USask Edwards student counting on leadership skills after graduation

The fourth-year student has secured an accounting job at Deloitte once she graduates this spring.

Sader, a member of the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan, will receive an award for leadership at this year’s Indigenous Student Achievement Awards on Feb. 6. Indigenous students from across the University of Saskatchewan (USask) will be honoured at a ceremony to recognize their academic excellence, leadership, research endeavours or community engagement.

The award ceremony is part of Indigenous Achievement Week (IAW), which celebrates the successes and contributions of Métis, First Nations and Inuit students, staff and faculty. The festivities include a public art project, speakers and celebrations in various locations across campus.

We asked Sader a few questions about her time at USask and what motivates her.

Why did you choose the Edwards School of Business?

When I decided to return to university to finish my degree, I knew I wanted to be an accountant. I transferred to Edwards because it has a great accounting program that allows graduates to go directly into the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) program, which is my next goal.

How have your studies helped to further develop your leadership abilities?

My time at Edwards has developed my leadership skills significantly. The many group projects I have completed in the past few years have shown me the importance of appreciating each team member and the unique talents they bring to a project. Edwards has also developed my leadership skills by building my confidence, not only in my technical skills but also in myself. Thanks to the networking events at Edwards I am now confident entering a room full of strangers without feeling completely overwhelmed and out of place.

What plans do you have for the future?

I will be graduating this spring and I look forward to joining Deloitte in Saskatoon and working towards my CPA designation. 

You received the award for leadership. Can you talk about one person you think is a good leader and what makes them so?

I think a good leader is someone who leads by example through hard work and not by delegating tasks to others. I also really look up to Indigenous entrepreneurs in our community. One person who stands out in my mind is my good friend Michaela Michael who opened the vintage store Hazlewood in Riversdale. Michaela is one of the hardest working people I know, she had a vision for what she wanted to create, and she did it. Her bravery, hard work, tenacity and humility make her a great leader and entrepreneur. 

This year’s Indigenous Achievement Week theme is Indigenous knowledge systems. How can Indigenous knowledge systems improve the world we live in?

The world we live in can be improved simply through awareness and respect of Indigenous knowledge systems. A lot can be gained by viewing modern issues such as conservation and waste management for example, from an indigenous knowledge perspective.