Monica Nahas was born and raised in Halifax, and is currently completing her second year of the Corporate Residency MBA program. As Dalhousie is the only university in the Atlantic provinces that offers a corporate residency component within an MBA program, it was the perfect option for Monica, who believes the CRMBA program is designed for people looking to pivot.

“I do not come from a business background. I graduated with a degree in International Development and Law, Justice & Society,” says Monica. “This program has provided me with the opportunity to merge my knowledge from my undergrad with the new skills that I have acquired throughout the past year and a half.” She was able to directly apply these new skills in many aspects of her 8-month corporate residency as a Marketing and Social Media Associate with 7 Virtues.

7 Virtues is a perfume company sold exclusively at Sephora. The company has a strong mission of ‘Make Perfume not War’, and every sale helps someone who is rebuilding from war or strife. Monica says she gained a lot of valuable information from her position within the company and is looking to incorporate her new skills toward her future work experiences. She shares that some of her biggest accomplishments during her time with 7 Virtues included working directly with embassies in 13 European countries and creating strong connections with people from all around the world. “Furthermore, I was also able to see new products go from R&D to soon to be on the market,” she says.

Monica adds that she enjoyed the great opportunities her team gave her. “I was included in nearly every part of any decision or task, which helped me learn about what I am good at and the type of work I enjoy. My residency guided me down a path, allowing me to figure out what field I want to be in post-graduation.”

Throughout her corporate residency experience, Monica worked mostly from home due to the pandemic. She had a flexible schedule, which allowed her to take breaks when needed. She says that “taking a five-minute walk is the best way to help you realign and get back on track with your work.”

Monica’s advice for you:

• Be open minded when it comes to any job that is presented to you.
• See how different sectors of a company interact and how people get specific tasks accomplished. It helps you learn about your interests, strengths, and weaknesses.
• Management Career Services is very helpful with helping shape and strengthen resumes, cover letters, and interview skills.

Instagram Handle: @monicanahas

Pronouns: she/her