Liam O’Brien

“I am a curious and goal-oriented team player who thrives upon a challenge”

Hometown: Oakville Ontario

Fun Fact About Yourself: Outside of the classroom, I am a certified personal trainer specialist through Canfitpro. I teach at F45 Training and The Yard Gym in Oakville, and I regularly compete in endurance and fitness races, including HYROX events. Training and coaching others has taught me structure, resilience, and how to motivate people to achieve health and wellness goals that once felt out of reach.

Undergraduate School and Major: McMaster University, Honours Bachelor of Commerce, Summa Cum Laude

University of Toronto, Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Ernst & Young LLP, Senior Consultant (EY-Parthenon)

What has been your favorite part of Toronto so far?

What I enjoy most about Toronto is its energy and sense of momentum. The city brings together finance, culture, and sports in ways that feel both demanding and exciting. I enjoy spending time in the Entertainment District, cheering on the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena, and exploring the City’s dynamic food scene such as at PAI. Toronto offers an environment that constantly stimulates, challenges and motivates me.

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?

What drew me to Rotman was its emphasis on applying structured learning and critical thinking to real world implications to make decisions. A defining experience was the Finance course in term two with Professor Mikhail Simutin, which focused less on memorizing formulas and more on using financial frameworks to evaluate real life choices.

The course challenged us to think critically about risk, return, and uncertainty, whether about personal investment decisions or determining broader financial tradeoffs.

Professor Simutin facilitated thoughtful dialogue instead of lecturing, consistently connecting core concepts to practical applications. Class discussions were highly interactive and encouraged multiple perspectives, creating an environment where ideas were debated rather than delivered.

The course gave me confidence in approaching complex financial situations through rigorous, risk-adjusted and framework-driven analysis. This applied learning approach was a key reason why I chose Rotman.

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

My most enjoyable experience at Rotman has been my involvement with the Rotman Finance Association (RFA). The student finance club provides a strong platform to apply classroom learnings through case competitions, industry engagements, and peer collaboration.

Through the RFA, I competed in finance case competitions hosted by CIBC, TD, and RBC. These experiences allowed me to apply technical concepts to modern day transaction scenarios while presenting them to industry professionals and receiving direct feedback. These competitions sharpened both my analytical thinking and communication skills.

Beyond competitions, the RFA community has been equally valuable. Attending the annual RFA Industry night reinforced the strength of Rotman’s alumni network and the collaborative culture within the finance community. The combination of learning, competition, and community has made the RFA a highlight of my MBA experience.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

My biggest career accomplishment has been evolving from a strong individual contributor into a team leader and client facing advisor. I have had the opportunity to lead teams of three to five colleagues while working directly with senior executives to make complex financial and operational decisions.

Learning how to take ownership, support others, and communicate clearly at the executive level changed how I approached leadership. Shifting my focus from personal output to enabling team success has been the most meaningful milestone in my career so far.

Learning to support and motivate those around me as a leader is a key area that I plan to develop during my time at Rotman.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far:

One of my proudest accomplishments as an MBA student was representing Rotman at the Smith National Case Competition and returning as a competition winner having won a $3,000 cash prize. The case focused on developing a strategic plan for Canada’s Arctic region, a topic that pushed me outside my comfort zone.

Competing alongside my classmates against top MBA programs across Canada reinforced the importance of adaptability and curiosity. The experience highlighted the value of engaging with unfamiliar industries to broaden how I think and solve problems.

The experience of competing against the top MBA programs in Canada was a great experience to test the knowledge and development of those around me and my direct peer group. Rotman played a role in supporting the students financially to make these opportunities available.

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

My best memory as an MBA student was the inaugural camping retreat at Camp New Moon in Baysville Ontario. Spending several days immersed with my cohort at an off-ground location created strong connections early in the program that have set the stage for a successful transition into the course work with an existing network.

The retreat allowed me to connect with classmates beyond academics and appreciate the diverse backgrounds and individual ambitions within the class. It set the foundation for fundamental relationships that define the Rotman experience.

One of the best features of the MBA program has been connecting with the MBA class and sharing experiences to achieve shared growth and success.

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