We have so many stellar Options alumni, and in our new series, we wanted to shine a light on a few of our past clients who have gone on to do great things both near and far. This month, we chatted with JJ about what he’s been up to since he graduated and his advice for current post-secondary students.
What’s your name?
JJ Wilson.
Where and what did you study?
I started my post-secondary studies at Ryerson University, now called Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to study but was eager to get going, and I knew that I would find my way once I arrived. At the Ted Rogers School of Business Management, I started with a major in Marketing. I always liked marketing and had a natural interest in understanding how and why consumers buy and sell products. After 2 years, I switched my major to entrepreneurship (ENT), a BCom major most business schools at the time didn’t offer. It was an exciting program that allowed me to understand how businesses get started and provided a broader understanding of how organizations operate from the ground up.
How did you choose this institution and program?
TMU provided flexibility for BCom studies and allowed me to explore electives in programs like retail management and communications, another unique aspect of the school compared to other business schools.
I grew up in an entrepreneurial family with a business in the retail apparel industry and watching it grow during my childhood gave me early access to understanding this particular world of business. ENT was a catch-all program that excited me and provided more flexibility to explore my specific areas of interest while learning the basics.
What would you tell current post-secondary students about finding a path? Would your high school self be surprised with where you ended up?
As I look back, I didn’t understand the difference between a graduate and a post-graduate degree (MBA). I wouldn’t change anything now, but my advice would be to follow your passion first – you can always make a change, and you can always go back to school. I also think it’s important to study outside of the city you grew up in, moving to Toronto from Vancouver was a big part of my learning experience and forced me to be more independent – it was a valuable part of my personal development as a young man at the age of 17!
I don’t think my high-school self would be surprised. You are always where you should be and you never stop learning. 4 years ago I completed an executive MBA at Harvard, proof that at any age you can always go back for more.
What are you doing now?
Today, I run a number of my own retail businesses and support my family’s organization, which is still focused on retail apparel. Each of my own businesses has challenged me at times over the years but are now at a place where I can spend my time in the areas of each business that bring me the most joy – marketing and strategy.
What at Options Solutions helped you the most?
As I look back, Options Solutions helped me do exactly that. It showed me the variety of options and opened up a world of choice that I didn’t know I had. I was worried that a BCom would be too rigid, but TMU was the perfect middle ground for me that challenged me but also allowed me to explore courses in programs I enjoyed. It’s not all meant to be easy, learning is a balance, and Options Solutions helped me understand this early on.
Picking a post-secondary institution or program can be difficult. There can be a lot of “I don’t know yet,” or “I’m not sure”. For me, it was important to remain close to home (Canada), and lean into what I knew I enjoyed about life, studies, and how I wanted to spend my time.
A fun fact about you?
After university, I moved to New York and worked for the Clinton Foundation and then to Boston to intern in private equity. Exploring the real world and working in it helped me better understand myself and what I wanted to do, but it took time. I moved back to Vancouver almost 10 years ago and spent 5 years working for other retail businesses before starting my own. It wasn’t until age 26 or 27 that I really settled into things.
Outside of business I like to travel, road bike, swim, ski, and spend time with family and friends.
Where can our readers find you?
You can follow my businesses on instagram here: @ridecycleclub @reyalperformance and @optimi_life
