3rd year Bachelor of Business Administration w/ Professional Certificate in Public Policy Analysis

My name is Japneet, and I am a fourth-year Bachelor of Business Administration student at the Schulich School of Business. I am specialising in Marketing, Strategic Management, Entrepreneurial & Family Business Studies, along with pursuing my Professional Certificate in Public Policy Analysis.

From a young age, I have been passionate about serving my community by being involved with policy change initiatives that contribute to the greater good of society. My service began as a Legislative Page at Queen’s Park in grade 8 and continued with my commitment to the Model Parliament program at Queen’s Park in grade 10. These experiences allowed me to realise the essence of service and leadership. To further fuel my passion for giving back to the community, I served my high school as the Student Council Prime Minister and President of the Social Justice Club.

The one thing that inspires my endeavours is the wise words of Karen Putz, “Passion is not only the fire in the belly but also the quiet nudging from the heart.” Business studies have always been the fire in my belly, but public service has always been the quiet nudging from my heart. Hence, I began the quest to merge my love for business and public service and found the perfect blend when I learned about the Professional Certificate in Public Policy Analysis. Over the last four years, I have been keen on stringing together the pieces of public and private disciplines. While my business courses render me the knowledge of strategic, financial, and analytical frameworks, my policy courses provide me with the necessary tools to analyse and assess government processes and practices.

My experience with the School of Public Policy and Administration has been very inspirational. From the various courses I have taken toward completing my certificate, I have deepened my research, analysis, and critical thinking skills that are transferable to real-world policy making procedures. Although I thoroughly enjoyed all the courses I took, my favourite one is AP/PPAS 2110 Canadian Government. I learned more about the deep-rooted legislative processes that form the crux of our government, and place Canada at the apex of policy performance. Ultimately, the course allowed me to look at our country’s laws and policies from a fresh perspective and apply a more critical lens when analysing Canada’s policy narrative.

Further, another highlight of my journey with the SPPA has been my service with the Public Policy and Administration Student Association. I joined the PPASA to fuel my passion for policy enhancement initiatives that pave the path to a better future. Additionally, I joined the PPASA to grow my personal and professional skill sets by learning from peers, networking with industry professionals, and assisting with developing and implementing events. I am grateful to have started my service with the club as a Junior Ambassador, and I am honoured to continue taking the PPASA to the next level as Vice President. Here’s to a team that became a family!

The unity fostered within the SPPA is something that I will cherish forever. Whether networking at a professional event, gathering to capture a fantastic team moment, or proudly entering the next school year, it will always be a heart-warming experience. My advice is to dream big, work hard, and be resilient. In the words of J.K. Rowling, “Anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.”