Written by: Grace Doty

Dalhousie University’s Commerce program has been shaping successful careers for over 100 years, and for Susan O’Brien, who was part of the very first cohort to include three mandatory co-ops, having the opportunity to incorporate work-integrated learning into her undergraduate degree was a game-changer. Now, her daughter Grace is experiencing the same opportunity, continuing the family tradition of benefiting from the program’s combination of classroom learning and real-world experience.

Susan, originally from Renforth, New Brunswick, started Dalhousie’s Commerce program in 1991. “The co-op program was a game-changer. It combined classroom learning with real-world work experience, which made everything click and helped me understand how business operates.” Her co-op experiences played a pivotal role in shaping her career. “My first term at an accounting firm made me realize accounting wasn’t for me, saving me a lot of time,” Susan shares. However, it was during her second and third terms with Moosehead Breweries where she discovered her passion for brand management. “I fell in love with marketing,” she recalls. After graduating, Moosehead hired her, marking the start of her successful career in brand management.

Over the years, Susan’s career continued to evolve as she worked in various marketing roles, including time at a Toronto-based advertising agency and later at Campbell Soup Company as Director of Innovation. However, it was an opportunity with Canadian Tire that would define her career. “Canadian Tire was a company I’d always admired growing up,” Susan says. “The chance to work for a 100% Canadian company with strong ties to Canadian values was something I couldn’t pass up.” Nearly 17 years later, Susan is now the Chief Brand & Customer Officer at Canadian Tire, responsible for shaping the company’s brand direction, overseeing customer engagement, and driving marketing initiatives that connect with Canadian consumers. Her work has played a key role in strengthening Canadian Tire’s reputation as a trusted, iconic Canadian brand.

Today, Susan’s daughter Grace is experiencing the same valuable co-op program that shaped her own career. Now in her second year at Dalhousie, Grace is completing her first of three mandatory co-op terms. She echoes her mother’s sentiment about the benefits of the program, and like her mother, Grace quickly realized that accounting wasn’t the right fit for her. “I’m learning which classes will help me in the workplace, just like my mom,” she says. Grace also appreciates Dalhousie’s case-based approach to learning, particularly through a project called Biz Café, where students run a start-up coffee shop. “It was a great way to understand how different aspects of business work,” Grace notes. She also recognizes that even if you don’t land a big-name company for your co-op term, the experience still offers valuable life skills. “It teaches you work ethic, how to navigate a corporate environment, and helps you figure out what you enjoy doing,” she explains.

When asked about the impact Dalhousie has had on her education and career path, Grace proudly says, “Dal is an awesome school, and it sets you up for success. My mom’s career is a perfect example of what can happen when you take full advantage of the opportunities here.”

Dalhousie’s Commerce Co-op program within the Faculty of Management continues to provide students with invaluable learning experiences, equipping them with the tools they need for success. With three mandatory co-op terms integrated into the standard-length four-year program, students get hands-on experience, develop industry connections, and leave Dalhousie prepared for their careers.

“Because co-op is mandatory for all Commerce students, we focus on providing learning that prepares our students to be able to network, conduct their work term job search, and be successful in the workplace from the very start of their four years with us,” says Robert Wooden, Director of Management Career Services, the co-op and career services office for students in the Faculty of Management. “And because co-op is mandatory, many of our employer partners utilize work terms to identify their future leaders. Frequently, students have accepted post-grad employment before they begin their fourth year.”

Whether it’s discovering a passion for a specific industry, developing leadership skills, or building a professional network, the Commerce Co-op program offers an exceptional opportunity to students and is helping to shape the next generation of business leaders.

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.