Rudy Grow

Consulting is a people business underpinned by the ability to communicate ideas clearly, motivate teams and lead with empathy. Concordia provided me with the environment to learn and practice these soft skills.

Career questions with Rudy

What do you love most about your work, and what inspired you to pursue this career in the first place? 

Case competitions were a core part of my university experience and I saw management consulting as the natural extension of something I enjoyed. This holds true today where I get to work with some truly impressive people in a team-first environment on real cases. No two days are alike! 

Looking back, what skills have been the biggest gamechangers in your career? 

My experience at Concordia taught me confidence in myself. My professors and courses gave me a strong foundation in business fundamentals that brought credibility to my work. My involvement in student life taught me how to manage teams and stress. My involvement in case competitions taught me how to organize my time and think fast. 

How did Concordia prepare you for your career? 

The variety in my experience at Concordia prepared me for the variety of the "real world." While an understanding of the subject matter is important, one aspect of university that often gets overlooked is the soft skills you pick up along the way. Consulting is a people business underpinned by the ability to communicate ideas clearly, motivate teams and lead with empathy. Concordia provided me with the environment to learn and practice these soft skills. 

What is a standout memory from your time at Concordia? 

While it may not be the most exciting memory from the outside looking in, the most impactful moment was my first time visiting the fourth floor of the MB Building to work on a group project. At the time I was aware of student life at JMSB but never got involved myself. In that first working session, I learned quickly that there was a whole community of like-minded and motivated people who spent their spare time trying to better life outside of the classroom. This initial experience kicked off three years of involvement, and I wouldn't be where I am today without that introduction.

If you could give your younger self one powerful piece of advice, what would it be? 

Treat your undergrad as a marathon. When I arrived at JMSB, I saw university as a means to an end: I wanted to get my degree and head out the door into the working world. This changed about halfway through my studies, and I wish I would have put aside this false time pressure sooner to make the most of my university experience. 

What’s the most exciting shift happening in your industry right now? 

I spend most of my time at the intersection of government and financial services, so the most exciting shift is the move toward open banking and the Real-Time Rail payment system in Canada. These advancements are challenging traditional banking orthodoxies and will add pressure to the carry trade model: lower switching costs means increased competition for deposits, and increased competition for deposits means improved banking value propositions for Canadians.

Feeling inspired?

• Attend events hosted by Management Consulting Concordia (MCC) or other John Molson School student associations.
• Apply to participate in MCC's Consulting Mandate Program. 
• Participate in immersive case competitions to develop business solutions across disciplines.
• Connect with Career Counselling & Education Transitions to start planning your career path.