Celebrating Sprott’s First Online MBA Graduates

As Sara Smith, one of the first graduates of Sprott’s new online MBA, crossed the stage at Fall Convocation, her partner and newborn daughter were in the crowd celebrating her success. The online MBA program, launched by the Sprott School of Business in July 2022, had its first 16 students graduate on Nov. 4.

Sara chose Sprott’s online MBA with concentration in Management and Change because the program allowed her to continue working while completing her studies. She is looking to use what she learned in her MBA to pivot her career into human resources management.

“Online was attractive to me mostly because of the flexibility to watch lectures and such mostly on my own time so I could work during the weekdays and then take care of class work in the evenings and on weekends. I did love, however, that I could use the campus amenities as I’m also based here in Ottawa,” said Sara. She was also able to engage with her studies while travelling to Calgary, Montreal, and Cape Breton.

Sara finished her course work three weeks before giving birth to her daughter. Having her daughter at graduation made the day even more special.

“I wanted to be able to experience the in-person celebration of the hard work I put into my program. Convocation felt like an important exclamation mark at the end of the process,” said Sara. “I loved getting to see some of my classmates for the first time, as well as being able to celebrate such a huge milestone with my partner and daughter in attendance.”

One classmate Sara met in person for the first time at convocation was Ruky Olu-Babalola, who completed her MBA from Vancouver. Ruky was impressed with the depth and breadth of the curriculum in Sprott’s online MBA.

“The MBA program at Carleton University has been a rewarding and transformative experience. My journey through the online MBA program was filled with academic rigor and personal growth. The decision to pursue an MBA was driven by my aspiration to advance in my career, enhance my leadership skills, and broaden my business knowledge,” shared Ruky, who works in procurement management.

The format of the online MBA allowed Ruky to complete her degree from Vancouver, while working full-time. It also provided the opportunity to engage with classmates who brought a varied range of experience.

“Interacting with professionals from various backgrounds and industries enriched my learning experience and provided diverse perspectives to discussions. The collaborative nature of the program allowed us to exchange ideas, share insights, and tackle real-world business challenges. This interaction was not limited by time zones or physical locations, fostering a global network of professionals,” explained Ruky.

For Ruky, the journey to Ottawa to attend Fall Convocation was important.

“Attending the convocation in person held great significance for me, as it symbolized a major milestone in my academic journey. Pursuing an MBA had been a dream I nurtured for the past 17 years, making it imperative to see this dream materialize in a tangible, in-person event,” said Ruky. “Additionally, it presented an occasion to share in the celebration of this achievement with my fellow graduates, esteemed faculty, and my supportive family.”