For Monica Uppal, AMBA '25, navigating the world of real estate and technology startups was a challenge she embraced early. As her career accelerated, she realized that raw experience alone wasn’t enough. To fully unlock her potential, she was looking for more formal business education to sharpen her strategic edge.

“I began doing all these roles right out of undergrad, so it was still early in my career, and I understood the importance of having to sharpen my business acumen and refine my leadership capabilities,” says Uppal, Director, Sales & Marketing at Saddlecrest Living.

“That’s what led me to the Accelerated Ivey MBA.”

While simultaneously working dual roles in commercial real estate and a PropTech startup meant she had exposure to everything from business development to marketing, client services and portfolio management, Ivey’s focus on leadership and its Case Method of learning seemed like the perfect fit to ensure she was ready for any new challenge that came her way.

“Ivey is very case-forward and practical, so whatever you learn, you can apply it immediately to your work,” says Uppal.

“I had two roles that I was new to, so being able to apply Ivey's learned knowledge in real-time made all the difference.”

The flexible, study-while-you work and asynchronous aspects of the program also allowed Uppal to stay rooted in Calgary and stay connected to her support system – all while being able to access an Ivey education and the broader Ivey network.

“A lot of Canada’s major real estate players are Ivey alumni, so I thought that could open up many new doors and create valuable connections for the future,” she says.

At Ivey, Uppal found her classes pushed her to think more strategically and expand her perspective.

“The cases introduced business challenges across various industries and gave us takeaways that could be directly tied back to our work,” she says.

The International Study Trip to Chile was also a highlight for Uppal, where she and her classmates explored how businesses adapt to different cultural and economic environments.

“We spoke with local leaders and entrepreneurs, and it was just a different lens around how they operate, navigate challenges, and innovate in emerging markets,” she says.

“Ivey’s International Field Project, where we took the knowledge gained throughout the program and applied it directly to help a company solve a business challenge, was also extremely rewarding. You’re not just learning; you’re making a tangible impact.”

Overall, Uppal has found the AMBA to be a program that helped her push beyond her limits and transform the way she approaches problems.

“It's not just about getting another degree. You should be prepared to fully commit and immerse yourself in the experience because the more you put in, the more you're going to get out of it,” she says.

“It will push you beyond your comfort zone and provide you with a fresh perspective on business and leadership as a whole.”