Isabel Duchesne

“Curious, creative leader and former policymaker, at her happiest when solving problems with a team”

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m art obsessed and have dreams of opening a small commercial gallery one day (if that’s a feasible side hustle)!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of Toronto, Honours Double Major in Political Science and Anthropology; University of Cambridge (King’s College), MPhil in Development Studies

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Head of Commercial Negotiations, Renewable Energy, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, British Government

What has been your favorite part of Toronto so far?

Toronto is the world’s most multicultural city, which enriches one’s life here in so many ways. From encountering countless new cuisines, to attending cultural events, to learning from peers with a multiplicity of perspectives, the opportunity to benefit from Toronto’s diversity is a major strength of the Rotman offer.

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?

Rotman offers students the opportunity to undertake a Collaborative Specialization in Environmental Studies, which appeals to me as a former climate and renewable energy policymaker with a passion for climate finance and environmental, social, and governance issues. The Specialization will allow me to strengthen my understanding of Canada’s climate outlook, which will be a valuable supplement to my international experience. Pairing this with the commercial fundamentals of the core MBA program will equip me to excel in Canada’s climate finance sector.

What course, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Toronto Rotman?

I’ve loved my first Strategy course, taught by Professor Hong Luo. It provided a strong theoretical foundation for understanding the dynamics governing the behaviour of firms, from competition to collaboration, differentiation, value creation, disruptive innovation, and so much more. I find the subject fascinating and feel that it’s helped me to unlock a deeper understanding of the world around me.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

In 2025, I successfully led a team to develop and negotiate a multi-billion-pound subsidy arrangement with the UK’s largest energy generator. This was a high-stakes project, conducted under very tight timelines and immense public and political scrutiny. I loved collaborating with a very talented team to deliver an exceptional result, which was widely praised. The deal we agreed is expected to halve the cost to consumers of subsidizing the plant, as compared to previous arrangements. It felt like a real privilege to play an important role in a project which delivered tangible benefits to so many citizens, while progressing the UK’s transition to a net zero energy sector.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far:

I’ve taken every opportunity to learn more about green finance, including placing on the podium for my first-ever case competition, at Toronto Climate Week. For this competition, I collaborated with a team of peers to develop and pitch a financing strategy for a hypothetical first-of-a-kind CCUS plant. Everyone on the team loved engaging with the subject matter and learnt a huge amount, from each other and from the panel of expert judges. I’ve also been awarded the RBC x Rotman Sustainable Finance Fellowship, which has enabled me to work with Professor Kenneth Corts on research relating to the planning, procurement, and contracting of renewable energy, a particular interest of mine.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far?

Working late into the evening with a talented, dedicated team to prep for our climate finance case competition was a particular highlight. We tackled a complex problem which was well outside our comfort zones, learnt a huge amount, and had a lot of fun together. It was great to have the opportunity to stretch ourselves as a group, and to see everyone grow so much, in terms of insights and skills.

Personal and professional development is one of the cornerstones of the Rotman MBA experience. What have you learned about yourself so far and what do you hope to achieve?

After spending the past decade working in international development and then climate and energy policy, the MBA has given me the opportunity to exercise certain mental muscles that haven’t been flexed in a while – particularly around quantitative analysis. This has been accompanied by all the resultant pain and endorphins you might expect! It’s such a privilege to have the opportunity to focus on building new skills. Post-graduation, I look forward to pairing these new-found capabilities with my leadership experience and strong energy sector expertise to help deliver the climate finance solutions the world badly needs.

DON’T MISS MEET TORONTO ROTMAN’S MBA CLASS OF 2027

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