Irfan Khokhar

Manager, Analytics Implementation & Optimization

Brampton, Ontario Canada

Pursuing an MBA had been on my bucket list since completing my undergraduate, but two factors kept holding me back: cost and time. I recently came across an old friend who had completed his EMBA at UFred, and he mentioned the great experience he had and that it was 100% online – something I had not considered with the traditional in-person schooling system. I didn’t have the greatest grades after undergrad, but he reassured me that UFred considers working experience and that UFred’s MBA could be done while working full-time. For the past 10 years, I have been working within the financial industry, so I thought to myself, with working experience being factored in, I may have a chance to be accepted into the program. With the support of my loving wife and family, I applied, and with confidence, I can say this was the best decision I took.

In 2018, after a year into the MBA program, I was blessed with two milestones; hearing the news of becoming a father and being diagnosed with glioblastoma – a brain tumour. Only God knows the struggle myself, and especially my wife went through. UFred’s faculty was extremely compassionate and accommodating. Once the dust settled, I was determined to continue the program.

While learning at UFred and applying the acquired knowledge I was building on the job, I progressed through three different roles within my organization. A big part of that, in my opinion, is due to the fact that UFred’s faculty has experience in all industries. They are successful entrepreneurs, angel investors, etc. They shared their experiences and their knowledge with us and embedded it into the curriculum. These doctorate-level individuals were not just from Canada, but from other countries as well, which brought a global perspective to the content.

The UFred education and experience has tested my willpower; the will to think big, and the will to succeed in the face of professional and personal tribulations. My wife had to put up with not just her own readiness for motherhood, but also the need to take care of a man that was going through health issues of his own. We have grown together through this process, and what I’ve learned at UFred didn’t just benefit my professional situation, it benefitted my family as well.

So to those considering pursuing the MBA program, I invite you to take the leap. It is a journey that will be remembered for a lifetime. After completing the Innovation Leadership specialty stream, I obtained amazing entrepreneurial and leadership skills that will be used toward helping organizations and the community I serve, helping both to sustain growth for today and the future.

All the best!

Irfan Khokhar