Into the Personal and Professional Effectiveness curriculum

June 19, 2018 Meagan Bell Leave a Comment

Soft skills are a combination of personality and character traits, communication and language skills, emotional intelligence, and other interpersonal skills. While often overlooked through typical school programs, understanding and developing your soft skills can make a significant difference in launching a successful career.

One of the many perks of Dalhousie University’s Corporate Residency MBA program is its Personal and Professional Effectiveness (PPE) curriculum. The PPE curriculum provides students with personalized soft skills modules and guidance to prepare them for success in the workplace.

The PPE curriculum begins with modules that introduce self-management, engagement, and career management techniques. These include teaching students reflective practice, conflict resolution, and interview skills. Learning how to set and follow-through on personal and professional goals is a main focus of the first several months. Another particular highlight is the dining etiquette session, which teaches specific tricks to navigating professional dining situations that we might encounter during our residency or post-grad job.

After the corporate residency, the second year of PPE pulls the focus to skills that will support the post-grad job search and the development of long-term career success. Specific topics include navigating situations that require a robust understanding of creativity and complexity, as well as developing an understanding of different leadership approaches. A particular focus was placed on design thinking, which is a strategic approach to facilitate creative brainstorming and problem solving.

Throughout its entirety, one of the large focuses of the PPE program is on networking. One of the keys to a successful career is the ability to build and maintain a strong network that can facilitate the job search but also provide support throughout your career. The PPE program provides with many networking opportunities both in the classroom and while on residency through mixer events, as well as employer and alumni panels. There is also an entire week devoted to jump-starting the residency application process, with specific events and opportunities for meeting potential employers while supporting the first round of job interviews.

PPE is not a typical class. Rather than merely sitting through theory-based lectures, students engage with the material through interactive activities and class simulations. Whether the focus is on goal setting, design thinking, complex problem solving, or event networking, students are encouraged to take risks and try new approaches.

The PPE curriculum is a unique opportunity among MBA programs, allowing students to develop those necessary soft skills that can take them to the next level in launching their career. Learn more about the PPE curriculum at dal.ca, or read our breakdown of the Negotiations Integrative also offered through the CRMBA program.

Collaborative Negotiations: A Look into CRMBA Integrative Sessions

March 9, 2018 Meagan Bell Leave a Comment

This past weekend, our cohort had the pleasure of attending our second integrative session, with a focus on negotiations. There are two Integrative sessions provided throughout the Corporate Residency MBA, providing students with the opportunity to learn skills in a high-pressure time-sensitive environment that simulates a real-world event.

Hugh McNamara, Alison MacPherson, and Brett McNeil engage in their negotiations.

The first integrative in which the Class of 2018 participated was a live case with a mergers and acquisitions theme. During this live case, our class were separated in various teams comprised of a variety of roles (such as financial advisors, board members, etc.) representing different companies like Salesforce and Microsoft.

In order to make this experience more realistic, updates to the simulation environment were provided at various points throughout the two days.

Lauren Murray and Rebecca Carr plan their next steps.

The second integrative, held this past weekend, was a complex negotiation simulation. A combined event with Master in Public Administration students, this event began with an address from the keynote speaker, Graham Steele, previous Nova Scotia Minister of Finance. Following this, we received a presentation regarding our case by Grant McDonald, SPA lecturer and retired Civil Servant.

This case provided our class with the opportunity to role play as governmental departments and non-governmental organizations. The negotiation involved a contractual agreement between a not-for-profit organization working with at-risk youth and a provincial governmental body. Each team was given general information available to both parties, as well as confidential information unknown to the opposing party.

Managing competing interests and sensitive information, groups were paired up and sent to work out an agreement. With competitive spirits and differing objectives, the tables were set for intense discussion.

Karah Lee drafts her team’s contract.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, teams reconvened at the end of the day having learned to work towards collaborative win-win solutions. One common theme discussed in the debrief was the sharing of information: while at first felt reluctant to “reveal their hands,” numerous teams felt that a common solution only really began to develop after each side’s interests and desires were freely shared.

“The students now have a deeper appreciation of alternative program delivery options and the related challenges and benefits of cross-sector collaboration. It was clear to me that students strengthened and applied their knowledge of negotiation theory, strategies and best practices,” says Julie Tarry, CRMBA Program Manager. “To facilitate experience-based insights into negotiation dynamics and increase awareness of students preferences, strengths and challenges in team negotiations, is all part of developing the leaders of tomorrow.”

The Integrative Sessions are just one element of how Dalhousie’s Corporate Residency MBA prepares its students for effective employment. To learn more on program details, visit the CRMBA website.

CDL-Atlantic: Accelerating Business Opportunities

November 14, 2017 Meagan Bell Leave a Comment

New Dalhousie offering provides students with the opportunity to spend entire days with 3 billionaires.

Launched in 2012 at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, the CDL has emerged as the leading accelerator program in Canada. The program is designed to assist early-stage companies with guidance from entrepreneurs and angel investors, world-renowned experts from leading academic institutions, and top MBA students from business schools across the country.

This fall has brought a new opportunity for Dalhousie’s CRMBA students interested in exploring entrepreneurial skills through the Atlantic expansion of the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) program. Participating students will work with business leaders, academic experts, and entrepreneurs to help grow seed businesses into high-growth companies.

Ken Rowe (left) and John Risley (right) at the CDL-Atlantic launch event.

Cory MacRae, CRMBA 2018 Candidate, recognized the unique learning experience early on. “With the leadership mentoring from the G7 members to the impact we could provide to seed companies,” he says, “the opportunity seemed too good to pass up.”

One of the defining features of CDL is the chance for students to interact with G7 members, chief scientists, top business school faculty, and CDL partners in full-day sessions. Mentors include the founders of WIND MobileTM, Workbrain, Kik and KoboTM, as well as those sold to Microsoft, IBM, Amazon, and Salesforce.

Another CRMBA 2018 Candidate participating in CDL is Priyanka Kochhar, who views the program as an opportunity to step outside her comfort zone. “I saw CDL as an opportunity to take a risk and worry more about learning and less about grades,” she explains. “I am most excited to engage with entrepreneurs who are passionate about their start ups. I hope to feed off their energy and develop a bit of passion for a project myself.”

Louis Beaubien, CDL-Atlantic Co-Lead and Academic Director, agrees: “The program really is an amazing opportunity. It is a chance to be part of something that will develop and grow the socio-economic landscape of Atlantic Canada. At the same time it’s an opportunity to engage with students in areas of innovation and entrepreneurship, and work with them to develop skills that will help them grow and develop the communities of which they are a part whether it is Atlantic Canada or somewhere else.

“I’m most excited to obtain real-world, practical experience as well as gain exposure to a vast network of entrepreneurs and investors,” says David Hatcher, CRMBA Candidate 2018. “I’m looking forward to understanding the start-up environment and the challenges founders face when starting a business. I’m excited to learn how to merge the different aspects of business that we learn in classes and apply these concepts to real-world problems faced by entrepreneurs.”

MacRae echoes his sentiment: “I am looking forward to improving my ability to work with clients (CDL companies) and help them move in positive directions.”

In addition to Rotman School of Management and Rowe School of Business, CDL is offered at Calgary’s Haskayne School of Business, HEC Montréal, and Vancouver’s Sauder School of Business.

Interested in diving deeper into CDL?

Learn more about the program at www.creativedestructionlab.com.
Visit the Rowe School of Business’s CDL program site.

Dalhousie Does Nanaimo: The 2017 MBA Games

February 10, 2017 Coburg Consultants Leave a Comment

The end of Christmas holidays each year marks the beginning of the MBA Games, an annual event that brings together some of the brightest minds from top MBA schools across the country. Now in its 21st year, the Games were hosted by Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo, BC, where 30 students from the Rowe School of Business travelled to represent Dalhousie from January 2nd to 4th.

The Games feature a variety of events across three pillars: Academics, Sports, and Spirit. The competition gives students the opportunity to develop professionally and network with future leaders from coast to coast. Judges score teams on their creativity and innovation at spirit competitions, and their problem solving and presentation skills at case competitions. The sporting events are always a highlight as well, giving teams a chance to let loose and show off their school pride.

There was no shortage of talent in putting together this year’s “Team Rowe”. The organizing committee was hard at work over the summer securing sponsorship money, and hosted try outs in the fall for students hoping to compete. Preparation leading up to the Games included sports practices and involvement in intramurals, a heavy social media campaign, team case practices including an internal competition, and even dance practices to nail a routine at the opening ceremonies. Another staple leading up to the Games – and key way to earn points – is fundraising for a charity selected by the host university.

We spoke with Paul Best, a member of the committee this year about his experience competing:

The MBA games provided an amazing opportunity to connect with fellow MBA students. Everyone coming together to compete, raise money for charity, and socialize was a highlight of my first year in the MBA program. I look forward to going next year and hopefully bringing back a trophy! – Paul Best, MBA Games Sports Representative, MBA Class of 2018

It’s hard to grasp just how much time and effort goes into getting a team ready for this event. Co-Chairing the organizing committee this year were second year students Sarah Lahanky and Kayla Sabharwal. We spoke with Kayla about what she got out of fulfilling this role:

My project management, prioritization, and organization skills were put to the test more than ever before having to coordinate all of the moving parts of the team throughout this planning process. Even though the amount of work required was a lot to handle, I was always so happy to do it because I was working with my friends towards achieving something great for our school. During preparation for the Games, I got to see our team become closer as friends, as a family, and as strong competitors. – Kayla Sabharwal, MBA Class of 2017

Some of Team Rowe’s highlights include the HR Case Team placing 2nd after advancing to the final round, and the volleyball team’s heroic fight for silver in the championship game. Students were also treated to a dinner cruise around the Nanaimo harbor, and beautiful cabin accommodations at the Tigh Na Mara Seaside Resort. For a closer look at what students got to experience at the 21st Annual MBA Games, check out this video featured at the event’s closing ceremonies: https://vimeo.com/198160579.

Ethics and Business: Scotiabank Ethics in Action Conference has its Most Successful Year Yet!

December 9, 2016 Coburg Consultants Leave a Comment

On November 4 and 5th, the Dalhousie Faculty of Management hosted the 4th annual Scotiabank Ethics in Action conference. This event consists of a video and essay contest, guest speakers, a case competition, and the presentation of the prestigious Ethical Leadership Award. It seeks to bring together young professionals and students from across the country to discuss and tackle some of the most important ethical issues facing business today.

2016 MBA Case Competition Winning Team (Dalhousie)

Dean Sylvain Charlebois, Professor Dan Shaw and Dalhousie’s MBA Case Competition winning team

Every year, five dedicated second-year Dal MBAs take on the enormous task of planning and running this national ethics case competition and conference. Having just completed the event, we took the time to have some of this year’s planning committee reflect on why being part of this initiative was such an integral part of their MBA degree:

Last year, I attended the event as a volunteer, and was inspired to apply for the leadership team. Working with the leadership committee this year has been a great way to apply things I learned in class and in residency. Not a lot of students have the opportunity to manage a project of this size and our team was truly able to showcase our abilities. – Shivani Seth, Director of Events & Logistics, MBA Class of 2017

Ethics in Action is important to my degree because it enabled me to learn about ethical issues in a relatively safe environment. Many news stories highlight situations where business leaders have found themselves in ethical situations they never anticipated. Having an ethics based case competition on campus enabled me to think about critical issues that I may face in the future. – Mary Crosbie, Director of Case Competition, MBA Class of 2017

It’s not just the organization of the conference where Dal MBA’s are involved however, it’s also the case competition itself. Jordan Yanover – member of Dalhousie’s MBA case team which took home first place – explained what being on the case team meant to him:

It gave me practical experience on how to handle ethical situations, which may arise while at work. This is something that all business leaders will have to do at some point and is important for any MBA student to learn. I was also in the unique opportunity to hear professionals speak about ethics, sustainability initiatives, and different approaches to problem solving. The best part about the weekend was meeting other students from all over Canada. We were able to speak about our experiences, our school and our classes, and learn from one another. We were brought together because of something we are all passionate about. – Jordan Yanover, MBA Class of 2017

With record breaking attendance and volunteer commitment at this year’s event, it’s clear that Dalhousie’s MBAs are dedicated to pursuing business in an ethical and sustainable manner. Already, the MBA Class of 2018 is excited to help organize and compete at next year’s event. Hope to see you there!

Networking as a Continual Activity

January 27, 2015 Sean Tait Leave a Comment

When I first started the Corporate Residency MBA program I was approached to take part in the Faculty of Management’s Alumni Mentoring Program. Students are matched with a Dalhousie graduate who has agreed to mentor students on everything from general career advice to salary negotiation. One benefit of the program is that, in many cases, students can leverage the network of their mentor to make professional connections.

I was once surprised at the power of networking to make things happen. As I gained more experience with networking though I realized just how often actively networking can create connections and significant value.

For instance, I recently mentioned to my own alumni mentor (a 2008 MBA graduate who is currently a senior executive at a technology company) that I was interested in a post-grad opportunity with a particular company. It turned out that he had a strong connection to the organization and a long-standing relationship with the recruiter who hires for the position. My mentor put me in touch with this recruiter and I had an initial interview as a result. Serendipity? Perhaps, but I have had enough situations like this one to know that this was just networking paying off.

Marianne Hagen

Marianne Hagen, Alumni Officer for the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie manages the Alumni Mentoring Program. She highlights how “most students find the program most helpful in making connections” and that “alumni really do want to help the students!” This last point, that graduates from Dalhousie are open and willing to help current students is a key lesson. Many students with no networking experience hesitate to contact someone. They worry they are intruding or asking too much. Realizing that 99% of the time the person you are connecting with would love to help you makes the networking process much more approachable.

While formal networking opportunities like the Alumni Mentoring Program are powerful tools, instilling networking as a continual activity which you pursue at every turn is equally important. This is a concept that Adrian Lake, a classmate of mine, has realized and ingrained in his professional life.

He says that “networking is not an event but rather a practice. It is not about getting a new job, a new client, or maybe a new business relationship. It’s about forming relationships with people and maintaining that relationship. The maintaining part is often the most challenging for people.”

This is definitely true in my experience as well. During my time at Dalhousie I have met hundreds of people, many of whom I have maintained contact with to varying degrees. Relationship management is a skill in itself.

Adrian suggests Paul Nazareth as someone to learn from to improve your networking skills. Nazareth “states that there are three things your network has to know about you: who you are, what you do, and where to find you.” Given these three pillars are maintained, networking is really not that difficult and can even be a fun experience. Even better it can allow you to share your skills with others and gain the help of your connections when needed.

Standing out as a leader – An interview with Jim Power

December 15, 2012 Evan Bannerman Leave a Comment

Drayton Berger met with Corporate Residency MBA accounting professor Jim Power to discuss his experiences with leadership, both in his career and in the program.

Jim was born and raised in Montréal and has a commerce degree from Concordia University, as well as a CA designation. He has had a successful career spanning the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Jim has worked at organizations including KPMG, TransAlta, the YMCA and the Government of Nova Scotia.

What made you choose accounting as your profession?

Very early in my schooling, I came across an opportunity for learning—something called chartered accountancy. I put that in my head as being something I wanted to do when I grew up. When I tell you that I did this in grade seven, some people say “oh my god, that’s so young”. In reality I used chartered accounting as an answer to the question: “what are you going to do when you grow up?” When I heard about chartered accounting it sounded appealing to me. The person I had spoken with about this seemed to have a great job, a beautiful house, as well as a nice car. As a kid around the age of 12 the perks seemed appealing. I pursued it by taking it day by day. One thing led to another. I went to university and enrolled in commerce, majoring in accounting. Next thing you know I was on the verge of graduating and was able to seek out jobs through campus recruiting. I had offers from CA firms and pursued them. I started taking courses at McGill University. The next thing you know I passed my CA exams. Goal number one was accomplished.

What did you do after you received your designation?

[Read more…]

Our journey is a jigsaw puzzle – Michelle’s story

February 25, 2010 Corporate Residency MBA Leave a Comment

Originally posted by Jordan Fujiwara.

Michelle sends awesome emails. Every day I go through tons of emails, as many of you out there probably do. More often than not, when I get an email from Michelle she’s got it rigged up so the background is a pleasant non-white colour, and key words or points in her communication are bolded in vibrant colours. It’s not a big deal, but it brightens that otherwise cold landscape of e-communication. Thanks Michelle.

So what else can I tell you about Michelle? Her last name is Ernest, she’s 22 and she came from Liverpool, Nova Scotia. She studied at Acadia University and earned a BBA with a focus in marketing, and a secondary focus in music and Spanish. A colourful combination to mirror her trademark emails! If you’ve been poking around this site prior to reading this you might have stumbled upon her testimonial videos. (I forgot to mention last week that you can hear Rich speak about the program on the testimonial page.)

Currently, Michelle is developing her professional network through working with Aon Risk Services as a Strategic Business Advisor for Eastern Canada. “My position has been tremendous; so many once in a lifetime chances, like having an informal chat with the CEO or getting to meet people who are working internationally with the company. It’s like a real-life version of LinkedIn!” She says, “this program allows us to network early with employers, even if they’re not necessarily in your focus industry. You learn a lot from everyone you meet.”

Michelle, like the rest of us, embarked on the long six month academic journey before she got to where she is today with Aon. It started with the application process: “It was as easy as I could have hoped for it to be,” assures Michelle, “I’ve had difficulty with application forms before, and this one did have a lot of forms involved but the package made it so easy, the checklist was excellent!” Forms conquered with the aid of the checklist, Michelle remembers her experience writing the personal essay required as part of the application process: “It was a bit of a shot in the dark, I mean, I knew this wasn’t any old MBA program, and that they weren’t just looking for any old student. I remember thinking I had no idea what to say but then it just sort of spilled out… I wasn’t sure if it was what they wanted, but here I am! I figured if they didn’t like it then I wasn’t fit for the program anyway!” Finally, the interview: “It was fine; I had the option of doing it over Skype or in person so I went in. They gave good feedback through the whole thing; there was a good dialogue. You didn’t leave the room wondering if you did poorly or did really well!”

Presently, Michelle is very excited about the travel opportunities she will have as a Strategic Business Advisor. There are 13 different offices in Eastern Canada that she will have to visit, and she’s already been to Toronto twice! Not only will she get to meet new people but she will get to see our classmates who have jobs in places like Toronto, Montreal or Ottawa. “Every situation is unique; every day is different. It’s what I enjoy and what I thrive in. Despite similar work processes, every office requires plan adjustments. It’s a good challenge and a great opportunity for learning.”

While she can’t get into the specifics, Michelle is currently in a “preparation” stage. She’ll be travelling, as mentioned before, during her “roll-out” stage where she’ll be visiting and revisiting different offices in a support role to ensure that her mandate is on track. Success in Eastern Canada may bring her further west!

Yes, it’s been an interesting journey. Michelle takes a moment to reflect: “Being here in this position, as I look out the window at the beautiful Halifax Harbour, it’s funny to look back to all the little steps that brought me here. Like taking French [yes, Michelle speaks French as well as Spanish], a decision I made a long time ago. If I hadn’t done that, I might not be here. Everything I’ve done and everything I will do is a piece of a puzzle and it’s exciting to think what the final picture will be. Sometimes you gain pieces, sometimes they are taken away, but that’s life!”

With the Corporate Residency MBA contributing a puzzle piece or two to the jigsaw, I’m positive her picture will be something incredible. See you next week!

P.S. – Michelle, along with classmates Lars, Nick and Randel, is competing in TRUMPED, a local business skills competition that is put on by the Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University (http://www.trumped.ca). After the first round of elimination, the Corporate Residency MBA team is ranked 5th out of 66! Good job guys!

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