From Ghana to DeGroote: Roger Brown on the value of enhancing student life

As a teenager, Roger Brown wanted to chase the setting sun over the horizon.

“I would look up into the sky and see airplanes, and I’d wonder where those people were going,” says Brown, reflecting on his upbringing in Accra, Ghana – “sweeping the compounds of his family home” and ruminating about life on the other side of the world.

“I wanted to know what kids my age were doing in other parts of the world,” he continues. “That was always intriguing to me.”

Now, the DeGroote Commerce alumnus and successful banking professional wants to help other students realize their own dreams – whether those dreams involve traveling abroad, landing a key internship, or competing against the top business schools in the country. That’s why he contributes annually to the DeGroote Experience Fund.

The Fund was established to help Commerce and MBA students enhance their learning opportunities outside the classroom. Funding is available for national and international case competitions, conferences, leadership workshops, volunteer excursions and a wide variety of events.

Last year, nearly $100,000 was distributed to student applicants, who were able to take part in valuable activities across Canada and beyond. The goal is to increase the Fund’s capacity to $200,000 over the next year.

Download the 2015-2016 DeGroote Experience Fund Report

Brown knows every dollar counts – especially for international students.

His own journey to DeGroote began in 2004, when, at the age of 17, he became the first member of his family to leave Ghana in pursuit of a post-secondary western education. After settling with a host family in Ancaster, Brown began attending Pre-University classes at Southern Ontario Collegiate in downtown Hamilton. His goal was to one day attend a Canadian university. McMaster was at the top of his list.

“I knew a few people who were at McMaster at the time, and they just loved it,” says Brown. “I wanted to study business, and DeGroote had an amazing program. I knew it would be a good fit for me.”

Although admittedly shy during his first year on campus, he soon became a fixture in various student clubs and organizations. He got involved with the DeGroote Commerce Society, the DeGroote Finance Association and the International Relations Committee – “a platform for uniting international students at DeGroote,” he explains – among many other activities.

While studying and making connections at DeGroote, Brown landed a coveted internship at State Street, serving as an Investment Manager Representative during the summer of 2008. He spent the next 11 months as a Sales Intern with RBC Dominion Securities, and graduated from the Faculty of Business in 2010. That’s when his career really took off.

Today, he’s situated in the heart of Toronto’s Financial District. He’s currently a Relationship Manager in the Commercial Real Estate Banking division of Scotiabank – a company he’s been with for the past six years.

For Brown, supporting the DeGroote Experience Fund is the perfect way to give something back to the school that helped launch his career.

“You want to make sure the students at your alma mater are well positioned to enjoy the same kind of success,” he explains.

“I was able to make it in the Canadian corporate world, and I feel a responsibility to help others get there as well – especially DeGroote students who are trying to make connections outside the classroom, and may not have the resources to do so. I want to assist the next generation, however I can.”

Interested in supporting student activities by contributing to the DeGroote Experience Fund? Please contact Mark Stewart at mstewart@mcmaster.ca, or make a donation online.