Bita Pourvahidi

Smith School of Business, Queen’s University

“I remind myself every day to go into the world and do well, but more importantly, to go into the world and do good.”

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Fun Fact About Yourself: In 2016, through my long-standing involvement with an incredible organization called Jack.org, I was one of twelve youth mental health advocates from across the country selected to meet with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to discuss our shared commitment to youth mental health advocacy while sailing in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia.

Undergraduate School and Major: Ryerson University –  Bachelor of Commerce in business management with a major in marketing management and a minor in human resources management

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Bilingual Field Specialist and On-Site Manager – Mosaic Sales Solutions.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: One of my greatest accomplishments in my career thus far would be receiving an Acosta Chairman’s Award at Mosaic Sales Solutions. Each year, the Chairman’s Award Program highlights employees across the entire organization who exemplify the company’s core values and achieve outstanding results both internally and externally. Having received this award, especially as one of the youngest employees in the company, felt incredibly rewarding. It was a testament to a tremendous amount of hard work and a commitment to excellence.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? There is truly no MBA program that felt more suited to me than the MBA program at Smith School of Business. I am extremely impressed with the ability to obtain a Double Degree or specialize in a focused area of interest, as it provides an invaluable competitive edge in the workplace. Personally, I plan to specialize in Digital Transformation. By providing this option, it shows Smith School of Business’ innovative and adaptive approach that speaks to the current digital needs of the business world, which is something I see as highly valuable.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? There are two main clubs and activities that I would love to be part of. First, I am looking forward to getting involved with the Women in Leadership Club (WIL), as it will give me the opportunity to connect with and meet passionate, like-minded women in the MBA program. I would love to be part of the movement of business leaders that help break down barriers that exist for women who are looking to advance in their professional careers.

Second, as someone who has played sports my entire life, I am very much looking forward to participating in the Fit to Lead Program, a program that focuses on mental, emotional and physical well-being. I truly believe that some of my greatest lessons in life have come from playing sports at a competitive level, and I am thrilled that the Smith MBA Program is designed to help individuals like myself grow beyond the classroom.

What was the most challenging question you were asked during the admissions process? The most challenging question I was asked was, “What is your greatest professional insecurity?” This was a great question. It pushed me to ask myself, “What is truly stopping you in your career path?” as opposed to merely focusing on my personal strengths and weaknesses. I found this question rather uplifting and it provided me with a lot of clarity of what areas I’d like to work on and what steps I need to take to move up the corporate ladder.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career? I was extremely enthusiastic about pursuing my MBA degree, as it was the ideal complement to my marketing background. As an individual with hands-on involvement in the marketing industry, I’ve come to see the type of leadership role and skills an MBA can provide. Furthermore, an MBA will provide me with a more sophisticated knowledge-base, enhance my entrepreneurial skills, and broaden my business network – tools only obtained through higher education. Additionally, by specializing in Digital Transformation, the MBA from Smith will provide me with an opportunity to learn more about an area of interest; an area that I feel will be transforming the way business is conducted in the near future.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? The Smith MBA Program at Queen’s University was the only MBA program that I applied to! I always knew I wanted to be a Smith alum. I feel incredibly honoured and privileged to have been accepted into one of the most prestigious MBA programs in the country and am very much looking forward to all that this program has in store.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? For my specific MBA search, I was only truly interested in receiving my MBA degree from the Smith School of Business, so the process for me was slightly less challenging. However, there are a few things I noticed immediately that further confirmed my fit at Smith. The entire admissions team is thoroughly involved and supportive throughout the entire application process. They make you feel comfortable, prepared, and well-informed about all that the program has to offer. I immediately felt at home and knew I was in great hands. This was extremely reassuring for me.

Secondly, the program’s focus on team-based learning was extremely important to me as I felt that it was the most accurate representation of today’s workplace. This was important as I, along with all other MBA alumni, will ultimately transition back to work upon the completion of this degree. Coming from an athletic background, I was very much drawn to the team-based environment and felt that it was the perfect fit for me in all ways.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are? When I graduated from Ryerson University, I went backpacking in Southeast Asia for two months. One defining moment for me happened during a three-day trek in the mountains of Sapa in Vietnam. I did this trek with an organization owned and operated entirely by women called Sapa Sisters. They offer female guides benefits such as paid parenting leave, access to private hospitals in Hanoi, and fair wages with bonuses throughout the year. Most importantly, their initiatives have enabled them to take on more challenges to help empower women who have suffered from domestic violence and provide them with healthcare and early childhood education – something that is, unfortunately, lacking in Vietnam. Throughout this experience, you are observing the life of a young woman who has much less than you do and watches her completely thrive in her environment. It provided me with so much depth and perspective on what I want out of life, what my goals are, and (most of all) what kind of human being I want to be both personally and professionally. It reminded me that despite any success that may come my way, I never want to lose sight of my love for philanthropy and the importance of uplifting others.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? In ten years, I hope to continue to advance in my career at an organization that I feel is a great fit for my life, to which I want to continuously give my time and effort. I want to be working somewhere with corporate values that align with mine. I see myself in a leadership role, managing a strong, high-functioning team with a positive culture, that I’ve worked hard to build. I hope to help foster growth in my team and help others reach their career goals as well. In an ideal world, I’d love to combine my passions: sports, business, and charity work. Whether that be through working for an organization where those worlds meet or starting my own endeavor, time will tell!