Written by: Mara Williams

Adam Harris (BComm ’01) is the CEO of C-Therm Technologies Ltd., a leading technology company in the field of thermal conductivity measurement. He and his team work with numerous companies to assist in the development and testing of materials for new products. Adam’s success as a business leader in this industry can be traced back to his experience at Dalhousie as a Commerce Co-op student. Completing three co-ops helped Adam stand out when entering the job market post-graduation. “This was a significant advantage when coupled with the strong fundamentals covered throughout the degree.  Practical business experience is so important – now more than ever!”

Advice for Current Students

Having been out of school and participating in the workforce for over twenty years now, Adam is well positioned to offer advice to current students who are starting to think about their post-grad careers. Reflecting on his time at Dalhousie, he recommends students focus on building their professional network, as these connections can have an impact on your life and career for years to come. Recently, he reconnected with a professor who now sits on the advisory board for Adam’s company. “If you are currently enrolled at Dal, take advantage of this opportunity to build your network with both the colleagues from your work terms and world-leading faculty at Dal.” Additionally, Adam implores students to branch out during their work terms and explore different fields. He found his passion in the intersect of business, technology, and science – so he’s a strong supporter of experiencing different industries to find your area of interest!

Impact of Work-Integrated Learning Today

The early days of C-Therm Technologies were not easy, with limited funds and skepticism from other market players. Adam’s work term experience in marketing allowed him to hit the ground running and get involved with the company. “Dal’s co-op program started me off on that long winding road. It provided me early experience in marketing and sales which is where I started in the business.” This experience provided a strong foundation that allowed Adam to help build the company up from the ground and continue the legacy of the original founder. Today, C-Therm Technologies is widely recognized as the global leader in the industry, producing top notch thermal conductivity test equipment. Adam’s co-op experiences paved the way for his success with C-Therm Technologies.

Why Work-Integrated Learning

The benefits of work-integrated learning were made clear to Adam shortly after graduation. “Dal’s work terms provided me with significant differentiation from business grads coming out on the market from other schools.” Being able to stand apart from other new graduates when entering a competitive workforce for the first time is a significant advantage. Additionally, pursuing a degree with work-integrated learning gave Adam access to incredible mentors and engaging marketing work through his co-ops at Travel CUTS. The company gave him the opportunity to tour the region and become skilled at giving marketing presentations. These experiences enriched his degree and made him a more competitive candidate when searching for a position post-graduation.

Skills Gained on Work Term

Adam acknowledges that the trickiest problems in business are typically ‘people problems’. These are the skills that are difficult to learn from a textbook or classroom setting. “Building soft skills – leadership, effective communication, assembling high-performance teams, motivating and aligning teams – these are skills that are forged with experience.” Without practical work experience, learning how to successfully navigate these challenges would be much harder. Adam’s co-ops provided the perfect opportunity to begin building these skills that remain relevant in his work today.

In fall 2024, Management Career Services reached an incredible milestone of 20,000 business work terms for students in the Bachelor of Commerce Co-op, Bachelor of Management, and Corporate Residency MBA programs. These programs have produced a diverse group of alumni who have made significant contributions across industries. To learn more about their stories and the impact of these work-integrated learning programs, visit our website.