En l’honneur du Mois de l’histoire des Noir(e)s, l’EMBA McGill-HEC Montréal met en lumière quelques-un(e)s de ses diplômé(e)s noir(e)s les plus brillant(e)s. Ils partagent leurs réflexions, leurs parcours inspirants et ce que signifie pour eux le Mois de l’histoire des Noir(e)s.

Voici l’entrevue, en anglais, avec Matthew Thornhill: 

Matthew Thornhill

Director, Financial Planning & Analysis at Merck

Diplômé 2021 de l’EMBA McGill-HEC Montréal

Quelle est votre mission personnelle?

My personal mission is to: Maximize my time doing what I love to do, while building relationships with great people, constantly learning, and evolving into a person who positively contributes to society.

Pourquoi cette mission est-elle importante à vos yeux? 

I believe that for us to progress as a society, we all have a part to play. Progress requires us to challenge the status quo, learn from our mistakes, and to evolve outside our comfort zone.

Quels ont été les obstacles auxquels vous avez fait face jusqu’ici?

Like many minorities I have faced my fair share of micro aggressions and bias over the years. The greater challenge I have faced is often being the only person of color in the room – in school and at work. To that point I have felt a certain level pressure to do well and not reinforce any negative biases.

Que représente le Mois de l’Histoire des Noirs pour vous?

Black History Month is about reflection of the past, a time to learn and a time to celebrate.

We need to reflect on the past, to understand how we got here. It is a time to learn about those who came before us, the sacrifices and hardships they faced. It is also a time to break down barriers and educate others.

Finally, I think Black History Month is a time to celebrate all the amazing stories and successes of our people. Bringing visibility to and showcasing all the talented, and brilliant people is the ultimate way to inspire the next generation and show them that big dreams can be achieved.