Career Pathways: Sticking to a Career Game Plan with Armaghan Azarikhah

Career Pathways is a Schulich ExecEd ongoing series showcasing some of our talented alumni. Their career choices had a significant impact on their professional and personal lives. We want to share their unique stories and uncover what it means to pursue a meaningful career.

For Armaghan Azarikhah, project management was always her first career choice. “I had a degree in management in my home country and pursued a job in the same field,” says Armaghan. “Project management always got me excited.”

When Armaghan arrived in Canada in 2022, her vision was clear: study project management to bridge the gap between what she learned back in Iran and what Canadian employers are currently looking for.

As a new immigrant embarking on a fresh start, Armarghan needed something to propel her existing knowledge and prepare her for a new working environment. As soon as she learned about the Sister2Sister Advanced Leadership Program offered by Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto (NEW) in partnership with a number of business schools and colleges, including Schulich ExecEd, she knew she had found the perfect opportunity.

The tangible course benefits offered by a renowned institution like Schulich ExecEd gave Armarghan all the confidence she needed to enrol right away. But what she didn’t anticipate was the caring and supportive network of women that she would gain from this unique Sister2Sister mentorship.

 Finding The Ideal Program

Right from the start, Armaghan had absolute clarity about her career decisions. She wanted a program that could help her reach her professional goals fast and brush up on the fundamentals of project management. Taking small but proactive steps, Armaghan aimed to excel in all her future professional roles. 

“In this regard, Schulich ExecEd’s foundational Project Management Program truly matched what I wanted. By this point, after all the initial research and gathering recommendations from friends and peers, I knew that the micro-credential would be a bonus on my resume.”

 The Program 

Armaghan immediately enrolled in the Sister2Sister Advanced Leadership Program, recommended by one of her friends. “I felt I’ve made the right decision, especially since the newcomer’s program helped me get my foot through the door,” says Armaghan. “It was a hands-on experience to learn better about what to expect in Ontario’s economy and how to make the most of the different project management skills.”

The project management training provided the opportunity to learn comprehensive skills that would help Armaghan as a newcomer. Through the program, she discovered real value by connecting with different faculty members and learning from self-study hours.

“The faculties were always up to address any questions or concerns, which made the program content more exciting. Since project management skills are transferable and I can use them in any role, I feel I have more options and an upper hand when choosing what I want to do in my professional life ahead.”

The Next Steps 

With everything she gained from the Sister2Sister Advanced Leadership Program, Armaghan found her perfect career match as a training and project coordinator at Rogers. She still has more ambitious career goals, but she’s confident her new skills and perspectives from the program have put her on the right path for a bright future. “If there’s an opportunity, I recommend this program to others. You’ll get a lot of value out of it.” 

From gearing up for employment and career coaching to landing the ideal paid internship, the program gives newcomers and women leaders an excellent opportunity to launch their careers.

We thank Armaghan for taking the time to participate in the Career Pathways series. If you’re interested in learning more about Schulich ExecEd’s partnerships with Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto (NEW) and the Sister2Sister Advanced Leadership Program, you can read about it here.

Not sure what program is right for you? Our expert advisors can help. Talk to a Schulich ExecEd advisor today.