Shehan Fernando, AMBA '22, was looking to pivot into a new role and field when he first embarked on his Accelerated MBA, but what he found at Ivey was a welcoming community and a way of teaching that helped him grow beyond his work.

“From the first week – right from the orientation – I remember thinking to myself: ‘This is real education,’” says Fernando, Manager, Technology M&A at KPMG Canada.

“The people you meet, the cohort, the professors – they’re engaged with you in the class, and they make you apply everything you’re learning through real case scenarios. You're collaborating within your group like in a real work environment.”

For Fernando, who ended up transitioning to a new field with a promotion to Senior Consultant, Technology M&A, as he was applying for his MBA, the Accelerated program made the most sense.

“I thought it was the best fit because the focus group of that program were already professionals looking to take the next step and accelerate their career,” says Fernando, who was promoted a second time, to his current role, after the AMBA.

“It stood out because of its case-based learning approach, the strong network, and the overall practical focus. It aligned well with my goals and my desired career trajectory.”

The experience and approach of the faculty was one of the highlights for Fernando.

“When I did my AMBA, it was during Covid, so we had to adapt to a virtual environment, and the virtual aspect of work continues today,” he says. “The professors immediately adjusted and adapted their knowledge to real-world scenarios, spoke to us about how to present ourselves in virtual meetings, and found ways to ensure everyone could be involved in class discussions, even when they were online.

“Their adaptability and their existing knowledge base, it was phenomenal.”

The AMBA also helped Fernando become more strategic and collaborative at work – and helped him develop strong time management skills as he navigated his new role and the demands of the program.

“All of that time management and prioritization helped in my professional life as well and made me more strategic in the way I handle projects and delegate work,” he says.

“It made me more resilient as a leader and it sharpened my thought processes to focus on the needs of the project and what my team needed to take it to completion.”

The overall Ivey network was a huge help to Fernando as he was researching his MBA options, and he encourages anyone exploring the degree to reach out as well.

“Every person I reached out to on LinkedIn that did the Ivey program responded back, so I was able to get advice on what GMAT score I needed and what the program was like,” he says.

“The cohort and the network are amazing. I'm still getting requests from Ivey MBA students, and I always leave myself open to meet with them and help keep that Ivey network open.”

Overall, Fernando says his Ivey experience is one he continues to cherish.

“If it wasn't for what I had learned during the MBA program, I don't think I would've been considered as a candidate for this role. I still use so much of what I learned, and it’s given me a much stronger skillset than what I had going into the program.”