Padraic McCausland began his MBA because, after decades of experience, he realized something was missing. “I had many experiences that I had earned through doing that didn't match my credentials. Without an MBA, it was difficult to enter into certain fields that were of interest to me.” He had built a strong career as an engineer and program manager. He was progressing. But there was a sense that more was possible, and that he kept running into the same barrier. “After decades of trying and not succeeding to break out into new industries and to new positions, I realized it was time to seek out my MBA, reinvent myself and start again.”
- Program
- Executive Master of Business Administration
- Industry
- Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
- Current Location
- Toronto, ON
- Graduation Year
- 2025
Proving it to himself
Returning to school after more than 20 years was not easy. “It wasn't short of terrifying to again break off that rust that had been there.”
But he followed through. Along the way, something became clear.
“I learned how hard I was actually willing to work. I surprised myself with the sense of diligence and purpose that I was willing to put towards it.”
He didn’t just complete the program. He excelled, graduating with a straight-A average.
Flexibility and recognized work experience
When he first began exploring programs, flexibility became the deciding factor. His career at the time required travel. His schedule wasn’t predictable. He needed a program that could adapt to real life, not disrupt it. UFred offered exactly that.
The University of Fredericton also offers something else he values: recognition of his work experience. He wasn’t looking to jump through unnecessary hurdles. “I didn't have to jump through the hoops of the GMAT. If I'm going to take time to study, I want it to mean something and go toward the credential.”
Finding a rhythm
Once he started the program, Padraic found a rhythm that worked well for him. When his work took him abroad, his studies travelled with him. He kept up with volunteering and athletics. He studied during the week, blocked time on weekends and stayed consistent.
“I just crushed through the program. I didn't find it that intrusive at all. In fact, it was quite a good balance.”
What he didn’t expect was how valuable the decision to pursue his education would become.
“My MBA was a clear differentiator. It did come up during my interviews. It really set me apart.”
A shift in direction
Partway through his journey, there was an unexpected shift in the market. “I was surplus in a round of mass layoffs, and many of my colleagues, almost a year later, are still looking.”
It was an uncertain moment. But it was also the moment when his decision to pursue an MBA proved its value.
“My MBA was a clear differentiator. It did come up during my interviews. It really set me apart.”
The work he had put in ahead of time paid off, allowing him to pursue an exciting new career.
Legitimacy and lifelong connections
Padraic built relationships with classmates across industries that continued long after graduation.
“I thought originally that being an online purpose-built university, that you'd never really get that real sense of connection. But I was wrong. It was no less genuine than a brick-and-mortar school.”
The connections Padraic made extended across Canada and around the world, not just locally. The diversity of perspectives expanded how he thought about business, leadership and opportunity. It also challenged assumptions about the credibility of online higher ed.
“Some people still have the perception that if you're an online university, that you're a vanity degree. That's not at all what I experienced when I went to UFred. I met people from various industries, from banking to health care, very high-level leader positions. The students are legitimate and they're bringing a wealth of experience from which you can learn.”
The return on the investment
Today, Padraic works as a director of bids and tenders for a large company. He approaches his work with a stronger understanding of business, finance and strategy. The MBA didn’t just open doors. It changed how he walks through them.
“The UFred program gave me more than a degree. It gave me a network. It gave me the confidence and skills to pursue those positions, those activities, different industries.”
The decision to complete his graduate degree at the University of Fredericton was about proving to himself that he could adapt, grow and take control of his life through the power of education.
And when the moment came to demonstrate how much he learned, Padraic was ready.
