“I chose Dal’s CRMBA program because it offered an 8-month corporate residency component, allowing me to fully immerse myself in an organization and its industry,” says David Kerr, who is pursuing his Corporate Residency MBA degree at Dalhousie. Originally from Toronto, he initially wanted to become a neurosurgeon, but that changed when he realized he could help people without going to medical school. “I fell in love with the world of med tech and start-ups. It was in that world that I realized I could positively impact people’s health by improving access to care through innovation – working to bring new technologies into the Canadian healthcare system.”

During his corporate residency, David worked for the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub as a Business Development Coordinator and describes his time there to be an unparalleled experience. “At the Innovation Hub, I was surrounded by a diverse group of individuals and a myriad of unique perspectives that made for amazing collaboration of truly outside-of-the-box thinking.” He shares that working with the Innovation Hub offered him the flexibility and creativity of working in a start-up while having the resources of a large government organization. He also had the opportunity to liaise with industry clinicians and other government organizations focused on driving innovation and elevating healthcare in Nova Scotia.

David recommends the Corporate Residency MBA program to anyone thinking of advancing their career, as it allowed him to leverage his scientific knowledge to pivot into an industry he previously hadn’t considered. He was able to develop his project management skills while working at the Innovation Hub. “Working on projects with multiple stakeholders and various departmental considerations ensures you take a birds-eye view so you have complete visibility and can ensure that all the moving parts are working in concert to drive the project’s success.” For him, Management Career Services was instrumental in the job search process, supporting him in attaining his corporate residency with a new employer partner. He also believes networking is an integral part of the job search process. “When you take the time to connect with current employees and potential managers at firms you’re curious about, you demonstrate interest and increase your visibility to hiring teams.”

David serves on the CRMBA Society as Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (EDI), where he contributes to enhance EDI practices. “I saw an opportunity to work with other members of the CRMBA Society to create a lasting positive impact, not only for my cohort, but for those who will follow us.” Apart from being a student, David is also an avid traveller. He will be visiting India to take part in the Doing Business in Emerging Markets course. There, he will assess potential market opportunities for Canadian firms while also enjoying the country’s rich culture.

David’s advice for you:

• Don’t be afraid to self-develop your corporate residency if you don’t see a position listed that speaks to you.
• Leverage networking events to help you find a position that’s right for you and get involved in as many extracurriculars as you can.