A Leader on & off the Track: Student Athlete's Journey through MScSM and High Jump
Balancing the demands of a master’s program and a rigorous training schedule takes a dedicated individual. Aiden Grout has not only found the correct balance but has reached incredible heights, both literally and physically. Grout has received the President’s Silver-T Award, which is given to an athlete who has demonstrated the highest level of academic, athletic, and leadership qualities at U of T. Last semester, I sat down with Aiden Grout, an MScSM (Master of Science in Sustainability Management) student and University of Toronto Team Captain for the track team for the past 2 years. I was excited to talk with Grout to learn about his decision to enter the MScSM program at IMI (Institute for Management and Innovation), as well as how Grout’s program has helped him become a leader in the community and the world of athletics.
“I wanted to bridge the gap in my skills I got from undergrad, which was specifically in environmental science. I started thinking about long-term career aspirations. I kind of saw the need for more practical, like business knowledge and skills that are more applicable in the workplace. The curriculum is very focused on professional development … which isn't super typical of many research-based programs … which is why I decided to go with MSCSM over some other programs I was looking at,” Grout Explained.
An important aspect of Grout’s decision to choose MScSM was the opportunity the program could provide for career development. Grout has landed two analyst roles working with Delphi and Kinross Gold Corporation, thanks to his experience in MScSM. “Yeah, I applied to them [Delphi] and ended up doing my internship there, which I really enjoyed and definitely want to continue going forward with them. We'll be working part-time with them throughout the year.” Delphi is a Canadian-based company that is a strategic consulting firm with a focus on climate change and sustainability.
Grout’s fantastic career development goes beyond the classroom. Sports and athletics have always been one of his passions in life. “ I got to a pretty high level in competitive soccer, and my parents decided to enroll me in track and field to try to improve my speed for soccer. I entered the meeting [100-meter run] thinking I was going to be the next Usain Bolt. I was nowhere near the front of the pack when I finished. So that definitely didn't pan out. But I had a lot of fun high jumping. So yeah, from then on, I've basically had two really good coaches, one in high school and now, Karl Jorgevski at the University of Toronto; they've always, you know, pushed me hard to the next level. I try to keep reaching higher heights, currently at 220 [meters] and definitely see some potential to go a lot higher …” Grout explained. Grout has won multiple awards during his high jump career. He is a three-time OUA (Ontario University Athletics) champion and a two-time U SPORTS high jump champion. Grout’s career in sports and athletics is a great example that career development is not linear. Everyone’s journey has a different time frame; it’s all about finding what you are good at.
Grout described how his time in MScSM has helped him become a leader in his community and in the world of athletics. “The MSCSM program is a pretty collaborative approach to school. It depends on a lot of teamwork, communicating with your group mates, and collaborating on a lot of different thought processes and projects. I think that's made me more engaged and working with other people, whereas in undergrad it tends to be more individual. I think that’s [MScSM] definitely helped me interact with my teammates and coaches. Just being a more approachable and available person, especially for some of the younger athletes,” Grout explained.
To learn more about MScSM, please visit www.utm.utoronto.ca/mscsm or contact imi@utoronto.ca.
To learn more about track and field at U of T, please visit varsityblues.ca/sports/mens-track-and-field.
