Making the most of faculty and community connections

Being one of the first groups of students to go through the restructured Master of Business Administration program was a highlight of Prabhdeep Singh Sambi’s VIU experience. Another highlight was creating meaningful networking opportunities that brought together his peers and local businesses.

“I was constantly involved and expressive about my views, and I was able to fully showcase myself in the process,” he adds.

Here’s what Prabhdeep had to say about his time at VIU and his advice for other students. 

Why did you choose VIU?

Coming from the subcontinent, I was very particular about the weather when deciding where to study. After much consideration, I decided that British Columbia would be the best place for me to study. I found that VIU offered me the opportunity to be taught by experienced faculty in conjunction with a limited number of students per class, which meant that I got more personal attention as well as more opportunities to learn.

Can you share a highlight from your time at VIU?

It was a great experience for me to be a part of one of the first cohorts of the newly restructured MBA program at VIU. I was selected as one of the first Community Engagement Ambassadors to represent our MBA program in the Vancouver Island business community to create meaningful engagements for fellow students and businesses.

What are you most proud of achieving since you began your studies?

When I started my MBA program, COVID-19 was at its peak all over the world. I persisted and finished my first few semesters online. Then when the opportunity arose, I travelled to Canada in between semesters. I was exposed to all modalities of learning, including online, hybrid and face-to-face. Each day was different and crossing the finish line under such difficult circumstances makes me feel proud of myself.

What is one thing other students may remember about you after graduation?

My peers will remember me based on how I conducted myself throughout the program. In the program, I was constantly involved and expressive about my views, and I was able to fully showcase myself in the process.

What advice would you give students following a similar path to yourself?

You all are blessed to be back in the post-COVID age, where you can communicate with your fellow classmates and professors daily. Make the most of this time. An MBA journey will test you on how to work hard and be smart at the same time. Also, if you take a self-centered approach, you are not going to survive. All courses, no matter what they are, will test your ability to work in groups. Regardless of the obstacles you may face, if you have a go-getter attitude and mindset, you will find your way out. Finding a means to stay self-motivated must originate from within. Simply give it everything you have in the next 20 months of your life and you will be proud of what you managed to accomplish in the end.

Can you give us three random facts about yourself?

• I can eat butter chicken all day long.
• I can play cricket, tennis and soccer and I can skate.
• I am fond of aviation. If I could go back in time, I would have pursued a career as a pilot.

What’s next for you?

At the moment, I am working on a few certifications to broaden my skill set before venturing out into the main field where I hope to advance in my career. Aside from that, I am enjoying my time, having a good work-life balance, and am delighted that spring has finally arrived.