Four jobs you can get with an MBA that might surprise you
Four successful alumni from the UBC Sauder School of Business discuss their innovative careers following their UBC MBA – including artificial intelligence in robotics, ESG consulting, electric vehicle infrastructure, and venture capital in healthcare. Learn more about how these talented UBC alumni secured their roles after graduation.
Click to jump to:
- Artificial intelligence in robotics
- ESG consulting
- Electric vehicle infrastructure
- Venture capital in healthcare
Artificial intelligence in robotics
Adrianne Erdman (UBC BCom ‘16, UBC MBA ‘22), Associate Director of Business Development, Sanctuary AI
Adrianne Erdman and a humanoid robot at Sanctuary AI
Adrianne Erdman is the Associate Director of Business Development at Sanctuary AI – a mission driven company working to create humanlike intelligence in general purpose humanoid robotics. What Erdman loves about her career in artificial intelligence (AI) is working at the forefront of cutting-edge innovation with the brightest minds of AI and robotics, while supporting meaningful technology development.
“When I see the robots in my office every single day, I realize it's reality and I’m playing a part in bringing this new technology to the world.”
Securing a role in artificial intelligence in robotics
Erdman had a job offer at one of Canada’s largest pension funds following a successful internship, but the UBC MBA expanded her career goals. After speaking to a career coach at the UBC Sauder Business Career Centre and exposure to AI through the MBA program, Erdman realized that her heart was in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Erdman discovered Sanctuary AI when the co-founders visited her Technology Entrepreneurship and AI commercialization class. Shortly after, she connected with the Chief Commercial Officer to learn about his experience, and later landed the job.
Top takeaways from UBC Sauder
- Networking: Erdman believes that being part of the innovative ecosystem of professors, classmates, alumni and industry professionals at UBC Sauder led her to the role that she has today.
- Harnessing an innovative mindset: Erdman is grateful that UBC Sauder taught innovative thinking through experiential learning opportunities, which she feels she can apply regardless of whether she’s in a large organization or a new venture.
- Diverse perspectives: Collaborating with multi-disciplinary, international classmates was a highlight for Erdman. “You learn to think differently when problem solving with diverse perspectives from an architect, a nurse and an entrepreneur.”
Advice for current UBC Sauder students interested in a similar career path
Erdman recommends building meaningful connections as a starting point. “Talk to as many people as you can, both within UBC Sauder and outside of it. Learn about their story – what they like and dislike about their job – to help determine your career goals and leverage being a student while you can.”
Advice for students selecting a business school
While deciding on business schools, Erdman considered who she would be learning from. “I looked at the course offerings and professor backgrounds. I saw that top industry professionals, including former C-suite executives of top household name companies, were teaching everything from AI to new venture design at UBC Sauder. These were the people I wanted to be learning from and made my decision easy.”
Erdman also encourages students to make the most of joining the UBC Sauder community by participating in extra-curricular activities. “As an athlete, competing for the UBC varsity team in undergrad deepened my connection to the school, and I continued competing in triathlons throughout my MBA and qualified for Team Canada. I believe having passions outside of your course work complements your education and makes you a well-rounded student.”
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) consulting
Jeff Clumpus (UBC MBA ’24), Consultant, Quinn+Partners
Jeff Clumpus applies his sustainable business acumen as a management consultant
Jeff Clumpus will begin his role as a Consultant at Quinn+Partners this month, a firm dedicated to helping public and private companies and institutional investors embrace sustainability. In this role, he offers advice on how to develop an impact portfolio by assessing current investments and making recommendations for more ESG-oriented options.
“I love working with people from all different backgrounds, including environmental scientists, chemists, geologists, economists, and engineers,” says Clumpus. “Similar to my experience with the UBC MBA, we all work together on the same project and get exposed to many areas of expertise and ways of thinking.”
Securing a career in the ESG industry
Clumpus connected with the Business Career Centre at UBC Sauder and expressed his interest in the sustainability industry. When a career coach notified him about an opportunity at Quinn+Partners, he applied and secured the internship which solidified his aspirations to pursue a career in the ESG space.
“What inspired me to want to return to Quinn+Partners after graduation was a project I worked on to develop an ESG scoring tool for a private equity firm. By identifying opportunities for the company to improve, such as childcare for single parents and longer maternity leave, I could feel the immediate, tangible impact this would have on a human level. And that’s on top of the long-term sustainability goals for this client that I knew would benefit society as a whole.”
Top takeaways from UBC Sauder
- Leveraging diverse expertise: Clumpus found that the UBC MBA was unique in attracting diverse professionals from around the world with different backgrounds and impressive work experience, resulting in exceptional ideation sessions.
- Improved business acumen: Business education transformed how Clumpus communicates in the business world. “My UBC MBA unlocked a new language that enabled me to provide meaningful contributions in discussions with executives, which wouldn’t have been possible prior to completing my MBA.”
- Profitability and sustainability can go hand in hand: Clumpus often references an ethics and sustainability course where he learned how to make a strong business case for sustainability while demonstrating how it can simultaneously improve profitability and gain more traction with executives.
Advice for students interested in a career in ESG
Clumpus recommends considering speaking points for job interviews when preparing course projects, and connecting with UBC Sauder’s Business Career Centre. “Incorporating sustainability into your course projects is a great way to prepare for job interviews. On top of that, build connections with the Business Career Centre so they’re aware of your aspirations which can be a big help in landing an interview.”
Considerations when deciding on a business school
Clumpus strongly believes in the values-driven culture at UBC Sauder. “If you're looking for a business school on the forefront of ESG, impact investing and sustainable finance, while simultaneously working with people of diverse cultural, education and business backgrounds in a collaborative environment, then UBC Sauder is a great place for you.”
With access to a diverse network, Clumpus enjoyed the supportive nature of his peers who offered genuine support to help each other succeed. “A lot of MBA programs have a very competitive environment because a lot of folks are applying for the same jobs. Throughout my UBC MBA, I appreciated that people are open to sharing their learnings because they have diverse career aspirations and everyone isn’t going after the same finance job.”
Electric vehicle infrastructure
Alex Canning-Choi (UBC MBA ’23), Head of Projects, Leading Ahead Energy
Alex Canning-Choi works in project management with Leading Ahead Energy
As Head of Projects at Leading Ahead Energy, a company dedicated to facilitating the transition to electric vehicles, Alex Canning-Choi is responsible for building out the organization’s project management department. “I love the opportunities that come with working in a new industry,” says Canning-Choi. “Nothing is set in stone and there’s lots of room for improvement. I find better ways to do things every day.”
Canning-Choi credits his UBC MBA for providing the tools required to succeed in this role. “My UBC MBA taught me strategic decision-making skills and how to utilize data to identify process improvements, opportunities and efficiencies.”
Securing a role in electric vehicle infrastructure
Through a connection with one of his professors, Canning-Choi landed an internship where he discovered his passion for sustainability. His favourite project was making a business case for the next application of the technology used in the electric vehicle industry.
After that internship, Canning-Choi spent the last four months of his MBA prioritizing his job hunt. With practical internship experience relevant to the electric vehicle industry combined with additional networking, he secured a job at Leading Ahead Energy after graduation.
Top takeaways from UBC Sauder
- Networking: Connecting with his peers and broader UBC community was a highlight for Canning-Choi throughout his MBA. He learned to prioritize networking, which led to him supporting a classmate in landing a job at Leading Ahead Energy as well.
- A holistic outlook to business: With an engineering background, Canning-Choi felt his prior experience was quite niche. “The UBC MBA taught me how to understand the importance of different elements of business, so I can speak to financial questions and understand the bigger picture.”
- Be intentional: Canning-Choi learned to utilize the connections available at UBC Sauder. “I came not knowing what I wanted to do and left with a much clearer vision. I credit this to the career coaching I received through the Business Career Centre and the connections I made with my professors and peers.”
Advice for students interested in electric vehicles
Canning-Choi recommends focusing on the industry that you are most passionate about rather than worrying about your desired job title. “Consider the industry, impact, values and location you want to be in. Your role will continue to change and evolve throughout your career. By taking a long-term view of how to get into the industry you want, your first job can be a stepping stone towards your dream career.”
Venture capital in healthcare
Vivian Wang (UBC MBA ’22), Investment Associate, Nimbus Synergies
Vivian Wang works for a venture capital firm focused on healthcare technology
Nimbus Synergies is an impact-driven venture capital firm based in Vancouver that focusses on digital health and health technology investment. Their key mission is to find ways to utilize technology to improve the healthcare system, focusing on early-stage digital health opportunities. As an Investment Associate, Vivian Wang meets with entrepreneurs and listens to their business pitches and aspirations to determine if the venture aligns with Nimbus’ investment mandate and objectives.
Securing a role in venture capital
“My objective when applying for my MBA at UBC Sauder was to become an entrepreneur, which is why I focused my course load on innovation and entrepreneurship,” Wang explains. “That’s how I realized I was captivated by the world of venture capital, as these concepts go hand in hand. Venture capital aligns with my skills, preferred lifestyle, and provides the exhilaration that I often crave.”
After securing an internship at Nimbus Synergies through Creative Destruction Lab – Vancouver at UBC Sauder, Wang knew they were a perfect match. There she discovered how much she loved hearing the inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and what drove them to this challenging career path. She then secured a permanent position at Nimbus.
Top takeaways from UBC Sauder
- Be open to new ideas and career paths: Wang learned that entrepreneurship is not for everyone. “Don’t pursue something because it’s trendy. Ask yourself what you want in life and take courses that expose you to different opportunities. Through my MBA, I learned that there are many career paths that can bring you fulfillment.”
- Networking tips: A professor taught Wang a lesson that she has taken to heart in her career. “It’s not about what you want to ask people, it’s about what you can offer them – this advice completely changed how I think about business. If I see a start-up looking for co-founders or I pass on an investment opportunity, I think of people in my network that I can recommend or resources that I can provide. I’m always considering what I can do for them instead of the other way around.”
- Don’t underestimate the basics: Through experiential learning opportunities, Wang observed that a lot of early-stage founders are very focused on the vision and mission of the company. “To stand a chance at winning the game, you need chips on the table–however few it may be. Many founders possess great vision yet don’t succeed. Pay attention to the fundamentals; yes, cash flow is boring but it is critical. CIMITYM, as Professor MacKeller would say.”
Advice for students interested in venture capital
Wang recommends looking inward to find your interests and building connections that align. “Be true to yourself and think about if venture capital is really for you. Like any career path, it comes with unique challenges and rewards, so do your research and connect with people in the field. Ask them why you shouldn’t pursue venture capital to see how keen you truly are.”