CAREER

How I ended up as a consultant with two engineering, business and law degrees

Port Mann Bridge: Photo by Tommy Pequinot on Unsplash

When I was a kid, I actually wanted to be an architect. However, life doesn’t always go as planned.

I earned two civil engineering degrees from The University of British Columbia (BAsc) and Cornell University (MS). I began my career as an engineer-in-training, designing bridges. It was enjoyable, but as an entry-level designer, the work was repetitive. Designing safe structures according to design codes and regulations requires extensive practice — years of it.

I realized I wanted something different and more impactful, perhaps a managerial role, so I thought. I took on various roles that didn’t seem to align with my perceived goal of becoming a structural design engineer, but that was fine because I no longer aspired to be one.

I prepared for the GMAT and began volunteering. My aim was to get into top MBA programs like HBS, Stanford, or Columbia. But life intervened, and personal reasons kept me in Canada.

While working on the Golden Ears Bridge Project, I enrolled in the part-time MBA program at UBC Sauder School of Business. It was a fantastic experience where I met incredible people and learned a great deal, gaining a broader view of the world.