Christopher Otto, ’24 MBA

In this interview with Christopher Otto, '24 MBA, M.Eng, '22 BSc., Mechanical Engineering, we dive into the journey of an engineer and entrepreneur who has effectively combined technical expertise with business acumen. We explore how Christopher’s education at the Alberta School of Business enriched his perspective and equipped him for diverse roles in both corporate and entrepreneurial settings. In addition to his role at WSP, Christopher has taken his passion for golf and observation of a market gap and founded SwingMatch, a platform that connects golfers with instructors, making it easy to find and book lessons. 

BAA: What led you to do your MBA at the Alberta School of Business?

I decided to pursue an MBA to complement my engineering background with business acumen. My goal was to get a broader perspective on finance, accounting and business strategy, essential for performing in a management role within a technical engineering environment. Additionally, I have a strong passion for entrepreneurship and wanted to better understand the key factors that contribute to entrepreneurial success in addition to technical concepts like venture financing. By adding these business fundamentals into my skill set, I aimed to become a more well-rounded professional. 

BAA: How was student life for you? Were you involved in any extracurriculars outside of class as part of your degree?

Student life was one of the highlights of my MBA experience. I actively participated in various groups and activities, including MBAA Internal Case Competitions, MBA Games, and the Net Impact club. Being involved in these extracurriculars allowed me to develop skills I wouldn't have gained solely through coursework, and it also gave me the chance to build lasting friendships with many peers, many of whom I keep in touch with today!

BAA: How has your career developed since graduating from the Alberta School of Business?

I’ve had the opportunity to work for WSP as an Engineering Designer and Project Coordinator. Here, I support the design and coordination of signaling systems for the $6.3 Billion Calgary Green Line LRT mega-project. Serving as a liaison between our technical teams, the project management team, and the client, I ensure clear communication and alignment of expectations among key stakeholders. This role utilizes my technical and managerial skills, allowing me to bridge gaps between teams and address both technical and commercial challenges effectively, ensuring project progression. My career has developed significantly as I’ve been able to take on more responsibility, apply the business knowledge gained through my MBA, and demonstrate leadership in a large-scale, complex project.

BAA: In addition to your work with WSP, you've also started SwingMatch. Tell us about your business and what led you to start it?

The idea for SwingMatch Golf was created out of my passion for golf and my desire to make quality instruction more accessible. I noticed a gap in the market — golfers, both beginners and experienced players, often had difficulty finding the right coach, while instructors struggled with managing bookings, marketing and administration.

To address this, I developed SwingMatch Golf, a digital platform that connects golfers with instructors based on location, skill level and personal preferences. The platform also offers instructors tools to streamline their business operations.

So far, we’ve onboarded several local instructors, and we’re planning to scale our user base in 2025. It’s been incredibly rewarding to apply both my technical and business skills to grow SwingMatch Golf into a viable platform that supports the golfing community.

What have you learned about entrepreneurship in the first few years of running SwingMatch? What advice do you have for others who are interested in taking the leap into entrepreneurship?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in the first few years of running SwingMatch Golf is the importance of talking to your potential customers as much as possible. This not only helps validate new concepts and assumptions, but also allows you to build relationships that can benefit both parties in the long run.

Entrepreneurship requires persistence and resilience — it's not easy, but those who can think critically, challenge their own ideas and apply first principles thinking are more likely to succeed. You might be surprised at how often your idea will pivot as you learn more about your market. My advice to aspiring entrepreneurs is to stay persistent, keep learning and don’t be afraid to iterate. By doing so, you’ll greatly increase your chances of success!

BAA: How can folks find out more about SwingMatch?

You can find us at swingmatch.ca!
Follow us on social media:
Instagram & TikTok: @swingmatch
YouTube: @swingmatchgolf
LinkedIn: SwingMatch