Colton James

Why did you decide to do an MBA?

I wanted to expand my business acumen and help position myself to be a leader at an impactful organization. The world’s economic, social, and climate landscape is at an imperative moment and requires leaders who can make strong decisions on the fly. I thought the Ivey MBA would be the best place to prepare myself.

What is the most significant thing you've learned at Ivey?

How diverse thought and experience create exceptional outcomes. Some of the people I have worked with come from backgrounds in software engineering, digital marketing, investment banking, and biotechnology, from multiple countries and different cultures. It’s amazing to see a team work together and thrive when you can utilize a vast perspective.

What's been the most surprising aspect of the Ivey MBA journey to date?

How quickly you absorb business and technical concepts that you have little to no background knowledge in. I believe the case learning methodology is a huge factor in this rapid growth.

It was not a surprise that all of our classmates have been supportive and helpful: that’s what I heard from every Ivey alumni that I spoke to.

What books are on your bedside table AND/OR what podcast are you listing to right now?

I recently read “Leading” by Sir Alex Ferguson for a second time. It has a lot of great leadership lessons from his time managing Manchester United and other football clubs that are applicable to business. Another favourite is the Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson. Two visionaries who changed their fields forever.

I listen to almost every episode of Morning Brew Daily, The Daily, The House, and 32 Thoughts while I am getting ready for school or doing errands.

How do you manage stress (i.e. sports, exercise, meditation etc)?

I enjoy playing sports, with hockey, golf, and tennis as my favourites. I’ve made a lot of lifelong friendships through playing sports, and this has carried onto my time at Ivey. Intramural sports are a great way to connect with your classmates and take some stress off.