Skip to main content
McMaster University
DeGroote School of Business
McMaster University
Search

DSB Main Website Search

McMaster Menu
DeGroote Menu
  • Home
  • Programs
  • About
    • About DeGroote
    • Our Leadership
    • Dean’s Corner
    • McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery
    • Our Faculty & Research  
    • Strategic Plan 
    • Annual Report 
  • Events
  • Students
    • Student Resources
    • Student Clubs
    • Submit a Student Bulletin
    • Submit your Event
  • Alumni
    • Alumni Resources
    • Wayne C. Fox Distinguished Alumni Award 
    • DeGroote Alumni Social Impact Award
  • Staff
  • Give
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • DeGroote Directory
Search McMaster Menu
  • Home
  • Programs
  • About
    About DeGrooteOur LeadershipDean’s CornerMcLean Centre for Collaborative DiscoveryOur Faculty & Research  Strategic Plan Annual Report 
  • Events
  • Students
    Student ResourcesStudent ClubsSubmit a Student BulletinSubmit your Event
  • Alumni
    Alumni ResourcesWayne C. Fox Distinguished Alumni Award DeGroote Alumni Social Impact Award
  • Staff
  • Give
  • Contact
    Contact UsDeGroote Directory

ALUMNI   STRATEGIC PLAN | ENGAGING COMMUNITIES  

Meet Business, Social Sciences & Humanities Valedictorian Samantha Hirsch

November 17, 2022 ·

Contributed by: McMaster University

Share

Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Mail Copy Link
A smiling Samantha Hirsch stands in front green forestry.

Samantha Hirsch earned her master’s of business administration while working and starting a family. We asked the valedictorian for the Faculties of Business, Social Sciences and Humanities what she learned about herself while juggling it all.


Name:  

Samantha Hirsch

Hometown:  

Raised in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and now call Waterloo my home.

What is the degree and subject you pursued?  

Master’s of business administration

Why did you choose to attend McMaster? 

DeGroote School of Business offers the Blended Learning MBA program, which meant that I could continue my career while obtaining my MBA. This was huge for me, because I love working in marketing and didn’t want to have to pause my career trajectory to go to school. Also, the faculty, alumni and professors were all so supportive and approachable in every interaction I had with McMaster. I knew it would be a great place to continue my education—and it was!

What do you plan to do/see yourself doing in the future? 

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being able to help mentor and grow the careers of my direct reports at Scotiabank and Sun Life. I look forward to leading larger teams and being able to impact a greater change, both in terms of their personal development and in the output of our team.

On a personal level, I plan on growing my expertise in marketing. Sometime in the near future I hope to continue my education with a PhD. The DeGroote School of Business really ignited my natural curiosity and I never want to stop learning new things.

Any advice to your first-year self? 

I’d tell myself that I am capable of more than I realize. Becoming good at something is about putting in the time and effort. With dedication and consistency, I can master any skill or goal I set for myself.

Any advice for current or future students? 

Ask for help. There is no reason to struggle. There is always someone willing to help you if you just ask. Every time I asked a classmate for help, they were so open and incredible. In turn, they felt comfortable coming to me when they needed help. This give and take of collaboration and support is what builds a stronger ecosystem within your peers.

How has McMaster shaped the person you are today? 

I learned a lot over the last three years about who I am as a leader, both personally and professionally.  I did a lot of reflection during my time at the DeGroote School of Business on my strengths, values and core traits; my biggest takeaway is that leadership is about optimizing what I’m good at, and not about simply working to fill all my weaknesses. I would much rather build a team that complements my skillset. I learned how to lean into my authentic self and be proud of what I bring to the table as an individual. That sweet spot — strengths and passions — is where I can truly thrive.

What is your definition of success? 

Success to me is living a life that is authentic and fits into my core values. Goals and achievements only mean so much if they don’t fulfill you. I constantly check in with myself to ensure that I’m doing things that fill me up, and that goes for my personal and professional life.

How has McMaster helped you to create a brighter world? 

The topics I learned over the course of my MBA, such as design thinking, operations and human resources, all taught me that the work we do in our daily life has a huge impact on the world around us. I want to leave the world around me better than it was before I came along, this means at my job, in my community and in my personal life. I do this by mentoring and supporting my peers and coworkers, but also by giving back within my community and neighbourhood.

A photo of a woman holding a toddler and a man holding a babyWhat motivates you to work hard? 

My two daughters, Ellie and August. I wanted to show them that anything is possible — you can be a mom, you can get your MBA and you can work at a job that you are passionate about. I want to inspire them to pursue their education and whatever else they dream up. It wasn’t easy becoming a mom over the course of my MBA, but overcoming the challenges was so rewarding. I hope they can see my journey and know that they’re capable of anything.

Who is your favourite professor? 

It’s hard to pick just one! Sean Park and Job Rutgers taught our design thinking and strategic foresight course, and those principles left a lasting impact on how I do my job today and how I approach the way I think in both my personal and professional life. I also learned a lot from Haniyeh Yousofpour. Her passion for continuous learning has inspired me to do the same, and her course on negotiations pushed me out of my comfort zone and changed the way I approach my day-to-day interactions.

If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why? 

I’d love to go back to my roots and live in a house on the coast in Nova Scotia with my family. There’s such a charm out East, from the people to the food. My family are all Newfoundlanders, so there’s always a pull for me to get back to the ocean and the incredible people that live there.

While at Mac, did you receive donor-funded financial assistance (e.g., a scholarship, award, bursary)? Any thoughts on the importance of giving back to your alma mater to support future generations? 

No, but I would love to work with the university to give back to other moms who want to continue their education. I want people to know that you can start a family and continue your education. I spent some time talking to parents-to-be considering the Blended Learning MBA program, and there was so much hesitation on whether it would be feasible to go back to school and have a baby. I hope I can continue to empower parents, especially moms, to go to school if that’s their goal.


This article appears in McMaster University’s Daily News. Read the original piece.

Tags:   ALUMNI PROFILE BLPT CONVOCATION ENGAGING COMMUNITIES MBA SAMANTHA HIRSCH

Related Stories

GRIT Week 2025: The DeGroote Impact Film Festival
July 25, 2025 · SOCIETAL IMPACT · STRATEGIC PLAN | TEACHING AND LEARNING · STUDENT

GRIT Week 2025: The DeGroote Impact Film Festival

A mother-daughter moment at graduation
July 21, 2025 · ALUMNI

A mother-daughter moment at graduation

Whelen Fellowship connects grad students with McMaster startups to drive real-world impact
June 27, 2025 · ALUMNI · DEVELOPMENT

Whelen Fellowship connects grad students with McMaster startups to drive real-world impact

Leading with joy, bold authenticity and compassionate leadership 
June 23, 2025 · ALUMNI · STRATEGIC PLAN | INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE · STUDENT CLUB

Leading with joy, bold authenticity and compassionate leadership 

Finding my way: A reflection on growth, leadership and community 
June 19, 2025 · STRATEGIC PLAN | TEACHING AND LEARNING · STUDENT

Finding my way: A reflection on growth, leadership and community 

From scrubs to strategy: My journey through nursing and the DeGroote MBA 
June 18, 2025 · STRATEGIC PLAN | TEACHING AND LEARNING · STUDENT

From scrubs to strategy: My journey through nursing and the DeGroote MBA 

Pursuing doctorates together: A story of academic partnership 
June 18, 2025 · INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Pursuing doctorates together: A story of academic partnership 

Breaking the cycle of ultra-poverty, one village at a time
April 29, 2025 · ALUMNI · STRATEGIC PLAN | INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE · SOCIETAL IMPACT

Breaking the cycle of ultra-poverty, one village at a time

Embracing change and inspiring success: David Lazzarato navigates a varied path to DeGroote’s highest honour
April 24, 2025 · ALUMNI · STRATEGIC PLAN | ENGAGING COMMUNITIES

Embracing change and inspiring success: David Lazzarato navigates a varied path to DeGroote’s highest honour

From classroom to career: The lasting impact of work-integrated learning 
March 26, 2025 · STUDENT

From classroom to career: The lasting impact of work-integrated learning 

GRIT Week 2025: MBA students drive real-world impact 
March 12, 2025 · STUDENT · STRATEGIC PLAN | TEACHING AND LEARNING · SOCIETAL IMPACT

GRIT Week 2025: MBA students drive real-world impact 

GRIT Week: Community Videos
February 28, 2025 · STUDENT

GRIT Week: Community Videos

The future of healthcare: Mike Heenan on trends and disruptions
January 22, 2025 · STRATEGIC PLAN | ENGAGING COMMUNITIES · ALUMNI · HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT

The future of healthcare: Mike Heenan on trends and disruptions

People-focused leadership: Insights from Mike Heenan
January 9, 2025 · STRATEGIC PLAN | ENGAGING COMMUNITIES · ALUMNI

People-focused leadership: Insights from Mike Heenan

DeGroote redefines grit
December 17, 2024 · STRATEGIC PLAN | TEACHING AND LEARNING

DeGroote redefines grit

DeGroote School of Business DeGroote School of Business Logo
DeGroote Instagram logo DeGroote Linkedin logo DeGroote Facebook logo DeGroote YouTube Logo DeGroote TikTok Logo
DeGroote Menu

  • Programs
  • About DeGroote
  • Events
  • Student Resources
  • Staff Resources
  • Alumni Resources
  • Give
  • DeGroote Directory
  • Contact Us
  • Faculty & Research  
Hamilton Campus

DeGroote School of Business
McMaster University

1280 Main Street West

Hamilton, Ontario
L8S 4M4
Burlington Campus

DeGroote School of Business
Ron Joyce Centre

4350 South Service Road

Burlington, Ontario
L7L 5R8
AACSB Logo

McMaster University is committed to providing websites that are accessible to the widest possible audience.  

If you require any content on this website in an alternate format, please contact dsbweb@mcmaster.ca and we will respond promptly.

DeGroote Online Privacy Policy

McMaster Brighter World Logo McMaster University - Brighter World Logo
Contact McMaster McMaster Terms & Conditions McMaster Privacy Policy
Secret Link