In this insightful Q&A, O'Nell Agossa (BCom’20), a Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Desautels alumnus, shares his experiences and reflections on his educational journey. From the vibrant student life in Montreal to his current role as a Project Leader at Boston Consulting Group in Johannesburg, O'Nell's story is a testament to the transformative power of a globally diverse education. He discusses the highlights of his time at Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾, the skills he gained, and offers valuable advice for African students aspiring to study at Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Desautels.
Why did you choose to study at Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Desautels?
Montreal's diverse environment and reputation as a student city was the first selling point. Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾'s reputation was another important factor: I was looking for one of the most rigorous and well recognized business schools in the country and the opportunity to immerse myself in an anglophone environment and take full advantage of it. Becoming bilingual by the time I graduated was a clear goal of mine (French being my first language).
What was one of the highlights of your time with Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Desautels?
I have too many to select only one: to this day, the Dynamic Cities Study Trip in 2019 visiting Tokyo, Bangkok and Hong Kong has some of my fondest memories of my time at Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Desautels. The opportunities to compete in international case competitions representing our school and help grow the case community are great memories. Finally, the most rewarding experience was holding the role of Management Undergraduate Society (MUS) president in 2018-2019 - an experience through which I learnt a lot and truly built amazing relationships with the entire Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Desautels community.
How has your Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Desautels education transformed you as a person?
Transformed isn't so much the word here - I would say it laid down an incredible foundation as I ushered into my life as a young adult and young professional. I cannot understate the impact that completing my undergrad in such a globally diverse school has had on me - in any major city, there is someone from Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ that I know. The perspectives I gained, the relationships we've made - the value of those shines bright even more today than when I was at Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Desautels, and this fearless openness to the world and ability to embrace it has been significantly amplified through my time at Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Desautels.
What is your current role and how have the skills you gained at Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Desautels helped you in your current work?
I currently work as a Project Leader for BCG (Boston Consulting Group) based out of our Johannesburg office, after starting out in Montreal. Many of the skills I learnt at Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Desautels from strategic management, critical thinking and most importantly the ability to work with people from all walks of life are useful today. I primarily work on Global Health and Global development topics across the African continent. Whether internally or with clients, I am consistently collaborating with brilliant individuals based across every imaginable time zone. Adaptability, embracing change and new ways of thinking and seeing the world around me are all skills I've gained and continued to grow since Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Desautels.
What advice would you give to other African students looking to study at Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Desautels?
Go the extra mile to build community and good relationships early on - support others and seek help when you need it. There are amazing initiatives and clubs related to the African continent - such as Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ DABI, the Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ African Students Society MASS, etc.- which you can take full advantage of. Most importantly, you are in an incredibly diverse city where the Â鶹´«Ã½ÍøÕ¾ Desautels name holds weight: go beyond the walls of the school and connect with Africans studying in other well-known schools - make the most of what the unique environment of Montreal has to offer.
Bachelor of Commerce (BCom)
The BCom program prepares students for professional and managerial careers by fostering critical thinking, interdisciplinary integration, and practical business problem-solving. Students develop risk-taking, teamwork, and leadership skills, gaining essential management competencies to thrive in the global marketplace.
