Career Compass: Graduate Studies

Graduate degree: Masters Business Administration - Indigenous Business and Economy (2018)
Additional postgraduate training and certifications:

• Asper Executive Education's Advanced Program in Management, Leadership, and Strategy
• Chartered Professional in Human Resources, Candidate (CPHR Manitoba

Briefly, tell us about your job. What do you find most rewarding? What are your greatest challenges within this profession?

In January 2019 I joined an organization that provides homecare services and has specialized in Patient-Focused elder care for over 25 years. Under a succession plan, I have partnered with the Founder and CEO bringing my experience in Human Resources, Business Development, and Organizational Leadership. This is an example of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) which I feel is the next big trend for small-medium sized organizations and entrepreneurs.

The most rewarding part of my job is knowing that our services are directly responsible for improving the lives senior citizens and providing their family with piece-of-mind knowing their loved ones are receiving the highest level of homecare services.

The greatest challenge I’m currently faced with is the process of understanding who I am as a co-leader with my business partner, after shifting from a self-employed Independent Contractor to someone who is ultimately responsible for an entire organization’s success.

Why did you choose to go to grad school? How did your graduate education prepare you to work in your current field?

I never imagined going to grad school… ever. 
If it wasn't for the persistent encouragement from a mentor for two years, and attending four Asper-MBA information sessions, I would never have taken the leap to write the entrance exam (GMAT).

The greatest thing my graduate education provided me is confidence in myself that I do have the ability to provide insightful, rational, and progressive ideas that bring value to the rapidly changing organizational environments (for-profit, non-profit, charitable).

What skills did you gain or enhance during your graduate studies education?

The skills I developed most while doing an MBA was definitely my analytical and strategic thinking, but more importantly was the experiences outside the classroom that developed my inter-personal skills, emotional intelligence, and public speaking.

What other experiences and activities helped you to map out your career pathway?

Taking part in the Executive Mentorship Program through the Asper school of Business (along with other formal/informal mentorship relationships) was absolutely essential to my career mapping. I always advise people to have multiple mentors at any given time to help work through life’s biggest obstacles. Whatever area of life the major disruptor(s) is occurring (career, perusal, health), find a mentor to help you work through it.

As well, I got involved in several volunteer opportunities that developed my skills and built my network while providing valuable work to communities.

As a student, did you see yourself in your current occupation? 

Not a chance. Working in business development I always saw myself as an intrapreneur with a goal of starting my own venture, but not in the healthcare sector.

By always looking for opportunities, creating opportunities, and following opportunities I’ve been able to carve out a unique career that fulfills something that I learnt as a child called Tikkun Olum- World Repair (A jewish concept defined by acts of kindness performed to perfect or repair the world. It is often used when discussing issues of social policy, insuring a safeguard to those who may be at a disadvantage.)

My degree focus on Indigenous Business and Economy also help me understand who I am as an Indigenous person and fuelled the passion I now have to create an organization aimed at filling the healthcare gaps experienced by Indigenous Communities across the country.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing graduate studies?

Make the investment in yourself and do it; write the entrance exam and then decide. If you have self-doubt about your ability, knock it aside.
If I’m able to complete a graduate degree, pretty much anyone can. 
You need focus, sacrifice, strong supports, and a sense of Delayed Gratification.

What career or job search advice do you have for students and recent graduates?

Don't apply for the job of your dreams, apply for the company of your dreams.
Just because the job posting doesn’t look like a match, or there is no job posting, doesn’t mean they won’t hire you. 
Your resume must stand out from the rest and show why you fit their organizational culture. As a Human Resource specialist I always go directly to the community involvement/volunteering portion of a resume. Good organizations realize there is always a place for a strong candidate because there is always a return on their inputs if managed properly.

If there isn’t a company out there that interests you, create one!

Tell us a fun fact about your career path.

Looking at education as the start of a career path (training and development), in 2000 I started post-secondary education at the University of Winnipeg and after my first 18 months I had a 0.87 GPA. They politely told me to not bother registering for the next semester.
When I entered the MBA program almost 15 years later, and started seeing some success, I set a goal of adding 3 full points to that original GPA.
I graduated with a 3.82. Shoot for the moon and if you get part way there you've still succeeded.

Compete with yourself and as long as you’re better than you were the day before you’re winning.

Graduate degree: Masters in French Studies (2010)
Additional postgraduate training and certifications: Master of Library Science

Briefly, tell us about your job. What do you find most rewarding? What are your greatest challenges within this profession?

I am the Romance Languages Librarian at the University of Manitoba. I enjoy working with students and faculty on their assignments and research, as well as ordering French, Spanish and Italian books and journals for the library. My profession has changed a lot, especially with the new digital culture of our society, and so the libraries has to evolve as well which can be challenging but also provides opportunities and variety.

Why did you chose to go to grad school? How did your graduate education prepare you to work in your current field? 

I love learning about French culture and literature and wanted to also write about areas that haven’t been well studied. As a librarian, I get to continue to write articles and books in my area of expertise, and so I have published several articles on Catalan language and culture since becoming a librarian. Grad school gave me the skills I needed to present at scholarly conferences and publish in the academic world.

What skills did you gain or enhance during your graduate studies education?

My graduate studies helped me learn to speak up and debate a topic, develop an argument and look within a person’s words to find deeper meaning. I find these skills help me better understand the signs and meanings within all kinds of communications, sources of information and literature.

What other experiences and activities helped you to map out your career pathway?

Traveling and living abroad gave me a passion for languages and cultures, and working in libraries helped me understand my desire to help others and be of service to a community that needed me. I find working with students and faculty rewarding, and my subject knowledge only enhances my ability to assist.

As a student, did you see yourself in your current occupation?

Yes, I was already working at the library when I did my M.A.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing graduate studies?

It is a good idea to look up the faculty members on the university website and see who is working in an area close to the one you would like to study. Then make an appointment to see them and discuss working together. That’s the best way to start.

What career or job search advice do you have for students and recent graduates?

I would say my best career advice would be to try a lot of different things out in the early stages, don’t be afraid to move around and take on new/different jobs to enable you to whittle down what you like and don’t like. I would also say it’s good to know when to quit, or change directions. It’s okay to move on from something you had planned, if it isn’t working out for you. Everyone goes through these stages, and sometimes when you leave something you thought you wanted behind, you make space for what is right for you to enter your life.

Tell us a fun fact about your career path.

I am still thinking of going back to school and doing a PHD or other program. We never stop learning and evolving which is a wonderful aspect of life.

Graduate degree: PhD Physics (2015)
Additional postgraduate training and certifications: Professional Physicists (from Canadian Association of Physicists) 

Briefly, tell us about your job. What do you find most rewarding? What are your greatest challenges within this profession?

I work for what was a start-up company, now recently acquired by a multinational corporation. My official job is to direct and manage research and innovation, but in a small company, one gets to play many roles, and I’m frequently involved in solving a wide variety of technical and scientific problems. Either on my own, or through bringing together resources from a wide variety of fields, I find this “problem solving” to be one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. I also enjoy working in an industrial setting, where the solutions I can provide are directed toward real-world problems and can be immediately useful and applied. I find the greatest challenge in my role is to manage the people and politics – everyone has their own goals, and their own unique way of working and communicating, and learning to harness the potential of a team within an organization is a difficult task.

Why did you chose to go to grad school? How did your graduate education prepare you to work in your current field?

Honestly, I chose to go to grad school simply due to continued interest in the subject matter! I simply wanted to keep working on what I was interested in. I would say that my graduate education prepared me to work in my current field in a much more general, or “soft skills” kind of way compared to the knowledge gained in my specific field of research. Learning how to think critically, carefully, and mathematically, as well as the ability to communicate clearly and effectively have been paramount to success in my current job.

What skills did you gain or enhance during your graduate studies education?

In my graduate studies, I frequently was consulted on, or became involved in, small aspects of the projects of others in my research and peer group, outside of the scope of my own research. I feel this was useful as it provided exposure to ideas, knowledge, and methodologies from a diverse group of people and fields, which has enabled me to be a more effective problem solver and leader of cross-functional teams. I also learned how to conduct careful scientific research, to extract insights from what may first appear to be just noise. One example: I attended a summer school at the Enrico Fermi School of Physics in Varenna, Italy one summer, early in my PhD. One task we were given was to solve “Fermi problems” – problems with incomplete information that needed to be solved (or approximately solved) using assumption, approximations, and, well, guessing! The ability to make reasonable assumptions to make reasonable correct conclusions (i.e. being a Good Guesser) is a widely applicable skill that has served me well in my career.

What other experiences and activities helped you to map out your career pathway?

I used to be much more involved in music than I am now, but it was my interest in music theory (the mathematical aspect) and in acoustics that initially helped drive my interest in studying physics. I also enjoyed tinkering with musical equipment and electronics almost as much as the music itself, and this love of tinkering I think lends itself well to both experimental physics and applied research and innovation. Before my current job, I was also involved in another start-up company where I would say we faced our share of challenges and failures. But without these difficulties, I would not have been prepared to succeed in my current role, so I see them as very valuable experiences.

As a student, did you see yourself in your current occupation?

About halfway through my PhD, I sort of realized I didn’t want to remain in academia. I was much more interested in “problem solving” where the applications are clear and more immediate, rather than just to further knowledge in a particular field. However, I did want to continue to be involved in research and innovation, so I think my current role is something pretty close to what I came to imagine over the course of my graduate career. 

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing graduate studies?

First, be sure that it is the right path for you – I don’t think it is for everyone. I wouldn’t view graduate studies as the ideal path to career advancement (unless your chosen career is academia), but I think pursuing research that you are interested in and passionate about is a great reason for graduate studies. Second, talk to lots of other grad students, from a wide range of fields. Offer to help them, ask for their help. Learning to see how your deep and very specific knowledge of a topic fits within other fields will make you a better thinker, make you more useful in a wider variety of potential roles, and you will build connections that will almost certainly pay off.

What career or job search advice do you have for students and recent graduates?

Well, finding your job or career path can be tough. Be prepared to get it wrong a few times, and you’re not going to be good at it right away! Learn how the skills you learned in grad school translate to other roles or fields (I think I even put “Good Guesser” as a skill on my resume at some point). Make connections and use them whenever possible! Learn how to make cold calls and talk about yourself in a way that they can understand and see your value. Ask for advice. Go to career counselling. But above all, figure out what you actually like doing, and find a way to get paid to do it.

Tell us a fun fact about your career path.

Well, I guess in addition to almost being a musician, I almost ended up being a long-distance trucker! I got my Class 1 and Air Brake learners permits, and even went on one long-haul trip where I was starting to learn to drive. I then got a letter telling me that I had received an NSERC scholarship to pursue graduate studies and thought, “well, physics seems pretty interesting too…”, and somehow ended up here!

Graduate degree: Doctor of Philosophy (French), 2020

Briefly, tell us about your job. What do you find most rewarding? What are your greatest challenges within this profession?

I currently work at Employment and Social Development Canada, where I manage long-term funding agreements between Canada and First Nations in Manitoba. My job involves working both internally with colleagues and externally with partners. A typical day usually includes a variety of tasks, such as organizing and facilitating meetings, providing guidance, clarification, updates or feedback, negotiating, processing financial transactions, reviewing budgets, operational plans, financial statements or data reports, maintaining databases, monitoring progress and helping to resolve issues.

It is rewarding for me to work in partnership with First Nations, to build relationships and to see our efforts lead to participants earning diplomas, certificates and other credentials in order to secure meaningful employment.

Working in government administration means working in a regulated environment, so it can sometimes be challenging to realize the creative opportunities. Transitioning from the narrow field that I worked on in my PhD to completely different areas, like financial management, as well as a different way of thinking, writing and working have also been an adjustment for me. But, receiving excellent mentorship, being open-minded and trying different approaches have helped me to embrace my new role.

Why did you choose to go to grad school? How did your graduate education prepare you to work in your current field?

Initially, I wanted to be a professor. After completing my Master’s, I felt proud of my accomplishment and wanted to continue developing my skills and my area of research, which was still emerging. But I realized early on in my PhD that it would be very difficult to secure a tenure-track position in my field, simply because the positions were very limited. With the financial support I received, I decided to finish my degree and strive toward developing transferable skills, complementing them with work or volunteer experiences, and seeking out other jobs that interested me, such as those in government administration.

My graduate education helped me to develop a large capacity for learning. The ability to integrate considerable amounts of new information has been key for my successful transition to non-academic work. My research background has been useful in understanding the data management related to my current position. Working on long-term projects during my graduate studies provided me with experience in managing complex projects. Fine-tuning my French skills has also been highly beneficial for working in government administration. I have a bilingual position and have contributed to special projects, such as representing my department at a special event marking the 50th anniversary of the Official Languages Act. An advanced level of French skills will also be important for progressing to management positions in government. There are more links between my graduate studies and current job than it seems at first glance, and I continue to discover more of them as I take on more responsibility.

What skills did you gain or enhance during your graduate studies education?

There are many, such as critical thinking, writing and editing, project management, strategic thinking, communication, learning, planning and organizational, analytical, research and problem-solving, as well as French language skills.

What other experiences and activities helped you to map out your career pathway?

Gaining non-academic work experience during my doctoral studies helped me to obtain a full-time job in the last months of my degree. During my graduate studies (and before then too), I was employed part-time through the Federal Student Work Experience Program (FSWEP). This gave me the opportunity to start working in the area of funding programs and to familiarize myself with terminology, processes, and organizations. But this experience alone would not have promoted me to the position I have now. My work as a board member of a non-profit organization in Winnipeg was also impactful. Over the years, I gained a greater understanding of non-profit organizations and experience working with representatives from different sectors. Additionally, following Beyond the Professoriate and attending its annual career conference provided me with community support. These were major factors for my career transition.

As a student, did you see yourself in your current occupation?

I didn’t see myself in my current job, but I did see myself working outside academia.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing graduate studies?

Be open to using the skills you develop in graduate school outside of academia. You may not use the research from your graduate studies, but you will transfer the skills and experience you gained by doing the research to your non-academic job. Also, find ways to complement your formal education with other meaningful professional opportunities (work and volunteer) to grow your experience and network. Having connections outside academia will give you more options.

What career or job search advice do you have for students and recent graduates?

Look for jobs outside of academia, check the job postings and try to gain the required experience (not just required skills) during your studies, not only after. If you are considering government administration, apply for employment through the Federal Student Work Experience Program. Knowing French is a desirable skill in government. Also, check out useful resources like Beyond the Professoriate to help you navigate your career pathway and be supported by a community. You have much to offer, so be proactive in setting yourself up for success.

Tell us a fun fact about your career path.

Speaking French was an important factor in getting my first student government job (and gave me the confidence to learn and apply Cree in my current job).

Graduate degree: Doctor of Philosophy, Chemistry (2009)
Additional postgraduate training and certifications: Postdoctoral Fellow (2010-13) at the European Institute of Chemistry and Biology (France)

Briefly, tell us about your job. What do you find most rewarding? What are your greatest challenges within this profession?  

I oversee the operations of Medicure Inc., a Canadian pharmaceutical company and execute our strategic vision; this involves working closely with multiple teams, including sales and marketing, finance, medical affairs, manufacturing and development. What I find most rewarding is seeing the team succeed and celebrating the payoff of hard work; some examples are getting a sales contract signed, having a new product approved for sale, or building great relationships with our customers. Some of the challenges include managing multiple teams and budgets, planning and reacting to external factors, and working in a highly competitive industry.

Why did you chose to go to grad school? How did your graduate education prepare you to work in your current field?

After doing some summer research projects, I enjoyed the discovery aspect of research and working at the cutting edge of science. I also liked the interface of chemistry and biology, as well as the business side of research and the idea of commercializing new discoveries. My graduate education helped me in many ways, including having a thorough understanding of chemistry and biology, the analytical analysis of chemical compounds, how to research a new topic and summarize the information for others, how to plan and execute a project, how to communicate ideas and results to a variety of audiences, and developing a sense of what research and discoveries are of ‘value’; these skills I’ve used over and over.

What skills did you gain or enhance during your graduate studies education?

Building a broad knowledge base of different chemistry and biology topics – it’s amazing how often I draw on these; public speaking and communicating results to an audience; being a teaching assistant was very valuable to learn how to teach and manage others; all of the fundamental analytical analysis skills come up surprisingly often as the research, approval and sale of pharmaceuticals have a heavy analytical chemistry focus.

What other experiences and activities helped you to map out your career pathway?

After completing a postdoc, I worked in Medical Affairs, which I highly recommend, as it is a great combination of science, communication and working with clinicians. It gave me a much better sense of how approved pharmaceuticals are used and the decision pathway that clinicians use, and seeing the benefits of the result of research for patients.

As a student, did you see yourself in your current occupation?

Honestly no, I never imagined becoming president of a pharmaceutical company. But I knew I liked the business of science, and wanted to work in the pharmaceutical industry doing research. What I think helped me the most in my career path was being open to new opportunities, being able to communicate well and building trust in working relationships within and outside the company.

What advice do you have for students who are interested in pursuing graduate studies?

Having a doctorate does help in business. Choose a discipline that really does resonate with your interests, and find a supervisor who will support you through your studies. Understand that it is a long journey, but use the time to build your skills in various areas and topics, as you will draw on them in a career. No matter what career, being able to communicate well is key for success.

What career or job search advice do you have for students and recent graduates?

Be open to careers that you may not have initially considered because you can find success and a rewarding job experience in many types and sizes of companies. Also even with a graduate degree, expect to progress over time, but the degree gives you a lot of flexibility and removes limits on what seniority you can achieve.

Tell us a fun fact about your career path.

During my graduate degree, postdoc and when working in Medical Affairs and as President, what I loved was the opportunity to travel all over the US and the world.