How One Learner Turned a Certificate into a Degree Journey

After more than 20 years working in sales, marketing and administration, Saleha Nakhuda had built a successful career. Even with all of her experience, she was missing the credentials she needed to pursue a degree in business.

"I had built a lot of hands-on experience, but I knew that having an academic foundation would open new doors," says the Business Management Certificate alumnus. "I decided to go back to school. I know it was a big step after such a long gap, but I was ready."

A Flexible Path Back To Learning

When Saleha enrolled in the Business Management certificate in 2019, nearly two decades had passed since her last formal schooling. She was working full time and raising a family so she needed a flexible pathway to work towards earning her degree.

"The certificate pathway was the right fit for my life," she says. "It allowed me to ease back into academic life gradually, build my confidence, and prove to myself that I could do this, all while continuing to work and take care of my family. It felt like a respectful on-ramp rather than being thrown into the deep end."

That flexibility is by design, says Neha Thakordas, Program Specialist, Business Management at The Chang School.

"The open admission model is probably the single biggest factor — there's no application required, so the barrier to entry is genuinely low," says Neha. "Combined with OSAP eligibility and flexible scheduling, the program removes the three most common obstacles for returning learners: access, finances and time."

Delivered fully online, the program allows students to study at their own pace, whether that's full time, part time or one course at a time.

For Saleha, taking two courses per semester struck the right balance.

Building Confidence — and Momentum

Initially, Saleha wasn't thinking about earning a degree. She simply wanted recognized business credentials.

"Honestly, the BComm came later," she says. "When I first decided to go back to school, my immediate goal was simply to gain recognized business credentials. The idea of a full undergraduate degree felt out of reach at that point but a certificate was attainable and a way to work towards a degree"

As she progressed through the certificate, however, that changed. With certain certificates at The Chang School like business management, learners are able to take degree-credit courses that they can later apply to a Bachelor’s degree.

But according to Neha, one of the most important outcomes of the program is something less tangible than grades or credits.

"One of the most meaningful outcomes of the certificate — and perhaps the least obvious — is the self-awareness students develop along the way," she says. 
 

The certificate includes degree-credit courses in core business disciplines such as economics, human resources, marketing and global management, helping students develop the study habits, analytical skills and critical thinking needed to succeed in university-level business studies. Learners who complete degree-credit courses through this certificate may be able to apply those credits towards a BComm program, whether at TMU or another institution, subject to admission requirements and academic standing. 

"By the time students are ready to move into the degree program, they've already developed the study habits, academic writing skills and critical thinking that the BComm requires," says Neha.

Turning Experience Into Expertise

For Saleha, the coursework helped her connect decades of workplace experience with academic theory.

"The certificate helped me formalize knowledge I had accumulated through years of practical experience," she says. "It bridged the gap between instinct and theory in a really meaningful way."

Two courses in particular had a lasting impact. Recent curriculum enhancements include the addition of Introductory Macroeconomics to help students understand how global economic forces influence business decisions.

"Introductory Macroeconomics opened my eyes to how the broader economy shapes business decisions — it gave me a whole new lens for understanding the world," she says. "And Introductory to Financial Accounting was equally eye-opening. I had been handling payroll and budgeting for years, but learning the formal accounting framework behind it helped me connect the dots in a way I never had before."

Neha says the curriculum is intentionally grounded in practical application.

"The goal of the business management certificate curriculum is to give students a foundation they can actually build on — whether that means moving into a degree program, stepping into a new role or making sense of the business environment they're already navigating," she says.

A Pathway That Opened Unexpected Doors

What began with a single certificate course eventually evolved into a much larger academic journey. Saleha wasn't initially aware that the Business Management Certificate could lead to TMU's Bachelor of Commerce program. That changed after a conversation with Janice Pinto, an Academic and Recruitment Advisor with The Chang School's Spanning the Gaps program.

"She took the time to sit down with me, discuss my options and really listen to where I was coming from," says Saleha. "Without that conversation, I'm not sure I would have known this door existed."

She was connected with the Business Management admissions team and, after completing her certificate, went on to earn her Bachelor of Commerce.

"My educational journey has transformed the way I see myself and what I thought was possible," she says. "I went from someone with decades of experience but no formal credentials to a BComm graduate. Education gave me both the confidence and the tools to think bigger."

Support from faculty and advisors played a critical role along the way.

"It's one thing to have a pathway on paper, but when you have people who believe in you and guide you through it, that's what truly makes it accessible," she says.

Paying It Forward

Today, Saleha is going one step further — completing her Masters of Business Administration at Toronto Metropolitan University's Ted Rogers School of Management and preparing to begin a Master of Education degree.

As part of her MBA capstone, Saleha has travelled to London, England, where her cohort is participating in experiential learning opportunities hosted by Bayes Business School. She has also been accepted into Ontario Tech University's Master of Education program.

Ultimately, she hopes to teach adult learners and support others who are returning to school later in life.

"I know firsthand how intimidating it can be to walk back into a classroom after a long gap," she says. "And I know how much of a difference the right support and encouragement can make. I want to be that person for someone else."

"If I can help even one adult learner believe that it's not too late, that their experience matters and that the door is open, then everything I've worked for will have been worth it."

For many students, The Chang School's Business Management certificate is a first step. For Saleha, it became something much bigger: proof that learning doesn't have to follow a traditional timeline — and that one credential can open the door to a lifetime of possibilities.

Learn more about the Business Management Certificate