Nick Magnan

Arizona State University, W. P. Carey School of Business

“Analytical and hard-working with a passion for problem-solving and process improvement.”

Hometown: Montreal, Canada

Fun Fact About Yourself: I was part of the jury duty for one of Canada’s biggest political trials

Undergraduate School and Major: Universite du Quebec a Montreal (UQAM), Business

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Transport & Logistics Manager, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Successfully leading projects from A to Z to improve critical inventory situations that were getting more and more expensive. These projects gave our company more flexibility in terms of product availability while reducing the provision needed to account for old stock. This also led me to learn how to work across different teams and functions, and how to put in perspective the relative objectives of different stakeholders which are not always compatible with each other.

What quality best describes the MBA classmates you’ve met so far and why? My classmates are not only smart, they are also actively engaged in the program – which makes the class discussions especially interesting. My classmates are always willing to invest time to help others, to join different case competitions ,or to improve the current program which makes me proud to be a part of this group.

Aside from your classmates, what was the key factor that led you to choose this program for your full-time MBA and why was it so important to you? Besides the reputation of the supply chain program, a key factor for me was the level of personal commitment that the school brought to the admission process and to the program. I always felt that they cared about my career and my future and I wanted that level of individual attention throughout my program experience.

What club or activity are you looking most forward to in business school? I’ve been to a few meetings already about improving communications skills and I know that this specific activity can strengthen my profile as it is becoming increasingly important in the workplace and it is something I can improve on.

What led you to pursue an MBA at this point in your career?  I was at a point where I wanted to do more with my work and where I also wanted my work to have a bigger impact on the world. It was important to me to be at the forefront of the emerging technologies and companies while getting more responsibilities which all came together when I chose W. P. Carey for my MBA.

How did you decide if an MBA was worth the investment? I was initially on the fence about taking that risk and the opportunity costs associated with the MBA. With the Forward Focus program at W. P. Carey, I felt like it was the perfect opportunity to pivot my career and move to the place I wanted to be.

What other MBA programs did you apply to? W. P. Carey was my first choice and I did not apply anywhere else once I was admitted.

How did you determine your fit at various schools? It was essential for me that the class size be relatively small as I think it is a crucial part of a close-knit culture. The MBA goes by so fast, and with the small class size, I could truly get to know my classmates on a personal and professional level. I knew that the staff at ASU would be very open to feedback and that it would take less time to improve the program if needed. Overall, when looking at the fit in a school, you should weigh the pros and cons of the culture and the best way to evaluate that is to talk to current students and staff.

What was your defining moment and how did it shape who you are?  When I hit 30, I decided to rethink my priorities in life because I realized that I was not 100% happy with some life choices that had led me to where I currently was. At that point, I chose to focus on taking care of myself first and following my goals, even if that meant studying and living in another country.

What do you plan to do after you graduate? I want to use my supply chain knowledge and background to work in the tech sector, ideally in the biotech industry. Being part of an industry that can revolutionize and shape the future of our health and lifespan is something that really resonates with me.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I see myself working in the U.S. in five years, leading people to improve the life of both my community and workplace. I would love to be driving positive changes in the company I work for while delivering solid business results in the process. I also expect to keep in touch with the many friends I have made so far in the program and I hope my classmates will remember me for the passion I bring to my work and on the dance floor!