Jonathan Soriano

Why did you decide to do an MBA?

After working in my family business for the past 3 years, I decided that it was time for me to develop a new skill set and push myself to develop further as a business leader. I knew that completing an MBA at Ivey would enable me to learn new material, meet exceptional people, and grow as an individual.

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

The most significant thing that I've learned at Ivey is the importance of being able to work with different personalities and on different teams. Over the first half of the program, we are organized into 3 different learning teams and are responsible for submitting various assignments and reports. Your success is heavily dependent on your ability to learn about your new teammates, and to adjust your own approach to teamwork accordingly.

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

The willingness of everyone in our cohort to support one another and to help each other overcome our own weaknesses has been the most surprising for me. Before arriving to Ivey, I'd heard about how intense and competitive an MBA could be. However, the intensity comes from the rapid pace of the program and the difficulty of the learning material, not from competition amongst our peers. I'm surprised at how we all genuinely want everyone to succeed and we're doing our best to make sure that not only do we reach our goals, but also that our peers reach their goals.

Describe the role you play professionally:

My role at work involves me seeking out new ways to improve our business operations, and then working with all department managers to implement innovative solutions and collaborate effectively so that the dealership as a whole can benefit. To do this, I have to stay up-to-date on industry trends, analyze the business practices of our competitors, and monitor our daily performance across a variety of metrics. To facilitate collaboration across departments, I must host efficient meetings, communicate dealership goals clearly, and maintain a culture of mutual understanding.

What is the most challenging aspect of your job?

Motivating each department manager to keep a holistic view of the dealership operation is the most difficult part of my job. It's common in the automotive industry for each department (new car, used car, service, parts) to begin operating in silos if no one is overseeing all departments to ensure that they consider how their operations might affect another aspect of the business. Decisions that benefit one department often have the opposite effect on another department, which is why maintaining a collaborative culture and explaining why certain decisions will benefit the overall dealership can be so difficult.

What is your biggest professional accomplishment?

My biggest professional accomplishment is co-founding the On the Rise Tennis Foundation. As an avid tennis player and someone who is very passionate about junior Canadian tennis, this initiative is extremely rewarding to me. I have been fortunate enough to witness first-hand how difficult it is to transition from a junior tennis player to a successful professional tennis player, and the dedication that is involved. One of the most significant barriers is the financial commitment required. With the Foundation, we are able to provide promising Canadian junior tennis players with adequate financial support to pursue a professional career that would have been out of reach otherwise.

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

I keep "The 5am Club" on my bedside table. The book was recommended to me by a good friend a while ago and it was an amazing read. Playing competitive tennis while growing up had already taught me the importance of setting goals, building routines, and staying disciplined, but the book really showed me how that applies outside the world of sports. The 5am Club also taught me that as life gets busier, the early morning will become a very important part of my day. This lesson has become valuable over the past few years as the early morning is the only time that I truly have to myself and can choose how I want to spend my time.

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

My go-to activity in times of stress is definitely tennis. I love playing to relax when I need to take a step back from work or school, whether its with peers from Ivey, or teammates from Western. If the weather outside isn't great or there are no courts available, I also enjoy other forms of exercise like going to the gym.

Any additional info you might want to share (interesting facts, special hobbies etc.)

I'm not great at guitar but I love to play. My favourite winter sports are skiing and snowboarding, I find snowboarding more fun but am better at skiing. I enjoy listening to live music. A few years ago, I acquired both my real estate and mortgage license because I find the real estate industry very exciting, and eventually would like to spend more time working in that industry.