Dirk Snider - Bachelor of Commerce in Entrepreneurial Management (BCom)

In almost any business, not having a university degree means not moving up. With my bachelor of commerce degree at Royal Roads University, climbing the corporate ladder is now very much in my grasp.

I guess you could say I’m late starter in post-secondary education. Life after high school was about enjoying life as a bartender in cities across Canada. I eventually settled down, got married and earned a business management diploma in Calgary.

More schooling was put on hold when I began working for Husky Energy as a production accountant, before switching to EnCana Corp., one of Canada’s largest oil and gas companies. As an audit and financial compliance officer, I make sure the company complies with the American Sarbanes-Oxley Act, brought in after corporate accounting scandals in the U.S. My work is about ensuring ethics and accountability in the company, which protects investors and fellow employees, so it is a job I enjoy.

Promotions and advancement depend on job performance, but performance in many ways hinges on education. I stumbled across Royal Roads while researching universities on the Internet, and an open house in Calgary sealed the deal for my entry into the commerce program. Incidentally, at the same open house, my wife Kristi found her way into the masters of environment and management. We’re kind of a Royal Roads family.

My boss at EnCana thought Royal Roads was a fantastic, forward thinking idea. In fact, EnCana paid for 100 per cent of my commerce degree, for a two-year commitment after graduation.

Having the majority of the curriculum taught online with three short residencies in Victoria meant I could stay employed and not uproot from Calgary. Travelling around Canada and the U.S. is part of my job, but I was able to submit papers online and keep up with course material and team meetings. Unlike a few colleagues updating their education, I didn’t have to drive to a classroom across the city through rush-hour traffic.

Royal Roads allowed me to retain my professional and personal life, but still gave the opportunity to meet people and network through the residencies. With good time management, earning the degree doesn’t infringe on your lifestyle.

The commerce program gave me the knowledge I was seeking, covering accounting, finance, IT and notably, sustainability. Being an Albertan the environmental sustainability aspect raised a few eyebrows, but it also raised a lot of topics and perspectives I had never considered.

I’m proud to be part of the Royal Roads institution, and I spread the word that it’s the best thing going for advancing a career. Even before I graduated, I knew it advanced mine.