From Sports to Strategy: How an MBA Student Found their Path to Success with the Edwards MBA Internship Program
What is your name and what program are you in?
My name is Paul Ayres and I am doing my internship with BHP for the Edwards MBA Internship Program (EMIP) as part of the Edwards Co-operative Education Program.
What is your education and work experience before the program?
I graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, Sports and Exercise Studies. My work experience before enrolling in the MBA was with various sports and recreation organizations in Saskatoon and Edmonton.
Why is the MBA Internship Program the right one for you? How is it allowing you to do what you want to accomplish?
This program was the right choice for me because I wanted to pursue a career shift after working five to six years in sports and recreation and instead, pursue a career in business. It's allowing me to accomplish my goals by setting me up with good connections I might not have had if I were to pursue this career shift on my own.
Who is this program for?
The Edwards MBA Internship program is for students who want to gain real-life work experience that they may not get in a regular master's degree program. The internship program is for first-year MBA students or third-year Bachelor of Commerce students. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to gain real-life work experience and pursue different careers in business.
What skills have you learned so far in the program that you feel will help you in future employment?
Throughout the program and my internship, I've learned a lot about relationship-building skills, different leadership styles, and how they can be effective in business and industry. I have also learned different engagement and stakeholder management skills that can be applied to both internal and external stakeholders.
Why did you choose to do your internship with BHP?
I chose BHP because the position in the company aligned with what I wanted to pursue in my career after my MBA. The work that BHP does in the community and how they aim to make a positive impact in the areas in which they operate, aligned with my own goals and aspirations.
What has your experience been like working for BHP?
My experience at BHP has been awesome. The team has been supportive of all the work that I've been doing and is willing to lend a helping hand whenever it's needed. Also, being involved in a big company like BHP, you learn how to function in a big corporate venture, which I didn't have any experience with before starting my internship. In addition, I’ve learned that there are plenty of roles in mining that don’t involve working underground, which has opened my eyes to the potential opportunities within the industry.
What has the experience been like working for your supervisors?
Working with my supervisors has been great. They’ve been teaching me skills throughout my internship that I can apply to the coursework when I go back to class. As well, they’ve been very flexible with me while I pursue my education goals, which will allow me to become a more well-rounded professional.
What are you hopeful for after the program?
Post-graduation, I'm hopeful that I will remain with BHP and see wherever that could lead me in my professional career.
Why should other people consider the Edwards School of Business MBA Internship program even if they are already finished University and are in the work force?
The Edwards MBA internship program is about finding yourself as a professional in the working world and learning how to further expand your current skillset.
Because I first pursued a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and then worked in sports and recreation, I found that I ended up siloing myself a bit. It's a very niche area to work in, so by pursuing this internship and working with BHP, I have learned that there are more areas to work in than you can even imagine. In addition, once you graduate from the MBA, you make yourself more employable to other companies that operate in a variety of industries. I want to make a bigger impact on the world, and the Edwards School of Business program is laying the foundation for me to do that.
One of Canada’s oldest business schools, the Edwards School of Business offers graduate programs to advance or change your career, including the Master of Business Administration. Visit the Master of Business Administration program page or chat with a program advisor.