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Robert Tang

PT MBA

BC College of Nursing Professionals

Contract Inquiry and Discipline Inspector

“The part-time MBA program solidified what I wanted to do with my career. I saw the value of my health care background but also wanted to diversify. My MBA broadened my opportunities and gave me the extra experience and education required to bridge the gap between industries.”

A dedicated health care professional, Robert Tang spent 15 years taking care of others, before embarking on an MBA journey he calls “transformational.” Looking to diversify, it was opportunities for knowledge sharing and applied learning that drew Robert to the SFU Beedie School of Business Part Time Master of Business Administration (MBA) program.

By combining an MBA with his extensive experience in clinical psychiatric nursing, project management, quality improvement, strategic planning, and accreditation, Robert possesses both the tactical tools and theoretical frameworks needed to drive change at the industry level.

My experience at SFU Beedie

“The program blew my mind. I loved the cross-pollination of knowledge that occurred by bringing together talented peers from diverse fields and industries.”

“I applied the knowledge from the classroom to my work in real-time and was able to leverage my strengths daily. I would bring different scenarios from my workplace to my cohort, get valuable cross-industry feedback, and then bring our collective ideas back into the health care setting. I know it created more innovative solutions by combating the tunnel vision we all have in our respective fields. Pushing your industry to think outside the box calls attention to you as a champion for change and a leader.”

My Journey

“As frontline leadership in a clinical setting, I was only able to affect people in arms’ reach within my own practice. I wanted to affect change in the health care industry as a whole using a systemic approach, and to share my ideas, be progressive, and rethink how health care professionals approach change and challenges. In my work, we are moving towards more change management practices, and I knew I needed more tools in my toolbox to be able to facilitate and help with that change.”

“Initially, I wanted to pursue my Masters in Nursing or Health Administration. However, I always hoped to venture outside of health care and wanted a degree that would make me more of a ‘unicorn’ and help me stand out. I knew traditional programs would make me a better nurse or a better health care administrator, but they couldn’t provide me with what SFU Beedie offered. I was drawn to the business skillset—economics, accounting, the financial courses, and data analytics—all the business pieces used by effective leaders.”

Highlights

“The courses were invigorating—the content was never stale, and it consistently led me to think of new ways to bring information back to my place of employment.”

“During the program, I teamed up with members of my cohort to form a consulting group. It was a possibility the SFU Beedie opened my eyes to and emerged from the program work we did with Ryders Eyewear in North Vancouver and with the Hong Kong Bank. It has been a launching pad for me in the work I’ve undertaken as a change leader in my industry, and is something I am still involved with today.”

“You have to go in with an open mind and accept that the MBA is going to be a transformational journey. You will grow as you go through the program and begin to see your role and career within a much broader context. I am a very different person today, with a different way of thinking, and it has opened my eyes a lot to the work that I do. Having a business background and competencies helps me remain responsive and responsible in my decision-making.”

Where I am today

Robert is leading change from within at the BC College of Nursing Professionals as a Contract Inquiry and Discipline Inspector.