Christina Sooklall

Why JMSB: I always knew JMSB was an amazing business school that I wanted to attend. When I found out about the GCBA RI-MUHC Partnership, I was excited to be able to apply and expand my health science background by complementing it with business administration. 

Your Experience in the John Molson GDBA: The experience was exceptional. The courses were thought-provoking and most of all, practical. 

I was privileged to be part of the John Molson Women in Business Club. In addition to academics, JMSB provides students with tremendous amounts of career and networking opportunities, from which I benefited greatly. The GCBA has provided me with priceless insights into business practices and professional business skills that I will carry forward with me into the future. 

Frances Sol Bruno

Why JMSB: For me, JMSB encapsulates the values I sought in an educational institution: cultured, open-minded, innovative, cosmopolitan. The school has allowed me to expand my network and be part of a new community. Aside from the academic training at JMSB, I was also appreciative of the terrific extracurricular services and activities they offered to their students. Being in a safe learning environment is quite a treat for anyone looking to enhance their career and clarify their own sense of mission.

Your Experience in the John Molson GDBA: As a nurse by training, I knew that there were a lot of things I could do better as a clinician, educator, and an advocate. While I investigated multiple postgraduate options, Concordia's affiliate GCBA program with the RI-MUHC blended seamlessly with my full-time job. The business courses gave me the opportunity to learn more about how things work outside the perimeter of clinical nursing care and to approach dilemmas with new and interesting perspectives.

Camila Duarte

Why JMSB:  I knew that I wanted to pursue sustainability in my career when I finished my Bachelor of Arts. During my bachelors, I worked on sustainability projects and between courses and jobs I knew I wanted to work on connecting people with the environment. I also knew I needed to gain some business skills to do it. So, I thought that the Diploma in Business Administration (GDBA) would be the perfect source to get the right management and practical skills I was needing. And fortunately, I wasn’t wrong!

This diploma has taught me so much about business and has allowed me to integrate my knowledge for the environment into the workplace. It let me start off my career. I didn’t want to tag myself as a corporate woman or environmentalist bohemian, rather I wanted to bring both worlds together and find innovative solutions to improve the world we live in. Hence, I chose JMSB as that linking factor with my passion.

Thanks to what JMSB has shown me I am confident that I will continue finding opportunities to make a positive impact locally and globally from the business and sustainable point of views.  

Your Experience in the John Molson GDBA: It’s been an eye-opening experience. I have already applied strategies learned from the program in a few professional projects. I am extremely happy to have taken courses so rich in content and practical skills such as marketing management, operations management and strategic planning. I also liked all the collaborative experiences JMSB has given me.

It is very satisfying and rewarding to feel that you are applying what you learn in the workplace. I try to include a holistic approach to everything I do and combining arts with business has been the best I could have done to advance my career and open many more doors professionally.

Sylvain Bugeya

Why JMSB: I had been working professionally for about eight years, and felt it was time bring my career to the next level. The GDBA program was the ideal choice.  When choosing a business schools, I was looking for one that offered solid experiences outside of the classroom. I have always been passionate about sustainability, international development, and community engagement, and found JMSB to be one of the only schools which completely shared my values.

Your Experience in the John Molson GDBA/GCBA: My experience was unparalleled. The education was world-class, with a community of engaged faculty and a diverse student body. The GDBA program is known to attract students from a variety of educational and cultural backgrounds, and I learned to work effectively with people from all over the word. This has proven to be particularly useful in my current position at Medina Quality Inc., where we manage the Quality & Safety Alliance for Inflight Services - an international alliance for 12 legacy class airlines and railway operators dedicated to elevating the food safety and quality standards of onboard food. If it had not been for my experience at JMSB, I would not have received the training I needed to work cross-culturally in a demanding professional environment.

JMSB is also known for hands-on learning. I got involved with the JMSB Sustainable Business Group and helped organize the 2016 Business Beyond Tomorrow Conference. I was selected by JMSB's International Community Outreach Program to travel to Barranquilla, Colombia for a four-months internship at Cedesocial, a Colombian NGO that works with at risk youth and women. During this time, I refined my Spanish and learned of the many ways future business leaders can contribute to international development and create social change through international partnership. 

Through JMSB, I earned membership into the Beta Gamma Sigma Society for my high academic achievement. My experience at JMSB was rewarding and professionally valuable. In my current work, I constantly draw on the toolbox of skills I acquired at JMSB. As the GDBA covers all areas of business management, including marketing, statistics, strategy, finance, it definitely prepares you to become a strong business manager. That said, the program requires hard work, collaboration, and commitment. Your experience at JMSB depends entirely  on your level of engagement and your willingness to put in the time and effort.

Jesse Hudson

Why JMSB: Nearing the end of my graduate studies in the health sciences, I wanted to diversify my skillset in order to better communicate and promote the value of my scientific work and that of others, improve my business thinking and to allow for a successful transition into non-academic careers. I felt the business training and reputation offered at JMSB best met my objectives for personal development. I appreciated that courses are offered both during the day or in the evening, depending on the needs of the student, and that the GDBA curriculum can be competed on a part-time or full-time basis. I was also intrigued by the emphasis placed on group projects and experiential learning as a means for learning and improvement.   

Your Experience in the John Molson GDBA: My experience in the GDBA/GCBA program has been very rewarding, as the experiential learning, case studies and group projects have allowed for significant personal growth in a team setting. Moreover, the formal training has significantly improved my business acumen and more than met my expectations. In addition, the numerous career opportunities offered to students through networking events, career management services (CMS) and the connexions website has allowed me to vastly expand my network. Finally, getting involved with student societies has afforded me a unique opportunity to foster close connections with my fellow students and develop lasting friendships both personally and professionally.

Antonio Gaspar

Why JMSB: I wanted to get a good foundation of business fundamentals and was looking for a flexible university-level program. I am a professional working in senior leadership and in a technical capacity at Ericsson, so attending a part-time program with a flexible schedule was a must.

I chose JMSB for its exceptional teachers. The GDBA allowed me to consolidate my work schedule with the program’s curriculum and so it was an easy decision to make.

Your Experience in the John Molson GDBA: I was impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities and technology deployed at JMSB. The teaching methods integrated with the delivery technology made for an efficient learning environment.

The facilities were complemented by a welcoming team of academic advisors who were readily available to provide me with the guidance and help needed throughout my studies

Working and networking with cooperative professional students that shared the same passion and desire for learning was instrumental in allowing me to get the most of my time here.

Ibikunle Ajayi

I chose the GDBA because I saw it as a way to gain good knowledge of business and competencies in a field different to the one in which I earned my degree. 

The classes are hands-on and lectures are conducted in a way that allows students to see themselves as potential managers. I was initially concerned by my lack of knowledge in the field but the professors are aware of the diversity of students’ educational backgrounds and adapt their lectures accordingly.

The classes put you in real-life situations so what you learn is very applicable. The classes are also fun, as long as you do your part studying and contributing!