From Vancouver to the U.K.: How the UBC Sauder MM prepared this alum for a global career

A global career was always part of UBC Sauder School of Business  alum Arjun Doraiswami’s vision. Originally from India, he now works in London, U.K. as an investment analyst at Si Advisers LLP, helping companies across industries uncover growth opportunities and achieve their goals. His path began with the UBC Master of Management (MM) at the Robert H. Lee Graduate School – an experience Doraiswami credits with preparing him to step confidently into the global business arena.

After completing a history degree at UBC, Doraiswami wanted to build on his big-picture skills with a stronger business foundation, which he found in the nine-month MM degree. The program is designed for students from non-business backgrounds who want to add practical business skills to their degree. 

At the same time, he was drawn to the MM because of its global and cross-disciplinary cohort. With over 10 citizenships and eight areas of study represented in this year's cohort of 57 students, the program is a rich learning environment. 

“The MM brought together people from completely different parts of the world and disciplines,” he said. “The program gave us the tools to apply and execute on what we already knew and understood from our background and interests.” 

The COVID-19 pandemic also shaped Doraiswami’s decision to pursue the MM, as the program brought the world to him. What might have been a setback turned into an advantage. 

“Many of our discussions ranged around how different countries were approaching the same kind of challenges, giving us a unique perspective to reframe workplace functions and efficiencies in a remote world,” he said. 

Upon graduating from the MM, Doraiswami carried these global lessons into his first role at Trulioo, a Vancouver-based digital identity verification company, as part of the business development team. He focused on developing data partnerships with vendors around the world to increase the platform’s verification capacity.  

“After working at Trulioo for two years, I decided I wanted to be closer to family and moved to London, with the goal of also exploring different industries and finding a new opportunity,” he said. “That’s where I found Si, a global investment holding company focused on growth equity investments in various sectors such as food and agriculture, health and wellness, and social infrastructure.” 

At Si Advisers, his global outlook quickly stood out to the team. 

“Arjun’s educational background and global experience are truly differentiated and provide a unique perspective when engaging with global constituents,” a representative from Si Advisers said. “He has a unique ability to connect with different cultures and has assisted us in opening new markets in Asia and North America.” 

Doraiswami emphasizes how the MM was critical in leading him to this opportunity in London. 

“My current job description mirrors the MM curriculum. Everything from data analysis and negotiation to financial due diligence. I use those skills every day,” he said. “Thanks to the global experience I had at UBC Sauder, I’m well-equipped to work with my clients from all over the world.” 

Beyond the office, Doraiswami also credits the MM for giving him the confidence to pursue his personal interest, most notably stand-up comedy.  

“The MM showed me how humour can be a powerful tool in leadership as it builds trust. It helps break the ice and build common ground,” he said. “Comedy has helped me understand myself, my job and the world a lot better. I often find myself connecting my humour with my negotiation skills.” 

For Doraiswami, the MM degree opened the door to international perspectives in the classroom and equipped him with the skills and confidence to take his career overseas. Just as importantly, it inspired him to tap into his creative side 

“UBC Sauder allowed me to chase both my personal and career interest at the same time,” he said. “Creativity was essential and one of the most important parts of business school as it showed me how I can connect my interest into my work.”