Here are just a few of the impressive new grads from Dal's Faculty of Management from Fall Convocation 2017.
Kim Anderson, MPAM, 2017
Chief, Corporate Services, SWNS
Why did you choose the MPA(M) program at Dalhousie?
I humbly admit that the thought of being accepted to Dal was the most exciting for me—I had always dreamed of becoming a Dal student. The MPA (M) program was also exactly the academic focus I wanted to pursue and most related to my professional goals. The fact that it was a blended program where I could attend the university—in-class—sealed the deal for me.
How has your experience been with the online blended learning model used in the program?
Simply awesome! The blended program allowed me to organize my time to meet the assignment deadlines. I was also able to form study groups with my cohorts and easily connect with them, which was a considerable advantage to my learning. The icing on the cake was getting to meet my class cohorts and the individual course professors at intensives—neatly wrapping the course material up and building my network.
What are the key features of the program that you liked best?
The course facilitators were simply the best and most passionate about learning enhancement. The intensives drive this program home by bringing everyone together and making sure that each student really did achieve the learning outcomes. The course content is current and relevant; while many of the class assignments brought personal insight to a variety of subjects.
What networking opportunities have you encountered in the program?
I now have a well-rounded group of cohorts who are connected to public administrative services in some way—all across Canada. I love that I can call upon any of them to help me with any project I am working on—even if that simply means connecting me with the right people.
How has your experience in the MPA(M) program affected your personal and professional goals?
I see the world differently. My world vision has shifted and I understand things from a whole new perspective, which has created a more positive path to pursue my goals.
What’s next in your life?
Good question. Law school would be great. But whatever comes next, I will be guided by the academic learning I have acquired at Dal in the MPA (M) program; so I know I’ll be in good company.
Gareth Hales, MBA FS, 2017
Director Role Design & Execution Practices – Business Financial Services
RBC
The last three years I spent as an MBA Financial Services student at Dalhousie have been among the most rewarding years of my professional career. I had always planned to pursue a post graduate education and my journey began with the Professional Banking Program through the Canadian Securities Institute, where I earned my FICB designation.
My manager at the time(was) a Dalhousie MBA (FS) graduate and she spoke very highly of her experience in the program. In addition, I was encouraged by the fact that Dalhousie provided credit for my existing financial designations towards their MBA program.
Why did you choose the MBA (FS) program at Dalhousie? What are the key features of the program that you liked best?
When I began working with larger and more complex clients in Commercial Financial Services, the timing was right to invest in developing my business, strategic and financial acumen. Taking a sabbatical from work to complete my MBA was not an appealing option and Dalhousie’s blended MBA program truly provides the best of both worlds.
Dalhousie’s CFAME professors host virtual classes and post recorded lectures on-line, providing you with the flexibility to work through the content on your own schedule. While the on-line program provides you with tremendous flexibility, my favorite part of the program was the face-to-face Intensives. This is where the professors bring everything together and prepare you for your exams. The Intensive also provides you with the opportunity to connect and network with other students, an experience that is particularly fun when you visit Halifax in the summer.
How has your experience in the MBA (FS) program affected your personal and professional life? What are your major take aways?
Balancing a demanding career and managing graduate courses can be challenging, but it is also a very rewarding experience. o begin with, I think I learned to manage my time much more effectively and I find myself frequently reflecting on how to keep myself and the organization moving forward to create the right value in the right way for all of our stakeholders. To this end, I strategically selected the order of my classes in a way that enabled me to maximize the impact and apply these learnings to my work with RBC’s National Office.
While the program does an excellent job covering the core elements you expect of a graduate business program in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Marketing, Information Systems and Strategy etc., I also found the courses in Management Skills and Corporate Social Responsibly to be quite innovative and differentiated relative to the classes I experienced in my undergraduate studies.
Overall the program strikes the right balance of developing expertise in the financial services industry, while examining the external environment to understand the key success factors and forces of change that are relevant to all organizations.
What’s next in your life?
I have had the pleasure of working in three diverse geographical regions, in Alberta, Southwestern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Region during my career with RBC, serving as a Small Business Relationship Manager, Branch Manager, Community Market Manager and as a Commercial Banker prior to joining RBC’s National Office Strategy team in 2016.
Completing my MBA will help to set the tone for the next 20+ years of my career. I will continue to set ambitious goals for myself and I have confidence that I can adapt to changing circumstances in a dynamic business environment.
Working with and learning from exceptional leaders at work and in the academic world energizes me. I have been fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from professors and managers who lead with purpose, recognize my strengths and encourage me to continually invest in developing my skills and capabilities. My hope is that I will be able to positively impact the lives and careers of others in the same way that these exemplary leaders have influenced me.
Finally, I have learned that effective leadership is part art, part craft and part science. To this end, one cannot learn how to become an effective manager in a classroom alone. You must also learn to reflect, to draw upon your own experience and to tap into the experience of others around you. I have learned so much from my colleagues and classmates during my time at Dalhousie and I look forward to seeing the class of 2017 continuing to flourish in the future.
Bill Jarratt, MPAM, 2017
The challenge…
In the fall of 2012, while preparing our departmental 2013 annual staff training budget, I was asked by my supervisor what type of professional development I was interested in, and when I indicated that the MPA(M) program at Dalhousie University looked very interesting, his response was positive. However, the offer of support did not come without a challenge. My boss looked me in the eye, and said he would support my enrollment in the program as long as I agreed to complete it. I accepted this challenge, and subsequently started the MPA(M) program in the fall of 2013, and now, graduating in the fall of 2017 on the convocation day of October 2nd.
The balancing act…
What was I thinking! I’m in my late 40’s, I have a fulltime job as a senior manager in a local government organization, and more importantly a family of four including my wonderful wife, two step-children in middle level and high school, and a very active boy in elementary school. Life was certainly challenging enough, and very busy with family activities and work priorities. I thought to myself, how could I possibly fit in the commitment required to complete a graduate level degree program?
Early mornings…
With evenings filled with judo, hockey and basketball practices and games, housework, work meetings etc., the only quality time that I could find in the day to focus on the many readings, discussion board postings and research was between 5:00 and 7:00 am. My path was simply to take one course in each of the three terms, and once the early morning routine started I discovered that I could indeed stay ahead of the material and submission deadlines.
Teaching, support and teamwork…
One thing that I have grown to appreciate is the excellent level of teaching, and CFAME administrative support that I have had the opportunity to experience these past four years, in every course completed. Despite the distance between my home in New Brunswick and the campus, I have consistently felt that the professors and office staff made the quest to enhance my learning experience a priority. Plus, I quickly came to realize that the majority of courses included a significant amount of student group work that mirrors the experiences each one of us had in our careers. Arriving in Halifax for each of the 2 ½ day intensive sessions, I felt a strong sense of being a member of a team that was truly dedicated to this learning opportunity.
Dal and our family connection…
Dalhousie University has been, and is a source of higher education for my family as well. My sister graduated from Dal, and my nephew is currently enrolled. And now I can proudly say I am a graduate of this wonderful academic institution.