BC Business
Sonia Edwards, Marketing Manager, Rogers' Chocolates | BCBusiness
Sonia Edwards, Marketing Manager, Rogers’ Chocolates | BCBusiness
Why did you choose UVic for your MBA? The UVic MBA program includes the International Management Exercise and having the chance to travel internationally to apply the knowledge we acquired was an important feature for me.
What was the most important lesson you learned while at UVic? The key to success resides in execution. I learned that you may have the best idea in the world, but if you don’t execute your project well you’ll have a very difficult time succeeding.
How has your MBA helped you in your current position? I feel like I have the tools to know how my decisions are going to impact all the different aspects of the organization and I think my co-workers have a lot of respect for me because of that.
What advice would you give to someone starting their MBA degree? An MBA is just a piece of paper; what’s important is what you learn and what you do with your knowledge after graduation. It’s important to make sure that you choose a program that is related to your career plan and that challenges you.
Why did you choose UBC for your MBA? It was a pretty logical fit for me, as I worked in Vancouver as a lawyer. From everything I’d heard about the school it had positive reports and I’d done my undergrad at UBC.
What was the most important lesson you learned while at UBC? It really opened my eyes to a few different things, to be able to look at problems from a lot of different angles. Being trained as a lawyer is a fairly narrow way to look at the business world, but I was able to study a variety of things, from finance to marketing, and look at the big picture.
How has your MBA helped you in your current position? It enables me to see the business from a lot of different perspectives and being able to compare that to other industries.
What advice would you give to someone starting their MBA degree? You want to try to understand where the graduates of that school end up going. Figure out where people are getting jobs and understand that your network is going to be closely tied to the people that you’ve gone to school with.
Why did you choose TRU for your MBA? As an international student, TRU and Kamloops immediately appealed to me as it provided a state-of-the-art learning environment without the distractions of a big bustling city. I was also attracted to the smaller class size. It provides a better learning experience, as it allows for close interaction with the professors.
What was the most important lesson you learned while at TRU? Teamwork is key.
How does your MBA help you in your current position? The MBA has made me make better decisions, quickly. An MBA really enhances your analytical skills. You are able to analyze situations much better, taking into account all the internal and external factors.
What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue an MBA degree? Doing an MBA is not everyone’s cup of tea. But once you are in, get the most out of it. Those two years can drastically impact the rest of your life, not just professionally, but personally. Don’t try to coast through it. It will pay rich dividends at the end.