Ideas with Impact
UNB Faculty of Management

Mabel George grew up in Lagos State, Nigeria, in West Africa, where she completed a degree in business. She enjoyed a career in commercial and retail banking, helping people reach their financial goals. A few years ago, she began contemplating pursuing an MBA and expanding her network. That's when she decided to enroll in UNB's Faculty of Management.

After a demanding first year of coursework, she was eager for something different. It was then that she accepted an internship that not only took her to another part of the country but also helped her develop valuable leadership skills.

Her internship was with the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association (CIWA), a non-profit organization dedicated to recognizing and addressing the unique concerns and needs of immigrant and refugee women, girls and their families. She was hired as a research analyst for CIWA's Rural Multicultural Supports Project, providing information to the Family Services Department on the Rural Multicultural Family Resource Network Program.

"It was a great three months because my role allowed me to collaborate with CIWA's partners and family resource networks in different departments across Alberta," she says. "The highlight of my time there was being entrusted with organizing an event for over 50 FRN representatives in Rural Alberta, during which I presented my research and related documents."

Although she occasionally felt jittery with these responsibilities, she felt well-prepared thanks to the coursework she had completed in the first year of her MBA.

In addition to offering George the opportunity to explore another part of Canada and spend time with her family members who had settled in Alberta, the internship with CIWA provided a real-world perspective on her classroom learning and helped her develop leadership skills.

"By managing a project desk, collaborating with a network of professionals, and successfully completing high-level tasks, I can confidently say I'm closer to achieving my MBA goals than when I started. This experience will undoubtedly enhance my resume and serve as a significant career booster as I prepare to re-enter the workforce in the spring of 2024."

Learn more about the MBA program with UNB’s faculty of management.

Photo: MBA student Mabel George fine-tuned her leadership skills through an internship last summer with the Calgary Immigrant Women's Association (CIWA), a non-profit organization dedicated to recognizing and addressing the unique concerns and needs of immigrant and refugee women, girls and their families.

Media contact: Liz Lemon-Mitchell