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Category: Kyle Nickason

Matt Allen: On the Unexpected Learnings through the MBA Program

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“…resiliency is developed by moving through complex situations without being prepared”.

Matt Allen, MBA(L), Class of 2021

Matt Allen, MBA(L), Class of 2021

 

Matt Allen has been keeping busy since graduating from Dalhousie’s CEGE MBA, Leadership program in 2021. Like many recent Alumni, Matt has had to quickly adjust to a new pace of life as he figures out his next steps and anticipates his new journey.

Matt shares with CEGE Connection what it felt like to accomplish his MBA, what his immediate plans were once he graduated, and his biggest transition to come into fatherhood.  Matt has agreed to share more with us as his learnings continue.

 

 

Matt Allen

It has been approximately six months since I last logged in to Brightspace, where I dragged and dropped my final paper into the assignment box and hit submit to cap off my Dalhousie MBA. After clicking submit, I felt fulfilled knowing I completed the goal I sought out to accomplish; however, what came next? I felt as though I had three years of catch up to complete all while putting the information buzzing around in my head into action in the workplace. I really had no idea what to do next, so I did what any of my colleagues would have done. I tried to do it all.

First, I immediately took a vacation to spend some time with my wife and family to catch up on time I had put on hold for the past three years, I developed a strategy within my group at my organization to increase the value within our roles and started to deploy said strategy, and last but most important, I had to quickly figure out how to be a father as my wife was wrapping up her first trimester of pregnancy. What seemed like a huge weight off my shoulders was more in line with the words of one of my classmates, “When you think you are complete and done, really you are only 33% of the way there.” (Kyle Nickason – 2021 Valedictorian)

In the months following August 2021, I exhausted myself trying to keep busy while transitioning back to a regular non-graduate student type of life, and it took me several months to do so and get into a rhythm. For the first month or so I would come home from work by opening the door to my second bedroom and wonder what I needed to get done that evening to make sure I was not behind in the rest of my life. On top of that my workplace was preparing for me to return to normalcy with a long list of surprise to do’s that popped up from the new owner of our organization, as our company was recently purchased and being taken private in the fall of 2021. While I had anticipated life getting back to normal after I completed my MBA, it had other plans in place.

Looking back on August 2021, I overlooked the upcoming COVID challenges associated with the Omnicom variant, delayed my value creation strategy as the organization I was a part of switched ownership and transitioned its mission, and prepared for fatherhood as I was completely clueless to what I needed to know and still am to some degree on what I can do as a male to support the birth of a child I can only feel kick through my wife’s belly.

From these last six months, I learned that planning has its limitations, and that resiliency is developed by moving through complex situations without being prepared. How you figure things out on the fly and the attitude you bring to the table are the only two ingredients you can have in times of transition. These are skills that I did not know that I learned throughout my MBA journey; however, are things that I am much better at dealing with now that I have my MBA because I practiced these for the last three years!

CEGE Reflections – Sébastien Tessier

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“Advance Practice Respitory Therapist Reflection: The sacrifices endured towards completing this program are no comparison to those undertaken by our spouses, friends and families. In no instance was this a lone effort.  Cheers to them.”

-Sébastien Tessier, MBA(L), Class of 2021-

Sébastien Tessier MBA(L), Class of 2021
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Jason Young: Sharing of Ideas to Generate Different Perspectives

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“During my studies I started to understand why some of my efforts failed and why some of my efforts succeeded.”

Jason Young, MBA(L), Class of 2021

Jason Young, MBA(L), Class of 2021
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Jason Young is the General Manager for Standard Machine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Like many others who have joined the Dalhousie CEGE MBA program, Jason sought higher education to build on his existing skills and knowledge.

Jason has fond memories of the connections made, lessons learnt and new perspectives gained. He shares how the program has developed his leadership skills and given him new ideas.

 

 

 

Jason Young

I have been the general manager of a 100-employee organization for some time now. I felt there were many ideas and skills that I already possessed to do my job well, however wanted to see what else I could be doing. I felt this program was so beneficial to the development of myself as a leader. During my studies I started to understand why some of my efforts failed and why some of my efforts succeeded. Above all I was able to understand the “why”. I could see the recognition of understanding around my fellow students as well.

One of my biggest surprises was the sharing of ideas with my fellow students. I was reluctant to share ideas at first but once I realized this was a great way to generate different perspectives, I changed my mind. I enjoyed hearing other points of views on leadership and was surprised that others wanted to hear my opinions as well.

I will look back fondly at my studies and at the connections I made at Dal. I look forward to sharing more ideas with this group, someday perhaps back in Halifax over a pint on the lower deck.

 

CEGE Reflections – Emily Speight

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“The past three years have been an incredible experience! I learned so much from my professors and classmates. I was fortunate to be surrounded by people who encouraged me and am grateful for the support of my husband Brett and my sister Serena. For my next adventure I’ll be joining the Privacy team at Deloitte”.

-Emily Speight, MIM, Class of 2021-

Emily Speight, MIM, Class of 2021
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Jagdesh Singh: To Serve, Inspire and Be.

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“…organizations are the people who work for them and the people they serve”.

Jagdesh Singh, MPA(M), Class of 2021

 

Jagdesh Singh, MPA(M), Class of 2021

Jagdesh Singh is a recent graduate of Dalhousie’s Master of Public Administration (Management) program. He currently works at the Ontario Canada Revenue Agency as a Senior International Auditor and shares how his time at Dalhousie has helped him be more aware of the intrinsic value of public service.

For Jagdesh what has resonated the most in his MPA(M) program is that the courses all share a common theme of ‘compassion in service to others’. As a result he feels that he has become a better person both in his professional and personal life.

 

 

 

Jagdesh Singh

For me, completion of the MPA(M) program has been a necessary confirmation of the understanding that people are the centre of groups, organizations and governments. We often take up graduate courses with the intention of making organizations that we work for, better at achieving their objectives. We tend to think that it is the organizations that do all of the heavy lifting, but for me, the true value of my time at Dalhousie has been the peeling back of that illusion and that the grounding of those organizations are the people who work for them and the people they serve.

For many of us in the not-for-profit and government sectors, we are keenly aware of the intrinsic value of public service, expanding our efforts beyond ourselves to a larger group in order to meet more complex needs such as climate change, pandemics and hardening political positions are undoubtedly on our plates but the course has taught me that the outcome of any organizational objective requires the people who work towards those organizational objectives to attach themselves to a higher ideal. Each course identified its own ideal such as professional, communication or accounting ethics but the one that was common to all is that of compassion in service to others. The pursuit of that ideal in any arena, at home, in the community or at work, makes us better humans and tunes us in to the needs of others even if the people we serve hold views that are different from our own.

Completing this program during a pandemic has been undoubtedly a challenge for many of us, I particularly missed meeting up at the Intensives with like minded colleagues and faculty. Those sessions built a community that reinforced the people—first inclination of many public servants. The collaborative environment is a natural extension what we do in our personal professional lives and the coursework and learned experiences from faculty and peers has enabled me to be a better person whether I am parenting, volunteering in my community or contributing to some aspect of my organizations’ goal. I am indeed thankful to my family for the support and encouragement during these years of study and wish new and continuing students the best in their programs.

CEGE Reflections – Caleb MacDonald

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“When I began this program I was recently married and enjoying a new career. In the intervening five years, we moved, had two children, switched careers, and briefly retired. I am ill-suited to leisure time and have since begun law school. Best of luck to everyone in your future endeavours!”

-Caleb MacDonald, MBA(L), Class of 2021-

Caleb MacDonald, MBA(L), Class of 2021
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CEGE Reflections – Robert Taylor

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“An amazing personal journey, a great university, wonderful program with incredible professors. I graduate with a revitalized self-confidence, new friends, and lasting relationships. I am excited for the next chapter after graduation and thank you to my wife and family for their support. To all my fellow graduates I wish you much success in the future.”

-Robert Taylor, MBA(FS), Class of 2021-

Robert Taylor, MBA(FS), Class of 2021
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CEGE Reflections – Joe Collura

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Today, a Jedi am I…

“Earning an MBA is in of itself, a humbling experience. While the knowledge earned is invaluable, it is more so the support and inspiration gained along the way, I am most grateful for. Be it the unconditional strength from family, or how friends always help keep you grounded, or how inspiring leaders I have been fortunate to work alongside with, graciously lent their support to this journey (#JeffBoyd, #MaurizioBevilacqua, #AsifKhan, #DavidMoore, #BradAmato, #GeorgeMonize), or the great teams I have been and continue be a part of, or the relationships built through the program itself, all of it will remain cherished.”

-Joe Collura, MBA(FS), Class of 2021-

Joe Collura, MBA(FS), Class of 2021
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“p.s. I say Jedi, not Master, as…more to learn, there will always be“.

CEGE Reflections – Davina Reid

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“Completing a part-time MBA is no easy task but we all made it and it’s an accomplishment we can all be very proud of!  Congratulations to all of the Graduates! Thank you to everyone who made this experience great…the Professors, administrative staff and my classmates. I take with me many fond memories. I look forward to being engaged in any future Alumni activities and keeping in touch.”

-Davina Reid, MBA(L), Class of 2021-

Davina Reid, MBA(L), Class of 2021
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Sébastien Tessier: Leadership and Innovation in Health Care

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“For a long time I’ve wanted to continue my learning journey with the goal of having a bigger impact”.

Sébastien Tessier, MBA(L), (Class of 2021)

Sébastien Tessier MBA(L), Class of 2021
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Sébastien Tessier’s contributions within the Manitoba’s Healthcare system is highly admirable. Sébastien provides lifesaving intervention, care, and transportation to critical patients in emergency situations. To his patients and their families Sébastien is a hero.

Equipped with the knowledge gained from his MBA, Leadership program, Sébastien looks forward to having a greater influence in building the collaboration needed for the ‘future of innovation’ within his field.

Sébastien Tessier

Up until the pandemic, my profession and role in the health care system was underrated. Only few at the time were able to describe the role of a Respiratory Therapist. I have the privilege of working in one of the most complex settings of this profession by transporting critically ill newborns and children from some of the most remote parts of Canada to specialized hospital care.

For a long time I’ve wanted to continue my learning journey with the goal of having a bigger impact. The unanswered question was what and where. Embodied with an endless passion for solving problems and innovating, I was convinced that engineering would help channel this energy towards something bigger. With a bit of soul searching, it was suggested that an MBA may be a better fit. Adding another undergraduate degree would be “a lateral move” whereas a master’s program would give me the tools to build upon ideas by bringing the right people together. This was the answer!

Choosing a program is a task of its own. The leadership stream at Dalhousie was the program that provided the most value. Beyond the costs and program flexibility, was the opportunity to learn remotely but still engage with cohorts in person, this was irreplicable. We are supported by our friends and family in accomplishing this milestone, and this indisputably includes everyone we meet along the way. Learning not only with each other, but from each other’s industries and experiences.

Leadership to many is poorly understood. My own definition of it was that it symbolized positional authority, from someone that has everyone’s attention. The truth is that there is a large body of academic science that transforms the narrative behind leadership. It is shaped by several properties such as context and continues to evolve in complexity. We are left empowered to channel this deepened understanding not just in the work we do, but in our everyday lives.

Having completed the master’s program brings a great sense of accomplishment, but it also adds a new void. The time and effort once dedicated to my learning can now be put towards feeding my passion in a profession that has come so far and yet has so much to accomplish. I now have the opportunity to be a part of the ‘future of innovation’ and not just a witness.

There is no better time than now, to taking that step towards fulfilling your goals. First by learning and now with the tools to bring change the world.