Meet the Teamwork Mentors

Teamwork Mentors are recent alumni of Rotman Commerce. With years of experience working in teams for courses and co-curricular activities, they can support you in developing effective teamwork skills and strategies.

Teamwork mentors work at arms-length from course instructors to provide a space for you and your team to discuss communication strategies or troubleshoot conflict. They can provide support on:    

• Dividing workloads and ensuring equal contribution from each member.
• Facilitating discussions and managing conflict around team timelines, unmet expectations, or inadequate work.
• Improving communication, particularly when navigating a remote work academic environment.
• Ensuring all group members are aware of academic integrity guidelines (e.g. properly attributing sources) and following them.
• Helping team member(s) who feel left out or not included in the team.

Book an appointment with one of our Teamwork Mentors by sending an email to rotmancommerce.teamworkhelp@utoronto.ca with the course code and team number in the subject line of the email.

	Maria Kotob – Lead Teamwork Mentor Maria Kotob is a Rotman Commerce alumna who graduated in June 2022 and specialized in Management with focuses in Marketing and Leadership in Organizations, as well as an Economics minor. She currently works at VML as an Account Executive and looks forward to bringing the insights she’s learned as a student and as a professional, to help make a positive teamwork environment. Experiencing different roles and responsibilities in her current position, Maria has quickly learned the benefits of empathy and communication. She believes that the most rewarding teamwork experiences come from integrity, compassion, and balance.
	Benjamin George – Lead Teamwork Mentor Benjamin George is a graduate of the Rotman Commerce program, with a specialization in Management and focuses in Leadership, Strategy, and International Business. While partaking in the RC Houses community as coordinator and mentor, Benjamin also interned at tech companies like Microsoft and Oracle, which helped him land his current job as a consultant at IBM. Through his varied professional and extra-curricular leadership experiences, Benjamin has refined his problem-solving and communication skills, which he plans on employing while working as a teamwork mentor. As a strong believer in fostering empathetic relationships, Benjamin hopes to work alongside students to inspire positive and collaborative team environments.
	Claudia Flis Claudia Flis graduated from Rotman Commerce in June 2023 with a Specialist in Management, focusing in Finance, Marketing, and Strategy and Innovation. She currently works at Infotek Consulting as an Account Manager. With a variety of experiences across the finance, marketing, and consulting industries, she looks forward to bringing these insights to her role as a Teamwork Mentor to facilitate a positive teamwork environment. She believes that the most fulfilling team collaborations arise from collective efforts to establish a setting that integrates perspectives from all participants. This is enhanced by prioritizing empathy, transparent communication, and patience.
	Henry Zhang Henry is a recent 2024 graduate of Rotman Commerce who specialized in Management with focuses in Finance and Strategy. Throughout his undergraduate experience, Henry was heavily involved with the Rotman Commerce Competition Team (RCCT) as both a competitor and co-captain. Through RCCT, Henry has ample experience of working with extremely diverse teams to solve difficult problems, all while under time constraints. From RCCT to corporate internships to even working in a kitchen, Henry hopes his widely varied teamwork and problem-solving experience will help others as a teamwork mentor.
	Julia Dixon Julia Dixon graduated from Rotman Commerce in June 2023 with a Specialist in Accounting and Minor in Economics. She is currently working at EY in the audit practice and has completed two summer internships at the firm. During undergrad, Julia had a variety of teamwork experiences in Rotman student groups and on the Varsity Dance Team. These diverse experiences taught her the importance of approaching teamwork with an open mind and respect, ultimately making collaborative efforts more rewarding.
	Kaan Durmus Kaan Durmus is a Rotman Commerce alumnus with a focus in Management and Marketing. He has extensive experience in team-based projects and professional roles in wealth management and tech consulting. An avid runner, Kaan believes in the power of resilience and perseverance, values he brings to fostering collaboration. Passionate about fostering collaboration, Kaan aims to help students navigate team dynamics effectively.
	Merve Atasoy Merve Atasoy is a Rotman Commerce alumna, graduating in June 2024 as a Management Specialist, with focuses on Marketing, and Strategy and Innovation. Currently serving as a Digital Specialist at Nectar First, Merve applies her strong skills in empathy, problem-solving, and active listening to lead successful team projects in the advertising industry. Drawing from her experiences at Rotman and in her professional career, she is dedicated to helping students navigate the complexities of teamwork. Merve is committed to fostering an environment where every team member feels heard, understood, and empowered to contribute to creative solutions.
	Oscar Li Oscar Li is a Rotman Commerce Alumni from the class of 23’ who specialized in Finance and Economics. He is currently pursuing a law degree from the University of Ottawa and putting what he learned during his time at Rotman to good use. Having been a Residence Don for Woodsworth, a Mentor for RC Houses, and many other roles within UofT, Oscar is no stranger to mentorship and looks forward to helping foster positive team relations. From his experience, he believes teamwork can be done best through open-minded communication, empathy, and adaptability.
	Sai Sudhish Voora Sai Sudhish Voora is a recent graduate of the Rotman Commerce program, completing his studies in June 2024 with a specialization in Accounting and an Economics Minor. He is currently on the path to earning his CPA designation while working as a Staff Accountant in the Assurance Practice at EY. During his time at Rotman, Sai played a significant role in the FLC program, serving as both a Peer Mentor and Senior Peer Mentor. These experiences provided him with a deep understanding of teamwork dynamics and the importance of clear communication. Sai is passionate about helping students navigate teamwork challenges and is excited to guide them toward rewarding and meaningful experiences.
	Skyla Mercer Skyla Mercer graduated from Rotman Commerce in June 2023 with a Specialist in Accounting and a Minor in Economics. After two summer internships at KPMG, she now works at the firm in the audit practice. With a variety of teamwork experience in undergrad through student clubs and group projects, paired with experience working in professional environments, Skyla has learned the importance of effective communication, time management, as well as respect for others’ opinions, in order to create an environment conducive to success.
	Sophia Fiorini My name is Sophia and I earned a Bachelor of Commerce from Rotman Commerce this spring and I graduate from the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting program this fall from the Rotman School of Management. I love sports and grew up competitive swimming. I teach at two swim companies during the year and started my own business running backyard swimming lessons. I also competed on the UofT Liquid Assets Dragon Boat team last year and qualified for Worlds in Italy in 2024. I also enjoys playing soccer and volleyball with friends. Beyond athletics, I love learning languages and am currently studying Spanish and Italian.
	Zimman Yousuf Zimman Yousuf graduated from Rotman Commerce in June 2023 with a specialist in accounting and a minor in economics. She’s currently an associate consultant at Capco. Prior to her career, Zimman worked in several fields including sales, marketing, strategy, auditing, and asset management. These experiences allowed her to discover new methodologies on resolving conflicting and making teamwork thrive. With a focus on empathy and diversified thinking, she believes that the ability to improve one aspect of a team will allow for a domino effect in success.