James Mark Mitchell

My name is Mark Mitchell. I am 24 years of age and a 2016 graduate, with distinction, from the University of Alberta, double majoring in Economics and Mandarin Chinese. I am currently pursuing a Masters Degree in International business at Ivey business school as well as a MIM from the CEMS organization.
I am also a world traveler, personal trainer, Physique competitor and overall fitness enthusiast.
     I cannot remember a time in my life when I was not active and athletic. But, my real fitness journey began about six years ago when I was attending university in Beijing, China.
     Insulated on campus, and isolated in a very foreign culture, my focus on fitness sharpened to a commitment. During those two years in China my passion for fitness grew, as did my fluency in Mandarin Chinese.
      In 2012 I returned to Canada to continue my academic program at the University of Alberta – and to pursue my growing passion for fitness through a sensible, monitored and disciplined regime of training and competitions.
      At the 2016 Muscle Beach Fall Classic at Edmonton, Alberta, I was fortunate enough to win my class – and then be awarded the overall Men's Physique title.
     As every serious competitor knows, time management is the bottom-line life skill necessary to balance intense training with the practicalities of life. I believe I have learned this critical skill as a direct result of my commitment to fitness.
     However, while fitness is my passion, my habit and the glue that holds my world together, it does not altogether define who I am.
First and foremost, I am a student. In January, 2017 I began my graduate studies at Ivey Business School. It has been an incredible journey thus far, and one that has already taken me from London, Canada to Bangalore, India. After my consulting internship in India is completed in July 2017, I look forward to spending a fall semester in Beijing and then a winter semester in Barcelona. 
The challenges are daunting, but the opportunities are exciting. Clearly, I owe so much to a lifestyle shaped by and based on physical fitness - because I am convinced that without the discipline and dogged determination I learned through my pursuit of fitness, I could never have achieved admission to such a dynamic, cutting edge program, much less be at the doorway into the fast-paced world of international business.
In addition to my studies, personal training and passion for bodybuilding, myself along with my best friend and trainer, Kevin Nephin have recently launched our fitness apparel brand, “Ultimate Physique Apparel”.
My goal is to ultimately find a healthy balance between my love of bodybuilding, academia, personal business ventures and consistent personal growth.
@markusjames1992 (personal instagram)
@weareupa (ultimate physique apparel instagram)