Chander Sharma came into Ivey’s MBA program with a couple of key goals in mind, but came out with more than he imagined possible.
“Discussions amongst peers and with professors provided a platform to bounce ideas back and forth and in the process I learned things that I wouldn’t even have been able to think of if Ivey hadn’t provided the atmosphere,” he said. “When you have to defend your position in front of the whole class, you develop strong persuasion, presentation and analytical skills to convince others. I would say that I’ve become a well-rounded business student because professors and peers at Ivey constantly challenge and learn from each other.”
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A mechanical engineer, Sharma worked as an engineer at General Motors Canada and then as a project manager in his family-owned construction business in the Toronto region. He decided to do an MBA to develop strong business skills to complement his entrepreneurial experiences. Sharma said he also wanted to gain international work experience at a well-reputed multinational company.
He chose Ivey’s one-year MBA because of its Case-Method of Learning, which he expected would give him the tools to solve complex business problems. He also wanted to leverage Ivey’s alumni network to learn about industries and opportunities after the MBA. He was not let down on either expectation.
“Ivey’s powerful network enriched my learning and provided a foundation for a lifelong network,” he said. “I was surprised to see how approachable and helpful Ivey alumni were in providing mentorship and sharing experiences with current students.”
Additionally he said role-playing and presentations were important aspects of the program that brought him out of his comfort zone and transformed him personally and professionally. In fact, he credits those experiences for his success in his final round interview with Hilti, a real estate development company. Sharma was accepted to Hilti’s global trainee program and, as part of the program, will attend an executive training program at London Business School in England. In the two-year program, he will go through rotations in Engineering, Strategy, Marketing and Operations in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
“I always wanted a job that would provide me with international experience and I look forward to the learning and development that the future holds for me,” he said.
Sharma said Ivey’s Career Management program helped him through every step of recruitment.
“I landed my dream job and it wouldn’t have been possible without an Ivey MBA,” he said. “Looking back at my MBA journey, coming to Ivey was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
