A deep dive into UBC Sauder’s PMBA residencies: The power of curated networking

In the Professional Master of Business Administration (PMBA) at the UBC Sauder School of Business, students don’t just learn from the instructors—they learn from the people sitting next to them. Combining flexible learning formats, world-leading faculty and global opportunities, the program is designed for professionals who want an MBA without pausing their careers. But its most distinctive feature is the professional residencies—immersive educational experiences where connections grow, ideas expand and new perspectives take shape.

Fostering connection through residency

Throughout the 24-month PMBA, students participate in three eight-day professional residencies at the UBC Vancouver Campus, covering topics like competitive strategy, negotiations and sustainability. Required for both online and in-person students, residencies aim to help students foster relationships with faculty and other working professionals.
 

Building a diverse, lifelong network

As with all elements of the PMBA, residencies are built on teamwork. Through experiential activities and discussions, students have the opportunity to actively collaborate with diverse cohorts of up to 60 people.

For Sohail Nazari, Global Vice President of a software-as-a-service business at ANDRITZ, the PMBA residency is an investment in valuable connections.

“Everyone is ambitious, open-thinking from different cultures and industries,” he said. “In 10 years, these are the people you want to have in your network.”

Beyond professional connections, residencies form community and long-lasting friendships.

During her last residency, Meghan Smith, Senior Marketing Manager at Mission Group, reflected on how relationships with her classmates have grown over the past two years.

“The group of people in your cohort become your compatriots, friends, knowledge base and advisors,” she shared. “I definitely see myself leaning on them for years to come.”
 

Gaining fresh perspectives

Exposure to a diverse cohort not only expands professional networks but strengthens perspectives. During residency, students work in teams of five to six to tackle case studies and activities or engage in thought-provoking discussions.

With a background in civil engineering and infrastructure development, Gordon Frenke joined the PMBA to broaden his multidisciplinary lens. Learning in an environment where individuals are encouraged to exchange their unique insights and ideas, Gordon discovered a renewed sense of open-mindedness.

“We’re normally used to working with those in our field, but as part of this program, we’re exposed to every type of discipline.” he reflected. “Working with different people gets you thinking in different ways.”

The perspectives shared during residency are further enhanced by the high caliber of students. For Conny Lin, Development Director at Electronic Arts, the ambitious energy of her cohort has been crucial to the experience.

“[UBC Sauder] has done a great job selecting the right candidates who have good fit in the program,” Lin said. “People here just have the right mindset and are very collaborative, and that’s one of the most essential parts of being successful in business school.”
 

Advice for navigating residency

The PMBA residencies give students more than knowledge. They provide a network, a community and a space to discover new perspectives.

Alumna Éire Gorman encourages future students to embrace every opportunity to connect, especially during residency.

“You’re going to get out of this what you put into it, and you’re all in the same boat,” Gorman said. "It’s about looking after each other, helping each other along the way and sharing in each other’s experiences.”