MBA student Dani Gomez-Ortega aims to create more inclusive spaces

As the Manager of Student Experience in Ryerson University’s Faculty of Community Services (FCS), Dani Gomez-Ortega has been working to embed principles of Diversity and Inclusion into operations, and she felt a Ted Rogers MBA would be another step toward becoming an even more effective leader.

Gomez-Ortega, who was recently awarded the FCS’s Janice Waddell Faculty and Staff Collegiality Award, has also been involved in several Women in Leadership initiatives and work in the LGBTQ+ community. As a part-time student in the Ted Rogers MBA program, she has been learning the important skills needed to become more strategic and confident in both her day job and community efforts.

Here is what Gomez-Ortega had to say about her current work, her reasons for choosing the Ted Rogers MBA program and how the program is helping to enhance her skills and further her goals:

What were you doing before starting the Ted Rogers MBA program?

Before starting my MBA, I removed barriers to success for a community of 7,000+ students through managing and embedding Diversity and Inclusion principles into the operations of student supports, student recruitment and student awards in the Faculty of Community Services (FCS) at Ryerson University. In this work, I led a team of five employees and collaborated with departments in the organization to identify and collectively address opportunities to enhance the experience of our clients.

There is a common misconception that Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) is a trend and/or an effort to be politically correct. However, I have to stress that this work is not about being politically correct, or even about being a nice person; this work is about keeping people who have been historically underrepresented alive. It is our shared duty to embed D&I values into every aspect of our work regardless of what that work is, because if we are not being intentionally inclusive, we are (by default) being exclusive.

Why did you decide to pursue your MBA and why did you choose to study here?

When I was exploring the possibility of pursuing graduate school, I was looking for a graduate degree that would help me become a more effective organizational leader and would give me the tools needed to create more inclusive spaces up, down and across organizations in any industry. An MBA was a recognized degree that I felt would equip me with these tools. I chose to take the Ted Rogers MBA degree at Ryerson University because the tailored curriculum spoke to my values as it focused on creating professionals that led for performance, diversity and wellbeing.

You’ve been involved in many Women in Leadership initiatives, such as participating in the Reimagining Women in Leadership MBA case competition and a recent FCS seminar (external link) . Why is this topic important to you?

The topic of Women in Leadership has dominated the business world for a number of years, however, I have found this topic challenging as it often excludes women who are like me. As an immigrant, Latinx, transgender woman with an invisible disability, I have not seen my different identities reflected or included in these conversations. Participating in Women in Leadership initiatives is important to me as I am trying to address this challenge head-on by taking up space in conversations where women like me are often excluded. I am doing this by raising awareness of the immense value of all different types of women to any organization and business.

Tell us about your work with the LGBTQ+ community and why you got involved in it?

The 2SLGBTQ+ community has had many legal gains in the past couple of decades, including the legalization of same-sex marriage and inclusion of gender identity/expression in the Ontario Human Rights Code. However, many in our community continue to struggle. LGBTQ+ youth face disproportionate levels of homelessness due to hate and intolerance. Additionally, many transgender people in Ontario cannot afford basic necessities as trans people’s median salary in Ontario is $15,000 (TransPulse, 2015). In the past number of years, I have led community organizations like Toronto PFLAG (external link, opens in new window) , Out and Out Toronto (external link, opens in new window)  and most recently Dignity Network Canada (external link) , executing strategies to promote tolerance and create spaces where 2SLGBTQ+ people can thrive.

How has what you’ve learned so far in the MBA program helped in your other roles?

The MBA program has helped me become more efficient, strategic and confident in my day-to-day job and community work. In just one year, I have learned leadership theories and skills that have allowed me to develop and lead a team of employees in my job with a focus on their professional growth and wellbeing. Most importantly, I have gained the necessary tools to navigate complex and sensitive challenges that arise as a result of inequities and the ever-changing political climate. I am now able to more effectively analyze situations, influence leaders and support everyone around me.