Travis Russell came to the University of Fredericton (UFred) with two objectives in mind: he hoped to grow his passion for driving top-down change within organizations, and to build on the education he already had to eventually teach at a post-secondary level.

“I always knew that I wanted to pursue higher education. I am passionate about knowledge and bettering organizations; I felt that an MBA would provide me with an advantage in the workplace as I grow my career.”

For Travis, one of the elements of the UFred MBA program that would help him reach these goals were the unique specialty options available. When selecting the specialty courses that would be most beneficial for him, it was easy to choose UFred’s Human Resource Leadership courses. In his experience, Human Resources can be used as a mechanism for growth as it allows you to “create progressive policies, foster positive workplace culture, and aid in talent development”, all of which can be fuel for meaningful and impactful change.

Moving forward: what’s next for Travis, and advice to future students

Travis believes that completing his MBA gave him an advantage during the selection process for his current role, a promotion over the one he held when entering the program. He hopes that his MBA will continue to accelerate his professional growth in any type of organization.

Now that his MBA is behind him, we asked what advice he would give to future or current UFred students who are similarly considering pursuing further education. Travis recommended being prepared to engage with the learning and with peers and professors wherever possible for the best overall experience.

“Trust and pace yourself. You will be surprised at what you can achieve and get out of this experience. Be prepared for a strategic and collaborative learning experience; Share as much as you can in class discussions – you will learn more than you think from your instructors and classmates. Have fun!”