Written by: Mara Williams

David Strong (BComm ’96) is the owner of Strong & Associates Chartered Professional Accountants, where he works with a team of 20 people to serve clients in various industries. Prior to launching his own company, David worked at Doane Grant Thornton for nearly 14 years, building a career that began during his co-op there while he was studying at Dalhousie University. His co-ops allowed him to gain essential experience that translated into success while working at Doane Grant Thornton post-graduation, and when operating his own accounting company. David’s education at Dalhousie directed him toward the success he has today. “My time at Dal was really transformative – it was integral to where I am today – and I’m certainly very thankful for that!”

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

In his accounting co-op at Doane Grant Thornton, David initially battled to overcome imposter syndrome to feel like he belonged there. Being a new employee, it was hard not to feel inexperienced, and it made him very aware of any mistakes made. However, he was eventually able to embrace the co-op as a learning opportunity and realized that making mistakes is how you grow. “Once I figured out and accepted the fact that I am not supposed to know all of this right away, and my coworkers were there to help me, it made it much easier.” Completing the rest of the co-op with this mindset allowed him to learn from his colleagues and come out the other side much more confident in his accounting skills.

Learning on the Job 

David’s co-op at Doane Grant Thornton allowed him to gain an understanding of the ins and outs of the tax world. One of his bosses at the time had him complete personal and corporate tax returns by hand, increasing his understanding of the process considerably. David continues to share these lessons with new staff at his own accounting firm today. Gaining this knowledge on work term and then during his full-time career afterwards eased the process of beginning his own company. In 2010, David decided to take charge of his future and embark on his entrepreneurial journey. “I knew there was a lot of opportunity in the market, and I had become very good at business development.” His accounting experience, which began during his Commerce Co-op degree, allowed him to identify an opportunity and successfully launch his own business.

Advice to His First-Year Self

After nearly 30 years of being a full-time professional in the accounting industry, David reflects on his very first year at Dalhousie. Knowing what he knows now, David advises his first-year self to have a higher level of self-confidence. “Having a better awareness that every single person in your classes has insecurities, stresses, struggles of their own, and we all have commonality in that.” Letting self-doubt hold you back only delays progress and prevents you from making the most of valuable learning opportunities.

Building a Professional Network

During his co-ops, David was able to develop a strong professional network that remains influential in his life to this day. “The relationships I formed while working on my co-ops allowed me to obtain employment after graduation – which was of course a big deal.” Securing a full-time role at Doane Grant Thornton following graduation was a direct reflection of the work he put in to build strong relationships with his superiors and colleagues while on co-op. His co-ops gave him the opportunity to develop an awareness of how to cultivate strong relationships in a professional setting, a skill that remains impactful today. Learning how to help others achieve success in the workplace has helped David build and maintain those long-lasting connections.

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.

Written by: Mara Williams

Michael Joyce (BComm ’03) is Vice President of Sales at Dare Foods Limited, where he and his team deliver on various sales and profit objectives. His long and successful career in sales was launched by the three co-ops he completed at Procter & Gamble during his Commerce Co-op degree at Dalhousie. These work terms allowed him to grow essential skills and develop connections that helped him continue to build his career after graduating. Michael credits his co-op terms with the skill and network development that has helped him succeed. “They gave me the opportunity to develop relationships with mentors at the company who would be instrumental in helping me build my skills and career over many years.”

Launching a Career with Co-ops

During Michael’s degree at Dalhousie, he majored in Marketing Management, initially planning to pursue a career in marketing. However, his co-ops at Procter & Gamble exposed him to the world of sales for the first time and gave him the opportunity to discover his passion for it. “I really enjoyed the challenge that comes with navigating competing interests to find win-win solutions that comes with working in sales.” After finishing his three co-ops with Procter & Gamble, Michael was offered a full-time role following graduation. His work terms gave him the opportunity to get to know the workplace and ensure he enjoyed the work, laying the foundation for a long career with the company.

Building Leadership Skills

Now a seasoned professional in the world of sales, Michael recommends students looking to follow in his footsteps focus on building their resiliency. “In business, there are always problems and being resilient in the face of adversity is a common trait among successful leaders.” Michael’s experience has taught him that resiliency will help you manage the challenges encountered in a dynamic workplace. In addition, becoming more skilled at resolving conflicts will continue to be a beneficial skill as you progress in your career and move up the corporate ladder. As a leader in his role today, Michael continues to develop the resiliency and conflict resolution skills he built during his work terms.

Extra-Curricular Involvement

At Dalhousie, Michael involved himself in various extracurriculars, most notably residence government and the Dalhousie/King’s Debate Society. In his second year, he served as the President of Smith House in Howe Hall. “This gave me the opportunity to build skills collaborating with others to execute events, as well as navigate the inevitable conflicts that come along with group work.” These skills helped Michael succeed during his co-ops and beyond. In addition, his involvement with the Debate Society gave him the opportunity to hone his communication and persuasion skills, both of which remain incredibly relevant in his role in sales today.

Accomplishments During Co-op

During his third co-op at Procter & Gamble, Michael was tasked with getting a new flavour of Sunny Delight onto Real Atlantic Superstore shelves. After working all summer to secure a meeting, he finally secured an opportunity to present his case – and ended up selling two truckloads for the initial launch. This was Michael’s first big sale, and it has stuck with him throughout the years. It gave him the opportunity to learn more about selling business-to-business and to experience analyzing complex data sets to develop solutions for customers. In addition, he was able to practice his persuasive communications skills in a real-world setting. Furthermore, he learned the level of operational discipline it requires to close a sale. Getting practical experience with these skills helped him succeed when he entered the workforce after graduating. “I had the opportunity to practice these skills during my work terms, and I am still practicing them 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.

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. Since 1991, these programs have produced a diverse group of alumni who have made significant contributions across industries, and their work-integrated learning experiences have set them up for success in their respective fields.

The Faculty of Management has been celebrating this milestone throughout the academic year with alumni profiles and events, and earlier this week, Robert Wooden, Director of Management Career Services, and Mike Smit, Dean of the Faculty of Management, paid a visit to High Liner Foods, which was the location of the 20,000^th work term completed in fall 2024.

Boston Foubert, a third-year Commerce Co-op student majoring in Entrepreneurship, completed his second co-op at High Liner Foods as a Purchasing Co-op Student. His supervisor, Sachin Dukhanti, Purchasing Category Specialist at High Liner Foods’ Halifax office, is new to supervising Dalhousie business students; Boston was his first.

“I helped refine an Excel master sheet that tracks the packaging materials and dimensions from each supplier. Not only has this helped me improve my Excel skills, but I’ve also enjoyed being involved in a project that will make life easier for anyone needing our packaging information,” says Boston. “It’s rewarding to contribute meaningful work as a student that remains useful for the company beyond my term.”

Since 2017, High Liner Foods has been bringing Dalhousie business students onto their team in a variety of roles, including purchasing, accounting, and supply chain.

“Thanks to sterling work by Boston on reviewing past invoices that we received from one of our vendors, he found out that this vendor was overcharging us for services rendered and we managed to claw back over $50k as rebates from this vendor,” says Sachin. “I hope this example sums up how mutually beneficial these co-op student programs can be for both parties. Boston received a great grounding into what it takes to work for a corporate company – how to engage with different peers, how to develop his business communication (written and verbal), and how to work in cross-functional teams with people many job grades higher than him (like Directors and VPs). He also figured out instinctively how to develop his ‘personal brand’ in the short amount of time that he was here, because he created great friendships and relationships and was well liked in our team and other functions.”

Boston is returning to High Liner Foods this summer to complete his third co-op with the team. “Our Purchasing Director was very keen to bring him back for another stint with us so that he can help out with more crucial projects,” says Sachin.

“Joining High Liner Foods was one of the best decisions I’ve made, and I think anybody who has the chance to take a position here should do so. There are so many opportunities in a number of different fields and you’ll be able to work with a whole cast of friendly, kind, and eager co-workers who are excited to have you with them,” says Boston.

Written by: Mara Williams

Gayle Murdoch (BComm ’04, MBA ‘06) is the Senior Vice President of Sales Effectiveness and Performance at Canada Life. She and her team work with independent advisors, offering support on contracts, compensation, as well as providing assistance with digital tools for various business needs. The foundation of her success in this career can be found in her work term experiences during her Commerce Co-op degree at Dalhousie University. Completing three co-ops during her degree allowed her to develop key skills that set her up for professional success. She would not be where she is today without those experiences.  “The best educational decision I’ve ever made was to take the co-op program at Dalhousie.”

Post-Grad Job Search

Completing co-ops as part of her degree gave Gayle a huge advantage when she began searching for her first jobs post-graduation. Having a full year of work experience gave her real-world examples to discuss in interviews, and familiarity with an office environment helped her jump into the corporate world. Being able to combine her classroom lessons with practical experience provided a huge boost when she began searching for her first full-time job after graduating. Without her work terms, Gayle’s career trajectory would not be what it is today. “Of course, the program, the profs and the admin team are amazing – but the work terms really made a difference in my career path.”

Extracurricular Involvement

As a student, Gayle was heavily involved in the Dalhousie Student Union, taking a role in organizing first-year orientation week. Alongside this, she stepped into a leadership role as a co-chair for Shinerama, a fundraising campaign for cystic fibrosis. These experiences helped enrich her time on campus and allowed her to get involved and give back to the Dalhousie community. In addition, Gayle was a board member for a few community organizations on the south shore of Nova Scotia, further enhancing her organizational and planning skills which became valuable when searching for co-ops and eventual full-time jobs. “Leading a big team of volunteers and coordinating logistics gave me experience that I could speak to in interviews and transferrable skills that I continue to use in my career.” Her community and campus involvement helped her develop a strong professional skill set even before gaining any professional work experience.

Lessons Learned on Work Term

Gayle’s co-ops allowed her to gain experience and insights into the business world that remain relevant to this day. During her work term at Murdoch Market Development, a food-related marketing company, she was given the opportunity to pitch marketing strategies and analyze business development techniques. This practical experience helped her quickly learn what leads to success and what doesn’t, and taught her the importance of moving on quickly from failures. In addition, her work terms helped her understand how crucial teamwork is. She learned the importance of being open to feedback and communicating clearly with colleagues. Being able to listen effectively and remain open to learning new things was a critical lesson Gayle learned on work term, allowing her to benefit from a team’s varied experience. “Those lessons will stay with me for the rest of my life, and I expect will continue to be very helpful.”

Continued Learning

As a professional today, Gayle is a huge advocate for continued learning. Following her undergraduate degree in Commerce, she returned to Dalhousie to complete her MBA. In the summer after her first year of graduate school, she worked at the Canadian Consulate in Los Angeles before returning to Halifax and finishing her degree, which she says was an exciting period of her life. Although she completed her MBA directly following her undergraduate degree, Gayle also sees the value in continuing your education even once you join the workforce. “Find ways to ‘go back to school’ every five years to stay fresh and engaged in learning new concepts.” Gayle has taken her own advice and participated in various programs at different educational centres and universities over the years.

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.

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.