Femal Odedra MASc (Class of 2019)
Femal Odedra Technology Associate at Morgan Stanley, crossed the stage in 2019 to receive her Dalhousie Master of Applied Computer Science degree. In a recent virtual interview with CEGE Connection, Femal spoke about how Dalhousie’s industry-relevant curriculum provided critical knowledge and experience, positioning her to take on new challenges and give back to her communities.
Femal Odedra.
My journey for the University of Dalhousie started in August 2017 when I took a flight for Canada and arrived to pursue my dreams. I was excited to start my Dalhousie academic journey. Coming from a small place, my first exposure to an international, multicultural world was a unique and overwhelming experience to me. I benefited from the many opportunities Dalhousie University offered me to become involved in events and innovative projects.
After completing my undergraduate degree, my immediate goal was to work within the corporate world, to increase my skills and gain professional work experience. Ideally, my work would be located close to my family. Even so, I felt the need to pursue a higher aspiration, which was encouraged by my parents, who urged me from a young age to dream big and work hard towards achieving those dreams. I always had their full support.
Dalhousie University provided the foundation upon which I could structure the long-run path to follow my ambitions. Building upon the expertise gained from my studies in Dalhousie’s Faculty of Computer Sciences, I am making good progress in expanding my corporate skillsets and well as my personal goals.
Dalhousie is very dear to me. The studies are robust. There was a lot to learn, develop and understand. When I was completing my Master of Applied Computer Science (MASc), I challenged myself to explore different fields of enquiry. I chose tasks that were difficult, that would stretch my knowledge and my limits. I learned from my successes and even more from my failures. It was intense work. My Dalhousie support network was critical and played a huge role in encouraging and validating my efforts. It was heartening to know that I was a part of a vibrant Dalhousie community.
Dalhousie’s Master of Applied Computer Science builds upon classroom knowledge and offers students work experience, either through a paid industry internship, an entrepreneurship work term, or a research project with one of their stream options. It is possible for every student to focus and build their career based on structuring their courses to correspond with their unique objectives. Dalhousie attracts many international students who enjoy participating in real-time projects and topics of research. Most of all, they benefit from the guidance and attention of their professors.
“I graduated in 2019 and I hold and respect my MASc degree, which has granted me a professional distinction recognized by my company and firms world-wide. My degree has given me the ability and independence to pursue my aspirations. Dalhousie opened new beginnings and possibilities which led me to one of Wall Street’s giant firms.”
I began working at Morgan Stanley in the 2018 Technology Fall Intern Program. After completing my degree, I joined the Technology Analyst Program and now work full-time as a Technology Associate. I enjoy my work and have added to my knowledge with every role undertaken. Each day I learn something new.
As a new grad, I joined Morgan Stanley’s Technology Analyst Program which gave me the opportunity to travel to New York and train with other analysts across various locations. During this time, I got a chance to interact with many experts, learn more about the corporate world, expand my professional network and technical skills, and I was able to put forth my knowledge gained through my studies at the University of Dalhousie. My day-to-day work activities grant an opportunity to improve and learn from talented and grounded people who continue to inspire me on my personal journey.
The best feeling comes when I have the chance to help someone else achieve their goals. Dalhousie’s Master of Applied Computer Science studies and my current Morgan Stanley work experience have been invaluable in my journey to pursue my dreams. I have the confidence and strong desire to take on the next challenge.
Femal Odedra MASc (Class of 2019)
