Best-selling Canadian author and journalist Malcolm Gladwell elegantly describes a concept he calls the tipping point as this:

“The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.”  – Malcolm Gladwell

This is the story of how I got to be a proud MM student.

I share this story in the hopes that it could one day motivate you, potential MM Candidate, to share your own MM story.

My tipping point, motivating me to apply to the Sauder Master of Management program, happened at MM Experience Day last year. This event was an engaging overview of the program and an opportunity to network with MM alumni and Sauder staff and I encourage anyone who can attend it to do so.

Before I get into the details, please allow me to introduce myself.

My name is Ammar El-Sherif, an Egyptian-born Canadian citizen, MM student, and current President of the MM Society for the Class of 2015. I graduated from UBC in May of 2014 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Commerce. I have always considered pursuing a business degree to complement my technical engineering degree so, of course, the MM program was a logical next step for me.

But back to our story.

Solidarity. That was the theme that resonated most evidently for me from MM Experience Day. I vividly remember how wholeheartedly alumni at MM Experience Day spoke about different aspects of the program: the dedicated Business Career Development Centre, the exposure to hands-on consulting work with organizations through the Community Business Project, and the challenging but fulfilling course modules.

I remember speaking to Jeff Balin, Manager of MM Careers, about potential job training workshops and job finding techniques. He explained how the program’s Career Progression Course pushes students to refine how they present themselves to employers. How the careers team helps students to perfect not only their cover letters and resumes, but to master informational interviews, 30-second pitches, and other staples of career development success.

I remember listening to marketing professor Joey Hoegg, Canada Research Chair in Consumer Behaviour, speak about the fall of Blackberry and how Bic, known for lighters and ink pens, was now expanding into perfumes and fragrances!

Since that day I was hooked, and the program has yet to disappoint.

Every day has been a new experience, like unwrapping presents of self-actualization and fulfillment on a daily basis.

The experiences you gain in the program are ones I know will stay with me for a very long time. The close friendships, self-confidence, and business skills gained are invaluable. If you take take this journey on, the biggest advice I can give you is to cherish the short time you spend here. It flies by so fast and next thing you know, the program is over!

 

Following the example of our incredibly helpful and supportive MM alumni community, I invite you to contact me on LinkedIn if you are looking into the program and have any questions about my experience. I am more than willing to connect with you.

All the best,

– Ammar El-Sherif

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ammarelsherif