Siddharth Gupta

When Siddharth Gupta was exploring post-secondary options in high school, Ivey’s HBA program topped his list.

“I received an offer and was ready to click the YES button, but then Berkeley made an offer I couldn’t refuse,” said Gupta. “Still, I always felt that, eventually, I’d return to Ivey.”

Gupta completed his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Berkeley, focusing on statistics and macroeconomics for commercial products. After stints at Equifax, Shopify, and in consulting, he found his place at Metrolinx, a transportation agency managing road and public transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA).

His résumé was impressive, but something was missing. Gupta’s question was simple: “How do I take the business knowledge and strategic thinking I’ve gained over the years and quantify it?”

The question was simple. The answer was not.

“I felt my career lacked a technical rigor. I could always speak strategically but not technically, and I felt my career and the people I wanted to lead were data-driven people,” he said. “That’s the direction I wanted to take in order to grow my career. That’s what the Ivey MM-A program was offering.”

Ivey’s Master of Management: Analytics (MM-A) program is a 12-month, blended delivery of online and classroom experiences in downtown Toronto built on the School’s Case-Method Learning. It was the missing element Gupta sought.

“Now I’m getting more proficient at speaking the technical language.”

Choosing Ivey

Gupta’s early exposure to Ivey’s Case-Method Learning during his HBA research helped shape his decision.

“Honestly, there are other programs out there. But Ivey’s focus on case learning stood out. Through my undergrad, I realized lectures didn’t connect with the real world the way case studies did.”

In addition to case learning, the blended format of the MM-A program was something Gupta initially questioned.

“One fear I had was that the online sessions wouldn’t deliver the same collaborative, case-based discussion. But it’s actually been the opposite. The professors keep everyone engaged and ensure the discussions stay dynamic.”

With its flexible schedule – the program starts with a week-long residence in London, Ontario, followed by one weekend of in-class sessions each month in downtown Toronto – Gupta is also able to build a strong bond with classmates and professors.

It’s a bond that he has seen from friends who have done the program.

“They have such a strong connection to their classmates and it’s something I definitely wanted to develop. And having those once-a-month weekends together has definitely contributed to that strong sense of community.”

The learning environment at Ivey also stood out.

“At Ivey, the faculty bring a sense of humility to the classroom, creating an environment where open discussion thrives without fear or judgment.”

Gupta also benefits from his diverse learning group, which includes experts in software development, consulting, banking and medical sciences. Together, they take learning to another level.

“The coursework is helping me structure my thinking as a leader,” said Gupta. “I hope to apply this knowledge to manage and lead people within an organization. I’m passionate about coaching people to improve and deliver real value.”

Gupta’s career vision is to advance within his organization, using new technologies to enhance performance. He doesn’t hesitate to recommend the MM-A program.

“It’s one of the best academic experiences. You gain valuable academic knowledge, but building relationships is just as crucial. It really helps.”