Dennis Konasewich - Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management (BCom)

This program is one of a kind. I had a unique opportunity to learn from some of the best, as they brought with them a wealth of experience and knowledge, as well as a variety of different business strategies, models and concepts that I utilize daily.

Few people are willing to take the road of venturing into the unknown world of entrepreneurship, which I strongly believe is due to a pre-conceived notion that the risks are so great. However, I found that if you are doing what you love and have a strong team around you, the ability to sustain a living is not as hard as people perceive. I can say with certainty that the Entrepreneurship Program at RRU empowered me to live my learning, along with my dreams!

I hit the ground running just after graduation, and I haven’t stopped yet. With my degree in hand, I took a look at what ‘I had to offer’. My core passion being golf, I swung into the business of golf with a novel idea where I recycled unneeded golf clubs over the Internet. The ability to `choose my own adventure` and have the freedom to do what I want is absolutely priceless. Combine this freedom with working on your favourite sport everyday through the Internet where I can work at anytime of day, anywhere in the world truly shows how business has evolved...to me it`s priceless!

Once I was past a few initial speed bumps, I kept the drive alive and gained a superior education. I would like to express my appreciation to a few of my most influential professors. Professor Terry Power leads a powerful course on global perspective that has truly made me think globally but not lose sight of my local perspective. Prof. Brent Mainprize worked long and hard to provide one of the best classes I have ever encountered, and we should be truly grateful for his commitment to RRU and the students themselves. Dr. Stephen Long `s vision for a program that was more management-based than finance-based has enabled me to `manage circles around others` and I can honestly make their heads spin! It`s so powerful, yet so fun! Now I am practicing and building upon the principles from class and can finally understand where my facilitators were coming from.

One of the best parts of my 100-person class, are the people I met through my 12-month term. I know where almost every individual in my graduating class is, even those as far away as New Zealand and Taiwan. We have developed a bond and willingness to help one another in any way we can. This support network has not only created lifelong friendships but has also allowed me to be who I am today. For that I am truly grateful. We shared in a first-class program that pushed our minds and soon people will begin to understand that Royal Roads is no longer a military college, but a venue where people can transform their lives.

Dennis Konasewich, Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management, Founder and CEO of BLU SKY Golf Xchange, Inc., Vancouver.