“I chose PACE because it offered both project management and soft skills learning opportunities. It was the perfect content to complement my professional experience,” says Juan Cristobal Narvaez, Associate Manager at Canada Life.

Juan graduated with the Project Management Diploma from UWinnipeg PACE in 2018. Prior to coming to Canada, he studied to be a Civil Engineer from Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Ecuador and has an MBA from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education in Mexico.

As part of his role at MHI, he assists with business development and project management activities with a focus on consulting, management, and training contracts in Latin America and Mexico marketplaces, conducts market and competitive analysis in the energy service sector, and develops contacts, relationships and working knowledge of international financial institutions and agencies.

Juan says the fact that the program offers exposure to and training on cultural diversity makes PACE a unique experience.

“The exposure to the cultural diversity that PACE fosters and having acquired the related skills helped me to soundly step into the Canadian workplace. I would’ve never imagined having a formal class about the cultural experience here in Canada but once in my new job, I saw how the course content and assignments were aligned with the realities in the workplace.

Juan Cristóbal Narváez Solano
Associate Manager, Business Performance, Reporting & Support - Group Customer, Shared Services
Canada Life

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.”

Bharat Dutta
Managing Partner
Brio Insurance

“I chose PACE as courses offered perfectly complements industry requirements while prepping students for the challenges ahead,” says Adrian James Menezes, who earned his Project Management Diploma from UWinnipeg PACE in 2017. Adrian had previously earned an Associate Degree in Specialized Business Management from Penn Foster College in Pennsylvania, USA.

Adrian is a Senior Manager in the Project Management Office at Cormer Group Industries Inc. In his work he oversees projects which supply the Aerospace and Defense industries with precision machine products.

“My previous work experience along with the PACE experience created the perfect environment to prepare me for the challenges and opportunities in my workplace,” he says.

Adrian says his experience was set apart by amazing instructors who provided an in-depth perspective with their own experiences, the diversity of his classmates, an affordable program, and the caring staff team who are always willing to listen and assist.

 “Having an outstanding faculty who care and being able to obtain invaluable feedback from students and alumni make PACE programs sought after,” says Adrian who has a few words of advice for new students.

“Prepare to be dedicated, focused, and put all your attention on your program, the results will speak for itself, and provide you the ability to face any challenge that comes along.”

Adrian James Menezes
Founder, President & CEO
AJM Canadian Immigration & Citizenship Services Inc. and IT'S ONLY HONEY INC.

“The students came from various countries, speaking different languages but all of us had one common goal and that was to learn and educate ourselves,” says Nitin Sharma, UWinnipeg PACE Project Management Diploma graduate and Business Analyst at HEB MANITOBA.

“PACE has the programs that best suit the need of the professionals like me who want to have an international education experience that gives an added advantage when entering the Canadian workforce.”

Prior to coming to PACE Nitin completed a Bachelor of Engineering at Maharshi Dayanand University in New Dehli, India.

“The PACE project management program is intense and keeps you on your toes throughout but will greatly help you to gain a solid understanding of the project management concepts,” says Nitin. “The courses, assignments, and projects are designed in such way that will enable you to see the project’s bigger picture, empowers you to confidently take decisions, and promotes ‘outside the box’ thinking.”

“The lesson that I learned is not to take things for granted and to give your best all the time as a success only comes with hard work and discipline,” says Nitin. “The program has helped me in take the project management tools and techniques I learned and use them to carry out my day-to-day activities.”

Nitin Sharma
Business Analyst
HEB MANITOBA

“I wanted to be proud of the school I was going to attend. I wanted to learn and add value to my resume and my professional experience and PACE was able to provide me that,” says Fernanda Grandizoli, who graduated from UWinnipeg PACE’s Project Management Diploma program in 2017.

Fernanda completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Design at Tuiuti University of Parana in Brazil and earned a Certificate in Business Administration from Getulio Vargas Foundation also in Brazil before coming to Canada.

After working with project management at a manufacturing company and also at a real estate organization following her PACE program, Fernanda secured a Business Integration Manager position at Canada Post, where she manages the project team during the planning and execution of digital marketing projects, focusing on Parcels, Events, Mass and Data Marketing. Fernanda is responsible for the overall marketing calendar, projects' schedule and management of all phases of marketing campaigns using Jira Software, ensuring all marketing tactics are completed on time.

“Although I already had experience with projects, I had never really worked with formal project management tools and techniques. This was my most valuable lesson from PACE.”

“The fact that I had students from 12 different countries in my class allowed me to learn so much from other cultures and backgrounds. The courses are not just focused on project management, but you learn other skills, such as leadership and organizational behaviour.”

Fernanda’s advice to anyone interested in the PACE Project Management program is to be organized, stay motivated, and make use of the program tools and resources.

Fernanda Grandizoli
Business Integration Manager
Canada Post

“I was in the peak of my career, left everything behind and started at ground zero, but I never looked back since then” says Joana Bersamina, who has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from De La Salle University in Philippines.

“Having PACE as my starting point will always be the best decision I’ve ever made.” I did some research and majority of the Industry Professionals in the province took PACE. I told myself, “Investment must be worthy down the road and PACE would be the best tool in achieving my goals”

Joana graduated from UWinnipeg PACE’s Human Resource Management Diploma in 2018 and has been in-demand in the HR industry in the province since, working for a number of both private and non-profit organizations.

Currently, she is the Vice President for People & Culture at YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg. The YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg is a charity that ignites the potential in people, helping them grow, lead, and give back to their communities.

 “If you are someone who wants to set foot in the HR industry, PACE is the best starting point. You will never regret it,” she says. “I had zero Canadian experience, and it was PACE that opened all the doors for me.”

Joana Bersamina
Vice President for People & Culture
YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg

“Complementing my experience in the marketing field with digital marketing knowledge was a priority for me,” says Carolina Reyes. “The Marketing Management program at PACE gave me that opportunity.”

Carolina graduated with the Marketing Management Diploma from UWinnipeg PACE in 2019. With a Bachelor of Business Administration from Universidad de los Andes in Colombia, she says PACE helped her get a solid understanding of the marketing landscape in Canada.

“The program does a good job familiarizing international students with the local market. Projects are practical which gives students the opportunity to really test their abilities. This helps you test and improve your communication and branding skills,” she says.

Carolina says that as an international student, arriving in a new place can be stressful and lonely but getting involved in extra-curricular helped her make valuable connections.
 
“I did not know anyone in Winnipeg when I arrived, but PACE offered me the opportunity to be part of the Student Life Committee where I made great friends and had fun while organizing events.”

“Team work is the key to succeed in this program, so be open and ready to share your knowledge with others, to learn from them, and to make life-long friends.”

“PACE stands out due to its recognition in the industry, quality of the professionals teaching each course, the program structure, content, and tempo,” says Odjus Edah-Dike. Odjus graduated with a Financial Management Diploma from UWinnipeg PACE in 2019 and works as Marketing Rewards Team Analyst for SkipTheDishes.

From preparing annual auditing packages and financial information to maintaining the national tax receipt and donor database, Odjus says the PACE experience provided the necessary knowledge and know-how to navigate the needs of his current role.

Before enrolling in the Financial Management program at PACE, Odjus earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Covenant University in Ota, Nigeria in 2015 and worked at an auditing firm as well as an investment firm for two years.

“The PACE program is quite intense and has a condensed curriculum. The program is designed to ensure maximum value for effort required,” says Odjus. “The most valuable aspect of the PACE diploma is the vast experience provided by peers as well as the keen insights into the technicalities in the world of finance.”

Odjus Edah-Dike
Marketing Rewards Team Analyst
SkipTheDishes

“I chose PACE mainly because the students were success stories themselves,” says Teslim Akindele, Project Manager at Red River College Polytechnic and graduate of the Project Management Diploma in 2018. Teslim says the success of previous graduates influenced his decision to enroll at UWinnipeg PACE. “[The students] had excellent things to say about PACE and also had excellent jobs.”

“PACE gives you a unique learning experience that propels your career,” says Teslim. “I found that activities, assignments, and projects assigned seemed like real-life projects. This made me comfortable in my field and also allowed me to ace my PMP a month after graduation.”

“The intensity and tools provided by instructors were very similar to tools that my current role demands. All the courses had valuable lessons I am able to apply to my current role, from Project Management Fundamentals, and Planning and Estimating to Effective Project Reporting,” he says.

Teslim combines what he learned at PACE with the knowledge and skills from his BSc in Architecture, and Master’s in Environmental Design, both from University of Lagos, in Nigeria.

Teslim has many responsibilities at Winnipeg Housing. From creating and managing budgets and schedules for construction projects to working with proposals for new builds to gain new stakeholders. He also manages post-construction activities like deficiency reviews to ensure work done meets quality standards and scope, as well as helping develop and review designs for residential projects.

Teslim Akindele
Project Manager - Capital Projects
Red River College Polytechnic