Earning an MBA from UoPeople Powered My Transition into Taxation, Leadership, and Technology 

My story begins in motion—geographically, professionally, and personally. Born in Egypt and raised across Calgary and Metro Vancouver, I grew up with an instinct for adaptation. Raised by a single mother, I learned resilience early, something that carried me through a career that stretched across logistics, accounting, consulting, entrepreneurship, and education. 

By the late 2010s, I found myself at a crossroads. I was living in Calgary, teaching ESL online while running an educational services business, splitting my time between cities to stay close to my daughter in Vancouver, and preparing to pursue further studies after completing an online graduate diploma in California. Then my uncle passed away unexpectedly. Grief forced me to pause everything—from academic plans to long-term goals. For the first time in years, I found myself searching for a new direction. 

I didn’t know it then, but my next step would transform not just my career, but the next chapter of my life. 

Finding My Way Back to Education 

In the midst of that difficult period, I came across University of the People. I remember an ad appearing on my YouTube feed while researching online programs. Tuition-free, flexible, and backed by respected academic partners, UoPeople felt like the rare combination of accessibility and quality I had been searching for. 

More importantly, it was a program designed for people whose lives didn’t fit traditional pathways. 

I enrolled in the MBA program in 2019. UoPeople became my academic lifeline. Its flexibility allowed me to grieve, work, support my daughter, and study without being forced to choose between them. When the global pandemic hit shortly after, flexibility became essential. While the world slowed down, I pushed forward—completing assignments, collaborating with peers from around the globe, and rebuilding the academic discipline I’d feared I had lost. 

By 2021, I graduated with my MBA—an achievement that signaled momentum, renewal, and purpose returning to my life. 

An Education That Rebuilt My Career 

Earning my MBA did more than just sharpen my leadership and financial management skills. It reshaped my identity as a professional. 

The strategic thinking, risk assessment, and communication frameworks I learned had an immediate impact as I transitioned into new roles. After moving to Toronto, I joined the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), where precision and analytical judgment are essential. I also stepped into leadership as a Local Director for the Union of Taxation Employees, advocating for colleagues and navigating complex workplace issues. 

My entrepreneurial background took on new depth as well. After years of managing A&H Cleaning, the MBA helped me approach operations, financial risk, and market changes with a clearer, more strategic lens. The degree didn’t just enhance my résumé—it changed the way I think. 

UoPeople gave me the tools and confidence to step into a new career chapter and rebuild my professional direction with clarity. 

Leadership Beyond the Workplace 

Community service has long been important to me. Growing up near Terry Fox’s hometown, his legacy shaped my understanding of resilience and purpose. Since 2017, I’ve served on the organizing committee for the Terry Fox Run in Calgary—a role strengthened by the planning, leadership, and strategic skills I gained at UoPeople. 

Balancing volunteering, family responsibilities, work, and studies across multiple cities would have been nearly impossible without an online program built on flexibility. UoPeople made it possible to keep giving back even during challenging personal moments. 

A New Intellectual Horizon: Business Meets Technology 

UoPeople didn’t just transform my career—it expanded my worldview. 

The MBA sparked my interest in emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, and how it intersects with business strategy. That curiosity evolved into my LinkedIn newsletter, Strategic AI for Business, where I explore how AI is reshaping industries and leadership. 

Today, I’m continuing to build my expertise in accounting, taxation, and financial oversight while deepening my understanding of how technology is transforming the future of work. I’m exploring further studies in AI, transformation technologies, or possibly even a future Doctorate in Business Administration. 

What began with seeking a flexible, affordable education turned into a lifelong commitment to learning. 

Looking Ahead 

My journey—from Canada’s West Coast to its largest city, from logistics to finance, from personal loss to renewed purpose—has been anything but linear. But every chapter prepared me for the next. 

UoPeople didn’t just fit into my life; it made it possible for my life to keep moving forward. 

At 44, I’m continuing to grow as a professional, a parent, and a lifelong learner. My work in taxation, advocacy, and technology is grounded in the strong foundation my MBA provided. And the path ahead remains open, shaped by curiosity, resilience, and a belief that reinvention is always possible. 

About the Author

Abdul Hadi Ismael H. is a finance and taxation professional based in Toronto, Canada. He holds an MBA from University of the People and a BBA from Simon Fraser University. With over two decades of experience in accounting, logistics, and entrepreneurship, Abdul now works in financial oversight and labor advocacy. He also serves as a Local Director for the Union of Taxation Employees and contributes thought leadership through his LinkedIn newsletter, Strategic AI for Business, where he examines the intersection of artificial intelligence and business strategy. Outside of work, he is deeply involved in community service—volunteering for the Terry Fox Run in Calgary, donating blood regularly, and balancing professional ambition with personal growth.