“I gained a wealth of knowledge and built a network of professional relationships and personal friendships”.
Maya Churbaji, MBA(L), Class of 2020
Maya Churbaji is now an MBA Alumna after graduating in 2020. Maya’s critical thinking, analytical skills and teamwork approach are a testament to her leadership qualities.
CEGE Connection got to hear firsthand of Maya’s MBA journey, including the challenges, the rewards, and, of course, the connections along the way.
Maya Churbaji, MBA(L) Class of 2020
Photo by: Maike van Niekerk
Maya Churbaji
As I proudly look at my framed MBA degree and Dalhousie University’s bright gold crest on it, I can’t help but get emotional as I draft this blog. My MBA journey was challenging at times but it was, and still is, extremely rewarding. It took me a little over four years to complete the program, but this is the beauty of Dalhousie’s blended learning MBA – you can complete it as fast or as slow as you can or need to. I was able to take my MBA with me wherever I went. I moved both my kids to university, my family relocated from Halifax to Toronto, and I changed jobs twice during the program.
Joining the program after having been out of school for two decades was daunting, and being an immigrant, I also faced the challenge of being unfamiliar with the Canadian classroom experience. When the online discussion board of my first course opened up and I read some of the posts, I thought to myself: I would never be able to write something that insightful! Two courses down the road and discussion boards became my favourite component of the courses. Having people in each course at varying points of the program and at varying points in their personal and professional lives was extremely enriching. My most profound learning was peer learning from debating on the discussion board with my classmates and from the exchange of information and real-life experiences during the intensives. I did not just gain a degree; I gained a wealth of knowledge and built a network of professional relationships and personal friendships. Connecting with professors outside the scope of the course deliverables was another very enriching experience. The program has outstanding professors who recommended excellent books, articles, and resources; were readily available to help out with real-life workplace management challenges; and were generously willing to impart their wisdom and experiences.
If you are reading this blog because you are contemplating an MBA, I highly encourage you to embark on this amazing journey. I gained indispensable business dexterities in strategic management and was able to quickly make connections between the material covered in the MBA courses and my daily workplace experiences. I developed a deeper understanding of how different functions in organizations work and how they interconnect. I honed my critical thinking and analysis skills, as well as my writing and presentation skills. Being in a classroom is a true privilege, and I am confident that you will find your time at Dal MBA very rewarding. Most rewardingly, you will get to put the three MBA letters next to your name on your email signature line!
My family’s support was key to my ability to complete the MBA program successfully. To my husband and children, I want to use this platform to express my eternal gratitude for all the hugs when deadlines piled up, and for the hours you patiently read and edited my papers. Thank you for all the laughs we had at the airport while I worked on a case study during a flight delay. I love you eternally!