Brent James Urbanski

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT BRENT JAMES URBANSKI

Welcome to my profile. Here\'s a bit about my background:(1) Studied psychology and neuroscience at McMaster University> I graduated in 2020 with an undergraduate degree in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour. During that time, I taught and designed content for the largest courses at the university, led a non-profit literacy initiative that supported youth across the inner city of Hamilton, and conducted clinical psychiatric research on ADHD, cannabis, and OCD. I was on track to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology in the US but thought better of it after exposure to some of the constraints of academia.(2) Taught myself Mandarin Chinese and built a community of those doing the same> I finished my degree at the beginning of the pandemic and began a role designing courses for the university. Between this and lockdowns, I had time to dedicate to teaching myself Mandarin Chinese. Over 1.5 years, I went from zero Chinese knowledge to reading the news and conversing across a range of topics. I shared my journey both over YouTube and in a large online community that I co-built. Overall, the experience made me realize that the world is much larger than that which I had seen.(3) Completed a dual master’s degree with Ivey Business School and the CEMS alliance while living across three continents> I began an international business degree in 2022 with the aim of expanding my scope. Over 16 months, I lived in Canada, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Singapore. The travels made clear how a nation’s institutions moderate a citizen\'s life outcomes—a lesson that has shaped both my broader philosophies and how I choose to volunteer my time. It was also during this period, through placements at Google, the European Space Agency, and on other pro-bono projects, that I realized strategy consulting mirrors much of what I initially enjoyed about academia.(4) Working as a healthcare strategy consultant, having started in the public sector and now advising private life and health sciences clients> I started my career at the intersection of past clinical and consulting experience. As an Analyst at Invictus A+S, a boutique strategy consultancy in Toronto, I supported public healthcare leaders in decisions affecting millions of Canadians and billions of dollars. Wanting exposure to a more commercially driven environment, I transitioned to ZS. Today, as a Strategy Insights & Planning Associate, I now advise biotechnology and pharmaceutical clients on a range of strategic business challenges.