this business school? I decided to pursue an MBA at Ivey because of its reputation for teaching through the case study method. Looking back on my prior education and career, I have always learned best through practical application of material. It has also always been important for me to look at the bigger picture in which a concept applies. In business school, this meant considering broader issues which impacted a decision, such as how an accounting decision may have knock-on effects for HR. The opportunity to learn from classmates with diverse backgrounds and experiences was another immense benefit of the case method, which I found greatly enriched the learning process.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? My favourite course was Inequality, Diversity, and Business taught by Bob Andersen. This course changed how I see the world. We were a very small class, with only twelve students, which made the case method particularly powerful as it allowed us to engage openly and honestly with this challenging subject. The course broadened my understanding of the concept of diversity, and provided me with effective tools for navigating change in the workforce. The concepts I learned from this course were so powerful, I believe this course should be mandatory for MBA students.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? My favourite tradition was the Women in Management club’s Pass the Glass program, which pairs candidates with current students to help incoming students navigate the transition to Ivey. Leaving the military to pursue an MBA often felt overwhelming, and having access to another female student to ask for advice – or even just talk about what I was feeling – was a significant source of support.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? When I started the program, one year seemed a lifetime away, but it flew by in a moment. Looking back, I wish I had taken more time to get to know each of my cohort-mates. It was easy to get swept up and overwhelmed by the academic and professional requirements and miss out on the more social elements of the program. The moments I will remember and value most are the opportunities I had to speak one on one, or in small groups, with my classmates at club events and on my study trip.

What is the biggest myth about your school? I managed to avoid myths about Ivey until after I’d accepted my offer. I learned when I moved to London that the school has a reputation as a feeder school for the finance and consulting industries. Although there was quite a bit of recruiting from those industries, I never felt like those were the only options. In fact, career management made it clear that alumni had pursued roles across many industries, and we would be supported on whatever path we chose.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? London reminds me of Ottawa when I was growing up, a small city with a lot of green space, about two hours from a much larger city. I love that I can walk five minutes and be next to the river or hop on a bus and be downtown in fifteen minutes. Everyone lives within a tight enough radius that events can be held without having to worry about how far anyone has to commute. Toronto is also close enough for a day or weekend trip to attend bigger events or short getaways.

What surprised you the most about business school? Before starting this program, I assumed there would be subjects, like accounting and finance, that would have a pure, self-referential focus. Instead, the case method brought the human element into every class and allowed us to explore the implications of seemingly clear-cut principles. It also allowed us to bring concepts from different courses into the discussion, and to consider the broader context within which business decisions are made.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? The classmate I admire most is Natasha Vattikonda, who brought her experience and perspectives on social justice to the classroom. Natasha’s passion and knowledge were clear, and she was never afraid to push back against dominant narratives, such as that businesses exist only to maximize profit, even at the cost of damaging the environment or causing harm to employees or local populations. Natasha not only enriched the classroom discussion; she was also dedicated to fostering consideration for social and environmental in her learning teams. As a Social Impact Senator, Natasha contributed greatly to the organization of Social Impact Days where our cohort had the opportunity to give back to the local community in London.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list?

1. I hope to someday give back to the incredible community of female military members and veterans. A fellow veteran and I have talked about starting an organization that provides transition services, and I hope we find an opportunity to get it off the ground.

2. Throughout my mental health journey, I have benefited immensely from advocates sharing their stories on various platforms. I want to join the conversation, and hope to someday be invited to deliver a keynote on mental health access and acceptance.

What made Amanda such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2024?

“Amanda has been a valuable contributor to the MBA Class of 2024 since her arrival. As a member of the Canadian Military, Amanda is well versed in working under pressure and knows what it takes to thrive in difficult environments.

Her candour is reflected inside the classroom as well, where she has been a strong contributor. She offers her reflections and expresses her opinions succinctly, and her classmates appreciate her points of view. She is a solid student, achieving strong marks in each of the courses she completed throughout the MBA. I am pleased to support Amanda’s nomination, and believe she is a most deserving candidate.”

Kate Palmer-Gryp
Director, Full-Time Programs
Ivey Business School

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2024