Grace Sumi — From Sociology to Project Management in Nuclear Energy

Finding a new direction: How the MMASc program helped Grace Sumi build a career in project management

When Grace Sumi graduated with a degree in Sociology, she knew she wanted to explore new opportunities but wasn't certain what her professional future would look like. The Master of Management of Applied Science (MMASc) program at Western University's Faculty of Social Science offered a way to discover new possibilities, develop practical business skills and gain hands-on experience. Today, Grace is working in project management in the nuclear energy sector, a career path she hadn't imagined when she began her journey.

What attracted Grace to the MMASc program was its combination of business education and real-world experience, including the co-op term. Designed for students without a traditional business background, the program offered an opportunity to explore different areas of management while learning alongside classmates from social science, engineering and applied science. The smaller cohort also created an environment where students could share different perspectives, collaborate and build meaningful relationships.

For Grace, the greatest value came from connecting classroom learning with professional experience. Courses such as Project Management and Oral Communication helped her feel better prepared for her co-op placement, giving her a foundation in project processes and the confidence to communicate in a professional environment. The professional development course also provided practical tools for preparing resumes and cover letters, navigating interviews and developing effective workplace communication skills.

"Having the background from the program, especially through Project Management and the applied coursework, made it much easier to step into my co-op and understand how projects work in a real organization," Grace explains.

That foundation helped Grace transition into a career she had not anticipated. Through the program, she became more willing to explore unfamiliar opportunities and discovered an interest in project management—an area she now sees herself pursuing in the future. Her experience illustrates how applied learning can help students translate their existing academic strengths into new professional possibilities.

Beyond the coursework and career preparation, the people she met also shaped Grace's experience. The close-knit cohort allowed her to build strong relationships with classmates and professors, making the program more meaningful and giving her a supportive environment in which to learn and grow.

Looking back, Grace encourages prospective students to approach the program with curiosity and an open mind. You don't need to have every step of your career mapped out before you begin; sometimes, discovering your direction starts with being willing to try something new.

"I came into the program without a clear plan for what I wanted to do after school, and it helped me figure out what kind of work I actually enjoyed," she says.

For Grace, the MMASc experience was about more than gaining business knowledge. It was an opportunity to build confidence, develop practical skills and discover a career path she might never otherwise have considered. Her journey demonstrates how the program can help students from diverse academic backgrounds turn uncertainty into opportunity—and take their next steps with greater confidence.

"I would tell someone considering the MMASc program to go into it with an open mind because you might end up being interested in something you never expected."

— Grace Sumi, MMASc graduate