By the time Pedro Pertusier Duque became a project manager in a shipyard, he already had two degrees – Marketing and Commerce – and a new passion for snowboarding. Although originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, life would then take another interesting turn, moving him to Edmonton after his two children were born.
But his decision to pursue University of Alberta’s (U of A) Master of Business Administration (MBA) was not due to any chance. It was a “very intentional” move.
“I realised I wanted to broaden my financial knowledge and pivot toward a more strategic, client-facing career,” he says. “The MBA stood out not only for its strong academic reputation but also for its diverse cohort and deep ties to the business community in Western Canada.”
Known for its academic excellence, Alberta School of Business ranks among the top in the world — #6 in Canada for Business and Economics (2025 Times Higher Education) and #30 globally for Business Administration (2022 Shanghai Rankings).
Duque gravitated toward the Energy Finance career track, hoping to sharpen his strategic thinking and grow a professional network rooted in Alberta’s dynamic economy. Career Tracks let MBA students tailor their programme to fit their interests and professional goals.
Looking back, he finds that the MBA did just that for him. “It opened doors, challenged my thinking, and set me on the path that eventually led to my current role as a Senior Insurance & Wealth Specialist at the Royal Bank of Canada, where I work directly with clients to help them achieve their financial goals,” Duque says.
Pedro Pertusier Duque says the U of A MBA gave him the tools, network, and real-world experience to successfully pivot into financial services. Source: University of Alberta
Reinventing careers with the U of A MBA
The U of A MBA empowers professionals to change industry by giving them the skills, knowledge, and support to make confident moves. Whether it’s switching from tech to finance or marketing to consulting, the programme helps one build a solid foundation, meet the right people, and explore new career paths with confidence.
That’s what drew Ramya Raveendranathan, a dentist by training, to the programme. She was determined to move into consulting and needed an MBA that could make that happen.
“Zeroing in on the right MBA programme is a tough task,” she says. “Many things come into play, like the course structure, career coaching services, financial aspects, etc. And in my case, immigration played a huge part. But the MBA programme at the U of A provided the basis towards the career transformation I was looking for.”
Recognising the wide variety of backgrounds students bring, the U of A MBA team tailored the learning experience to meet everyone where they are. Course content starts with the basics and gradually builds into more complex and specialised topics. This pacing helped Raveendranathan gain confidence and truly grasp key business concepts.
It’s something that Duque has experienced too, as the MBA helped him shift into the financial services industry and eventually land a role at RBC Insurance. “One of the biggest takeaways for me was the emphasis on group projects and presentations,” he says.
“Working closely with classmates from diverse backgrounds helped me refine my communication style, build confidence, and become much more eloquent in presenting complex ideas — something that’s now a key part of my daily work with clients.”
Ramya Raveendranathan (right) acknowledges that the ASB staff helped with job search support from the first semester, not just before graduation. Source: University of Alberta
MBA support that opens doors
Career coaching, resume workshops, and mock interviews all play a big role in helping students shift from school to employment. These services are a key reason behind the programme’s strong results. On average, 90% of MBA graduates find a job within three months of finishing. The Careers and Work Integrated LearningCareers and Work Integrated Learning (CWIL) team is crucial to this. From curated articles to podcast suggestions and networking events, the support is consistent and high quality. Students stay informed, feel prepared, and make real connections with professionals across different industries.
“I received tremendous support during and after my MBA,” Duque says. “One person who had a lasting impact on my journey was Paul Taylor, MBA Career Coaching and Education Lead from the CWIL. His coaching went far beyond resume reviews — he really helped me reflect on my career direction, clarify my goals, and make confident decisions during my job search.”
For Raveendranathan, landing a role at Deloitte stemmed directly from the programme’s strong alumni ties. “Through networking, I connected with an alumnus who graduated two years before our class, was working at Deloitte when she informed me of an opportunity at Deloitte,” she says.
Employment rates are high for MBA graduates. But what’s more profound is the new lives they create for themselves in Canada during and after the programme.
When Duque’s family moved for the MBA, they chose a house outside downtown Edmonton. “After our first night, my wife told me she’d never go back to Brazil, which showed me how well she adapted to life in a smaller city and how much she appreciated the space and quality of life we could provide for our children here,” he says.
For Raveendranathan, the MBA led to a role in a Big Four firm and gave her and her husband the foundation to build a new life. “It helped us become ingrained in the culture of this spectacular country as permanent residents and set us up for dreaming of bigger and better things in life,” she says. “For all this, I am truly grateful to the MBA programme at the U of A.”
Learn more about the MBA programme at the University of Alberta.
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