How SFU Beedie's Full-Time MBA helped alumnus build a purpose-driven career

When Patrick Cameron entered the full-time MBA program at SFU’s Beedie School of Business, he brought with him years of experience in project management from the construction to the food processing industry. What he sought wasn’t just a credential—it was a transformation.

Despite gaining some valuable work experience in the early stages of his career as a project manager in home construction and then in finance and operations at local baked goods favourite, Terra Breads, Cameron started to feel that something was missing in his education.

“I began to feel that I lacked the tools to move on to the next level,” says Cameron. “Many of my decisions were based on instinct and experience, rather than former strategic frameworks. I chose to pursue the MBA to sharpen my strategic thinking and open doors that previously felt out of reach.”

That desire to deepen his skills and expand his knowledge base brought him to SFU Beedie, where he found more than just academic rigour—he found a community that challenged him to grow in new ways. Describing his time at SFU Beedie as “transformative,” both professionally and personally, Cameron credits co-curricular activities as playing just as important a role as the classroom in his development.

“The program gave me space to grow inside and outside the classroom,” says Cameron. “I gained confidence, learned how to be vulnerable with peers, and developed the ability to think on my feet and adapt to changing circumstances.”

One standout experience for Cameron was competing in national case competitions—particularly the Deloitte Community Case Competition, where his team developed a strategic direction for local attraction Science World.

“That experience gave me hands-on consulting exposure and boosted my confidence,” he says. “This project helped me discover my passion for strategy consulting, which I’ve since pursued post-graduation. It also prepared me to present with confidence in front of clients.”

That skillset now serves him well in his role as a consultant at BDC, a crown corporation and national development bank owned by the Government of Canada and mandated to serve Canadian businesses through financing, growth, capital, and advisory services.

For Cameron, growth didn’t stop at receiving feedback; it meant giving it, too. As a mentor and peer coach, he supported newer students in building case analysis and presentation skills, a role that deepened his own capabilities and gave him a chance to give back to the community that helped shape him.

Today, Cameron brings that same energy into the consulting world, where the lessons from SFU Beedie continue to guide his work.

“The MBA coursework was directly relevant to my work, but more importantly, the volume and intensity of the program taught me how to prioritize and make distinctions between what’s urgent and what’s important,” says Cameron. “Managing the demanding workload helped prepare me for the fast-paced world of consulting and taught me how to focus my energy for maximum impact.”

Looking ahead, he sees himself continuing to grow within the consulting space.

“I’m passionate about applying the skills I gained from the MBA to drive real impact for clients,” he says. “I look forward to taking on greater challenges and leadership opportunities as I progress.”