Meet Toronto Rotman’s MBA Class Of 2027

The Rotman School of Management has a longstanding reputation for attracting students who are both curious and globally minded. Rotman MBAs are the kind of students that don’t shy away from complexity.

The Class of 2027 is an ambitious group of students who entered their MBA looking to immerse themselves in a community that challenges them intellectually, stretches them personally, and encourages them to think bigger about the kind of leaders they want to become. This year’s cohort has expertise in healthcare, finance, engineering, consumer goods, consulting, and public policy among other areas.

Some have traveled across the world to attend, carrying with them the perspectives of cities like La Paz, Dalian, Medan, and Lima. Others grew up just a short drive from campus. While they learn the ins and outs of the curriculum, they’ve also been learning a ton from each other.

WHY TORONTO IS AN EXCEPTIONAL CITY TO EARN AN MBA

Toronto is a city that rewards curiosity. It’s a global hub of finance, technology, culture, and innovation.

MBA Isabel Duchesne, a Toronto native, says that in her eyes, the city’s multiculturalism is what makes it an extraordinary place to be.  A curious, creative leader and former policymaker, Duchesne loves how energizing the city can be.

“Toronto is the world’s most multicultural city, which enriches one’s life here in so many ways,” she says. “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.”

All the way from La Paz, Bolivia, MBA Augusto San Miguel describes himself as someone who is intense, disciplined, and globally curious. He says what surprised him most was how warm and friendly the city feels.

“My favorite part of Toronto is how welcoming it feels to those arriving from abroad,” he explains. “With such an international population, people make an effort to help you feel at home… this made me feel both eager to explore the city and genuinely part of it from the start.”

MBA Agustinus Sinaga has the same school of thought. From Medan, Indonesia, he says that Toronto’s climate and culture have been very refreshing.

An analytical, collaborative problem solver passionate about sustainability, Sinaga says, “My favorite part has been the weather and the diversity. Toronto’s cooler seasons feel refreshing compared to Jakarta’s hot and humid climate… and the diversity in people and culture makes the city feel welcoming.”

WHAT DREW STUDENTS TO ROTMAN’S MBA PROGRAMMING

Rotman is known to have a rigorous MBA curriculum, but the program also has a reputation for having great opportunities for personal development.

Sinaga placed Rotman at the top of his list for the opportunity to experience the Self‑Development Lab.

“Rotman builds leadership in a very practical way through feedback‑intensive coaching and small‑group modules,” he says. “I want to level up the ‘executive’ side — how I influence senior stakeholders, navigate tough conversations, and manage team dynamics.”

Yimeng Evelyn Zhang from Dalian, China, was drawn to Rotman because of the school’s global reach. A freediver in entrepreneurship and consulting, Zhang wanted to attend a school that would open doors far beyond Canada.

“What drew me to Rotman most was its global alumni network and international reputation,” she says. “Knowing that Rotman is respected globally gave me confidence that the relationships and training I built here would continue to create opportunities long after graduation.”

Similar to Sinaga, MBA Obiaku Ogbonna from Imo State, Nigeria, found Rotman’s development labs to be the deciding factor.

Purpose‑driven and committed to empowering others, Ogbonna says, “The development labs were a unique selling point for me… my career goals go beyond strong analytical and technical skills but also the ability to lead teams and influence stakeholders.”

Already, the personalized coaching Rotman offers has made a great impression on her.

“I have received personalized feedback on how to refine my communication and executive presence through role‑playing exercises for difficult conversations and simulations that evaluate decision making under pressure, “ Ogbonna says.

COURSES, CLUBS, AND ACTIVITIES THAT SHAPE THE ROTMAN EXPERIENCE

Rotman’s extracurricular ecosystem is fast‑moving, diverse, and full of possibility. MBAs can join an array of clubs, competitions, and hands-on experiences that allow them to apply classroom lessons in meaningful ways. For Ogbonna, the Rotman Asset Management Club has been a standout experience.

“As part of the newsletter team covering the North American Equities Market, I have gained firsthand exposure to market trends and analysis,” she says. Ogbonna has nothing but kind words for her Finance course as well which she says deepened her understanding of investment strategies in the North American market.

MBA Navika Nayar was born in Mumbai and spent much of her childhood in Muscat. One of the highlights of her MBA experience thus far has been her work as a Fellow in the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL).

Curious and people‑driven, Nayar was drawn to CDL because it offered something few MBA experiences can replicate: an unfiltered look at what it actually takes to build a company from the ground up.

“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,” she says.

A FEW CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF ROTMAN MBAS 

The professional backgrounds students bring with them to Rotman make for a great variety of perspectives that instantly energize the classroom. Their accomplishments spark richer conversations and lead to deep conversations.

Nayar’s proudest moment was when she was entrusted with leading workstreams on multi‑million‑dollar technology implementation projects. This was a responsibility that pushed her beyond what she thought she was capable of.

“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,” she shares. 

MBA Rachael Brimacombe from Calgary is someone who is people‑powered, adventure‑seeking, conscientious, and driven to create meaningful impact.

Brimacombe led the launch of Schneider’s‑Jays Single Smokie Sausages, a project that needed a leader with creativity, resilience, and sheer operational grit.

“I overcame numerous obstacles to hit the target launch date (the start of baseball season) and, post launch, analyzed market performance to develop creative strategies to direct underperforming sales teams”

She did this all while managing Maple Leaf’s $12.3M flagship fresh and smoked sausage portfolio. After launch, she dug into market performance and crafted inventive strategies to support underperforming sales teams, turning challenges into momentum.

A different kind of accomplishment has defined MBA Siwei Xia’s time at Rotman. She’s came to Rotman from across the world – Hengyang, Hunan, China, and describes herself as an analytical investor turned MBA.

For Xia, the most meaningful achievement has been internal.

“During the MBA, I’ve been intentional about reflecting on my past experiences, stress‑testing my motivations, and actively seeking feedback,” she says. “I’ve learned to make decisions that align with how I think, work, and want to grow long term.”

BEST MEMORIES FROM THE ROTMAN EXPERIENCE

Ask any Rotman student about their favorite memory, and they’ll likely mention the moments that happen between the milestones.

For Xia, those moments are rooted in community. She recalls long conversations with her career coach during moments of doubt, candid advice from upper‑year students, thoughtful discussions with professors, and late‑night debriefs with classmates after intense recruiting days.

A goal‑oriented team player who thrives upon a challenge, MBA Liam O’Brien from Oakville, Ontario says, his favorite memory was made during the inaugural camping retreat at Camp New Moon.

Immersed in nature with his cohort, he found himself connecting deeply with his classmates. “This set the foundation for fundamental relationships that define the Rotman experience.”

MBA Andrew Morton from Georgetown, Ontario says he loves problem-solving alongside others. He most cherishes the moments that stretched him the most like challenging team dynamics, high‑pressure deliverables, and late‑night study sessions were the ones that ultimately shaped him the most.

“I’ve learned that I do my best work when I’m uncomfortable, held to high standards, and learning alongside others,” Morton says.

He hopes to take on a leadership role in the MCA next year, where he can pass on the lessons that helped him grow.

The MBA program has been a space for Lorena Figueroa Pacheco from to Peru to reflect on how she shows up as a professional and as a person. She’s empathetic, disciplined, athletic, resilient, and she is driven by the desire to continuously grow.

Pacheco has navigated ambiguity, high‑pressure team settings, and conversations that pushed her outside her comfort zone.

“One of the most important things I’ve learned about myself is my ability to grow through discomfort,” she says. “Whether contributing in high-pressure team settings, navigating ambiguity in cases, or stepping into conversations with people outside my immediate circle, I’ve learned that meaningful growth often comes from situations that initially feel unfamiliar.

Next page: An interview with Vice Dean Joseph Milner. 

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