UNB Fredericton’s Management Program Feeds Talent Pipeline For Companies Who Need Skilled, Adaptable Grads
The global business environment is changing: Covid-19, American protectionism, and the work-from-home shift have all transformed how big companies operate.
And as that transformation takes place, New Brunswick is emerging as one of the most desirable business environments around.
Large firms that might not have given the province a second thought five years ago now see it as an ideal place to set up near-shore operations.
As they establish offices in the region, these firms are snapping up talent faster than ever before—and well-trained New Brunswick graduates are reaping the benefits.
Kiran Mampilly is a perfect example.
Mampilly graduated from UNB Fredericton’s MBA program in 2019 and immediately landed a job with a major firm looking to establish itself in the province.
Sedin Technologies is an IT services conglomerate specializing in everything from web and mobile application development to cloud infrastructure services and Enterprise asset management.
Mampilly began with Sedin as a sales associate and is now manager of sales and partnerships for North America.
He’s been an integral part of building Sedin’s team in Fredericton, growing it from one or two to a team of 11 today. He’s brought several UNB Fredericton grads into the company along the way.
Mampilly says the hands-on experiences he got working with local companies through UNB’s programs was “an integral part of why I got this job” and that he’s making sure Sedin continues to nurture that talent-building pipeline.
“Being a graduate of UNB’s Faculty of Management I have always strived to have UNB in the picture of our expansion,” he says.
Partnering with the school to help mentor students not only gives irreplaceable experience to the students, he says, Sedin also benefits from the students’ talents and builds a rapport that can often lead to permanent positions.
Sedin’s Chief Technology Officer, Vagmi Mudumbai, says he’s impressed by the talent he’s seen coming out of UNB’s Faculty of Management and Faculty of Engineering.
“The quality of people we’ve been getting from UNB has been pretty good. We recruit people from all over the world, and UNB grads come to us with really deep technical expertise,” he says.
Even when UNB grads don’t show up on the job with knowledge of the specific tools the company uses, Mudumbai says they’ve been taught the problem-solving skills that allow them to quickly adapt.
That kind of experience, Mudumbai says, is vital for Sedin as it looks to continue its growth in the region.
Mudumbai says there are several benefits for Sedin to stay put in Fredericton: the local talent pool, lower costs, proximity to American clients, and government support just to name a few.
All that has encouraged the company to stay in the city for a long time.
And while Sedin has plans to grow and lay down roots in Fredericton, Mampilly himself says he’s also found a home.
Mampilly grew up in India and came to UNB through one of the school’s exchange programs. However, now that he’s found good work in Fredericton he plans to stay forever.
He says he’s happy to trade in the endless noise of the big city he came from for the slightly slower pace in Fredericton. He says he loves being close to nature and taking his golden retriever for a walk or swim.
“I really cherish that,” he says.
This story was sponsored by the Faculty of Management at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton.