Meet the MBA Class of 2025: Sepide Saeid Monajemian, University of Toronto (Rotman)

“A persistent entrepreneur who leverages technology to make the world a better place to live.”

Hometown: Tehran, Iran

Fun fact about yourself: My favorite video game is The Sims, which I still play when I’m feeling nervous.

Undergraduate school and major: Business Administration, Faculty of Management, University of Tehran

Most recent employer and job title: Senior Marketing Performance Analyst, Snapp (Rocket Internet SE)

Integrative thinking is one of the cornerstones of the Rotman MBA experience. What does integrative thinking mean to you and how have you been able to apply it so far? For me, integrative thinking is knowing that contradictory ideas and different perspectives are the main characteristics of an innovative and practical solution. In Rotman’s dynamic world, I interacted with people from diverse backgrounds, each bringing a unique set of skills and perspectives. This collaborative and interdisciplinary approach has allowed me to integrate concepts from various aspects, such as finance, strategy and technology, fostering a holistic understanding of complex business challenges.

Additionally, Rotman’s case-based learning methodology sharpened my ability to integrate ideas. It has become natural to analyze business cases from multiple perspectives, consider stakeholder perspectives, and synthesize information to make informed decisions. I am confident that as I progress through my MBA journey and beyond, these integrative thinking skills will help me make better decisions not only in a professional setting but also in my personal life.

What has been your favorite neighborhood in Toronto so far? For what? When you arrive in a new city as an immigrant, finding people with common interests and building your own specific network from scratch is very difficult. What surprised me the most about Toronto is that there are various events held in the city that allow you to engage with various people in various fields and participate in the activities you enjoy the most. For example, so far I have had the opportunity to participate in many startup and tech events, even some dance and music events, which made my days in Toronto more colorful and fun. helped a lot in rebuilding my own network.

Aside from your classmates and location, what was the key element of the Toronto Rotman MBA program that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? It was essential for me tostudy somewhere that could equip me with the toolkit needed to take the next step in my career. In my opinion, an MBA is not just a degree; it’s an opportunity to achieve more ambitious professional and personal goals that might have been more difficult to achieve in the past. The most important reason for me to choose Rotman was the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), whose scholarship I managed to get.

My main goal in coming to Toronto and pursuing an MBA was to improve my business acumen and gain access to the latest technologies and startups, thereby enabling me to launch my own technology-focused business in the near future. Rotman was the only school in Toronto to offer the CDL program, which gave me the opportunity to get involved in the innovative and fast-paced world of technology-centric startups and learn how they form and grow. develop.

What class, club or activity have you enjoyed the most so far at Toronto Rotman? Most of what Rotman offers is nice, but if I have to choose one, I’ll choose courses. Although I hold a bachelor’s degree in business administration and have gained relevant work experience, I have never had the opportunity to explore so deeply the different aspects of business, strategic management and financial to people leadership.

The topics I learn in class are of such quality that I am always able to reflect on my past experiences and think about the best decisions I could make if I were in the same situation again. Additionally, it redefined my understanding of business and changed my outlook on the future. It used to be hard for me to sit in class or study, but now these are my favorite parts of the MBA because I know I’m improving.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: I think this might be a very typical answer that everyone could relate to, but for me, a pivotal moment in my career was pursuing an MBA at Rotman, one of the best business schools in the world. I always aspired to start my own tech company and my home country didn’t have the resources to make that happen. Rotman provided me with the tools I needed to pursue my aspirations, making it the most important career investment for me thus far. During the application process, coming from a third world country in the Middle East with a background that is not comparable to many applicants from large global companies, I was unsure if I would be accepted. However, embracing diversity at Rotman has proven to be more than just a slogan, and I’ve learned that every potential candidate truly has a chance here. This is why I am proud to be here today and I consider this the greatest achievement of my career.

Describe your biggest achievement as an MBA student so far? This is a great question and has prompted me to take a step back from my MBA journey and reflect on what I have accomplished so far. It may not be a very tangible accomplishment, but for me, adapting to the recent major changes in my life has been my biggest accomplishment so far. I took a program in a different language, which required spending significantly more time on each course, networking in a different environment with new people and culture, making friends, and much more. All were very difficult. There were many gray days when I felt down, and there were many more colorful days where I was full of hope and the desire to keep moving forward. Therefore, in my opinion, my most significant achievement so far has been the ability to persevere, adapt and develop the habit of exploring different paths. It transformed me into a new person who has much more confidence in herself.

What has been your best memory as an MBA so far? For me, the happiest memory so far is the day the program started. Seeing the university building and the logo that says, “Here’s where it’s changing,” I realized that this was actually happening! There I was, pursuing my favorite major at one of the best business schools in the world.

When I entered the building, I heard the buzz of the crowd and was surprised to see many new classmates with diverse backgrounds and accomplishments. When we received our badges, I felt proud of myself because all the hard work I had put in had finally paid off. That day, I was certain that I had made the right decision and I got closer to my dreams.

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission to the Toronto Rotman MBA program? The most important factor that helped me gain admission was making sure not only that getting an MBA at that time in my life was the right path, but also that Rotman was the only school which interested me. So I was able to convey this certainty, as well as my passion for studying at Rotman, in my application and interview.

My advice to potential applicants is to remember that it’s not just the university that chooses you; you also choose the university. Therefore, take some time to explore and make sure that Rotman is the most suitable option for you. This can be done by connecting with current students or alumni to learn more about Rotman’s impact on their lives, and by exploring the university’s social media, website, and events to learn more about what it has to offer. Once you can identify some compelling reasons that make you want to come to Rotman from the bottom of your heart, apply and be sure to highlight these reasons in your application and interview.