Saimum Hossain

Why did you decide to do an MBA? 

As an entrepreneur and a micro-angel investor, I felt like I was increasingly in rooms where I was the one having to talk the most. So I decided to upskill myself and really build my skill sets for the next 15-20 years. I also wanted to build lifelong friends from across the world with whom I'd be "in the (academic) trenches", sharing experiences that'd create strong bonds.

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

I've learned a great deal since coming to Ivey but the most significant would be "speed". I've always been someone who "moves fast and break things with a certain level of caution". Ivey taught me how wrong I was about myself - my perception (and efficacy) of the time to get things realistically done has gone down by at least 50%.

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

How much of my classroom learning I retain. Coming from a lecture-based experience, I used to have problem retaining stuff after a certain point. With the case-based learning that Ivey is known for, I surprisingly retain a significant amount of what we learned in the class.

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

Book:
Why Teach with Cases

Podcast:
1. Stanford GSB's series on Negotiations
2. Virginia Law School's series on IB

How do you manage stress? 

Walks with a select group of friends preceded by conversations about life philosophies over a cup of "masala tea" consumed slowly like wine.