Vince Xia, AMBA '24, had a clear goal heading into his Accelerated AMBA: he sought to transition from PE to a major financial institution, and he felt the connections he would make at Ivey – and through its renowned alumni network – would help him reach it.

"Being transparent about my career aspirations opened doors to meaningful dialogues within the Ivey community," reflects Xia. "What began as informational interviews evolved into reciprocal mentorship — I'd share my PE industry insights while learning commercial banking nuances from alumni. That two-way value exchange is the network's true power."

“Everyone was very responsive and willing to share their experience and offer support to find new opportunities. Even when they weren’t in Toronto, they’d be willing to schedule a Zoom call; it was very encouraging.”

For Xia, the outreach paid off. The strength of the Ivey network, combined with his financial sector experience and the skills he gained from the AMBA, led to his current role at RBC – a company which, he notes, has strong ties with Ivey.

“Every course provided me with new ways of dealing with different situations at work – they teach you how to negotiate, how to deal with different people to improve your impact,” he says.

“In addition, there are all these more academic courses on finance, economics, mathematics – even coding and statistics. You’re exposed to all these areas that help you improve not just your hard skills but also round out your experience to make you a better candidate. And the soft skills are ones I can utilize not just professionally, but also in my personal life.”

This has translated into a more holistic approach at work for Xia, and a broader way of thinking that eased his transition to his role at RBC.

As an alumnus himself, Xia is now trying to give a helping hand to those who approach him, whether it’s about the program itself or working at RBC.

While he calls the program rewarding, Xia says it’s not without its challenges, particularly for professionals balancing family commitments.

“My wife Julianna's unwavering support during those case discussions was pivotal — she's the silent strategist behind this achievement.”

“It was a big commitment not just for me but also my family – but I became more resourceful, and I don’t think I would have gotten the opportunity to speak with the people I did and make these connections if I didn’t join the program,” he says.

“Ivey equips me with more than tools — it rewires my professional DNA. The program opens doors to countless opportunities, invaluable exposure, meaningful connections, and essential resources. My transition from PE asset management to RBC's front-line client solutions proves this model's precision — it's career engineering, not just education.”