Caitlin Ashley McGrath

Smith School of Business at Queen’s University

“Dedicated rural pharmacist and advocate for accessible healthcare, sustainable practices, and gender equity in business.”

Hometown: Bonnyville, Alberta, Canada

Fun fact about yourself: I am a certified spin instructor and love to teach classes with my sister in my spare time!

Undergraduate School and Degree: University of Saskatchewan, Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (RPh)

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Neighbourly Pharmacy, Store Operator/Pharmacy Manager & Chair of the Neighbourly Pharmacy Indigenous Care Ambassador Group

Where did you intern during the summer of 2023? N/A

Where will you be working after graduation? Loblaw Companies Limited, Director of Pharmacy Operations

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School: Co-President – Women in Leadership Club; Smith School of Business Full-time MBA Program Ambassador; Forté Foundation Fellow and Ambassador; MBATUBE Smith School of Business Ambassador; Active Member of the MBA Finance Club

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I am most proud of the work our WIL Club executive council organized and executed during our time in the Full-time MBA program. We were intentional with our events, planning quality speakers, engaging the cohort in meaningful discussion, and advocating for change within our communities. Our Annual WIL Summit in Toronto was the pinnacle of our efforts in collaboration with the Smith School of Business Career Advancement Centre. The day was filled with motivating alumni speakers and authentic connections, which left an impact on attendees. Our theme – “Where there is a WIL, there is a way” – represented the work we had done throughout the year as the cohort with the largest proportion of women (47%) in Smith’s Full-time MBA program to date, and the opportunities ahead of the inspirational women of the program and our allies in our post-MBA careers.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Assisting in the development and delivery of a community outreach program with Kehewin Cree Nation dedicated to harm reduction and pharmacist-led clinical services. I helped to train Nation staff for harm reduction service sustainability and improved accessibility to care. In connecting with the community and Health Centre staff, I provided educational sessions on the topics of harm reduction, STBBIs, and Hepatitis C to help reduce stigma and increase awareness of the accessibility to pharmacist-led services and treatment.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Smith’s Full-time MBA program for the team-based learning approach. Looking back, the team learning environment was truly transformational and something that cannot be taught in a classroom alone.

Smith also offers multiple dual-degree programs alongside the Full-time MBA. The combined MBA + MSc in Healthcare Quality was ultimately what made me choose Smith for my MBA investment. Despite the challenges of a dual-degree program, it empowered me to merge healthcare and business seamlessly.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Kate Rowbotham. She created such a safe and reflective learning environment. Throughout her course, MBAS 855: Diversity & Inclusion in Organizations, she encouraged open and thought-provoking discussion in a way that left a lasting impact. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of her class and the powerful way she posed the simple question “What does success mean to you?”.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Although I truly enjoyed every class during my time at Smith, I have to say my favourite class was MBAS 823: Corporate Valuation & Mergers and Acquisitions. Having a healthcare background, I was determined to push myself out of my comfort zone and become the most well-rounded MBA graduate I could possibly be. This course was so well done by Blair Robertson, opening our eyes to the importance of business beyond the numbers themselves, and learning to see and appreciate an organization for its full story.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? It is no secret that business school presents so many opportunities, often more than we originally imagined. Throughout it all, I would have been quicker to remind myself of my “why” for pursuing the program. With so much opportunity, it is easy to get distracted and lose sight of your original purpose for committing to the journey. I wouldn’t change my experience for the world. If I was to do it all over again, I would remind myself sooner that is okay to stay focused and pursue a non-traditional post-MBA career path.

What is the biggest myth about your school? That non-traditional backgrounds may have difficulty adjusting to a fast paced 1-year MBA program like Smith’s. The program is designed for students to succeed with the support of our team coaches, career coaches, executive coaches, and faculty and staff. As well, the core curriculum is designed in such a way that sets us up for success in electives and the opportunity to tailor our program to our interests. The dual-degree option was the cherry on top for me – perfectly bringing together both of my passions: healthcare and business!

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Kingston has an unparalleled amount of charm with its walkability, quaint small-town feel, and stunning waterfront views. The city does a wonderful job of hosting community events and there is never a dull weekend with the number of activities and local businesses/restaurants to visit within walking distance from the stunning Queen’s campus.

What surprised you the most about business school? The importance of sharing perspectives during lectures, team discussions, and cohort events. During my time in the Smith MBA, each comment provided by my cohort members provided such insight and value to our discussion. With the diversity of classmates, these open discussions enabled me to broaden my perspective. I ultimately learned that an MBA program is a school of thought, and your success in the program is fully achieved with self-reflection along the journey. Open discussion and self-reflection are vital to truly capture all of the growth opportunities.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? Lucia Naranjo. Lucia came to the program with a strong background in financial planning and analysis. Her willingness to help members of the cohort in their learning journey with such patience and modesty was truly inspirational. Our cohort was privileged to witness her journey of self-growth as she blossomed into a confident advocate for women in finance and a true leader in our network of Smith alumni.

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

Be a part of the change in advocating for an expanded scope of pharmacist practice across Canada to improve healthcare accessibility for Canadians in a sustainable manner.

Continue advocating for gender equity within business and see the leadership dynamics shift within the profession of pharmacy in Canada to have 50% or more of leadership positions held by women.

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

“From the first time Caitlin spoke in class, I knew how lucky I was to have her as a student. She brought with her a wealth of experience in pharma, using that background as a way to deeply engage with the course material. By connecting her learning to her own experiences, she brought it to life in a way that was educational for everyone in the room, including me. Caitlin is generous in the way that she shares her knowledge, recognizing her role as an advocate and accomplice while also understanding her positionality in any given space.

Caitlin carries with her a curiosity that positions her well for lifelong learning. She is a passionate critical thinker, asking compelling questions and working hard to find answers. What makes her even more special is that she is intensely focused on community, which means that the work she does is always impactful. In short, Caitlin makes work and life better for those around her.

In one of our course modules, we spent a lot of time talking about career success and what it meant to each person in the class. I know that Caitlin has shaped her own definition of success in a way that is liberating and empowering – by any metric, she will be incredibly successful, and by her own, it will be even more meaningful.”

Kate Rowbotham
Distinguished Faculty Fellow of Organizational Behaviour

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