Success can be measured in many ways: a senior role, professional recognition, a strong network, or the impact you make on others. For Alberta School of Business (Canada) MBA alumna Ashton Rudanec (’17), one idea connects them all: service.

In an episode of The Career Boosters: An MBA Podcast, Ashton reflects on a journey that has taken her to the role of Director, Sustainable Investing, the presidency of the University of Alberta Alumni Association, and recognition as one of Edify’s Top 40 Under 40 in Edmonton. Alongside her professional and volunteer commitments, she is also a busy mom of two.

Behind those achievements is a principle Ashton has carried with her since high school: “Ut Qui Ministrat” – “As One Who Serves.”

Finding the strengths you already have


Ashton entered the MBA expecting the programme to help her develop new skills. It did, but one of her most important lessons was recognising the value of the strengths she already possessed.

“I went into the MBA thinking I need to change who I am to be marketable to the job that I want,” she explains.

Instead, her experiences with group projects, case competitions, and a strengths assessment showed her that skills in communication, marketing, and working with people were already valuable assets.

The lesson was that development does not always mean becoming good at everything.

“You should leverage those strengths and become highly specialised in something that you can deliver well.”

For MBA students, that can mean taking time to look across previous roles and experiences and identify the common thread. Ashton found hers in making an impact. It became a way to judge new opportunities: where could she contribute, serve, and make the greatest difference?

The lifelong value of an MBA network


Relationships are another major part of Ashton’s story. In fact, she describes alumni connections as having changed the course of her life.

An alumna encouraged her to pursue graduate education. Alumni connections later supported professional, board, and volunteer opportunities. Today, Ashton helps strengthen those same connections as President of the University of Alberta Alumni Association.

“You’re in school for a very short period of time, but you’re an alumnus forever.”

Ashton recommends making relationship-building a real part of the MBA experience. During her own programme, she took advice from an alum and challenged herself to have coffee with a different person every week. Sometimes it was an alum, sometimes a classmate, and sometimes a member of the university’s staff or faculty. The simple habit helped her build a strong network.

Leadership requires endurance


Ashton also offers a useful perspective on what it takes to lead over the long term.

“A lot of people have the capacity to lead,” she says, “but very few have the endurance.”

That endurance matters when careers become demanding and priorities compete for attention. Ashton does not aim for perfect work-life “balance”. She prefers integration, recognising that different parts of life need more attention at different times.

Her journey ultimately shows a form of MBA leadership that is less about titles and more about contribution. Know your strengths. Build relationships. Solve problems. Stay ready to serve.

And, as Ashton tells current MBA students: “Do the career work. It pays off. It really does.”