WHO ARE YOU?

My name is Robert Auclair, and I am of indigenous Cree descent for the community of Whapmagoostui and the Cree Nation of Eeyou Istchee. I am a former Police Officer, Director of Youth Protection, and now the current Business Development Officer for CREECO (Cree Regional Economic Enterprises Company).

WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL MISSION?

To be of service to my people.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?

The privilege to be called Daddy to five beautiful and unique souls, and of course following in the footsteps of my late mother in completing a master’s program (EMBA).

WHAT ARE THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE EMBA PROGRAM THAT YOU CAN APPLY IN YOUR WORK?

That no matter the challenge and obstacle, you can achieve great things and do the impossible when you surround yourself with a great network and high level and high functioning out of the box thinkers and professionals.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM ON YOUR LIFE OR CAREER?

It has given me the opportunity to venture into opportunities that I would have not thought of on my own through the learning and exposure from the EMBA program, the Directors, the Professors, the successful CEO’s and their global companies.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE EMBA COURSE AND WHAT WAS THE GREATEST LEARNING IT BROUGHT YOU?

In hindsight, my favorite would be the course that was most difficult for me to journey through, the Tools module with the great Professor Sujata Madan. Because I do not have a finance background as did some of my peers, her teaching style made it fun and digestible for my brain. So, this course gave me a physical reaction and not in a good way. Sometimes, we bring undue doubt and anxiety upon ourselves, breathe, push through, and trust the process as the program Directors kept repeating.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE MCGILL-HEC MONTRÉAL EMBA?

Since we are in Quebec, I was attracted to the bilingual aspect of the program. It gave me an opportunity and challenge to immerse myself in the French language a little more than usual and to learn and communicate in French. Some of the greatest teachings come from the most difficult challenges.

WHAT DID YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT YOUR EMBA EXPERIENCE IN GENERAL?

Of course, learning from others, the Directors, the Professors, the guest CEO’s and my peers, the others executive participants in the program, all of whom I admire immensely.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE CONSIDERING EMBARKING ON THE PROGRAM?

You may not know it when you start the program, but when you come out the other side, it will be one of the greatest decisions you have ever made for your individual educational and professional growth as you look back into the near future.