Menu

CEGE Connection

Share.Learn.Inspire.Transform

Connect and Join the Dialogue

Category: MBA (FS)

Alana Riley: Staying Connected in a Disconnected World

1 Comment

Alana Riley MBA(FS) 2017

Ironically, at the start of the 2020 business planning year, my plan title was 20/20 VISION. I think no one could have predicted that the world would be this flipped upside down in less than 9 months. Simple social norms and customs- now a complete social faux pas. Will people ever hold the door open for each other again when no one wants to touch the handle!

Remember when we jammed into elevators, holding the door to squeeze one more person in like sardines?  Now we follow arrows, look down at which box to stand in and are encouraged to be anti- social. Where does anyone meet any new connections these days? The power of human contact has a deep and impactful meaning for our emotional well being, sense of belonging and purpose and of course can impact our business success.

One of the unique aspects of the Master programs offered through Dalhousie’s Centre for Executive and Graduate Education is that it was fully functional online long before the pandemic. My journey through the MBA Blended with Financial Services was enhanced by the meaningful relationships that were formed with the current students, professors, and alumni, most of which were originally initiated online. In fact, our network continued to grow post graduation- an underground alumnus if you will!

Last year, I attended a Calgary Dalhousie Lobster Fest (who would miss fresh Atlantic lobsters) hosted by alumni representatives and had the opportunity to meet Joseph Macdonald. Joseph, MBA’91, has been championing the Dal community in the West for decades! With his encouragement, I committed to volunteering in the Dal Circle, formalizing some of our activities together and most recently was appointed as Alumni Ambassador for Calgary. I look forward to connecting and building our community. Now, more than ever, the power of connection builds resilience and courage.

Welcome to 2021, a fresh year of exciting possibilities and opportunities. Whether you are deep into your online studies, working from home or in need of personal connections, join me in bringing powerful connections together in this disconnected world.

 

Albert ‘Buddy’ Walzak: The MPA(M) – my twenty-year reflection…has it been that long!

Leave a Comment

Albert ‘Buddy’ Walzak, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Department of Intergovernmental Affairs

Albert ‘Buddy’ Walzak, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Department of Intergovernmental Affairs

Albert ‘Buddy’ Walzak, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Department of Intergovernmental Affairs

As a proud graduate of Dalhousie University (BA ’85, BSW ’87, MPA(M) ’01) I am delighted to have the opportunity to share my perspectives of the MPA(M) program and how the School of Public Administration has shaped and influenced my professional practice and development.

Today, more than ever, I have come to appreciate and value the opportunity I had in 1999.  I’ve gained extensively from the MPA(M) program and pleased to see how it has evolved to its leading stature today.

In 1999, I was a member of the first cohort of the Province of Nova Scotia sponsored MPA(M) class. The newly created MPA(M) program was a joint initiative between the Province of Nova Scotia and Dalhousie University that recognized the province’s goal of promoting and investing in advanced learning for its senior ranks.  Since graduating, my learning outcomes and observations of the program have held true and remain relevant some twenty years later.

There are three key aspects that I wish to highlight: high-quality learning; benefits of the teaching model; and achieving results.

  1. A win-win-win learning experience: Dalhousie University is recognized globally as a leading research and teaching institution.  As such, I had access to and was taught by some of Canada’s expert public administration researchers and professors whose expertise and knowledge I deeply valued.   The program components and course work addressed actual public policy issues and had immediate application.  The learning throughout the program was compounded. This was a win-win-win situation for Dalhousie, the province and the student.  The knowledge and tools that I gained from the program twenty years ago help me in managing the public policy issues I experience in my current work setting.  My journey of experiential learning was shaped by the School of Public Administration and its professors.  The two-way feedback and interactions resulted in high quality learning outcomes for me which by extension benefited the Province of Nova Scotia and helped inform enhancements to the program.
  1. Dynamic “classroom” environment: E-learning and distance learning was emerging in the late 90’s which meant that my learning was primarily face-to-face.  Admittedly, this was my preference.  For those who were fortunate to have had the privilege of receiving a chalkboard lecture from the highly respected and late Dr. Peter Aucoin – who could easily fill four boards twice over during a two-hour lecture – will never forget the experience which for me was a highlight and an honour. But more importantly, was the climate that was created at the School of Public Administration.  The classroom interactions were dynamic.  Fellow students, expert speakers and professors alike were often respectfully challenged which added to the learning experience.  The networking and team building helped me develop invaluable contacts and lasting partnerships both with Dalhousie faculty and management and senior officials in government which I am grateful for.   Today, MPA programs emphasize e-learning supported through classroom intensives and similar outcomes are being accomplished because of Dalhousie’s commitment to the modernization of distance learning models.
  1. Transferring education into success:The post-graduate credentials and qualifications of the MPA(M) were/are a transferable skillset.  I was a practicing social worker during my program and today I’m helping the province build meaningful and impactful government relations in my role of Executive Director with the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs.  Undeniably, the MPA(M) was instrumental in my professional development and helped me progress to a senior position in government.  But for me, success was measured by my ability to apply the elements of the program in a meaningful way knowing I had also gained the confidence that would help me address challenging issues as they occurred.  A positive mindset and a commitment to continuous learning were also key factors in my development.

Over the years, I have promoted the value of the program to other public servants and have had the opportunity to regularly share my experiences with MPA students at the School of Public Administration.  I am grateful for my learning experiences at Dalhousie University and fortunate to be able to have the opportunity to give back a little – which I will continue to do.

Albert ‘Buddy’ Walzak is the Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Department of Intergovernmental Affairs. He is responsible for the general administration and operations of the department. He helps lead the coordination and advancement of the province’s interests and works to maintain productive relationships with regional, national and international partners.  Through these relationships, he helps advance the province’s economic, government and international objectives.

John Waldron: The Globe & Mail Partners with Learnedly

Leave a Comment

“Continuing education should not be a burden of industry. It should be a simple inventory of professionals being professional. This partnership brings us one step closer to that goal.”

John Waldron, MBA (FS) Class of 2008

John Waldron, MBA (FS) Class of ‘08

Exciting news: The Globe & Mail Partners with Learnedly.

CEGE Connection reached out to John Waldron, MBA(FS) Class of 2008 to discuss his ongoing vision of supporting continuing education for Canadian financial professionals.

John Waldron:

Canadian financial professionals today are very educated, with many holding multiple financial designations and maintaining dual licenses with securities and insurance regulators. But those designations and licenses have ongoing continuing education (CE) requirements, which can be very time consuming and very expensive.

Annual CE requirements can range between 12 and 40 hours for one license or designation. And with very little integration between them, some industry professionals face upwards of 100 credit hours, or more, of continuing education requirements every year.

In reality, most of us spend far more than 100 hours every year educating ourselves, but in a very informal way – which means it doesn’t satisfy industry CE requirements. We search for answers to questions, research problems, stay current with rule and regulatory changes, and read information that helps us to grow, personally and professionally.

Learnedly’s partnership with The Globe and Mail was about creating a way to formally recognize informal learning. We reviewed hundreds of articles and curated them into courses accredited for continuing education, allowing financial professionals to engage with Globe content and satisfy industry requirements at the same time.

Ten curated courses are now available to Globe Advisor users and Learnedly subscribers, with more on the way. Each course focuses on relevant and meaningful topics that matter to Canadian financial professionals.

Continuing education should not be a burden of industry. It should be a simple inventory of professionals being professional. This partnership brings us one step closer to that goal.

For more information we invite you to link on Globe Advisor CE Centre.

John is a repeat contributor on CEGE Connection. We invite you to read John’s posts on CEGE Connection.

 

 

 

Tom Connell: Think Forward, Plan and Keep Momentum

1 Comment

Tom Connell, Senior Institutional Analyst and Team Lead at Dalhousie University Analytics

Tom Connell,  Senior Institutional Analyst and Team Lead at Dalhousie University Analytics, crossed the virtual stage to receive his MBA(Leadership) in October 2020. In a recent virtual interview with CEGE Connection, Tom spoke about how his life experiences positioned him to take on the challenge of a robust academic journey.

Tom Connell

Many years ago, I had a manager who challenged our team to construct and share ‘bucket lists’ of both professional and personal goals.  I really appreciated this exercise because it made me think deeply about where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do.  The timing was opportune. I was in my late twenties, in the early stage of my career, a pivotal moment to think forward and plan.  Through this activity I came up with a number of things I wanted to do such as hang gliding (check),work in the field of robotics, and get a master’s degree. (I really did not know which degree I would go for, but it was a seed planted).  I highly recommend this activity of thinking of all the things you want to do before the clock runs out and, more importantly, to share it with loved ones so they can help you spot opportunities and have some interesting conversations.

In the subsequent years, I acquired an interest in business and finance. Meeting up with others who had achieved an MBA allowed me to explore avenues in which I could expand my knowledge in these areas.   I was consistently stuck by the breadth and depth of business, finance and economic knowledge expressed in conversations about the future of companies such as BlackBerry and Tesla or how cryptocurrencies and blockchains might evolve.  Working within the analytics team at Dalhousie University, I soon  recognized the opportunity to work and learn at the same time.  With my technical expertise and considerable experience as a data analyst, I realized that an MBA in Leadership would augment my skills and present me with an excellent opportunity to grow as an individual and give back to the greater community.

How did I keep balance between work, study, and life? Honestly, I am not sure that I did!  There were certainly times when I had to take a day to work on a project or paper. Sometimes, an entire weekend was devoted to studying just to keep up with the pace of the program.  I learned a lot about myself and how I dealt with the intense pressures of balancing a young family (with one child born after course #5), work and a deluge of reading, writing and participation as required.  Probably the most important lesson was to find the balance – to find the sweet spot between achieving acceptable grades, managing expectations and deliverables at work, and making sure my family was smiling and learning.  During these years of study, I came to value and seek balance and calm. I learned that I am more extrinsically motivated than I first thought.  As a data guy, I am intimately familiar with the idea that knowing is the first step to fixing.

My studies have given me a heightened awareness of influence and leadership, the personal characteristics that make people who they are, and how these complex factors can be managed.  I am able to identify applications for the case method and situational analysis, especially as it relates to data analysis and how we can extract meaning and inspire action from data.  I look at strategic planning with fresh eyes and I understand now how planning forward truly helps teams keep momentum on a focused target.

I am looking forward to my next steps. I have recently accepted an 18-month secondment, which starts December 1st as Manager of Tech services in the Faculty of Computer Science.  This will provide a great opportunity for me to learn and grow with one of the most impressive faculties on campus.  It feels like returning to my roots in tech and it will be wonderful to stretch myself and offer my experience to help achieve the research and academic goals of the faculty.

With a new year fast approaching, I am also looking for ways in which to give back to my community.  The MBA(L) has opened new possibilities for participating with others in seeking positive outcomes for our society.

Tom Connell
December 2020

 

Yvonne Thevenot: Leaders, just say “yes”, ok?

Leave a Comment

Yvonne Thevenot MBA(FS) Class of 1999

Let’s face it. People are tired. In many communities across Canada we have had a week of added restrictions, and the holiday season we were allowing ourselves to believe might be a version of “normal” slipping from sight.

One very real challenge with change leadership is that the silence of resignation, and the flat responses of apathy, can be mistaken for change adoption. This is particularly valid when we are interacting primarily through channels that do not provide the full context that “the whites of their eyes” might provide.

So, this week’s homework, leaders, is to just say yes. Not “yes but”, not “maybe just give me three alternatives and a recommendation”, just “yes”. There is nothing more energizing in a workplace than the support that comes from a calm and confident “yes”. And if you are really feeling the moment “Yes, what a great idea”, “Yes, how can I help?”, “Yes, and what else have you been thinking about?”. For the elite players out there, ready to level up, try it at home too!

I just can’t wait to hear your stories of discovery and adventure that arise from just saying “yes”. ‘

 

#saturdaymorningmusings #leadership #storytelling #justsayyes #changefatigue #resilienceatwork #success #unleashthepotential

Ada Choy: Competing Differently – Her Blue Ocean Strategy

Leave a Comment

 

Ada Choy MBA(FS) Class of 2020 (Photo Provided)

Ada Choy, Head of Asia Wealth Business Implementation at HSBC, crossed the virtual state to receive her MBA(FS) in October 2020. CEGE Connection reached out to Ada to discuss her thoughts as she takes on new challenges and opportunities.

Ada Choy

Thinking back in 2014, with the aim to compete with others in my organization, I enrolled in the Dalhousie MBA FS program.

Throughout my MBA journey, there were many surprises that added depth and breadth to my learning experience. I discovered new knowledge that I could apply at work immediately.  Insights from my professors as well as the interactions and different perspectives of my classmates, contributed to adding dimensions in my outlook and personal goals.  I thought differently, more strategically in the ways of working and collaborating. In addition to that, my academic journey helped me to compete differently in my organization, moving to more advanced roles, year after year.

However, I must admit there were tough times, jiggling between work, time zone differences, and family life. To exacerbate the situation, I had to take a year off due to a health problem. There were times when I really wanted to give up. Despite all the challenges, the warmest care from the remarkable CEGE staff, professors, classmates, the online capability, and the flexibility of the Dalhousie MBA(FS) program provided the best fit to my situation, all of which inspired me to complete my graduate degree.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all the CEGE staff, especially Sarah, Michelle, Rebecca, and Professor McLarney for all your care and support during the toughest time of my life! Also, to all my lovely classmates, it has been wonderful meeting all of you. Thank you for accommodating my time zone in all the group works. My deepest and sincere thanks to all!

What’s Next?

My Next Blue Ocean Strategy is to discover more about wine.  There is a saying that the essential guide to wine is “Think, Taste, Drink & Feel, how we explore undiscovered treasures, enjoy great food and wine, and experience the wine lifestyle.” Wine and the MBA are two separate things, but to me, it is a perfect match that will open my mind even more!

I wish all of you every success in your future endeavours. Please keep in touch! Congratulations again to all the 2020 Dal Graduates!

Ada Choy
November 2020

Editor’s Note: CEGE Connection is thrilled that Ada Choy has agreed to be a repeat contributor on CEGE Connection.

Heather Heggestad: A Leap of Faith, The Right Timing, A Goal Reached

1 Comment

Heather Heggestad MBA(FS) Class of 2019

Heather Heggestad MBA(FS) Class of 2019

Completing my MBA has always been a goal of mine however, over the years there were conflicting priorities that seemed to continuously push this dream to the bottom of the pile.  After my undergrad, I focused, like many, on putting more money into my bank account than I was taking out.  As time went by, my emphasis shifted to establishing a career versus maintaining a job.  The thought of going back to school drifted further down my priority list.  During this time, I had two other passions that kept me very busy.  My favourite, of course, was building my beautiful family, including my children of now 14 and 12 years of age.  The other, was competing at a competitive level in the sport of curling, which I have done since a was a young girl.  When the thought of pursuing an MBA crossed my mind, I questioned when and how I would fit the demands of a robust academic undertaking into what already seemed an aggressive schedule?

It wasn’t until I was working at the bank that my goal of an MBA came up in casual conversation with my manager, a dear friend and great mentor to me.  She challenged me to consider my options and opened my eyes to the value that an MBA would give me on a professional level as well as the personal feeling of accomplishment.  Within six months, I applied to the DAL program and received my acceptance, giving little consideration on how I would integrate studies into my schedule.  It was a leap of faith that, in the end, taught me that being busy is just a frame of mind.

My time at DAL taught me many things but time management stands out beyond any others.  I learned to be selfish with my schedule, efficient with administrative tasks and productive at a very early hour!  It also taught me to stop and enjoy the little things along the way.  As strange as it sounds, I valued the time with my husband and children more and felt that I gave them more of ‘me’ during our time together because I knew that there was less of it to go around.  My children reminded me of this very important lesson and even when deadlines became tight, I knew I was deviating too far when they came to sit on the floor in my office.  No words were usually spoken but I knew that I needed to walk away and be Mom and not student for a while.

Looking back, I am happy that my life delayed my pursuit of an MBA for a few reasons.  Although throughout the program I said many times that I wished I had started sooner, I feel the experience I had from my career made my journey more fulfilling.  I was able to relate to the material better; I was able to put the learnings into action at work; and I felt that I cared more about studying than I did throughout my Undergrad – what I difference that made!  I also think that my maturity is what made it possible to complete my MBA without sacrificing any of the passions I had in my life. I continued to develop my career, I was available for my family and I still competed at a National level in curling.

Above all, having the ability to share the experience with my children made waiting worthwhile.  We had ups and downs of course but seeing how my journey has impacted on how they view schoolwork, time management and prioritization in general, are invaluable lessons that are difficult to teach without going through the experience of my MBA.  I was proud to walk across the stage, knowing my children were in the audience, recognizing that they felt the same pride and honour – something I hope they never forget.

Heather Heggestad, MBA Class of 2019 is Vice President, Equipment Finance at RBC.

Editors Note:  From CEGE Connection Archives, this post was originally published on February 18, 2020.

Golnaz Zilabi: 2020 Opportunities, Innovative Thinking, Building Resilience

Leave a Comment

“The MBA(FS) had a remarkable impact on my career advancement. Alongside higher education and knowledge, the years within this MBA program provided new skills, superior perspective and personal reputation through an accredited graduate degree. I have been privileged to interact with high-level professionals and senior leaders through my organization. Most importantly, I gained access to an extensive alumni network with my colleagues through Dalhousie University.

Golnaz Zilabi, MBA(FS) Class of 2019

Golnaz Zilabi, MBA(FS) Class of 2019

 

Golnaz Zilabi, Portfolio Analyst at RBC Wealth Management Private Banking, was a member of IRIS Cameras,  International Business class team that finished 1st place in the GLO-BUS simulation exercise conducted during IB Winter 2018.  Graduating in the Class of 2019, Golnaz discussed her thoughts on accepting the challenge of a robust academic journey and how her studies influenced her personal and career goals.

In a recent interview with CEGE Connection, Golnaz  has come back to share, one year later, how the MBA(FS) influenced her journey since crossing the stage to receive her degree in 2019.

Golnaz Zilabi

My reasons for pursing MBA studies were both personal and work-related goals.

The academic content within the MBA(FS) was aligned to my career in Portfolio Management.  As a seasoned Portfolio Analyst, I recognized that my current platform was responsive, but with the competitive nature of the financial industry and evolving technological advancements, I needed to be proactive within a rapidly changing environment.   Over this past year, my focus within my organization, was on increasing agility, specifically in the area of financial project management. My reading in the area of risk management books and articles relating to qualitative risk techniques has been extensive, enabling me tackling strategic plans and new initiatives. In a volatile world, responding and adapting to fluctuations and uncertainties is a strategic imperative to thrive within this dynamic milieu.

My MBA(FS) years reminded me that I needed to embrace creativity to achieve balance and personal well-being.  I have enjoyed exploring this area of endeavour.  I began with choosing simple steps to expand my comfort zone and overcome my tentative reservations such as aspiration and presentation skills. With each step, I found that the variety of new projects and ideas that I examined, such as interior designing, propelled my creativity forward.

Travelling with my family has always been very important to me. Our world has a lot of amazing places to visit and learning about new locations and sightseeing is a way of including creativity in my family’s life.

I am committed to giving back to my community.  I enjoy volunteering at my children’s schools, especially accompany their classes on field trips. Getting involved is a great way to show my children that I am taking an interest in their education. I want them to know that learning is an invaluable gift, one that will continue to impact on their lives as they move forward in their education.

The MBA(FS) had a remarkable impact on my career advancement. Alongside higher education and knowledge, the years within this MBA program provided new skills, superior perspective and personal reputation through an accredited graduate degree. I have been privileged to interact with high-level professionals and senior leaders through my organization. Most importantly, I gained access to an extensive alumni network with my colleagues through Dalhousie University.

Editor’s Note: From CEGE Connection Archives. Original Article published June 16, 2020

M.E. Osborne: Battlefield to Boardroom – Consistent Traits of a Good Leader

1 Comment

“Failure is one of the greatest experiences you can have.  As leaders in any organization, you need to accept that all your decisions will have some kind of risk.  There is a balance in finding the potential corporate risk and opportunity risk to garner success.  Failure with acceptable risk should not be feared or punished and should be encouraged to promote growth.” 

M.E. “Ozzy” Osborne MBA(FS) Class of 2019

M.E. “Ozzy” Osborne CD, MBA(FS) Class of 2019
Captain, Deputy Comptroller
Formation Europe
Canadian Forces

I did not have the opportunity to attend the convocation in October 2019, however, I did get to watch it streamed (though not with the best resolution) in the early hours of the morning.  As I watched people with whom I spent years within classes and intensives, I kept thinking; What was the most interesting memory of a class or intensive?  Of all the course intensives attended and with several amazing memories, I think Business 5103 – Management Skills Development (Leadership) with Dr. James Barker kept coming to mind.  During the intensive, there were several scenarios that were presented for discussion on how, as a supervisor, you would conduct yourself.  It was then I realized that with over two decades in the Canadian Military, I had a somewhat “unique” leadership style (which I may have vocalized).

Attending the various classes in the MBA(FS) program, I was able to see the different styles from different professors.  They ranged from academic to professional to cordial to sarcastic and a myriad in-between.   I was also able to see the methods in which others in the class viewed leadership and, in many cases, how it was applied though our group work.  I am fortunate in that the Canadian Military teaches leadership to all of its personnel prior to being permitted to lead at any level, which is defined as “the process of influencing others to accomplish the mission by providing purpose, direction, and motivation”.  I have noticed some constants (with anecdotes) in the best supervisors and leaders I have worked with:

Consistency (Get up and make your bed):  Seems a relatively simple idea starting first thing in the morning.  Everyday, get up at about same time and make your bed.  In order to lead, you must have a routine and methodology to apply to your day.  Secondly, to start the day you need to accomplish something, even if it is small and achievable.  Even with the worst day, you have still accomplished making your bed.  A leader will have realistic achievable goals.

Lead by Example (If you are not up before the sun it is a wasted day):  Always lead from the front.  To do that, it takes a longer day and commitment to succeed.  Always getting up before sunrise is not easy for people.  I enjoy waking up at 3:00am and walking my dogs, getting to the gym by 4:00am for a few hours and then to the office at 6:00am or 6:30am to start the day (defiantly not a schedule for everyone).  Many of my supervisors are in the office working when I arrive in the morning despite my personal morning routine.  I asked one of my supervisors why they were in so early and the answer was “If you work this early, I work this early.”  What was shocking was they did not need to be there at that hour and when my day ended, they would still be at their desk reviewing the day’s submissions, making corrections, etc. Always lead by example.

Small Success (do not fight the river):  Most of us work in large banks, organizations and companies.  That means we will not change the world or change how our organizations will do business.  Trying to make major changes will be difficult, if not near impossible, to cut through “red tape.”  So, concentrate on the small things to help.  Whether that is changing a small procedure to make life easier for your subordinates or helping a client/customer with something.  A leader’s ultimate goal should be to leave an organization better than when they arrive.

Time Management (1/3 to 2/3 rule):  One of the most interesting theories the military uses is the one-third / two-thirds planning rule.  This means that for any given planning or work-related project, a maximum of one-third of the total time is for you as the manager/reviewer/approver and the remainder of the time is for the team to work. The more time that can be provided to your team, the better.  If there is a time crunch, as the manager, it should be yours to absorb.  This way, the quality of the product is not compromised.  A leader provides time for the team to do the work well.

Ethics and Values are not easy (Shave with your eyes open):  This is the hardest thing for any leader to do.  Everyone knows the difference between right and wrong.  Can you make the decision when you are going to lose something with either decision?  The best supervisors I have known worry about doing what is right and not what is easy.  A leader can make hard decisions.

Adaptability (Plans do not survive first contact): We all pride ourselves in planning out a method to achieve team goals.  The reality is that any plans you make rarely last.  In essence. you only have a short time before you need to be able to assess, decide, and adapt to the new situations that will follow.  When this occurs, it is important to remain calm, think, adjust, and carry-on.  The ability to analyze and adjust for fluid situations is essential.  Leaders can adapt.

Accept Appropriate Risk – Failure is not Always Bad (Do not be 10 Ply): Failure is one of the greatest experiences you can have.  As leaders in any organization, you need to accept that all your decisions will have some kind of risk.  There is a balance in finding the potential corporate risk and opportunity risk to garner success.  Failure with acceptable risk should not be feared or punished and should be encouraged to promote growth.  When you fail, do not collapse or give up.  It is time to learn and improve. A leader accepts risk.

I recommend watching Admiral McRaven and Staff Sergeant Bellavia’s speeches on YouTube for some introspective thoughts on leadership and ethics.

M.E. “Ozzy” Osborne CD, MBA(FS) Class of 2019
Captain, Deputy Comptroller
Formation Europe
Canadian Forces

Carrie Morrison: My Journey to Find More

Leave a Comment

“I have found the ‘more’ I had been looking for.  I found it with Epilepsy Canada.  In hindsight, I see that my personal quest and perseverance to obtain my MBA was to honour the memory of my little girl.  She was my inspiration and it is my soul-fulfilling honour to be able use my hard-earned MBA to help find a cure for epilepsy.”

Carrie Morrison MBA(FS) Class of 2018

Carrie Morrison MBA(FS) Class of 2018

At the end of my academic journey with Dal and my MBA goal achieved, many people asked, “what are you going to do with your degree?” To be honest, I always knew I wanted to do more… more than my role at the bank, which fulfills my need for professional growth, my ambition and pays my bills.  The problem was I did not know what “more” looked like or how it would manifest itself or materialize.

Currently, I work as the Chief of Staff for Enterprise Systems, Security and Solutions, TD Bank. I work closely with senior leaders to run, protect and transform the bank. This means we ensure stable and secure operations through technological solutions, enablement, advancements and innovations.  Sounds kind of fancy but in simplified terms, the team I work with delivers information and cyber security, enterprise technology and transformational programs and initiatives. It is a role, to be honest, which challenges me daily and provides me a new-found knowledge and insight beyond what I had imagined.  And yet, even though I feel engaged professionally, I acknowledged that I was ready for something outside my career path.

I determined that it was time to search for the “more” by exploring options and opportunities.  I asked myself some soul-searching questions: What could I do with my MBA? How could I leverage my education and degree for the greater good? Why had I persevered through years of school? What was it all for? I recognized that I was personally invested in school, but it was during this time of reflection and discovery that I came to find its true connection.

My MBA gave me a professional distinction which was recognized not only within my company and industry, but across the country and, in fact, world. Those three letters, MBA, are a universal acronym and symbol that tells people, ‘hey, that person knows a thing or two…’! My MBA gives me credibility – a credibility for which I am responsible to live up to and uphold, a credibility which is tangible and understandable inside and outside of a business context.

This credibility led me to consider opportunities which would have otherwise been out of immediate reach. Opportunities like: becoming an Exec at a fintech or startup, something new and exciting and almost entrepreneurial in spirit; possibly teaching, taking additional adult learning courses in order to inspire and instill knowledge in others, which I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to receive; and/or finally join a Board. Not just any board, a board which had salience for me. A board which fulfilled my soul and personal quest for “more”.

This was it!  Joining a Board would allow me to leverage my MBA for a good cause. My MBA was an allowance, giving me the permission to apply within this arena without having to have work for 25+years. It provided me credibility which is usually gained through years of service. Through my journey of self-discovery, which followed graduation and lasted about a year, I had finally figured out what “more” meant to me.

Before I started my MBA, my husband and I sadly lost a child, Carlee Dale, when she was an infant, to a rare epileptic disorder called Ohtahara Syndrome.  The experience of losing a child changed me forever and I hope no one will ever have to live with the lasting sorrow, like I do.  I persevered through some personally tragic, hard and dark times.  As time progressed, so has my healing. However, I continued to crave a challenge of perseverance.  The challenge gave me relief and solace. It gave me something on which to focus my energy, while providing a distraction.

Fast forward, having my MBA in hand, the only thing that made sense was to fight in Carlee Dale’s memory and for other people impacted by epilepsy. I applied to the Board for Epilepsy Canada and was welcomed to join the Board in September 2019. Epilepsy Canada is a Canadian charity which works to raise funds to fund research and find a cure for epilepsy.  Its funding is driven primarily by social media, individual events and sadly, estates. We are actively seeking corporate partnerships and alliances in order to strengthen and support our ability to fund important research initiatives to find a cure across Canada.

I have found the ‘more’ I had been looking for.  I found it with Epilepsy Canada.  In hindsight, I see that my personal quest and perseverance to obtain my MBA was to honour the memory of my little girl.  She was my inspiration and it is my soul-fulfilling honour to be able to use my hard-earned MBA to help find a cure for epilepsy.

 

Epilepsy Canada. – Canada’s only national, registered charity, dedicated to raising funds for Epilepsy research and education.

Founded in 1966.

Did you know:

  • Over 350,000 Canadian men, women and children live with Epilepsy. It affects 65 million worldwide.
  • There is no cure.
  • Epilepsy affects more people than cerebral palsy + muscular dystrophy + multiple sclerosis + cystic fibrosis, combined
  • Epilepsy causes more deaths than breast cancer, prescription overdoses, skin cancer and drunk driving accidents
  • The epileptic population is 2x as likely as the general population to suffer from depression

 

TOP