Melanie Starke

Ivey School of Business, Western University

“Wife, mom, daughter, sister, engineer, builder, and leader driven by grit, purpose, and sustainable innovation.”

Hometown: Uxbridge, Ontario

Fun fact about yourself: I played competitive hockey throughout my childhood and early adulthood, and I still jump in on shinny games whenever I can—including (very carefully) this past winter while pregnant!

Undergraduate School and Degree: Queens University, Kingston, Ontario- Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc), Geological Engineering

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? Project Manager at Fieldgate Construction IveManagement Limited

Where did you intern during the summer of 2024? N/A

Where will you be working after graduation? Returning to Fieldgate Construction Management Limited

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• VP External with the MBA Association
  • Led planning and execution of two Ivey MBA Impact Days, connecting 120+ students with local non-profits
  • Organized Ivey’s Charity Golf Tournament, raising funds for the MLSE Foundation
  • Initiated and ran Ivey MBA Family Day, giving classmates a chance to share the MBA experience with loved ones
  • Coordinated the 2025 MBA Leadership Conference
  • Dean’s Honour List
  • Forte Fellow Recipient

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? Leading Impact Day is my proudest achievement. It brought our cohort together to make a tangible difference in our community, and reminded me that leadership is often about enabling others to do meaningful work.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? Becoming the first female Project Manager in my business unit at Fieldgate is the achievement I’m most proud of. In an industry where I’m often the only woman in the room, earning that role through hard work, technical knowledge, and trust was incredibly meaningful. It wasn’t just about breaking a barrier—it was about proving that leadership has no gender.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Ivey for its case method and collaborative learning environment. In construction, we work across trades, disciplines, and geographies—success depends on the ability to lead diverse teams and make decisions in dynamic, group-based settings. Ivey’s emphasis on group work and peer learning gave me the chance to refine those skills in a way that felt directly transferable to my industry.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? Scott Loveland. It was inspiring to see someone who had recently made the same transition from engineering to an Ivey MBA—his path felt both relatable and motivating. He brought incredible energy to every class, whether it was Managing Operations in core or his electives, and he never let us skip the numbers—he always ensured our decisions were grounded in solid analysis. Honourable mention to Romel Mostafa, who was not only a cohort favourite during core Economics, but also someone I had the privilege of working with on a case about AI in construction.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Consumer Marketing with Matthew Diamond. Coming from an engineering background, I never expected this to be a favourite—but it was. The class was fun, lively, and completely different from anything I had taken before. It opened my eyes to how powerful marketing can be, and I found myself thinking of so many ways I could incorporate marketing principles into my future career in construction.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? Impact Day! I know I mention it often, but even though it was only two days, it created a meaningful bridge between our cohort and the broader community. It was more than a one-off event—it sparked lasting connections. I saw classmates continue volunteering with the NFPs we introduced, which spoke volumes about Ivey’s culture of purpose-driven leadership and giving back.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? If I could do one thing differently, I would have dived in even faster—into the academics, the student community, and building relationships with faculty. It took me a little while to truly feel like I belonged, but once I started treating Ivey like home, everything shifted. I felt more comfortable asking for help, taking risks in class, and stepping into leadership roles. Being pregnant during the latter half of the program brought unique challenges, but it also reminded me of the power of community and the importance of showing up authentically. The sooner you immerse yourself, the sooner you gain the support and confidence to succeed.

What is the biggest myth about your school? One of the biggest myths about Ivey is that it’s intimidating—cutthroat, ultra-competitive, and full of people who have it all figured out. From the outside, the case method and high-performance environment can definitely seem intense. But once you’re inside, you quickly realize that most of us are just a bunch of nerds—eager to learn, willing to help each other, and often needing help ourselves. The environment is challenging, yes, but it’s also incredibly supportive. The people make the difference, and the friendships and collaboration are what truly define the experience.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? I loved discovering all the trails around London—perfect for a morning jog with the Ivey MBA Social Run Club or a refreshing break from case prep. The city’s love for hockey and sports really stood out, with passionate community support for both the London Knights and the Western Mustangs. The nightlife had a fun, laid-back vibe, and there was always somewhere to go with classmates after a big academic event. What made it all even more special was getting to spend time in the town where my mom grew up and where my parents met—it gave my MBA experience a personal connection I’ll always treasure.

What movie or television show best reflects the realities of business and what did you learn from it? The Wolf of Wall Street. While it’s an extreme example, it highlights how quickly ambition and success can spiral without a strong ethical foundation. It was a powerful reminder that no matter how fast-paced or high-stakes the business world gets, ethics must always stay at the forefront.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Through a capstone project on Sustainable AI—which focused on both the environmental impact of AI and its potential to drive sustainability—I explored how AI could be used in construction to reduce waste and improve efficiency. The experience pushed me to think beyond functionality and consider the ethical and environmental implications of technology. It reinforced that while AI is a powerful tool, it must be applied thoughtfully, with long-term impact in mind.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? As cliché as it may sound, I have to say Mohit Gupta, our Class President. Mohit consistently showed up—for me personally and for our entire cohort. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that our MBA experience would have been different, and far less enriched, without his steady leadership and support. Thank you, Mohit, for the countless hours you dedicated to our class—it was a pleasure working alongside you for the year!

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

1. Launch a construction startup that deeply integrates sustainable building methods and pushes the industry forward.

2. Become a strong voice for women in male-dominated industries—starting by continuing to lead the women’s group at Fieldgate and eventually expanding it into a broader network and initiative. I believe this is just the beginning.

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

“Melanie Starke contributed to the Class of 2025 in so many ways, I group them into two themes. First, she led so many important activities that brought people together in collaborations to create a bigger impact together. Ivey Impact Day was the first activity I watched her lead, and it was ambitious and energetic. Melanie truly believed in the importance of every Ivey student volunteering with a local organization. Those organizations and their stakeholders benefitted, and the Ivey students experienced the joy of giving to the community. I saw Melanie lead several other activities over the year, and I was impressed with how she always had a strong, positive vision, great organization, and a collaborative way of engaging others.

Second, more uniquely, she led by through her own personal engagement and authenticity with such a positive energy that it brought others along, channeling their own authenticity. I noticed this first in class. Melanie was highly involved in class discussions, ready to contribute meaningfully and helping the class move along. The contributions were often challenging, questioning assumptions or pointing out different perspectives, and they helped us develop deeper insights. This always encouraged other students to provide thoughtful responses. I heard similar feedback about Melanie from other faculty about their classes. Then I realized how much she was doing outside of class, too. I watched her in meetings with classmates, take the podium at Impact Day, and plan Family Day and the golf tournament. In all these settings her positive energy drew people in, wanting to be involved too. They brought their own ways of doing things, which Melanie always welcomed and celebrated. When she announced she was pregnant and had to manage complications in her participation levels, that too became part of her positive energy. Melanie created space for people to be themselves and encouragement to apply that authenticity to make a difference.

Melanie’s classmates and the Ivey team will always be able to list her many accomplishments and contributions to the class, as they were significant. When they do that, they will all smile and feel a bit better about themselves too. I think this is one of Melanie’s most important contributions.”

Martha Maznevski
Professor, Organizational Behaviour
Faculty Director, Ivey MBA Program

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

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