Jeff Melanson
Program / Grad Year: Laurier MBA 1999
Previous Education: Bachelor of Music, Universiry of Manitoba
Current Position: Executive Director & Co-CEO, Canada’s National Ballet Studio
Why did you choose Laurier for your MBA degree?
I choose Laurier’s MBA for its well rounded programme design. I felt confident Laurier’s MBA would prepare me well for the breadth and complexity of problems I would face in a sector in the midst of tremendous change.
How did the Laurier MBA help your career?
Laurier MBA gave me many key skills that have helped equip me for success in the arts. The faculty were tremendous and their creative approach to business education made every case a relevant learning experience.
What opportunities has your MBA degree provided?
The MBA has opened many doors for me. It has also equipped me with the business skills to connect meaningfully with leaders from different sectors and disciplines. I can understand and appreciate their challenges and opportunities. Of course, the MBA degree has also connected me with an important peer group of fellow Laurier MBA alums.
What did you like most about your Laurier experience?
I really appreciated Laurier’s spirit of creativity, purpose and imagination. We are living in the midst of a digital media revolution that requires leaders to re-imagine their organizations, re-define their sectors and inspire staff to imagine the many possibilities that lie ahead. Laurier’s MBA is structured to ensure its graduates are equipped with the skills required to succeed amidst change and complexity.
What’s next?
A lot more innovation. Imagine a world in which everyone has the opportunity to create art within their communities and online – a world in which our stories and storytellers call us to imagine the impossible, remind us of what is important, and convey to the world who we are and what we valued. This is the world we can create and I will spend my life creating opportunities for more and more people to participate. Just watch.