Top Five Reasons to Do an MBA in Vancouver

There are hundreds of students that travel from their homes in Canada or around the world every year to study for their MBA here in Vancouver. There is no doubt that the city is an ideal place to live, with incredibly temperate weather, ideal for outdoor activities, cosmopolitan culture, and more social activities than anyone could possibly keep up with. The city is also a hotbed for international business, as it is Canada’s link to Asia and the Pacific Rim. Be sure to read on for all five reason’s to look at MBA programs in Vancouver.

1.) Up and coming hotbed for Pacific Rim trade activity:

Studying for your MBA in Vancouver provides access to this developing hub for the Pacific Rim. One of the major strengths for Vancouver is the strong tie to Hong Kong, which is another up and coming gateway city. This is a good partnership as both Vancouver and Hong Kong provide access to the largest global markets, North America and China. Vancouver, leveraging NAFTA has access to the USA and Mexico, while Hong Kong has preferred trade access to China. To make the city even more appealing for international business, the Provincial Government has lowered corporate taxes and provides accessible immigration policies. The city benefits also from a very high standard of living, attracting foreigners for both business and pleasure travel.

2.) Sustainable MBA in Vancouver, a sustainable city: If economic, environmental, and social sustainability promises to be a big part of your future in business (this is a trick comment because it certainly IS a big part of your business future like it or not) doing your MBA in Vancouver will help to surround you with like-minded individuals. While the SFU Full-Time 1-Year MBA isn’t necessarily branded as a sustainable MBA, there is definitely a large emphasis placed on this highly relevant topic. In the wake of what was touted as “the most sustainable Olympics”, events such as EPIC Vancouver Sustainability Expo, and thought leaders like Boyd Cohen, SFU’s Sustainability Entrepreneur in Residence make Vancouver a hotbed for sustainable thinking. Combine the business elements with the ability to be constantly reminded of what we’re fighting for by simply looking around and enjoying everything Vancouver has to offer; this is truly the place to be.

3.) Great learning environment for women in business:

MBA Programs in Vancouver, and the SFU Full-Time MBA in particular have a high proportion of women enrolled. The SFU MBA class of 2009/2010 has a 50/50 ratio of men and women in the program. This is a big deal considering that according to GMAC, only 39% of GMAT test-takers are women. SFU’s Graduate Career Management Centre has a similar proportion of female career counselors, providing the female students with extra support when looking for a career in the city. Vancouver also plays it’s part, with a plethora of business networking programs geared toward women starting their career. Another GMAC statistic: 81% of the women in the class of 2009 (globally surveyed by GMAC) were employed at the time of graduation, and 90% of them said they got the type of job they wanted.

4.) Live the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Legacy: The Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics brought more to Vancouver than just fun and games, they brought a legacy that will benefit the economy, international trade, and global recognition. The Olympics provided a draw for foreign companies and investors to come to the city and meet the management of local businesses. The Metro Vancouver Commerce program invited and hosted more than 70 foreign companies to Vancouver for the games. According to the director of the program this move has resulted in over $60 million worth of investment into local businesses. From a strictly Canadian perspective, the day after the Olympics ended over 300 CEOs and executives of Canadian Businesses met to collaborate on sustainable business in Canada. Many of these same businesses are represented at the Vancouver Business Career Expo, open to SFU MBA students. The Vancouver convention centre, which was used during the Olympics as the main media centre, is one of the finest and most picturesque locations to meet and confer.

5.) Experience a Dynamic and Active Business Lifestyle :

True Story: Last week while dining at my favorite restaurant and Vancouver Oasis, “Le Crocodile”, I met an individual at the bar who seemed interested in what I do, SEO and web-analytics. I engaged in an in depth conversation about what I do and my experience at SFU Graduate Business, in particular the 1-Year MBA program. The conversation quickly turned to his business, and before I knew it I was being asked to consider taking a contract with his company to do their web-traffic analysis. Vancouver is a place where social connections and similarities can be matched to jobs and careers with very little effort. The city is sometimes criticized for being “cliquey” or “exclusive”, however I strongly believe that if you put yourself out there you will actually benefit from a more personalized style of doing business. It’s true that people do business with their friends, or at least those that they can trust. Vancouver’s Business scene is full of networking events, informal business seminars of all genres, and commerce organizations with readily available memberships. SFU’s Graduate Business Career Centre has been (and continues to be) an incredible resource for MBA students at the school. Chances are that if luck isn’t sitting beside you at your favorite restaurant, the SFU Career Centre will show you where it is, and maybe even foot the bill for the ticket.