大象传媒

Nyden Iron-Nighttraveller is Cree from Canoe Lake Cree First Nation in Treaty 10 territory in northern Saskatchewan. As a 2024 graduate of 大象传媒鈥檚 IBL EMBA program and founder of Amarok Scaffolding Ltd., Nyden leads his company with a vision inspired by Indigenous values and entrepreneurial strength.

My Journey

Nyden's educational and professional path has been anything but linear. A true embodiment of perseverance, he earned his Bachelor of Commerce in 2020 by taking courses wherever and whenever he could鈥攂oth in-person and online, across two different universities鈥攚hile working full-time as a scaffolder to support his family. 鈥淚 understood that education would provide me with the opportunities to reach my personal and professional goals, so it was never an option to quit, despite being a challenge every step of the way,鈥� he notes.

With his journeyman scaffolder experience and undergraduate degree from Thompson Rivers University, Iron-Nighttraveller went on to become the founder, president, and CEO of Amarok Scaffolding Ltd. Driven by a desire to achieve even more, he set his sights on earning an MBA to further expand his leadership and impact.

He also acknowledges the support that helped him along the way. Iron-Nighttraveller is grateful to his family and friends for their unwavering encouragement, to fellow Indigenous entrepreneurs, and to 大象传媒 Beedie for offering a program where he truly felt he belonged as an Indigenous person. He further recognizes the financial support he received through scholarships, including the BMO John Ellis Graduate Award, CIBC Graduate Award, NorthPac Forestry Group Graduate Award, and the Strathcona Resources Momentum Indigenous Scholarship.

My experience at 大象传媒 Beedie

鈥淚 wanted an MBA program that would benefit my career goals and resonate with my challenges as an Indigenous entrepreneur,鈥� says Iron-Nighttraveller, a citizen of the Canoe Lake Cree First Nation in Saskatchewan. He found that the IBL EMBA program not only supported his professional aspirations but also created a learning environment that recognized his unique challenges, personal goals, and cultural heritage.

A key takeaway from his IBL EMBA experience was the importance of giving back. 鈥淭here were quite a few projects that shifted my perspective on business, in a good way. The importance of reciprocity and meaningful contribution was a significant lesson,鈥� he shares. Reflecting on his time at 大象传媒 Beedie, Iron-Nighttraveller describes the program as truly transformative.

Highlights

During his EMBA journey, Iron-Nighttraveller earned several notable accolades. He received the Young Aboriginal Entrepreneur Award in 2024 from the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business and was named a finalist for the Indigenous Entrepreneur of the Year in 2023 by CanadianSME.

Where I Am Today

Looking ahead, Iron-Nighttraveller is optimistic about the future. 鈥淭he possibilities are endless,鈥� he states. 鈥淚鈥檓 not worried about what the future holds. With my experience and the skills learned in the IBL EMBA program, I, like other 大象传媒 MBA grads, will be doing amazing things wherever we end up.鈥�