In an era when ‘university dropout’ denotes entrepreneurial cred, I’d argue that a JD/MBA is the ultimate founder secret weapon. Startups are as complex as it gets and require a dynamic framework for modelling, problem solving and storytelling. As a serial healthtech innovator, not a day goes by that I don’t heavily lean on my joint legal and business framework to navigate and persist in startup land. I don’t believe entrepreneurs are born – we are made and trained. Although sometimes the road less taken by fellow JD/MBA grads, having this training – plus the right passion and grit – will make you unstoppable to innovate and build the next generation of business.

My JD/MBA education provided me with superb technical legal and business knowledge and skills that are the foundation of a successful career in business and law, but more important than these skills, my JD/MBA experience allowed me to meet, interact and build relationships with exceptional individuals who along with being the future legal and business leaders of Canada, are simply great people. In both my New York and Toronto work experiences, I have found that recruiters and colleagues place great value in the JD/MBA degree. The combination of my experience during the four year program and the respect that the legal and business industry have for the program, makes it one of the most important factors in helping me advance in my career.

One of the key benefits to having participated in the JD/MBA program is that, as a result of the multitude of group-based assignments in which I participated, I became acutely aware of the importance of collaboration and open-mindedness in the context of solving problems. This theme has been a constant during my career – both during my time practicing corporate law and, more recently, being part of a team of private equity investment professionals.