What does a Chemistry Major, turned touring singer songwriter do once she has reached the point where a music career no longer seems like the perfect fit?
To be quite frank, the MBA seems like a really clear choice for me now, but at the time it was a process of elimination. I had a few criteria - I wanted to get a Masters or professional degree (personal goal), I wanted a job at the end, and I wanted some financial security.
I considered medical school, speech pathology, audiology, and an MBA. The first three would all fulfill my love of helping, but I worried about choosing something so precise and potentially getting bored. An MBA seemed like not only a legit degree but it also still kept my options open to pursue a range of interests.
A bit of backstory: I've always been interested in a lot of things. At my Performing Arts high school in Sudbury, I majored in vocal music, while studying maths/sciences. When I was 16, I put out my first album of original songs and started gigging in local bars. At Mount Allison University, I majored in Chemistry, minored in Philosophy and kept playing shows. During summers, I flew into remote lakes in northern Ontario to catch fish and bugs for freshwater ecology studies. Once I graduated, I decided to give music all I had.
Over those next five years I put out two albums, toured across Canada and internationally, slept on couches and had some modest success. But it was hard work, and a bit hand to mouth. As I neared the 5-year mark, I realized I needed to make a change, and enrolled in an MBA.
I wanted to stay in Montreal, for personal reasons, and applied to the three schools. I chose McGill, even though it was by far the biggest financial investment. I liked that the McGill brand was strong both in Canada and internationally. I wanted a 2-year program, which would give me a chance to do an internship and strengthen my resume. Also, the GMAT average to get in to McGill was quite high, and that was important for me.
Knowing that I was going to be investing this much money and time, I wanted to have an idea of what I would do after. That's when I first heard about Management Consulting, this mysterious field that combined analytical thinking, client-facing skills, creative problem solving and projects that were constantly changing. I knew I would find the work engaging and challenging, and the compensation was appealing as well.
As soon as I started the MBA, I began practicing cases and preparing for case interviews. I also got involved in a lot of projects that I found engaging. I was Co-President of the and we organized a city-wide conference with a really impressive panel of speakers. I took part in the McGill Not-for-profit consulting program, which was one of my favourite learning experiences in the MBA. A small group of us organized a trip to Russia for 40 McGill students and alumni - that was wild (Russia is wild) and intense, but so fun.
I had two of the most fun years of my life. An MBA is a rare moment. Yes, it is very intense, especially from a time-management perspective. You're learning a lot of new topics, and you're trying to figure out how to get that dream job right after you graduate. But it's also very fulfilling and I met so many amazing people.
The late nights working on group projects balances well with the ski trips and Halloween parties. By the end of the two years, you know your classmates pretty well, and they are connections that will last. It's been four years since I graduated and started in Management Consulting at . It's been a huge learning experience the past few years, and it's been very rewarding. I have worked on 15 different types projects in all sectors, and I work with a really amazing team of people.
I often get asked how a musician ended up in business consulting, and whether it's been tough to make the transition.
The MBA is the reason I could make that leap - it's a moment in your professional trajectory where you can make a career switch and prospective employers won't find it too unusual.
And yes, at times it has been tough to make the switch from music to consulting. It has come with a steeper learning curve in some ways, but in other ways I think I've had an easier time. I am certainly grateful for how many skills I have been able to develop in a short period of time. Best of all, I feel equipped to take on a lot of different challenges now, and am excited about the opportunities that the next few years will undoubtedly bring.
About the author
did her undergrad at Mount Allison University, where she did a Bachelor of Science and majored in Chemistry. After touring nationally and internationally as a singer and songwriter for 6 years, she decided to start an MBA at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, where she did the Finance concentration. She did her summer internship at the Royal Bank of Canada in Paris and then was hired as a Senior Consultant at KPMG post-graduation. She is now Manager at KPMG in Montreal. Read more articles about Allison in .
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