Navika Nayar

“A curious, people-driven MBA student focused on learning, growing, and paying it forward”

Hometown: I was born in Mumbai, India but spent a good chunk of my formative years in Muscat, Oman which will always hold a special place in my heart.

Fun Fact About Yourself: Growing up near the ocean sparked my love for Scuba diving, which I’ve now done across five countries!

Undergraduate School and Major: University of British Columbia, Double Major Microbiology and Economics

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Senior Associate, PwC

What has been your favorite part of Toronto so far?

There’s never a dull moment in Toronto. Having lived here for the past two years, I’ve fallen in love with the city’s energy. It’s always mesmerizing to see people from all backgrounds come together around sports, culture, and shared moments that make the city feel alive in ways that are hard to describe. Witnessing the Blue Jays play their final game in the 2025 World Series and seeing the whole city rally behind them showcased Toronto’s energy at its best.

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 is known for its extensive global alumni network and a strong culture of paying it forward. From my initial coffee chats with second-years and alumni through to the recruitment process, I experienced that support firsthand. It is incredible to see how generous everyone is with their time, opening their calendars no matter how busy they are. That level of support is both inspiring and energizing, and it motivates you to pay it forward in the same way. It truly takes a village, and Rotman’s culture makes you feel supported at every step, empowering you to achieve anything.

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

Being a fellow in the Creative Destruction Lab has been such a unique and rich learning experience for me because it dropped me straight into the reality of building companies. One of my most memorable CDL experiences has been attending sessions where founders receive feedback and guidance from experienced entrepreneurs and investors to continually iterate on their short-term objectives. It’s the best business 101 education you can never get in a classroom.

What I appreciate most about being a CDL fellow is how real it is. There is no hiding behind theory or frameworks. Everything comes back to execution, evidence, and momentum. As a Fellow, you are embedded in an ecosystem that is actively helping ambitious, innovative startups move from idea to impact. Looking ahead in the CDL program, I am excited to be paired with a start-up to provide hands-on business development support.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far:

During my time at PwC, I took on several stretch roles, including independently leading workstreams on multi-million-dollar technology implementation projects. Having managers who believed in my abilities empowered me to push my own boundaries and lead cross-functional teams to produce mission-critical deliverables. From project managing a team of several onshore and offshore developers on a large-scale implementation to designing the end-to-end conceptual architecture for the business and technology transformation, I grew as a team member and a leader, learning how to balance strategy, execution, and people in complex, high-stakes environments.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far:

Being awarded the Heather L. Main Memorial Scholarship for Women in Capital Markets has been a defining milestone in my MBA journey. As someone who has long been involved in supporting and advocating for women in educational and professional spaces, receiving this scholarship felt both affirming and deeply humbling.

What stood out most to me was how thoughtfully designed the selection process was. It created space to form genuine connections, and I had the opportunity to meet an extraordinary group of women through it. Being selected isn’t just about receiving a prestigious award; it’s about becoming part of a special community and being affiliated with a scholarship that carries so much purpose and significance. To be welcomed into this group and to be given an opportunity like this is truly incredible, and I’m excited to continue learning, growing, and paying this opportunity forward.

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

It is hard to choose between all the incredible experiences I’ve had in the MBA so far, but one that stands out is the Orientation camp. Between a Rotman talent show, team challenges and late-night conversations, those days marked the beginning of some of my most special friendships at Rotman.

Another core memory comes from the end of the first term, when a couple of our classmates organized a party for the entire MBA class. It was a glow-in-the-dark party with plenty of fried chicken and was the perfect way to bring everyone together before our reading break. Moments like that capture the spirit of the Rotman community!

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?

One of my biggest learnings has been getting comfortable with uncertainty and learning to enjoy the process rather than becoming overly attached to the outcome. The MBA is such a unique and incredible time with so many opportunities to explore, connections to build, and lessons to learn. Being present each day has become increasingly important to me, particularly as I recognize how fortunate I am to have the opportunity to pursue this degree.

Looking back at how the last few months have unfolded has been genuinely beautiful. I’ve come to believe that everyone enters the MBA with their own unique path, and that growth comes from showing up consistently and putting in the hours, while leaving room for a little magic.

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