Message from Maria Rivera, Managing Director and Scott Liao, Academic Director

Posted on by

As you wrap up your Program Kick Off this week, we trust that you are excited about next week’s launch of Term 1. We hope that the skills you’ve been learning in LDT are setting each of you up to be an effective team member in the courses ahead.

As you heard from Scott earlier last week, three of your four Term 1 courses (Economics, Models & Data, and Accounting) will be in-person, dual-delivery. The fourth course, Leading People in Organizations, will be delivered fully online. For those of you in Toronto, you’ll be expected to attend Economics, Models & Data, and Accounting in-person. For those of you not yet in country, you’ll be able to attend these Term 1 courses online.

By the end of this week, you will receive instructions from the Registrar’s Office as to how to access your Term 1 course schedules. The Registrar’s Office is working on getting as many students as can be in the classroom into the classroom for our in-person, dual-delivery courses within the social distancing and capacity limits under the current provincial guidance.

Currently, the University is operating under the Step 3 of the reopening roadmap of the Province. This means that there are physical distancing requirements that limit the number of seats available in our classrooms and that for a couple of your courses (Models & Data and Accounting) there will not be enough space for all students who are enrolled in class to attend simultaneously. In these courses, the Registrar’s Office will assign students to subgroups and rotate which subgroups attend any given course meeting. The list of subgroup membership will be placed on the course Quercus page. As the provincial guidance on social distancing and room capacities changes, we will adjust the rotation as quickly as we can.

We are happy to report that many international students are joining us each week in Toronto! We encourage all students with study permits to arrive in Toronto as soon as they can safely. For those of you still awaiting study permits, please make sure you are working closely with your Section AD so that they can support you in achieving a successful Term 1 experience.

Finally, this September, all members of the University community coming to campus—including students, staff, faculty, and librarians—will be required to provide proof of full vaccination or register in the University’s rapid screening program, where results will need to be uploaded regularly. You can read more about UCheck (the university’s self-assessment tool) here.

We look forward to seeing you on campus soon!
Maria and Scott

Leveraging Diverse Teams Academic Course

Posted on by

Dear students –

We are excited that you will be joining us for Leveraging Diverse Teams. We’re Marlys Christianson and Jia Lin Xie, the two OBHRM professors who are teaching this course.
We wanted to share some information with you about the Leveraging Diverse Teams class that starts on Tuesday August 17th. We’ve designed a fun and interactive class, with lots of in-class exercises, computer simulations, and a case analysis.

For our first class, we will be engaging in a discussion of the “2010 Chilean Mining Rescue (A)” case, which is posted in the Session 1: Teaming module. On August 17, when our class begins, we will provide a brief introduction of the course, and then we will dive into the case analysis.

It is expected that you will have read the assigned case and prepare the following case discussion questions prior to class so that you can be actively and constructively involved in class discussions.

Case Discussion Questions:

  1. What factors allowed the miners to survive, physically and psychologically, until they were found?
  2. How would you characterize the actions taken by the government’s senior executives in the rescue?
  3. What factors contributed to the technical (engineers and geologists) team’s successful rescue efforts?
  4. What can we learn about “team of teams” from this case?
    Please keep in mind that your classmates expect you to be fully prepared for each class. Therefore, your preparation is not only for your own study, but also for facilitating the quality of our collective learning in class.

Note: please join the classroom 5-10 minutes before the start of the class to ensure that we can work out any technology issues and start on time.

Thank you in advance for your preparation. We are very much looking forward to working with you.

Best,
Marlys and Jia Lin

Message from Maria Rivera, Managing Director

Posted on by

Program kickoff is around the corner and you’re likely feeling a combination of excitement and nerves. Remember that you are not alone in this journey. The Rotman commUNITY is here to help set you up for success. Below are three tips for you on the eve of program launch:

  • Dive into Pre-Program next week. For those of you who are registered for the Academic Pre-Courses, Quantitative Boot Camp, Communications Boot Camp, Self-Development Lab Sessions, and Co-Curricular Workshops, the next two weeks are your chance to get comfortable with the academic concepts you’ll be tackling in the first year of the Rotman MBA. Our world-class faculty have designed these sessions to help you build a solid foundation for a successful program launch so jump right into the work and start getting to know them!
  • Be on track to Complete Career Readiness Checklist Phases 1 & 2 by September 27th. For those of you who attended Career Discovery Week (CDW) this week, we hope the sessions provided you with a chance to explore the many career pathways after the Rotman MBA and gave you a glimpse of our powerful Rotman alumni network. Rotman Career Services has a full year of programming planned in the year ahead to set you up for professional success and continue to connect you with industry. Do your part to be career-ready by completing your career readiness checklist.
  • Prioritize your health and wellness. The year ahead will be both exciting and challenging so make sure you know about the many health and wellness resources available to you as a Rotman student. You’ll soon be learning which Section you are in for year one of your Rotman MBA. Your Office of Student Engagement Section Assistant Director is your first point of contact for any questions related to student services. Freeda, Stephanie, Margaret, and Susan can connect you with Academic Support Services (Rotman Scholars, Learning Strategist, Rotman Write Now), Accessibility Services (Accommodations and Supports), and health and wellness supports (Peer Mentorship Program, Rotman-dedicated mental health counselor).

We’re looking forward to seeing you on campus soon!

Maria Jimena Rivera

Career Services

Posted on by

Career Discovery Week (CDW)
The Career Services team was excited to meet you during CDW. We hope the insights and advice you received from your Career Coach and functional panels will allow to further pinpoint or confirm your career target and the start preparing for your job search strategy! The recorded networking session and functional panels will be available later in August.

RCareer Registration
RCareer is your go to career portal and detailed instructions on how to register for RCareer, submit your documents, and book appointments with your Career Coach have been emailed to students on July 26th. The RCareer Instruction Guide is also available on the Pre-Program Portal.

Before You Meet your Coach

  • Please share your CareerLeader & CliftonStrengths Assessments, personal career map, and job search strategy – assessments of strengths (wheel) on RCareer.
  • Please complete the Self Assessment survey at this link. Your assessment responses will help your Career Coach prepare for your initial meeting and help direct your career management activities throughout the year.

Career Management Workshops for Your Life Partner in September
Your partner is invited to join Rotman Career Coaches for a comprehensive overview of job search in Canada. Over three Friday mornings in September, we will discuss:

  • Personal Career Mapping
  • Crafting Your Career Story
  • Networking
  • Resumes & LinkedIn
  • Cover Letters
  • Interviewing
  • Negotiation & Offer Acceptance.

Dates: Friday, September 10th, 17th and 24th | Times: 10am to 12pm
Please have your partner register here and complete this brief survey.

Q&A Sessions in October
For participants who complete the Career Management workshops in September, ongoing support will be provided every Friday in October from 12pm to 1pm. Sessions will be informal in nature and facilitated to respond to the specific needs of the participants.

The Career Services team is looking forwarding to seeing everyone during Orientation!

Message from Maria Rivera, Managing Director

Posted on by

One of the four goals in Rotman’s Academic Plan Catalyst for Change is harnessing the power of community. As a Rotman student, you will have access to an incredible community of global business leaders who will be important partners in your professional and personal development as an MBA student. This community includes Rotman’s diverse and dedicated network of over 14,000 alumni worldwide and the deep pool of corporate and industry partners Rotman engages with every year.

Here’s a few tips on how you can harness the power of community as a student at Rotman:

  • Take Professor Tiziana Casciaro’s advice and consider networking as an opportunity for learning. Read more about what leaders need to know about networking here.
  • Don’t miss out on the hundreds of amazing speakers Rotman brings in every year to discuss the most pressing business issues of our time. Stay up to date on Rotman’s speaker series here and make sure to carve out time during the schoolyear to attend these impactful sessions.
  • Bookmark the Rotman Insights Hub to stay current on the learning, engagement, and professional development happening across the Rotman community. By sharing discoveries, experiences and advice, our intent is to strengthen and accelerate Rotman’s impact on expanding the frontiers of business knowledge.
  • Take part in the numerous networking opportunities Career Services provides our students from industry event nights, workshops with alums, to unique mentoring opportunities such as our LEADS program. You’ll learn more about how Career Services connects you with industry in Careers Discovery Week to be held later this month.

You are joining a powerful community of people with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs, with wide-ranging experience, talents and aspirations. We can’t wait for you to get to know them!

Looking forward,
Maria

Message for International Students

Posted on by

Dear Class of 2023 International students,

We are a month away from the start of the program and we can’t wait to welcome you to Rotman!

As of July 5th, the Canadian government has relaxed the quarantine requirements for travellers that have been fully vaccinated (please visit the Government of Canada website for more details). As Ontario has moved to Phase 3 of re-opening today, this will increase opportunities to attend classes, experiential learning and co-curricular activities on campus as well as access to in-person career and student services.

We hope that all of you will be able to travel to Toronto for the start of the program, but we do recognize that uncertainties with travel restrictions and delays with Study Permit approvals might not allow you to be here by August 16th. We will continue to invest in our faculty and classrooms to provide students who cannot be physically in class with a rich online learning experience.

On July 15th, Canadian Universities received an update re-affirming that Visa Application Centers are on track with processing all applications submitted and deemed complete prior to May 15th by August 6th.

I also wanted to provide you with an update regarding your fee payment. Your first tuition installment is due on September 1st, and the last date to withdraw from the program with a full refund is September 20th (please note this date will be finalized shortly and is currently estimated based on last year’s fee schedule). For those of you who may still be waiting to hear from IRCC regarding your Study Permit approval, we have extended the withdrawal with full refund deadline until November 30th.

Please note that to be eligible for this extended reimbursement you will need to submit proof that your study permit has been refused or is still being processed as of November 30th. This extension will give you additional time to receive your permit approval and make the necessary travel arrangements to join your classmates in Toronto as well as the flexibility to withdraw from the program at the end of Term 2 and receive a tuition refund if your study permit request is unsuccessful as of November 30th.

We wanted to assure you that the Rotman School, in collaboration with the University of Toronto, is carefully monitoring the current developments related to travel, vaccination requirements, and Study Permit approvals and we will continue to update you with any official information that would impact your start of the program in August.

In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact the Assistant Director you have been working with if you have any additional questions or concerns.

Best Wishes,
Imran Kanga
Director, Recruitment & Admissions

Career Services

Posted on by

Career Discovery Week (CDW): Schedule & Registration
We are excited to see you at Career Discovery Week! We have an exciting line up of programming with Rotman alumni and industry professionals to provide you detailed insights on their roles across a range of industries. Please register for each session by Thursday, July 22nd at 9AM EST. You can see the full schedule and links to register on the Pre-Program Portal.

Reminders for Career Discovery Week:

  • Business casual attire is recommended for the functional panels
  • We encourage you to use a Rotman virtual background and to check out the virtual etiquette tip sheet available on the Pre-Program Portal.

Career Leader and CliftonStrengths Assessments
In order to maximize your experience during CDW, it’s highly recommended that you complete the CareerLeader and CliftonStrengths assessments by July 22nd. An email was sent to all students on July 7th from Career Services with instructions on how to access both assessments!

Career Readiness Checklist
The Career Readiness Checklist has been designed for you to have a better understanding of your interests, strengths, motivations, and skills. This checklist will assist you in clarifying or validating your career goals and then help you develop and implement a tailored job search strategy to prepare for a meaningful career. You will find all phases of the checklist in the Pre-Program Portal.

Career Modules
The Career Modules are comprised of 5 video modules designed in partnership with the Yale School of Management to help you build your foundational knowledge as part of your job search preparation. You can access the career story, resume, and cover modules now on Quercus. The networking and interviewing modules will be available later this summer.

Dress for Success & Managing Your Image
In case you missed it, or would like to listen to the session again, here’s the recorded webinar for the Dress for Success & Managing Your Image that was held on June 30th.

ScotiaBank’s Investment Banking Summer 2022 Internships

Scotiabank has fast-tracked the recruitment cycle for their Investment Banking summer internships for now. They will be recruiting for other business areas within and outside of Capital Markets later in the fall. If you are interested in applying to Scotiabank’s Investment Banking Internships, details are below:

Please note that Scotia’s Campus Recruitment team does not accept resumes. In order to submit your application, please review the application instructions listed below.

  1. Complete your PLUM Profile here
  2. Take a screenshot of your completed PLUM profile
  3. Complete a very short one-way video interview by clicking here (if you have already done this in the past on Scotia’s portal, you don’t need to do it again)
  4. When it prompts you to submit your resume, do not attach your resume! Instead, attach the screenshot of your PLUM profile and your Transcript under the “resume” section (step #2 above). Since you do not yet have an active transcript from Rotman, feel free to make a note in your application for the same and attach your undergrad transcripts for the time being. Cover letters are optional – not required.

In case of any questions, feel free to reach out to Vrinda Mehta, Industry Advisor – Canadian Banks and Payments.

The entire Career Services team is looking forwarding to see you during CDW!

Message from Maria Rivera, Managing Director, and Scott Liao, Academic Director

Posted on by

One of our favourite annual student events is called Reflection where the graduating class gathers to reflect on their transformational MBA journey. We just celebrated Reflection with the Class of 2021 and here’s some chords of wisdom the graduates would like to share with you.

As you set to embark on your own journey, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on the goals you are setting for yourself. Here’s a breakdown of some of the goals and tactics to keep in mind for each of the three activities happening between now and Program Kickoff on August 16th.

  • Curriculum: To be able to get the most from the rich learning experience Rotman has to offer, aim to be in Toronto this fall. We are planning to be on-site as much as possible and we want you to benefit from the active in-person interactions among students and faculty. We encourage you to join us in person to set yourself up for academic success in the program.
  • Careers: No doubt that you are embarking on this journey to shift the trajectory of your career. Set yourself up for professional success by making sure to attend Career Discovery Week on July 26 – July 29, 2021. This week will provide you with the foundation and resources required to get a head-start on your job search and connect with the Career Services team, Rotman alumni, and industry professionals for insights across a range of emerging and diverse industries.
  • Community: The people in your class will be the business leaders of tomorrow. Not only will your professional network grow as a result of joining our community but your personal life will be enriched through these connections. Prioritize participating in the many welcoming events the 6ix Squad is planning for you this summer. Our students are looking forward to getting to know you!

You will experience tremendous intellectual, professional, and personal growth in the years ahead. We hope the above guidance and introspection can help you prioritize among our many pre-program offerings.

Looking forward,
Maria and Scott

Shopping for a laptop?

Posted on by

Rotman MBA students are required to own a laptop computer running Microsoft Windows 10 in English which is able to connect to the Rotman wireless network.  Operating systems, such as the Apple macOS, Linux, Windows RT, Windows 10 S, and Chromebook are not supported by Rotman.

The Rotman IT Helpdesk does not support macOS or Apple hardware. However, Apple computers can be used as long as they are configured to allow booting into Microsoft Windows 10 (Minimum hardware requirements includes a 256GB hard drive and at least 8GB of RAM). It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that their Apple computer has a valid copy of Windows 10 installed.