Sara Harper

Ivey Business School at Western University

“Passionate about sustainability, education, and social impact, with a love for outdoor adventures and sports.”

Hometown: Whitby, ON

Fun fact: When I graduated from university, my first job was as a Water Slide Tester (it’s a real job). The coolest slide I commissioned was “Vinter Rytt” at Rulantica (Europa Park) in Rust, Germany.

Undergraduate and Graduate School and Major: Queen’s University, Bachelors and Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, University of Ottawa, Master’s in Civil Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: PepsiCo; Title: Supply Chain Commercialization Analyst

How has the case method enriched your learning?  The case method has enriched my learning as you are engaged in discussion on real industry challenges that many companies around the world have and continue to face. The case approach differs from traditional learning as each case requires you to have a holistic view, leveraging all your courses to determine what decision you would recommend the company make. With the case approach, you put yourself in the position of the company at the time of the challenge they are facing. In some cases, we can review what actually happened. In addition, we also get to discuss the experience that our classmates have in their industries to get insights into how someone with a different background might approach the problem.

Aside from classmates and cases, what part of the school’s MBA programming led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? The key part of the Ivey MBA was the unique electives and extracurriculars that are exclusive to this program. Specifically, the LEADER project is a student-driven extracurricular, where students travel overseas to teach foundational business and entrepreneurial skills. This opportunity not only allows you to put what you learned into practice but allows you to learn about the challenges and nuances that businesses in other countries are facing while making positive social impact. Also unique to Ivey is Leadership Under Fire and the International Study Trip. These are two electives where you get the opportunity to gain experience outside of the classroom and the reviews from past students say it was transformative in their MBA journey.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: At PepsiCo, I have been fortunate to have had many roles that included frontline leadership, project management, and most recently new product innovation. One of my biggest accomplishments was leading a $40M capital upgrade project for the Frito-Lay Cambridge site. I was responsible for developing and leading a team who were able to navigate the challenges of growth and ensure completion of this project prior to summer production. The success of this project was a testament to the dedication and hard work of an exceptional team, and I am immensely proud of their contributions.

Describe your biggest accomplishment as an MBA student so far: My biggest accomplishment has been being selected for the Curriculum committee with the LEADER project. This role was my first choice because I genuinely enjoy teaching others and understanding diverse learning styles. The LEADER project was an important consideration when choosing to attend Ivey, as it allows me to work with a group of like-minded motivated individuals who share my passion for education, travel and social impact.

What has been your most memorable experience as an Ivey MBA thus far? My most memorable experience has been attending the Forté MBA Women’s Leadership Conference in Chicago. This was an amazing opportunity to engage with the Forté network and make meaningful connections with women from other Forté MBA partner schools. The conference featured interactive panels and workshops focused on enhancing our leadership capabilities. The highlight of the conference for myself was the session, “The Art and Science of Negotiation” by Diane Fennig.

Outside of the conference, we were also able to explore the city and make meaningful memories as an Ivey Forté fellow group. Specifically, the Chicago River Architecture Tour was a fantastic experience for our group!

Where is your favorite hang-out in London (Ontario)? Why do you (or your classmates) gravitate there? One of my favorite hangouts in London is Barneys. Whether it’s meeting my new learning team for the first time or getting together after an exam or a 24-hour report, there’s always a table filled with Ivey students. Another favorite spot of mine is the Beach Volleyball courts at Elgine or the Softball games at Westminster Diamond. Participating in these intramurals with my classmates remains the highlight of my week.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? Professionally, my goal is to strengthen my industry experience working on sustainable strategy roles, helping companies continue to grow while minimizing environmental impact. Personally, I am hoping to stay connected with my Ivey cohort and continue our promising intramural careers in Beach Volleyball and Softball!

DON’T MISS: MEET IVEY’S MBA CLASS OF 2025