SFU Alumni Council Profile | Sean Nardi
Sean Nardi (MBA 鈥�22) came to SFU to pursue a long-standing goal to complete his MBA after building a career in business and technology management.
With a strong aptitude for problem-solving and holding a commerce degree from the University of Northern British Columbia, Sean is currently a Technology & Management Consultant at Nardi Consulting Ltd., where he uses his experience and expertise in business technology, transformation, project management, and strategic planning to help organizations mature their IT operations.
He has also cofounded a startup that is improving financial literacy and inclusion with its social investing application. Sean notes his experience in SFU鈥檚 MBA program was exceptional and he鈥檚 grateful for the opportunity to give back by serving on the Alumni Council.
What is a highlight of your career so far?
When I look back at my career, I consider many unextraordinary events as highlights. There have been difficult, frustrating, and taxing times where I also learned a tremendous amount and built closer relationships with my colleagues. For me, it comes down to problem-solving, learning and the satisfaction of achieving a positive outcome. I love solving big, juicy problems with an engaged and excited team that is willing to try something different and eager to improve on the status quo. Whenever that happens, I grow and develop as a professional, and I consider that experience a highlight.
Why did you now choose to get involved with SFU in this way?
My SFU MBA experience was truly exceptional. The professors, the content, the environment, and my classmates all provided me with a rich, memorable experience for which I am deeply grateful. My service to SFU and its alumni is a way to demonstrate my gratitude and an attempt to ensure that this experience is preserved and shared with others in the future.
In your opinion, what are the benefits of staying connected to your alma mater, especially at this stage of your career and life?
Post-secondary education helps you develop a professional network of friends and associates that will serve you long after you graduate. I benefited from this network early on in my career when I ran into a former university roommate at a UNBC alumni event. He introduced me to a practicum opportunity at the investment firm he had recently joined, and this led to my first long-term position. As I have grown in seniority and tackled more complex and difficult challenges, my networks have become an indispensable source of guidance, support, and opportunity.
For recent graduates, one of the easiest ways to kickstart your network is to stay connected to your alma mater and regularly engage with fellow alumni. Whether it is a webinar or a pub night, SFU鈥檚 Alumni network is a great launch pad for building professional networks. You would be surprised how quickly synergies and opportunities can emerge!
What is a piece of advice you鈥檇 like to pass along to current students who are close to graduation or recently graduated?
Graduation can be a time of great uncertainty. For me, that brief period also gave way to exciting, new chapters filled with opportunity, growth, adventure, and friends. I encourage recent grads to savour the moment and make the most of their freedom to learn, explore, experiment and develop. The decisions and sacrifices you make now will have a significant impact on the trajectories of your life and career.
When the dust settles and you find yourself beginning a career, here are a few tips that served me well and which you might find helpful:
- Take pride in your appearance.
- Smile and look people in the eye.
- Be positive, engaged, polite and deferential.
- Listen and learn.
- Accept any challenge you鈥檙e given, work hard and stay late.
- Don鈥檛 be afraid to say, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know,鈥� 鈥淚鈥檓 sorry,鈥� 鈥淚 made a mistake,鈥� and 鈥淚 need help.鈥�
- Be critical of the problem not the person.
- Accept constructive criticism humbly.
- Become comfortable with being uncomfortable.
- Take night classes, even if you have to pay for them.
- Get to know your coworkers.
- Drink the free coffee and bring your lunch to work.
- Never get drunk or high at a work-related event.
- Bring homemade cookies on Fridays.
Learn more about the alumni council and meet the current council members.