I first came across Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle in Grade 9 during a leadership elective that, at the time, felt like yet another box to check. I remember tuning in just enough for something in his framework to grab my attention: the best businesses don’t begin with what they do, or how they do it – they start with why they do it. Looking back, I realize that this idea subtly shaped the all-too-familiar chain of decisions that defined Grade 12: the stress of application season, the uncertainty of career choices, and, most importantly, the decision that led me to the school I now call home.
WHY
Business didn’t just appear on my radar – it was the undercurrent of my environment growing up. My family is packed with business-minded people: my parents, my brother, and my extended relatives. Our dinner table often felt like a mini boardroom, half Wall Street gossip, half heated debates on trade deals, market swings, and which CEO was definitely in over their head. It’s safe to say that nature didn’t stand much of a chance against nurture. And honestly, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
By the time I was binge-watching Dragon’s Den with my dad and running my own slime business at the peak of 2016, I was sold. While my “empire” was limited to a few DIY kits and a growing Instagram account (shoutout to my 12 loyal followers), even that small-scale project made something click. I had to source materials, set prices, market my product, and, most daunting of all, convince people that my slime was somehow better than the other million options on the market. I often heard that business was a “fallback” career, the safe choice. But for me, it was the one space where my creative instincts and logical thinking didn't have to be mutually exclusive. It gave me a sense of agency – the feeling that the world was truly my oyster.
HOW
Sinek describes our HOWs as the actions we take when we are at our natural best, living out our WHY. At the time, my execution of why was already guiding my choices. My how became simple: say yes to every opportunity that challenged my inner businesswoman.
The first real test of this came in Grade 9, when I signed up for my first case competition. That was the beginning of many sweaty palms and nervous firsts that not only reaffirmed my natural affinity for business but also nudged me in the direction of consulting specifically. I enjoyed tackling problems that had no clear answers, thinking critically under pressure, and defending my ideas in front of a panel that wasn’t going to hand me
the benefit of the doubt. I realized that case competitions were my window into a career in consulting: diving into unfamiliar industries, working through ambiguity, and turning analysis into action.
From that point onwards, I chased that thrill. I entered more case competitions, joined the classic DECA dynasty, and eventually found myself walking the world stage at DECA Internationals. Every competitive experience pushed my limits and expanded my comfort zone to include stressful 20-page reports, carefully curated slide decks, and high-stakes third-round presentations. Beyond competing, I wanted to ensure more students had access to the kind of learning that had shaped my high school career. As DECA President, I fundraised over $750 to make the club more financially accessible, ensuring my peers could take part regardless of the price tag. On a national level, I became a trainer for Future Business Leaders of Canada (FBLC), helping others develop the same business education that guaranteed my sense of preparedness for the years to come.
One lesson that stuck with me through all these experiences is something my mom always tells me: “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” In every undertaking, I made it a priority to surround myself with people who pushed me, challenged me to level up, and forced me to think beyond what I already knew. At the end of the day, real growth happens when you step into spaces that demand more from you than you think you can give.
WHAT
When the dreaded application season rolled around, my why and how informed my choices. The university I would call home for the next four years needed to foster my love for dynamic learning, challenge me, and put me amidst people just as passionate about the field.
As I tackled my AEO application, I wanted to reflect on the experiences that I felt made meaningful impacts in my personal development while forging an impact on the community around me. From teaching Gujarati to young children to executing fundraising campaigns, I highlighted the leadership roles I’d taken on inside and outside of business, the events I organized, and the hands-on projects I’d been involved in.
Ultimately, I drew on this personal golden circle. WHY did I pursue my passion for business? HOW did I uniquely develop myself as a leader? And, drawing from the novice lessons learned around my family dinner table, WHAT would I now bring to the table in a community that thrives on curiosity, collaboration, and bold ideas?
And so, amidst the endless pings from the infamous r/OntarioGrade12s Reddit thread, knowing about Ivey’s case-based approach helped me drown out the noise. It was exactly the kind of dynamic, collaborative learning environment I had always thrived in. I wanted to be in a place where I could be challenged, surrounded by inspiring people, and gain the skills I’d need to continue growing as a business leader.
While my personal journey wasn’t defined by a single moment of clarity, it’s been a series of experiments, leaps of faith and moments of discomfort that have guided me here – and will keep pushing me forward.
So, what lies within your golden circle?