John Molson has gradually become a second home for me. Thanks to my success-driven classmates and new friends, I was able to get over the initial shock of being back in school after a long while and take full advantage of graduate business studies.
Why I chose a graduate business program?
One may be a fantastic engineer, accountant or pharmacist, but not necessarily have the right business skills to thrive. Human relations, strategic management and critical analysis / thinking – while some people have acquired these skills more naturally over the course of their lives, for most people, they need to be taught. A graduate business program is the right place to gain this particular type of knowledge.
I initially thought of applying for a Master’s degree, like the MSc in Marketing program but, had I taken that route immediately, I probably would have dropped out. As my intention was to earn a Master’s degree, my mother thought that earning a graduate diploma would be a waste of time. I thought and worried about this, too, as I began the John Molson Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (GDBA); I worried that I might be wasting my time. However, as I went on in the program, I realized that it is very worthwhile and that I would make the same choice if I had to do it again.
Looking back on the GDBA
The GDBA reveals many career opportunities and paths in business. I see the program as similar in style to a technical school – you get your hands dirty. Even though the GDBA is a level before a Master’s degree, it is far from being a walk in the park! The curriculum touches on almost all aspects of business; therefore, it can offer clarity on what career path to follow.
My background is in IT but, prior to the program, I had no clue what aspect of business I might enjoy. I took the program to get fit for the Canadian job market, but I gained something extra; almost mid way through, I saw my strengths and weaknesses more clearly, along with my professional potential and where I might struggle. Most importantly, it helped me to decide to move on to the Master of Supply Chain Management! While I still am working towards applying what I learned to a job, I can confidently say I succeeded in obtaining clarity!
The challenges
Being a mother and wife, the challenges of coping and striking a balance with schoolwork are tough, especially when you are a perfectionist like me. Settling for anything less than the best is just not good enough.
Group work was also a big challenge at first. I was sure I would always give my best and hoped it was good enough, however, I was going to have to work with people from different cultures, professional backgrounds and viewpoints. It was both intense and exciting; fitting your idea into a collective thought process may be a struggle, but this is no longer an issue for me. On the contrary, I now get excited to work with new people with completely different views – it’s really exhilarating!
Highlights of my JMSB experience
From late nights spent in the graduate study room to early morning GradProSkills workshops, you may easily forget life outside the campus, just right there through the window, overlooking downtown Montreal. But, I took the time to enjoy walks on Rue Sainte-Catherine after hours of studying. The food court just beside Guy-Concordia metro station did not spare us dollars either!
The career fairs and recruitment events hosted by Career Management Services were always exciting to attend, even just to see the recruiters and to imagine you being in their shoes a few months down the road.
