Embracing curiosity leads BBA grad to her passion

With convocation approaching, Mia Dommann is prepared to make her mark in the world of commercial real estate development, armed with the skills, experiences and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) earned during her time at SFU Beedie School of Business.

Dommann chose SFU Beedie for its comprehensive offerings, including her Ryan Beedie Leadership Award entrance scholarship. “I wanted to develop my leadership abilities and support others,” she explains, noting the many student clubs available to be part of. And, with a love for travel, she was eager to take full advantage of field schools and study abroad opportunities.

Travel experiences were a highlight for Dommann. She did a summer semester abroad at the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, earning credits toward her BBA with courses in game theory and negotiation strategy taught by some of the best professors in the world, in one of her favourite cities—San Francisco.

Field school in Helsinki allowed her to explore cutting-edge urban planning principles, while her time in Arusha, Tanzania deepened her understanding of community resilience in the context of climate change. “These experiences gave me a global perspective on urban studies, enriching my local insights with international knowledge,” Dommann explains.

One of Domman’s most significant accomplishments at SFU Beedie was her involvement with the Beedie Urban Development Program (BUDP). The program, which shut down during the pandemic, needed passionate student leaders to reinvigorate it. She ultimately served as its program manager in 2023.

“During my tenure, BUDP was awarded the BASS [Business Administration Student Society] Program of the Year,” she proudly shares. Under her leadership, interest in real estate has increased among SFU Beedie students. “The most rewarding part of leading this program has been the opportunity to share my interest in real estate development and see others light up as they find their own passion for this field of work,” Dommann says. “It helped me understand that being a leader is about uplifting those around you.”

Currently, Dommann is working as a financial analyst at Jim Pattison Developments, where she evaluates investment opportunities and assesses portfolio financial standings in Canadian and U.S. markets. “My goal is to oversee a real estate development project from start to finish,” she shares, with a clear vision for her future.

As passionate as she is, Dommann admits that one of the biggest challenges she faced during her time at SFU Beedie was career uncertainty, and that she only really found her stride in the final portion of her time at SFU Beedie. Uncertainty allowed her to embrace her curiosity and pursue new experiences that helped her discover her passion for commercial real estate.

Reflecting on her time at SFU Beedie, Dommann offers this advice to incoming students: “Follow your curiosity and let genuine interest guide you on your journey at SFU Beedie. You may not see how the pieces will connect just yet, but if you embrace exploration, questioning, and learning, you’ll discover a path that resonates for you.”