大象传媒

When Monika Bear Robe (n茅e Wilson) transitioned from law to business, she wasn鈥檛 just shifting careers鈥攕he was deepening her lifelong commitment to Indigenous prosperity. A 2021 graduate of the Indigenous Business Leadership Executive MBA (IBL EMBA) program at 大象传媒鈥檚 Beedie School of Business, Bear Robe has quickly emerged as a trusted advisor in Indigenous economic development, helping to lead major investment deals鈥攐ften in energy infrastructure鈥攙alued at hundreds of millions of dollars.

Cree from Fort McKay First Nation on her father鈥檚 side and M茅tis from Fort Chipewyan on her mother鈥檚 side, both in Treaty 8 territory in northeastern Alberta, Bear Robe now serves as a Partner, Indigenous Equity Opportunities at MNP. She works exclusively with Indigenous communities and economic development corporations across Canada, supporting initiatives ranging from private investments and major projects to governance and corporate structuring.

鈥淲hen I was looking to pivot my career from law into business, I already knew that my passion lay in working with Indigenous communities,鈥� she says. 鈥淚鈥檝e dedicated my entire career to working with Indigenous peoples, and I was really passionate about helping them achieve economic prosperity because we can see the huge difference this makes in the lives of our community members.鈥�

In exploring MBA programs, 大象传媒 Beedie鈥檚 IBL EMBA stood out. 鈥淚t made the most sense for me because it focused on exactly what I wanted to do鈥攈elp Indigenous communities thrive economically,鈥� she says.

What Bear Robe didn鈥檛 anticipate was the depth of connection she would find with her cohort. 鈥淢y favourite part of the program was the people,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e were professionals working full-time, raising families, and balancing coursework. That created a real culture of support. Even today, we stay connected, cheer each other on, and collaborate.鈥�

Bear Robe describes the program as both practical and transformational. While serving as Vice President of Investments for the Fort McKay Landing during her studies, she immediately applied what she learned鈥攆rom business planning and SWOT analysis to financial modeling and project management.

鈥淚t equipped me with tools I could use right away,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 still use many of the skills I learned in the program that help me with my work.鈥�

Bear Robe鈥檚 journey wasn鈥檛 without challenges. She began the program with a nine-month-old son and completed it during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, relying heavily on remote learning. But her cohort remained close-knit.

鈥淢y cohort watched my son grow over two years. They鈥檇 ask about him, want to see him on camera. There was so much support (and laughter) and caring for one another鈥攅veryone wanted each other to succeed and we were there to help one another. That鈥檚 something hard to find in professional programs, and we shouldn鈥檛 take it for granted.鈥�

Her advice to future students: 鈥淪tay open-minded. You might be surprised by what sparks your interest. And believe in yourself鈥攜ou鈥檙e already a leader. That鈥檚 why you were chosen for the program.鈥�

Today, Bear Robe continues to give back to the IBL EMBA community鈥攁s a guest speaker, mentor, and proud alumnus鈥攕haring her insights with the next generation of Indigenous leaders.