Alum uses knowledge gained during capstone course to support company growth
Twenty-two years ago, Lisa DeVries was accepted to a master’s program, but due to the growth of her family, she made the difficult decision to put the opportunity on hold. She added the degree to her bucket list, and hoped she would eventually be able to return to it.
Now, as her children approach the next stage of their lives, Lisa knew it was the perfect time to begin a new journey and return to her original goal. This led her to apply for the Executive MBA program.
As someone who had been away from education for numerous years, Lisa dealt with the fear of failure, wondering how she would perform in her courses, but shortly after starting the program, she found herself gaining confidence in her abilities.
“I was afraid of failure but quickly realized during the orientation assignment prep that I could do it. Each of my peers was in the same boat, and we quickly leveraged each other’s strengths to complete each group assignment successfully.”
Highlights of the UFred Experience and Program Applicability
At the University of Fredericton, students work with others from different backgrounds, industries, cultures, and stages of their lives. This was one of the highlights of Lisa’s experience. The friendships derived from this program are ones she plans to keep near for years to come.
“One of the most significant things I learned was from my fellow students. Although we are taught what leadership is, many of my peers demonstrated it and taught me what true leadership looks like.”
The capstone course, completed at the end of the MBA program, is a cumulation of all information learned throughout the program. This course in particular was a highlight for Lisa, as she has used this information during a time of growth for her company. Some of the learnings she leveraged included “participating in our business plan development and establishing our marketing strategy to calculate our estimated growth projections.”
However, the greatest takeaway from the program for Lisa was improved confidence. She said, “I feel better equipped to lead my team and speak up when necessary, demonstrating leadership rather than management.”
Moving Forward: Goals and Advice to Future Students
At this time, Lisa is taking each day in stride, accepting what may come next in her career, but approaching future opportunities knowing she holds more confidence after completing her MBA.
“Professionally, I have stepped up, not fearing rejection of my ideas. I do not know where I will be next year or in five years, but I know in my next endeavour, I will do it confidently, jumping in with two feet.”
Lisa advises future students that although completing an MBA will come with challenges, the benefits will far outweigh the hurdles you may face.
“DO IT! Although it does require a lot of time and commitment, the flexibility, affordability, knowledge, and long-term friendships it has provided me are priceless.”