James T. Arreak is attaining his master of business administration but itSA国际影视传媒檚 coming at a price, literally.
He paid for his first semester fully out of his own pocket and only found limited financial support for the second semester at the Ivey School of Business in London, Ont.
SA国际影视传媒淚f thereSA国际影视传媒檚 not the support or understanding from funding bodies for graduate work then the numbers (of adults pursuing higher learning) are not going to be very good,SA国际影视传媒� said Arreak, adding that the executive masters program is an expensive proposition but one that heSA国际影视传媒檚 confident will bring returns in the future.
Arreak, whoSA国际影视传媒檚 in his 40s, goes back and forth between Iqaluit and London to manage his six courses in the intensive MBA program. HeSA国际影视传媒檚 doing it while holding down his job as interim executive director for the Nunavut Coalition of District Education Authorities. It all adds up to extreme demands on his time and it means his wife and six children will see little of him until he graduates in summer 2020.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen I succeed itSA国际影视传媒檚 because of the support of my wife and my kids,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
During his second of three terms, Arreak will be absorbed in classes dealing with business leadership, managing operations, strategic analysis, sustainability and entrepreneurship.
He said he brings more practical experience to his learning as an adult than he did while attending university in the 1980s and 1990s.
SA国际影视传媒淚 have to be focused,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲hen we go into class weSA国际影视传媒檙e discussing not just theory but practical experience-related subject matter, case work.SA国际影视传媒�
Despite his two decades of business background, SA国际影视传媒渋tSA国际影视传媒檚 very challenging,SA国际影视传媒� he admitted.
SA国际影视传媒淵ouSA国际影视传媒檙e getting into some hard math applications in a work scenario,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淵ouSA国际影视传媒檙e supposed to perfectly define the relationship between the variables.SA国际影视传媒�
Why is he so driven? He believes these mathematical and business applications, along with data collection, could be pertinent to addressing NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 deficits in homes, infrastructure and even mental health struggles, he said.
SA国际影视传媒淥n broad terms, I have a passion for Nunavut,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 just basically trying to equip myself so I can be a resource to Nunavut, whether itSA国际影视传媒檚 public, private or corporateSA国际影视传媒� obviously Nunavut is in a very unique situation and it needs a lot of people with experience to help transform it into something that reflects the population.SA国际影视传媒�
Arreak spent almost half of his first 23 years in business working independently as a consultant. HeSA国际影视传媒檚 also toiled for Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., the Government of Nunavut, the Nunavut Economic Forum, the Royal Bank and he ran some of Nunasi CorporationSA国际影视传媒檚 businesses for a few years.
While growing up in Pond Inlet, his parents strongly encouraged him to go to school.
SA国际影视传媒�(My mom) said education opens doors so you have to seek education,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
His father ran a convenience store, which didnSA国际影视传媒檛 interest a young Arreak until he reached Grade 12. Then he warmed up to business as a potential livelihood. He went on to earn his business administration degree from Trinity Western University in Langley B.C., after attending the University of Alberta for a few years.
SA国际影视传媒淚t equips you with analytical skills and things like that,SA国际影视传媒� he said of the business world.
