Alumni Excellence Spotlight on: Dennis Mitchell, MBA ’03, CEO & CIO Starlight Capital
Dennis Mitchell (MBA ’03) often attributes his success in business to a combination of the lessons he learned on the football field, where teamwork, strategy, and competition were essential, and his strong foundation in finance, management and leadership, which he honed through his education here at the Schulich School of Business.
As CEO and CIO of Starlight Capital, Dennis brings the same competitive drive and discipline that defined his athletic career to his leadership in the financial and asset management world. Much like football, where each player has a specialized role and the success of the team depends on everyone performing their part, Dennis believes that the key to thriving in business lies in consistent execution, collaboration, and adaptability.
“We never entered a week or a game without a clear game plan — knowing our strengths, understanding the opponent’s weaknesses, and figuring out exactly how to leverage both. That same mindset is crucial in business: strategy, preparation, and execution make all the difference.”
Under his leadership, Starlight has grown into a leading investment firm by adapting to market changes and maintaining a sharp focus on long-term goals.
Dennis is also passionate about mentoring the next generation of leaders, helping them navigate the complexities of business. He believes success comes from a clear vision, strong teamwork, and the ability to pivot in the face of challenges. Reflecting on his own journey, Dennis shares valuable lessons on the importance of long-term planning, fostering a growth mindset, and cultivating a collaborative culture—principles that resonate with both emerging and established leaders alike.
A Path of Professional Evolution and Change
Dennis began his journey with unwavering determination to play professional football. But after six knee surgeries, that dream was sidelined. In search of a new direction, he found unexpected inspiration in a professor whose lectures frequently referenced Warren Buffett. When Buffett revealed his investment in Coca-Cola, the name resonated—and so began Dennis’s deep dive into Buffetology, the book that sparked a new passion: becoming a portfolio manager. He spent three and a half years at a major Canadian bank, determined to transition into asset management from the personal banking side. When persistence wasn’t enough to break through, he made a calculated move—pursuing an MBA from the Schulich School of Business to tip the scales in his favor.
The experience of condensing his MBA into a single, high-pressure year while tackling the Level 3 CFA exam and navigating personal challenges proved to be a defining chapter in his life. It equipped him with not only the knowledge and credentials, but also the clarity, adaptability, and resilience to chart a new path forward. “If what you’re doing isn’t working, change it up,” he reflects—a mindset that has shaped his professional evolution ever since.
To Dennis, diversity is at the core of strong decision-making. “The more diverse your experience, the more likely you are to come up with optimal solutions,” he says. Schulich’s diverse student body gave him exposure to varied perspectives, and those interactions were fundamental to developing the tools that continue to shape his leadership.
Education as a Catalyst for Growth
Education has played a pivotal role in Dennis’s personal and professional development. “At Schulich, it’s partly what you bring to the table and partly what the school brings to the table,” he reflects. Professors like Larry Ginsburg, Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management; Ingrid McLeod-Dick, Instructor of Finance; and former Schulich instructor Anthony Scilipoti, President & CEO at Veritas Group of Companies; not only engaged him but challenged him to sharpen his critical thinking and problem-solving abilities—skills that remain at the heart of his work today.
Dennis launched Starlight Capital to offer a unique blend of public and private asset exposure that mimics institutional strategies for retail investors. “There had to be a compelling reason to start another firm,” he notes. With massive global shifts into private real estate, infrastructure, and equity, Starlight is positioned to bridge a crucial gap in the Canadian market.
While Starlight Capital reflects Dennis’s vision within the asset management space, his commitment to creating opportunity extends well beyond.
Championing Equity Through the Black Opportunity Fund
As a co-founder and board member of the Black Opportunity Fund (BOF), Dennis plays a pivotal role in dismantling systemic barriers and expanding access to capital within the Black community. “We’re not focused on ending racism—we’re focused on neutralizing its impact by restoring the opportunities that racism denies people,” he says. The Black Opportunity Fund was established to direct philanthropic, corporate, and government funding toward Black-led non-profits, charities and entrepreneurs. Since its inception, the fund has launched micro-lending programs, awarded education grants, and is preparing to introduce housing and investment initiatives to support Black families and entrepreneurs.
“There’s an old saying: you spend the first third of your life learning as much as you can, the second third earning as much as you can, and the final third making as much of an impact as you can. For me, the Black Opportunity Fund is that impact—it’s my legacy.”
Dennis firmly believes that opportunity is not a zero-sum game. “When we deny opportunities to marginalized groups, we all become poorer,” he says. Through the Black Opportunity Fund, his goal is to foster intergenerational wealth and build lasting economic momentum in communities across Canada.
“People often ask how I’ll know if I’ve been successful,” he said. “For me, there are two answers. First, I’ll know I’ve succeeded if my grandchildren take the Black Opportunity Fund for granted—because it’s always been there, and they’ve always known they could turn to it for support. Second, and more importantly, it’s my hope that their grandchildren will have never even heard of the Fund—because it will have fulfilled its mission so completely that it no longer needs to exist.”
Diversity as a Strategic Advantage
At Starlight Capital, Dennis has intentionally built a team that breaks away from Bay Street’s traditional tendency to recruit from a narrow pool of top-tier schools and homogenous social networks. Instead, he has championed concrete, inclusive hiring practices that open doors to candidates from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
Dennis is critical of rigid hiring filters that overlook non-traditional candidates. “When everyone comes from the same academic or social background, you’re just creating surface-level diversity,” he cautions. By valuing entrepreneurial spirit, community engagement, and lived experience alongside conventional credentials, Dennis has proven that diversity—when done right—is not only the right thing to do, but a powerful driver of innovation, collaboration, and long-term success.
This belief in inclusive opportunity also shapes how Dennis mentors the next generation of leaders, offering candid, practical advice rooted in experience.
Advice to Future Leaders
To aspiring professionals, Dennis offers a clear message: network across.
“Don’t look up and ask the CEO to pull you forward—look beside you. The person next to you in school or at work might be your future business partner.”
While he’s inundated with coffee chat requests, he encourages younger talent to seek guidance from peers just a few years ahead of them. Their paths into the industry are far more relevant—and replicable.
Reconnecting with Schulich
Today, Dennis remains actively engaged with the Schulich Alumni Network. His return isn’t just nostalgic—it’s strategic and purposeful. “I came to Schulich originally with a purpose. I left with skills I still use today,” he says. His time at Schulich coincided with major life milestones—starting a family and building his career—making the experience all the more meaningful. Staying involved allows him to give back, share hard-earned wisdom, and, in his words, “satisfy 800+ LinkedIn coffee requests in one go.” For Dennis, it’s about investing in the next generation the same way others once invested in him—ensuring that access, opportunity, and inspiration continue to flow forward.
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