After 14 years as a pharmaceutical sales representative, Allison McFarland was looking for a competitive edge. She knew an MBA would set her apart in her field and prepare her for senior executive roles.

My experience at SFU Beedie

During my time at SFU Beedie, I was surprised by the impact of my cohort experience. Navigating diverse personalities and perspectives made me more self-aware and challenged me to develop my listening and communication skills. As a result, I am now able to break down communication barriers between the technical and business sides of my organization.

Additionally, the MOT MBA transformed how I think of a business and all its functional parts. I now have a greater understanding of cross-functional roles and how we can help each other achieve business targets.

My Journey

Prior to starting the program, I had a lot of experience in sales. However, I needed a deeper understanding of business as a whole to become more valuable within the organization.

I chose SFU Beedie's MOT MBA program because of its focus on the intersection of technology and business. I also liked its broad-based curriculum which complemented my interest in leadership and strategic thinking.

Although juggling work and school wasn't easy, it was very much worth it. I love to learn, and I made this degree a priority. I have little kids, so it was important to model a commitment to lifelong learning.

Highlights

Out of all the benefits of the MBA program, the best things I took away were confidence, self-assurance, and big-picture thinking. These skills are transferable to just about any industry so I know they will continue to serve me well.

Where I am today

I now serve as Senior Immunology Sales Specialist at Janssen, Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson. I apply my MOT MBA skillset at work every day.