Joyce Wu

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management

“Empathetic leader and thoughtful doer – navigating work, academics and life with heart and hustle.”

Hometown: Hong Kong

Fun fact about yourself: I produced a movie during my undergrad years.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Hong Kong Baptist University, Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours)

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Tencent Holdings, Investor Relations

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? RBC Capital Markets, Toronto

Where will you be working after graduation? RBC, Toronto

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• President, Rotman Asset Management Association

Led a professional student group of 300+ members, delivering programming to help aspiring students across multiple Rotman programs build knowledge, skills, and industry connections for a long-term career in finance and asset management.

• Student Ambassador for RBC

Provided mentoring support for student interns and acted as a bridge between the Rotman community and RBC.

• Women In Capital Markets Heather L. Main Memorial Scholarship

Organized women-centric events and mentored over 10 aspiring female students through their recruitment and scholarship preparation.

• Teaching Assistant

Supported both graduate and undergraduate courses across core and elective subjects to give back to the academic community.

• Leelah Dawson Scholarship for Excellence & Leadership, Andrew Alexander Kinghorn Fellowship, Entrance Scholarship, Forte Fellow

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I’m most proud of my contribution to the Rotman community as President of the Rotman Asset Management Association. Together with my team, we achieved strong growth in both membership base and engagement, while significantly deepening our industry relationships. We launched initiatives to broaden our programming across different areas of asset management and successfully engaged students from across Rotman’s MBA and other master’s programs. I believe these efforts have added meaningful value to our members’ MBA experience and it was incredibly rewarding to pay it forward and contribute to fostering a stronger community at Rotman.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? While I’m proud to have contributed to several IPOs and high-profile M&A deals, the most meaningful achievement for me was being part of the team to shape Tencent’s earnings and strategy communications. I had the opportunity to influence disclosures, target-setting, and even strategic decisions – work that directly impacted how the company was perceived in the capital markets. I took great pride in seeing the tangible effects of thoughtful analysis and decision making reflected in market reactions.

Why did you choose this business school? I wanted to pursue my MBA in Canada and immerse myself in a diverse, globally minded environment. Rotman’s emphasis on integrative thinking resonated deeply with me. Coming from a tech and communications background, I wanted an MBA that would challenge how I think and approach problems. Rotman offered the intellectual depth and cultural richness I was looking for.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Professor Partha Mohanram is one of my favorite professors at Rotman. I had the pleasure of taking his Business Analysis and Valuation course in my first year, which focuses on analyzing and valuing businesses using financial statements. His teaching is clear, structured, and engaging. He balances theory with practical application and creates space for thoughtful classroom discussion. Beyond academics, he is also very approachable and genuinely invested in students’ growth both personally and professionally.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? How Banks Work: Management in a New Technological Age with Adjunct Professor Richard Nesbitt, a Rotman alumnus and former bank executive, was one of the standout courses of my MBA experience. His teaching challenged us to think critically and question even widely accepted narratives. A key insight I took away was that we often have more information than we think – often sufficient for us to make sound judgements – and what matters is how thoroughly and thoughtfully we assess it and how much we trust our own judgment. The course was further enriched by guest lectures from senior banking leaders, which brought valuable real-world perspectives and made the concepts even more relevant and tangible.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? I loved the cultural events celebrating different global festivals. They reflect Rotman’s vibrant diversity and the “work hard, play harder” spirit of the community. These events were not only fun but also an amazing way to build cross-cultural understanding and friendships.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I would have applied for an international exchange semester at another top business school. It would have been a valuable opportunity to broaden my global perspective, experience a different learning environment, and build international connections.

What is the biggest myth about your school? I often heard that the first year of MBA is intense, but the second year is lighter. In my case, the second year was just as fulfilling and busy – in the best way – thanks to electives, leadership roles, and community involvement. The two-year structure at Rotman really offers a rich and well-rounded experience, especially if you choose to stay engaged.

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? One film that resonates with me is Margin Call (2011). The ethical dilemmas, pressure, and rapid decision-making required during a crisis that it depicts are relevant not just to the finance industry, but to business leadership more broadly. The film highlights how incentives, blind spots, and self-preservation can drive decisions at the highest levels, sometimes at the expense of long-term stability. It reinforced for me that risk management isn’t just about quantitative models, but also about sound judgment. The key lesson it left me with is the importance of strong governance, critical thinking, and ethical leadership in navigating uncertainty.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Rotman offers a range of courses about machine learning and its application in industries, as well as practical independent projects that explore how technology intersects with business problems. The school also regularly hosts seminars on emerging technology trends, providing a broader perspective on the evolving landscape. One key insight I have gained is that AI is more of a tool than a destination. While much has been said about AI replacing human roles, the real value lies in understanding how to use it purposefully. As future business leaders, it’s critical that we focus on not just enhancing the human skills that technology cannot replicate, but also that we always start with a clear vision of what we want AI to help us achieve.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I most admire Drishti Thakkar. She is incredibly driven, self-motivated, and consistently demonstrates excellence in everything she takes on. She brought strong initiatives and valuable industry connections that greatly benefited the broader Rotman community, as Chief Operating Officer of the Rotman Student Investment Fund. She is passionate about pursuing a career in investment banking and has pursued her goal with unwavering focus and determination. As a fellow student club leader, I have been deeply impressed by her competence and her dedication to giving back. As a friend, I admire her clarity of purpose, resilience, and the positive energy she brings to those around her.

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

• To contribute meaningfully to the personal and professional growth of women in finance, through mentorship, coaching, speaker events, etc.
• To continue advancing my professional qualifications and expertise so I can make greater impacts on the finance industry.

What made Joyce such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2025?

“Joyce is driven to make an impact in whatever she does. Not only is she an outstanding student academically, she spends numerous hours leading events and workshops for students as President of the Rotman Asset Management Association. She also makes herself available to help students by providing advice and interview preparation – living Rotman’s ‘Pay it Forward’ culture. Through her dedication to building a career in financial services, she was selected as a Heather L. Main Memorial scholarship recipient and secured a capital markets internship at RBC, a major Canadian bank. Due to her exceptional work over the summer and continual display of professionalism and drive, she was offered a spot in their competitive and prestigious Leadership Development Program post-graduation.

Whether it’s seeing Joyce in the halls and event venues at Rotman or at external events around Toronto, I am always proud of the way she carries herself with poise and approachability – she is an exceptional Rotman ambassador.”

Robyn Behlke
Career Consultant
Rotman School of Management

DON’T MISS: MBAS TO WATCH: CLASS OF 2025

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