Shafqat Ali

Program: MBA (Full-time)
Term of entry: Fall 2017   
Graduation term: Summer 2019

Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan
Languages spoken: English, Urdu & Punjabi
Most recent job: Manager - Portfolio Managment at Rio Tinto | IOC

Why did you choose the John Molson School of Business? Having a doctoral degree in Engineering, as well as experience in teaching, research, design and consultancy, I observed the importance of management skills for channeling the collective work needed to define issues and arrive at decisions. I chose John Molson to combine my technical background with its world-class MBA program.

My objective is to learn business and management skills and to further my skills in sustainable strategies. John Molson offers a diverse environment, reflecting the diversity that is one of the strengths of the business world. John Molson’s MBA, founded on the principles of cooperation to achieve common goals, is helping me to build upon my professional experience, as well as to develop personally by learning through the ideas and perspectives of others. Also, the program offers a great flexibility for choosing courses and class times, which fit very nicely with my schedule.

Your focus in the program: Business Administration / Public Policy; Development of Sustainable Strategies

Highlight of your program? I am interested in public and private policy creation and its implementation related to civil infrastructure, financing and management. The John Molson MBA offered me the flexibility to conduct a research project in this area while adding credits towards my degree. I also did a Co-op internship through Concordia University's Institute of Co-operative Education.

Favourite place in Montreal: Café Olimpico in the Mile End

Future aspirations: My goal is to build a meaningful career by extending my engineering expertise to the development of sustainable businesses and strategies, risk analysis and project management. In a shared experience with others MBA students, I built the long-term relationships and networks that are key to success. I plan to stay and build my career in Montreal because I love the city and its culture.