Bridging Experience and Environment: How PACE Launched Olufemi Dada's Career in Canada
Olufemi Dada did not arrive in Canada as a beginner. He arrived as an experienced project management professional looking for a way to apply what he already knew in a new country, a new climate, and a different professional context.
PACE's Advanced Project Management and Technology program gave him exactly that bridge. Today he works as a Project Manager at JPH Consulting, doing the work he was trained for, in a place he now calls home.
Filling the Gaps That Experience Alone Cannot
Coming into a new country with an existing professional background is not the same as being ready for that country's job market. Olufemi understood this. His years of project management experience were an asset, but they needed a framework that fit the Canadian environment.
PACE's program provided that framework, adding structure and depth to the theoretical knowledge that underpins project management practice at a professional level.
"The PACE program puts details around the theories that govern project management. It helped me fit into the Canadian environment and have the progress I have been able to achieve so far."
That combination of existing experience and new context is what prepared him for the role he holds today.
Putting Learning Into Practice
As a Project Manager at JPH Consulting, Olufemi draws on both what he learned at PACE and the years of experience he brought with him. The two now work together in a way they could not before the program.
"It's been a lot of doing the things that we were taught in class, and of course implementing some of those experiences I've had over the years, but in a different climate, in a new place, and with a different set of people."
That is the practical outcome PACE is designed to produce, not just a credential, but the ability to actually do the work in a new environment.
A Community That Supports You
For newcomers to Canada, the professional transition is only part of the challenge. The social and personal adjustment matters just as much. Olufemi found that PACE addressed both.
"PACE offers an environment that creates a family-like sensation. You want to be in that place where people tell you where to go and what to do."
That sense of belonging, of having a community around you while you navigate something unfamiliar, is something Olufemi points to as one of the defining features of his PACE experience.
Advice for Future Students
Olufemi's message to anyone considering the program is direct: come. Winnipeg is welcoming, PACE is supportive, and the program will give you what you need to move your career forward in Canada.
Explore the Advanced Project Management and Technology program at PACE and take the next step in your career. Book a meeting with our recruitment coach today: https://bit.ly/PACE-Recruitment-Coach
Hands-On Learning, Real Career Results: Nadia Musoni's PACE Story
Nadia Musoni graduated from PACE's Supply Chain Management diploma with more than academic knowledge. She graduated with the practical skills to do the job.
Today, she works as a Supply Chain Analyst at PepsiCo, applying what she learned at PACE directly to her daily responsibilities.
Instructors Who Know the Industry
What set the program apart for Nadia was who was teaching it. Every instructor in PACE's Supply Chain Management diploma works in the industry. That meant the curriculum was never just theoretical. Case studies, assignments, and classroom discussions reflected real challenges supply chain professionals face on the job.
"Our instructors didn't give us only theories. They taught us how to use it and how it's applicable in our daily work."
That distinction matters. Many programs teach concepts. PACE taught Nadia how to apply them.
Skills That Transferred Directly
The practical structure of the program meant Nadia was not just absorbing information. She was building usable skills through homework and case studies designed to mirror real workplace scenarios.
"It really gives you skills. You feel like you master something because they make sure your homework and case studies actually get you something out of it."
That mastery is what carried directly into her current role at PepsiCo, where the analytical and problem-solving skills she built at PACE are part of her daily work.
Advice for Future Students
Nadia's advice for anyone considering the program is direct: apply.
"I would definitely encourage people to apply and get into the program. It will get you out of your comfort zone for sure."
Stepping outside your comfort zone, she says, is where the real growth happens.
Explore the Supply Chain Management diploma at PACE and take the next step in your career. Book a meeting with our recruitment coach today: https://bit.ly/PACE-Recruitment-Coach
Beyond the Degree: How PACE Gave Eunbeen Jang the Experience to Launch Her HR Career
Eunbeen Jang did not come to PACE because she lacked education. She came because she recognized what education alone could not give her.
With a bachelor's degree in Human Resources already completed at the University of Winnipeg, Eunbeen entered the workforce and quickly identified a gap. The knowledge was there. The practical, hands-on experience that employers in the HR industry expect was not. So she made a deliberate decision to go back to school, this time for something different.
She found it in PACE's full-time HR Management diploma. She graduated in 2025 and secured a role as an HR Specialist at Smitty's Canada shortly after.
Choosing Experience Over More Theory
The decision to return to education is never straightforward, especially when you already hold a university degree. For Eunbeen, the reasoning was clear. She did not want more classroom knowledge. She wanted a program that would put her in situations that mirrored the real HR industry.
PACE's program delivered that through assignments designed around real workplace scenarios, team projects that replicated collaborative professional environments, and instructors who are not just academics but active professionals in their fields.
"All of those professors are industry professionals. Being able to get their experience shared, being able to be one of their connections, it helped me a lot more than just the knowledge."
A Network That Lasts
One of the outcomes Eunbeen did not fully anticipate was the strength of the community she built inside the program. Her classmates became more than peers. They became a professional network she continues to rely on today.
"We still have our group chat. We are looking for jobs for each other. We are finding our way to grow together."
That kind of connection is difficult to manufacture and easy to overlook when evaluating a program on paper. At PACE, it emerges naturally from the collaborative, cohort-based learning environment.
Confidence That Translates Into Employment
The most direct measure of what PACE delivered for Eunbeen is straightforward: she graduated and got a job. Not eventually, but right after. The combination of practical assignments, industry-connected instruction, and a program built around real HR application gave her the confidence to walk into a professional role and contribute from day one.
"Right after graduating from PACE, I was able to secure a job because of PACE. I had enough experience to be confident working in the HR industry."
Advice for Future Students
Eunbeen is honest that she still has a long way to go in her career. But she is equally clear that PACE gave her the foundation she needed to start well. Whether you are coming in with prior education or entering HR for the first time, the program meets you where you are and prepares you for where you want to go.
Explore the Human Resource Management diploma at PACE and take the next step in your career. Book a meeting with our recruitment coach today: https://bit.ly/PACE-Recruitment-Coach
From Internship to Full-Time: How PACE Launched Sumaita Khan's Communications Career in Canada
Sumaita Khan knew what she was good at. People, communication, and the kind of work that sits at the intersection of both. What she needed was a program that could take that foundation and turn it into a career in Canada.
She found it at PACE. Today, Sumaita works full-time as an Assistant Communications Coordinator in the Water and Waste Department at the City of Winnipeg, a role she traces directly back to a PACE internship that started while she was still a student.
Choosing the Right Program
Sumaita came to PACE from Bangladesh with a background in marketing and a natural instinct for working with people. The Public Relations and Strategic Communications diploma was a clear fit, not just because of its content, but because of the environment PACE offered.
She was drawn to the multicultural and diverse community at PACE, a place where students from different countries and backgrounds come together in one of Canada's most connected urban campuses. The downtown location added its own energy, with the kind of city life that made even lunch breaks feel like part of the experience.
"PACE is really unique in the sense that it has a great multicultural and diverse platform."
Building More Than Knowledge
The program delivered on its academic promise, but what Sumaita reflects on most is what she built beyond the curriculum. Hands-on experience that gave her practical skills she could speak to in job interviews. Networking opportunities that connected her to professionals and organizations in her field. And confidence, something she names repeatedly as one of the most valuable things she took away from her time at PACE.
"PACE has provided me with hands-on experience, great networking opportunities, but most importantly, it has helped me build my confidence."
That confidence matters in communications. It is the difference between someone who understands the theory and someone who can walk into a room, represent an organization, and do the work.
The Internship That Changed Everything
PACE's industry connections are built into the program by design. For Sumaita, that meant an internship with the City of Winnipeg before she had even graduated. It was a real role, with real responsibilities, inside one of the city's most essential public service departments.
The internship did not end when the program did. The City of Winnipeg offered her a full-time position, and she accepted.
"It was actually PACE that opened the door for me through an internship with the City of Winnipeg. And I get to work full time there now."
That is the clearest possible measure of what a well-connected program can do.
Looking Back and Looking Forward
Sumaita says without hesitation that she would do the program again. And when she thinks about students who are considering it now, her message is straightforward: explore it, commit to it, and stay open to where it can take you.
"I am excited to see future graduates explore this program and discover where the program can take them."
Explore the Public Relations and Strategic Communications diploma at PACE and take the next step in your career. Book a meeting with our recruitment coach today: https://bit.ly/PACE-Recruitment-Coach
Balancing Family, Work and a Career Transition: Kathleen O'Meara's PACE Story
Kathleen O'Meara's life was already full when she decided to go back to school. A career in child welfare, a family, and a schedule packed with the kind of responsibilities that do not pause for anyone. What she needed was a program that understood that. She found it at PACE.
Today, Kathleen is a Social Worker at Child and Family Services with HR credentials that are already positioning her for a future transition into a human resources role within her organization.
Fitting Education Into a Full Life
For Kathleen, the ability to choose her own courses and complete them on her own schedule was not a nice feature. It was the reason she was able to enrol at all.
PACE's part-time HR Management diploma gave her that control. Online courses with flexible pacing meant she could study after the kids were in bed, during a quiet weekend morning, or whenever her schedule allowed. The course load was real and required genuine effort, but the timing was always hers.
"It was flexible. I was able to fit it into my lifestyle."
She also appreciated that online did not mean disconnected. Instructors were accessible, and the learning environment still felt supported even without a physical classroom.
More Than a Credential
Kathleen is candid about what she gained beyond the formal education. Returning to study as an adult with a family is its own kind of skill. Learning how to manage reading loads, assignments, and deadlines alongside a full personal and professional life was something she had to relearn, and PACE's structure made that possible.
She also found connection in unexpected places. Studying online alongside students from around the world gave her a perspective she did not anticipate when she first enrolled.
"I was able to connect with a lot of people from different places in the world. I liked that a lot."
A Career Transition Already in Motion
The most tangible measure of Kathleen's program is what is already happening at work. Her organization is going through significant change, and the people around her know she completed an HR Management diploma. That knowledge has already put her in a position to contribute in new ways, and a formal transition into a human resources role within the same organization is on the horizon.
She did not have to leave her workplace to grow. The program came to her, and now her career is catching up.
Advice for Future Students
If your life is busy and the timing never feels quite right, Kathleen's experience is worth paying attention to. The program is designed to work around a full life, not replace it. The flexibility is real, the connections are real, and the outcomes follow.
Explore the HR Management diploma at PACE and take the next step in your career. Book a meeting with our recruitment coach today: https://bit.ly/PACE-Recruitment-Coach
Advancing Her HR Career Without Putting Life on Hold: Hannah Gagnon's PACE Story
Hannah Gagnon knew what she wanted: a better career in Human Resources. What she was not willing to do was pause her life to get there.
With a full-time job, financial responsibilities, and a career she had already invested in, Hannah needed a program that could fit around her reality. She found it at PACE. Today, she is a Human Resources Manager at IHT Group, and she got there without ever stepping away from the workforce.
Flexibility as a Starting Point
When Hannah was researching programs, flexibility was not just a bonus feature; it was the deciding factor. PACE's part-time HR Management diploma, available entirely online through virtual and self-directed formats, gave her a realistic path forward.
She could keep showing up to work Monday through Friday, meet her financial obligations, and dedicate her weekends to building the knowledge and credentials her career needed next.
"Being able to complete the program entirely online made that possible for me."
Making It Work in Practice
For Hannah, the key was structure. Knowing that her weekdays belonged to her job and her weekends belonged to her studies meant she never had to choose between the two. The online format removed the pressure of commuting, fixed classroom schedules, and the logistical challenges that often make part-time study feel unsustainable for working professionals.
The program was convenient without being easy. It asked something of her. She delivered.
A Career Moved Forward, Not Interrupted
Hannah's outcome speaks directly to what PACE's part-time model is designed to produce. She did not take a detour to build her career. She built it while staying on the road.
"PACE allowed me to conveniently still pay my bills and develop myself professionally."
That combination, career continuity and professional development happening at the same time, is what makes the part-time format more than just a scheduling convenience. For many working professionals, it is the only realistic path to growth.
Advice for Future Students
If you are weighing whether a part-time program is worth it while managing a full-time career, Hannah's experience offers a clear answer. The program can fit your life. You do not have to fit your life around the program.
Find the schedule that works for you, commit to it, and trust that the outcome on the other side is worth the effort.
Explore the HR Management diploma at PACE and take the next step in your career. Book a meeting with our recruitment coach today: https://bit.ly/PACE-Recruitment-Coach
From HR Student to Training Specialist: How PACE Shaped Genissa's Career with the Government of Manitoba
Genissa Grace Licarte did not set out to overhaul how her organization trains its people. She set out to strengthen her own knowledge. What happened next is a straightforward example of what happens when the right program meets the right moment.
Genissa completed the HR Management diploma at PACE part-time, while managing her professional responsibilities, and today works as a Provincial Orientation and Training Specialist at Manitoba Housing. In that role, she designs and delivers training materials that help staff understand their responsibilities and improve their own job outcomes.
Finding the Right Fit
For working professionals, the structure of a program matters as much as its content. PACE's HR Management diploma is offered in multiple formats: in-person, hybrid and online, which allowed Genissa to find a format that fit her schedule without compromising the quality of her education.
That flexibility kept the path forward open when life got busy.
Support That Made a Difference
Genissa points to PACE's Student Advisors and Registration Office as a key part of her experience. In a part-time program, momentum can be hard to maintain, knowing that support was available helped her stay on track from start to finish.
"The support I got from them was amazing, and it just helped me progress successfully throughout the entire program."
Knowledge That Transfers Directly
The clearest measure of a program's value is what graduates do with it. For Genissa, the answer is concrete. Her coursework in Adult Learning Theory became a direct input into her professional practice.
She now uses those principles to build training guides, instructional slides, and step-by-step process materials that Manitoba Housing staff use to navigate their roles with confidence.
"PACE strengthened my knowledge in the principles of Adult Learning Theory, which I am currently using in my role.".
The program did not just add credentials to her resume. It changed how she approached her work.
Advice for Future Students
Genissa's advice to anyone considering the program is straightforward, “Go for it!”.
The flexibility of PACE's delivery formats means there is likely a format that fits your life. The support structure means you will not have to figure it out alone. And the learning, as Genissa's career demonstrates, will follow you well beyond graduation.
Explore the HR Management diploma at PACE and take the next step in your career. Book a meeting with our recruitment coach today: https://bit.ly/PACE-Recruitment-Coach
From Engineering to Insight: Chioma Onyekpere’s Predictive Analytics Journey at PACE
Chioma Onyekpere came to The University of Winnipeg PACE with a strong background in software engineering and a clear goal—to deepen her expertise in data science and learn how to turn data into meaningful insights. Enrolling in the Predictive Analytics program marked a significant step in her professional evolution.
At PACE, Chioma found a learning environment that emphasized hands-on, practical experience. Through projects, assignments, and presentations, she developed the ability to transform data, build predictive models, and communicate insights effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences. She credits this applied approach for helping her move beyond theory and truly understand how data can drive decision-making in real-world scenarios.
One of the most valuable aspects of Chioma’s experience was the opportunity to engage with the broader tech community through PACE’s connection with Tech Manitoba. By attending weekly networking events and professional development sessions, she gained exposure to current industry trends, strengthened her professional presence, and built meaningful connections. These experiences encouraged her to think more critically about her role in the evolving field of artificial intelligence and data analytics.
Chioma’s growth at PACE extended beyond technical skills. The program helped her build confidence in presenting ideas, collaborating with others, and approaching challenges with a data-driven mindset. Her journey even led her to the TEDx Winnipeg stage, where she speaks about how biased AI is shaping the future—demonstrating her ability to apply both her technical knowledge and her voice as a thought leader.
Today, Chioma reflects on her time at PACE as a transformative experience that expanded her capabilities and perspective. Her advice to future students is to fully engage with every aspect of the program, treat each assignment as an opportunity to learn deeply, and take advantage of networking opportunities to grow both professionally and personally.
Finding Purpose and Building a Career: Nickona Boyd’s Supply Chain Journey at PACE
Nickona Boyd moved to Winnipeg from Jamaica with the goal of building a new future in Canada. While the transition to a new country came with uncertainty, enrolling in the Supply Chain Management program at The University of Winnipeg PACE became a turning point in her journey.
At PACE, Nickona discovered a supportive community that helped her grow both personally and professionally. From the program manager to student services advisors, she received consistent guidance that made her feel welcomed and supported from the very beginning. She describes PACE as more than a learning environment—it was a place where she found purpose and direction.
A key part of Nickona’s experience was learning from industry professionals. Her instructors brought real-world knowledge into the classroom, helping her understand how supply chain concepts are applied in practice. Beyond academics, she also had the opportunity to participate in volunteer initiatives, which allowed her to give back, build confidence, and stay engaged within the PACE community.
Nickona also benefited from a diverse classroom environment, where she collaborated with peers from over a dozen countries. These interactions expanded her perspective and strengthened her ability to work in multicultural teams—an essential skill in today’s global workforce.
Today, Nickona works as a Customs Release Agent at Frontier Supply Chain Solutions, a role she secured through the job search strategies, networking skills, and practical knowledge she gained during her time at PACE. She credits her instructors and peers for shaping her growth and preparing her for the Canadian job market.
Her advice to future students is to stay engaged, ask questions, and actively build connections. For Nickona, success came from making the most of every opportunity—whether in the classroom, through volunteering, or by connecting with others.
From Experience to Opportunity: Bible’s Project Management Journey at PACE
Preechayan (Bible) Prapinwong came to Canada from Thailand with over 14 years of experience in architecture, looking to expand his skills and transition into project management. Choosing the Project Management program at The University of Winnipeg PACE became a key step in that journey.
At PACE, Bible found a learning environment that went beyond theory. He learned directly from industry professionals who brought real-world insights into the classroom. One of the most impactful experiences for him was participating in a field trip to a manufacturing facility, where he observed quality management processes in action. This hands-on exposure helped him connect classroom concepts with real industry practices and deepened his understanding of how projects operate in real settings.
Beyond academics, Bible found strong support through PACE’s academic and career services. As someone new to Canada, these services helped him understand the local job market, make informed career decisions, and plan his next steps with clarity. He also built meaningful connections with instructors, staff, and classmates from around the world, gaining perspectives that strengthened both his professional and personal growth.
Bible actively participated in industry events, including those hosted by the Project Management Institute (PMI), which further prepared him for a future career in project management. He credits these networking opportunities and collaborative experiences for helping him build confidence and expand his professional outlook.
Today, Bible reflects on his time at PACE as a transformative experience that equipped him with both the technical knowledge and practical skills needed for the next stage of his career. His advice to future students is to stay engaged, build strong connections, and make the most of every opportunity. For him, PACE was not just a place to learn, it was a place to grow.
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