May 2024
When Suzanne (MBA ’82) and her husband George began reflecting on the things, people and places that changed their lives, Suzanne’s education was top of mind.
That is why the couple have decided to leave a meaningful legacy gift to the Rotman School of Management. Their generous bequest will fund a named and endowed award to support Rotman students entering their first year and will be based on financial need.
Now retired after a successful career at TD Bank, Suzanne looks back on her educational experience fondly, but that doesn’t mean it was challenge-free. As a woman entering a male-dominated program with an undergraduate degree in English literature, she had more things working against her than for her. However, this very fact encouraged her to pursue an MBA in the first place.
“I was working in a trust company, as I had throughout my undergrad to pay for my education, when I read an article that really struck me,” said Suzanne. “It said that women with an MBA made the same amount of money as men with an undergraduate degree in business.”
The following year, Suzanne became one of only five students entering the MBA program with an English degree. While most of their classmates had degrees in engineering or commerce, to no surprise, they were also mostly men.
After heavy slogging through unfamiliar subjects like economics and statistics, Suzanne and her peers graduated in 1982 into an environment of runaway inflation. With hiring freezes and layoffs in full swing, Suzanne returned to her job at the trust company while many of her classmates went on to take unconventional jobs for MBA graduates, unsure of their degree’s worth.
“I learned that it takes a while to really cash in on the value of an MBA,” she reflected. “When I got back to the trust company, it felt like I was starting back where I left off, but what I didn’t see at the time was the increased speed at which I was able to climb the ladder. My MBA not only gave me the strategic foresight to make informed decisions once I made it to the table, but it also gave me a tremendous work ethic that pushed me there. I think I always felt like I had to do it because not everyone from my background had or would do it.”
As a woman who funded her own education and, at times, struggled to do so, Suzanne recognizes that while it was tough when she did it, it was possible — something she’s not sure can be said for students today facing the increasing cost of living.
By leaving a bequest, the couple hopes to support students from all backgrounds looking to change their lives. After working with Rotman’s Advancement team, they feel confident that the flexible terms and conditions will allow them to do exactly that.
Readers feeling inspired by Suzanne and George’s story are encouraged to explore the ways their own legacy can support fellow Canadians pursuing their increasingly valued education. In fact, the month of May marks Leave a Legacy month, meant to encourage supporters to leave a gift through their will or another planned giving vehicle to a cause that is important to them.
For more information on your options for leaving a meaningful gift while supporting the next generation of business leaders and maximizing tax and other benefits, please contact a Rotman Advancement team member at development@rotman.utoronto.ca.
Written by Cialyn Carson