MBA allows nurse to advance as health-care leader

Transforming Lives: Learners of AU is an ongoing series where real students and alumni share how AU’s flexible online learning model made a difference in their lives and communities. Submit your story.

When I began my executive MBA with Athabasca University (AU) in fall 2009, I was employed full time as a nurse in Vancouver, B.C. I felt drawn to developing leadership and management skills as a health-care professional.

I chose AU because I was continuing to work full time but also valued the flexibility of the Master of Business Administration program.

My husband and I were married in May 2010 and soon moved to Montana, where I began working in a leadership role for a large health-care system. It was so beneficial to be able to continue my schooling despite moving to a different country!

By the time the first in-residence program came around, I was more than 20 weeks pregnant with our first baby!

When I graduated in 2012, I was pregnant with our second baby. Looking back on this time, I honestly am not sure how I juggled working, pregnancy, infants and school. But I am so thankful to AU for offering a program that allowed me to reach my goals.

Since completing my MBA, I have worked in Great Falls, Montana, Nanaimo, B.C., and Chicago, Illinois using my skills as a registered nurse and leader.

We are now happily settled in Nanaimo with our girls who are 10 and 11. One day I will share with them the story of completing my masters!

Transforming Lives: Learners of AU

Read more profiles of AU students and grads in our series Transforming Lives: Learners of AU.