Mark McGriskin

University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management

“Engineer turned operator who enjoys teamwork, building things, and occasionally scoring a goal.”

Hometown: I’ve moved often; the closest thing would be Montreal, Quebec or Bernardsville, New Jersey.

Fun fact about yourself: While living in Montreal as a kid, French became my first written language. I lost it after moving to the U.S. at age seven, then relearned it a decade later when I returned for McGill.

Undergraduate School and Degree: McGill University, Mechanical Engineering

Where was the last place you worked before enrolling in business school? I worked at Pratt & Whitney Canada as an Account Manager in the procurement group.

Where did you intern during the summer of 2025? I interned with Boston Consulting Group in the Toronto Office.

Where will you be working after graduation? I will be joining RTX’s Operations Leadership Development Program, with the locations to be determined.

Community Work and Leadership Roles in Business School:

• Dean’s List and Andrew Alexander Kinghorn Fellowship – Top 10% of class
• VP Operations & Finance, Rotman Management Consulting Association – Organized events and programming to support first-year learning and recruiting.
• Second-Year Mentor, Rotman Management Consulting Association – Coached first-year students through cases and recruiting strategy.
• Rotman Exchange Buddy – Supported incoming international students’ transition to Rotman and life in Toronto.
• Teaching Assistant – Led group review sessions and provided one-on-one academic support to graduate students.
• Rotman Entrance Scholarship

Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? I’m most proud of my team’s performance in the fall 2024 Kearney Case Competition. The case focused on a complex challenge in the pharmaceutical industry and landed during one of the busies stretches of the year with other case competitions, recruiting, and classes taking place at the same time. Nevertheless, the team persevered and we earned an invitation to present our case at Kearney’s Toronto office. It was a memorable experience and an excellent reminder of how satisfying it is to see hard work pay off.

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? At Taiga Motors, I helped launch the world’s first electric snowmobile. Leading procurement in a high-growth environment meant solving large operational problems at startup speed. There was a lot of learning on the fly, I’m proud of how I stepped up and enabled the team to push through the ambiguity we faced. In addition, the entire team behind the launch was special; their passion and commitment to ensuring the success of the project were second to none.

Why did you choose this business school? I chose Rotman because of how embedded the school is in Toronto’s business community. Its reputation and network, combined with its downtown location, provide an excellent opportunity to engage directly with industry. The “real-world” access is incredible ranging from office visits to frequent on-campus events.

Who was your favorite MBA professor? This is difficult to answer because there have been so many excellent professors, but I will say Professor Francesco Bova who taught Business Analysis & Valuation. He is both an excellent teacher and a kind, funny person. Classes were well organized and rigorous, but also interactive and genuinely enjoyable. Professor Bova ensured that we understood the material and enjoyed the learning process.

What was your favorite course as an MBA? Operations Management. I liked how practical the course was, translating strategy into the short- and long-term operational decisions that help a company succeed. The experience was elevated by Professor Gonzalo Romero, who made every class engaging and fun.

What was your favorite MBA event or tradition at your business school? It was playing in last year’s Ivey MBA hockey tournament. It was nostalgic to be back in a real competitive hockey tournament again, this time facing students from other MBA programs. The highlight was seeing a bus full of Rotman MBAs, many attending their first-ever hockey game, show up on a Friday night to cheer us on against Ivey. I believe it’s a testament to Rotman’s culture: supportive, fun, and tightly-knit. The cherry on top was that we won the tournament.

Looking back over your MBA experience, what is the one thing you’d do differently and why? I would have joined more clubs. Rotman offers countless social and professional opportunities. I would encourage future students to branch out.

What was the most impactful case study you had in business school and what was the biggest lesson you learned from it? The operations case on Chef Davide Oldani and Ristorante D’O. The restaurant business may appear simple on the surface, but as this case demonstrates, the devil is in the details. I enjoyed seeing how Chef Oldani’s deliberate tradeoffs enabled him to deliver on his vision and ultimately earn a Michelin star. I believe it’s an excellent case because it uses the relatability of the restaurant business to illustrate the importance of aligning strategy and operations.

What did you love most about your business school’s town? Toronto has big-city energy but is still very livable. Plus, the food scene is outstanding.

What business leader do you admire most? I will say Maria Della Posta, the president of Pratt & Whitney Canada. Her name may not appear in the headlines every day, but she is an esteemed leader and highly respected in the aerospace industry. She has built an impressive career over more than 40 years at Pratt & Whitney and assumed her current position right before COVID upended the industry. I admire her passion, commitment to one company, and people-focused style.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? AI appeared in several Rotman courses as professors encouraged us to experiment with different tools while also discussing their limitations. Being in the classroom provided a low-risk sandbox to learn how to use AI effectively without introducing security or quality risks to an employer. It helped me understand where these tools can genuinely elevate my work.

Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I admire Anureet Kaur Mann and suspect many Rotman MBAs would give the same answer. She combines intelligence and work ethic with a level of humility and kindness that makes her a natural leader. Whether it’s team projects or helping classmates prepare for recruiting, she consistently elevates those around her. It’s no surprise that she was elected President of the Management Consulting Association. She has a very bright future, and I’m thankful that I’ve gotten to know her.

What are the top two items on your professional bucket list? First, I would like to spend part of my career working outside North America. I’ve been fortunate to spend my final MBA semester abroad at ESSEC in France, and the immersion in a different culture and academic environment has been invaluable. It has been a unique and rewarding experience that has broadened how I think about leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. It has also reinforced my desire to take on a work opportunity abroad and benefit from that growth in a professional setting. Second, I want to help launch a new manufacturing plant. Standing up an entirely new operation – a business within a business – sounds like the perfect intersection of engineering, teamwork, and strategy.

What made Mark such an invaluable addition to the Class of 2026?

“Mark is invaluable addition to the MBA class not only because of what he accomplished, but because of how consistently he supported the people around him. As VP of Operations and Finance for the Management Consulting Association, Mark managed the club’s budget and helped run several of its events, often handling the behind-the-scenes work that ensured everything ran smoothly. That meant overseeing all logistical details, no matter how small were taken care of which allowed the club to deliver strong and seamless programming for students. However, what truly made Mark stand out was the way he carried himself and supported his classmates. While he worked hard academically, he was always willing to give up his time to help and mentor others – whether answering late-night calls from peers struggling before exams, joining study sessions simply to help others, or staying after class to explain difficult concepts. Mark’s professionalism, generosity with his time, and unassuming nature made him not only a dependable leader but also a trusted member of the Rotman community who quietly lifted others along the way.”

Cindy Chong
Career Consultant
Rotman School of Management

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