Aderimike Lala

Briefly describe your background and profile. Think about how Ivey is/will complement your own personal background and experience.

I had a business background coming into Ivey, having studied Economics during my undergraduate degree. However, i didn’t have so much of the technical skills. An Ivey MSc degree was important to me because I had seen the impact data had in making business decisions during my work experiences. This spurred me to look for the best avenue to learn more about how business and data mix. So far, Ivey has provided me with additional technical skills and soft skills needed in the workplace. The case method of learning is another major way that has taught me how to make decisions in real-life settings. Overall, I’m looking forward to the rest of what Ivey has to offer!

What were you most nervous about when you began the program? Has that nervousness eased, and/or how have your expectations been met/exceeded?

Several things made me nervous on my first day from contributions to relating well with my very diverse class and determining if I was qualified to be here. The most nerve-racking was contributions because I didn’t know what to expect from the professors and my classmates. I was also worried about if my accent was going to affect my speech. Don’t get me wrong, I do speak well! My trick was to get comfortable with raising my hands first, then I became very confident with contributions. After the first few weeks, I wasn’t nervous anymore and I’ve seen growth in the number of contributions I make in classes. A comment from one of my classmates about how I’ve become more confident with contributions reminded me of how scared I was of it in the beginning.

How is your story different from that of your classmates? What perspective do you bring to the class?

All of my classmates bring various perspectives to the class considering we’re all from different backgrounds and different cultures. What stands out for me would be my culture and past experiences. Coming from Nigeria, I grew up and was taught differently, so I have been able to share a lot about my culture and traditions unique to us. Also being able to learn new things that will help me thrive here, has been a good experience. From a business perspective, I’ve been able to contribute to different business discussions as a result of my past experiences, especially when discussing a case.

Think back to when you were researching business schools. What did Ivey offer you that other schools did not? What made it a good fit for you?

I chose the Ivey MSc program for its curriculum, I wanted something that will give me both analytical and business skills which most schools didn’t offer. The career management difference was also very unique to Ivey amongst the other schools I was looking at, and having experienced the team, I have not been disappointed. You are thoroughly prepared to navigate your career journey with all the resources which are provided. Acquiring a global experience was also very important to me. I wanted to be able to compete in the global space and the Ivey experience certainly prepares you for that. Overall, Ivey MSc is a good training ground to launch you on your career journey. You are prepared to make decisions in the workplace through numerous hands-on learning experiences like the case method of learning, and the global/analytical labs while gaining a lot of soft skills and academic skills.