As soon as Taiwo Olabode Kehinde completed his full-time Project Management Diploma through UWinnipeg PACE, he landed a dream job as a project analyst with Manitoba eHealth — and he could not be happier.
“I am really excited; I feel I am giving back,” says Taiwo.
He was a quality assurance analyst in the successful Electronic Patient Record upgrade project. He is now part of a team working on the multi-million dollar project to create an electronic home care record system across regional health authorities in Manitoba.
“The best part of a career in business analysis and project management is it allows me to work with people from all backgrounds and walks of life. There are different challenges every day. I love it.”
Taiwo, originally from southwestern Nigeria, had completed a master’s degree and MBA in the United Kingdom when he heard about UWinnipeg’s PACE diploma from a friend. “I wanted a more hands-on program, and that is what attracted me to come to here.” He describes the project management diploma as practical, applied learning that matched his interests extremely well.
His favourite course at PACE was Effective Project Reporting, “because in the real world, projects succeed primarily due to effective communication between all stakeholders involved. My training at PACE gave me full Canadian experience, which I was able to leverage in securing a good job.”
“I wanted to learn while still have a taste of the professional life that I was aspiring to get into after school. PACE was this school for me,” says Felista Karanja, who graduated from UWinnipeg PACE’s Project Management Diploma in 2019. Felista previously earned a BA in International Relations and an MA in Peace and Conflict Studies.
“Honestly, I have been in three different universities but I cannot compare my experience at PACE with any other. I learned so much in a very short period. My professional skills were sharpened and the standard of my work has improved greatly,” she says.
Felista says PACE prepared her for her current role as a Project Manager by creating a professional environment throughout the program. With courses in resume building and the Career Hub, along with lunch hour seminar with alumni and working professionals, Felista says she was ready to face the job market after graduation.
In her work Felista’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, coordinating project communication within three project streams, updating project documents, submitting status reports, monitoring risks, and updating the project schedule.
“Striving to deliver high quality work at all times has now become my motto. Also, the soft skills that I learned while at PACE are invaluable. These skills have been beneficial even in my current role working as part of a diverse project team,” she says.
Felista’s advice for others considering studying at UW PACE, “Go for it, it is worth it!”
“My year at PACE allowed me to meet a mosaic of cultures, wonderful people, and enjoy being a student again, but at the same time PACE prepared me to integrate into the labour market,” says Nelly Blancas, Project Manager at Manitoba Hydro International (MHI). Nelly graduated with a Project Management Diploma from UWinnipeg PACE in 2017.
As a Project Manager at Manitoba Hydro International (MHI), Nelly manages specialized energy services projects in Latin American countries such as Argentina, Chile and Honduras, and develops business strategies for the Latin American and Mexico energy markets. She is engaged in the business development and project management activities to support MHI’s consulting, engineering, management, and training contracts internationally.
“My experience in PACE provided me the abilities and knowledge to quickly adapt to the Canadian corporate culture,” says Nelly, who aside from holding a Project Management Diploma from PACE, also holds a BSc in Computer Science from Instituto Politécnico Nacional in Mexico, as well as an MSc in Information Science from Tecnologico de Monterrey in Mexico City, Mexico.
“I strongly recommend UWinnipeg PACE. It is extremely satisfying, and PACE also has wonderful and friendly staff who coordinate cultural events and provide student with resources to make the journey easier as international student.”
Nelly Blancas Senior Strategy & Planning Analyst Canada Life
"PACE provided practical training in project management with industry-recognized professionals as instructors,” says Yanique Brighton. Yanique earned her Project Management Diploma from UWinnipeg PACE and was able to secure her current role as Senior HR Business Partner at Lifetouch shortly afterwards.
“Several factors were taken into consideration when I selected UWinnipeg PACE as the institution of study,” says Yanique, who also holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies from The University of the West Indies, Mona in Jamaica prior to enrolling at UWinnipeg PACE.
“Experienced instructors with vast industry experience, a recognized institution, the internship component, a central location in the heart of the city, and earning double certification in one program. I was able to complement my human resources experience and training with project management knowledge.”
Yanique says one of the most valuable lessons from her PACE experience came from the writing courses like Effective Written Communication and Effective Project Reporting.
“These courses are designed not only to enhance one’s writing skills but to develop one’s attention to details. The courses taught me to be mindful of my audience when communicating.”
As PACE alumni, Yanique is giving back to her university community. “After completing the program, I had the opportunity of being asked by the school to tutor/mentor a group of students in effective project reporting and it was an absolute pleasure."
“PACE was the start of everything,” says Daniel Strehl, who earned his Project Management Diploma from UWinnipeg PACE in 2021. “From building a solid network to polishing my previous knowledge in project management, and providing me with the opportunity to attend an internship experience.”
Daniel completed an internship at the City of Winnipeg to finish off his 12-month program before heading into the job market.
“This experience was crucial for adding Canadian work experience to my resume, which allowed me to be at least one step ahead of the competition for job positions,” says Daniel. “The internship allowed me to understand better the work environment and what was expected from me in future positions.”
“The PACE course is aligned with the market best practices, and the body of teachers is well prepared to foster students to excel in a competitive work market,” says Daniel.
Daniel landed a role as Project Manager at Manitoba Hydro after his internship, a provincial Crown Corporation and one of Canada's largest integrated electricity and natural gas distribution utilities. Before studying at PACE, Daniel earned a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Centro Universitario Euro-Americano in Brazil.
“My experience at PACE was vital to position myself for my current role,” says Daniel. “I am responsible for managing all project and integration-related tasks, including initiating, planning, executing, and closing multiple small, medium and large-sized projects. I am also responsible for guiding and overseeing multiple project teams.”
Daniel says his most valuable lesson from PACE is that your network reflects your values and efforts.
“The course will demand dedication and much work, but the experience that you will go through is worth every second of your time,” he says. “PACE can offer you the means and ways to become or set you towards the best version of yourself.”
Priscilla Rios is a Director for Aramark Canada in Winnipeg. She found that PACE provided her with the knowledge she needed to start her career in marketing, public relations, and strategic communication.
“The PACE program has a great team of instructors,” Priscilla says. “They are willing to go an extra mile for you if they see you are taking the program seriously, and that support is priceless!”
She also appreciated how the full-time program allowed her to graduate in one year.
“I got a job in my area of study three weeks before I finished the program,” says Priscilla. “PACE was a perfect fit due to its length and its high quality of education. When I signed up for the program I knew I would return to the market quickly.”
Before coming to PACE, Rios was a journalist in Brazil for ten years. She worked as an editor-in-chief for TV and print. The PACE courses provided her with a broad foundation of PR and marketing-specific knowledge and skills with an emphasis on best practices, as well as current and emerging issues —that naturally complement her experience as a journalist.
“It has been a great journey,” says Priscilla.
Priscilla Rios Director National Corporate Marketing Aramark Canada
Public Relations & Strategic Communication Diploma
As an international student, PACE proved to be an excellent choice for building my education and life experience with an incredibly designed program. I got to meet students from around the world and learning became a way of connecting with your classmates through discussing and debating diverse ideas, and interacting with our experienced instructors. PACE gave me the unique opportunity to showcase my talents, improve my skills and most importantly, have fun while doing it. After the program finished, I graduated with my two greatest accomplishments, an opportunity to work as a corporate affairs intern at Cargill and a Brand Ambassador at CBC.
Public Relations & Strategic Communication Diploma
Originally from Mexico, Mirna Sainz-Gomez landed her role as Marketing Specialist for StandardAero just as the COVID-19 pandemic was declared in mid-March 2020.
Prior to this, Mirna landed a role as Events, Marketing and Communications Coordinator at the ALS Society of Manitoba following an internship with the organization before working full-time as an interpreter, while hunting for her dream job in the aerospace industry.
She chose PACE because it was exactly what she was looking for. “It’s a one-year diploma, at a recognized university in North America, and with affordable student fees,” said Mirna.
“I really enjoyed studying at PACE,” says Mirna. “It exceeded my expectations. This one-year program offered me the perfect mix of education. It was an updated 360-degree communications overview, with a high-level of English writing, offered by great instructors.”
As an international student, she found this full-time program to be ideal for what she needed.
“I was fully immersed in an intensive training and learning process on how communications and marketing currently work to help business grow in very competitive markets,” says Mirna. “When you are serious in taking your career to the next level in the international job market, PACE is definitely an option to consider. Going back to school helped me reconnect with my passion for communications and to take a step ahead in my professional career.”
"Most of my school projects at PACE were about the aerospace industry dreaming of one day working there," says Mirna, who as a lifelong lerner pursued further credentials with an online Masters in Aerospace and Airport Management to help her succeed. "I love school!"
Rupa is originally from Kathmandu, Nepal and moved to Canada in January 2017 to pursue her education at The University of Winnipeg PACE.
After her MBA, she secured a position at an advertising and research firm in Nepal and realized she needed to sharpen her skills. The Marketing Manangement Diploma at PACE had the practical experience she needed to succeed. Why would she recommend UWinnipeg?
"UWinnipeg PACE is not only about shaping your career or your academic pathway, it is about transforming you into a complete individual. It teaches you how to anticipate and react to the challenges you face whether it is academic, professional or a personal. Therefore, I encourage you to be a part of the UWinnipeg family and grow into a strong and independent individual."
"I would say that PACE is a great platform for international students like me who can take an opportunity to shine and achieve their goals. However, one should be willing to work hard and work smart because there is no shortcut to your dreams."
PACE helped Bharat Dutta make the transition into a Canadian workplace. With an MBA focused on Operations Management from the School of Management Studies, at Punjabi University in India, Bharat was looking for a program that could brush up his skills and introduce him to Canadian work culture.
Bharat found that in UWinnipeg PACE’s Marketing Management Diploma and graduated in 2018.
“First and foremost, PACE has a really warm and welcoming culture. Secondly, teachers are open to questions and classrooms are more like a discussion groups. Last, but not least, the program is developed for the success in [Canadian] society.”
“For me the most important courses focused on communication skills, cross-cultural awareness, resume building, and essential skills of managers.”
Practical skills learned through the program helped Bharat prepare for and land a job shortly after graduation.
“I knew what I needed to pay attention to in the job posting, how to change my resume, as well as what interview questions I could expect. All-in-all, I was prepared for my job interview because I could anticipate what was coming my way based on the skills I learned at PACE.”
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