I thought Vancouver was supposed to be cold.

Coming from South-East Asia and only knowing humidity and high temperatures I was looking forward to a change in weather. After being a resident of Vancouver, BC for the past three weeks, summer here is bloody hot! I just so happened to arrive at one of the hottest summers on record for the city.

I’m glad that that has been the only disappointment so far in my MBA journey. MBA prep courses have ended and two days from now the program will officially get under way. Classmates are extremely bright and I’m sure we will be learning plenty from each other over the course of the program. I am excited to share my experiences and lessons learnt and will draw from my life so far to tackle problems that will be coming our way.

Back in Malaysia, I was a product manager for DiGi Telecommunications (a mobile service provider). I have had practical experiences in marketing, project management and process improvement. Having said that I feel humbled by the professors, the school and my fellow MBA students. I am all too aware that my knowledge is just a drop in a vast ocean and it is my duty over the next 16 months to soak up all that the MBA program has to offer.

I decided to undertake an MBA program as I viewed it as a vehicle for career change. My goal is to move from a more marketing centric role to a career in consulting. My dad has an MBA and he has told me that the decision to go through an MBA program was the best decision he has ever made in his professional career. And after two years of dreaming I am finally here.

From the program I expect to be challenged, to have my perseverance put to the test and to have moments when I wonder how I even graduate from university. But I know that I have my professors and fellow MBA victims as support. I intend to work my socks off and to see what great heights the MBA program can help me to scale.

As I stand at the edge of a new chapter in my life I say goodbye to the last.

Goodbye Malaysia (at least for now). Hello Vancouver!

MBA here I come!