Distinguished Grad Profile: Jeff Malpass

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Continuing Education can open a world of possibilities

When you are a President and C.E.O. of one of the four largest employers in the world — not to mention married with two daughters — you are bound to be a busy guy. Just ask Fanshawe alumnus Jeff Malpass.

Malpass is the President and C.E.O. of Siemens Hearing Instruments Inc., a global technology company with a focus on the industry sector, energy sector and healthcare sector. The company's global headquarters in Munich, Germany and its Canadian headquarters in Cambridge, Ontario. He currently resides just outside of London in Lambeth with his family.

Malpass studied Municipal Administration at Fanshawe College in the late 1980s, a part-time continuing education program that took him two years to complete. He began his education in the Business Administration program at Wilfred Laurier University, then trekked to McMaster University to study at the Municipal Management Program in Hamilton. He took the two-year program at Fanshawe afterwards, followed by the MBA program at Michigan State University.

"My observation is that the first job you get after graduation will not be the one that you retire from. In fact, you may not remain in the same industry or same initial career path. Prepare for life-long learning throughout your career," he said.

"What I took away the most from my program at Fanshawe College was an elevated sense of need for self-discipline and time management skills. Studying at Fanshawe in a continuing education program, while at the same time managing a busy career and helping to raise a young family, takes an enormous amount of self-discipline and the ability to juggle multiple priorities. Those specific skills have become even more important in my career today," Malpass explained.

Along with keeping an open mind about your career path, Malpass also recommended taking a leap of faith by exploring career options outside of your hometown, province or even your country, if you are willing. You may be expected to travel and move around if you land your dream job, and take a chance to relocate to the area where you apply.

He sometimes travels two days a week to Cambridge and Toronto and once a month to the U.S. or to Europe.