A French-language experience, an inclusive community
Mohammad “Moe” Kamal dreams of a career in diplomacy or international affairs where he can leverage his language skills—so he moved from Ontario to Quebec to hone his French. Today he is a student in management at HEC Montréal, where he is also an advocate for diversity on campus.
A love for the French language brought him to
HEC Montréal
- Moe’s family immigrated to Canada in 2008. Growing up in Toronto, Moe was a huge soccer fan and deeply involved in his community as a volunteer for a number of athletic and political organizations.
- He started his university career with a Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, before enrolling in a Master of Science (MSc) – International Business at HEC Montréal.
- In an effort to become fluent in French, Moe also took some time to immerse himself in the local language and culture in Chicoutimi, Québec City and Montréal.
- During his master’s program, he has started working for Canada’s Minister of International Trade, and taken on a leadership role on HEC Montréal’s diversity committee in his spare time.
“Promoting the French language is one of HEC Montréal’s core priorities. That’s one of the things I love about it—I very much enjoy getting to meet people from different cultures all over the world. It’s an extraordinary opportunity to expand your worldview.”
Management skills for a multicultural environment
- Moe sees his master’s program as a way to strengthen and optimize his skills for success in international business, citing the wide selection of impactful courses (such as on innovation, diplomacy and research) that have broadened his perspective on what management can look like. As well, he has enjoyed the opportunity to network and find common ground with members of his cohort who come from all walks of life.
- Getting involved in campus life has also given Moe the opportunity to put his management skills into practice in an inclusive French-language environment for the first time. As head of a student committee working to address barriers faced by minorities on campus, he and the other members organized HEC Montréal’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) day to raise awareness about these concerns and offer solutions.
“When you’re a master’s student, you can’t just study all the time. You have to engage with the wider world and have some fun. I’ve gotten to know so many people and rub shoulders with highly respected professors, while at the same time develop my skills and gain a greater understanding of Quebec culture.”
Moe’s story
| 2008 | Moe’s family immigrates from Jordan to Canada |
| 2017-2022 | Bachelor of Commerce, McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario) |
| 2021–2022 | French-language cultural immersion (Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, Université Laval and UQAM) |
| 2022-2024 | Master of Science (MSc) – International Business, HEC Montréal |
| 2022- Present |
Special Assistant with Global Affairs Canada |
HEC Montréal: Where opportunities are created
HEC Montréal’s reputation transcends Quebec’s borders. Our programs attract students looking to develop a specific expertise and become more proficient in business French, in a welcoming campus environment where inclusion is upheld as a fundamental value.
Master’s
programs in every area of management
French for business
Over
French language course enrollments per year
Equity, diversity, inclusion
staff members have completed equity, diversity and inclusion training since 2021
International
Percentage of students who began their studies outside of Canada