EY Alumni Spotlight: Joe Rizzi I EY Toronto, 1995 - 1999

When Joe Rizzi left EY after five years with the firm, he took his M&A experience into the telecom sector. We sat down with Joe to talk about his exceptional EY experience, what drives him in his career and his passions for travel and global cuisine.

Through your time at EY, was there a mentor or influence?

I was fortunate to work with some great individuals. There was one individual who had a huge influence on my development and career. Peter Mashinter was the first partner I worked for in the Toronto North office. He had a variety of mid-market clients and was in transition between the Audit and Advisory practices in M&A. He was great with people and invested a lot of time in me. As he transitioned his area of focus, he would include me on various due diligence engagements that eventually led to my move into M&A.

Sadly, Peter passed away in his 40s. I remember attending his celebration of life, which entailed endless stories about how he was a great leader, father, husband and friend. He led his life with integrity, humility and responsibility.

He had a huge influence in shaping my career, and a lot of things he said to me have stuck with me to this day. 

In that time, was there a particular project or memory that stands out to you? 

There was no shortage of interesting and diverse projects during my time at EY. One of the best projects where I learned the most was the merger of two Canadian public companies in the aerospace sector. It was one of the largest M&A engagements in terms of profile, impact and fees. And it was staffed very lean, with a partner, a staff member and me.

In my mid 20s, I had direct access to the senior leadership team, where I came to understand their decision-making process. Moreover, I was given a forum that played to my strengths of translating business and operational models into financial outcomes. It was by far the best experience I had at the firm.

In your current role, what do you find the most challenging or energizing?

Those who know me well know how competitive I am. I love the sport of business and it allows we to engage my competitive nature. I never stop seeking new challenges. As a result, I have worked for five different organizations in more than 15 different roles over the last 25 years.

I have spent the last 11 years at Rogers, the longest tenure I’ve had at any organization. I’m proud of my influence in the performance management and strategic direction of various businesses with Rogers. Most recently as the Senior Vice President Finance of the Wireline business, I have been actively involved in the merger and integration with Shaw to build a successful and national wireline operation in Canada.

While there is no shortage of great assignments, I am most passionate about building and leading high-performing teams. There is nothing more fulfilling than bringing together a diverse group of individuals who together can solve some of the most difficult problems.

What interests do you have outside of work?

One of my passions is travel. I was born, raised, schooled and now work in Toronto. It’s a world-class city that I love. But I really enjoy visiting other parts of the world where I get a chance to get a different perspective, learning about people, cultures, architecture, food and everything in between. I’ve visited more than 15 countries and countless cities and I’m just getting started.

I think the world continues to become more globally interconnected, and there is so much to see and learn through travel. I encourage all three of my children to travel as much as possible and get those experiences to enrich their lives.

In all your travels, has there been a favourite place or experience?

Barcelona is one of my favourite places in the world. I love the culture and the people — they are full of energy. When most North Americans are getting ready for bed at 10 p.m., Barcelona’s city centre is bustling with endless patios of people drinking, eating and enjoying life. Their passion for life is contagious.

So you’re a foodie, then. What's your favourite cuisine?

I love them all! My parents are immigrants from Italy and I grew up on traditional Italian meals. Italian cuisine continues to be my comfort food of choice. It’s difficult to leave an Italian meal without a smile on your face. But when I’m out for dinner, I enjoy trying new things or flavours I can’t easily make at home. At the moment, I can’t get enough sushi.

Is there any advice you would give your younger self?

While I have no regrets, the advice I give my children today is to take the opposite path I took.

My career has been a straight line. At an early age, I was focused on becoming an accountant. I fast-tracked through school, didn’t take summers off and started at the firm immediately out of university. It has worked out and I am continuously exposed to new opportunities that allow me to learn and make a difference. But I would tell my younger self to try different things and look for diverse experiences to round out my capabilities. The journey is just as fun as the destination.

Do you feel optimistic your kids will be able to tackle those challenges?

Without a doubt. I believe our children are a lot smarter and they care about topics that matter. I grew up thinking that a career with a large scope was important and it took time for me to figure out what matters most and how to make a difference in the world. But kids today are there already. My kids teach me something new daily. I’m confident they will leave the world better than they found it.