Barakat Bamidele looks forward to her career in Human Resources.
Extended Education Fall 2025 graduates look to the future
Celebrating graduation on Nov. 6
UM Extended Education’s Fall 2025 grads are moving forward in their careers and looking to the future. Extended Education Fall 2025 Graduation is on Nov. 6. Nearly 200 grads have earned their credentials in a variety of programs. Many will attend the ceremony with family and friends. As they share their stories, four graduates offer inspiration and encourage others to pursue their own professional development.
Michael Lackmanec says, “Not learning should be the scary thing.”
Michael Lackmanec, Certificate in Manitoba Municipal Administration graduate
Michael Lackmanec’s council asked if he would like to take the Certificate in Manitoba Municipal Administration (CMMA) through UM Extended Education.
“Of course, I said yes,” says the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for Cartier, who now holds his CMMA.
“As a CAO, there are very broad-spectrum penicillin types of things that you do in your daily work commitments and that involves oversight,” Lackmanec says. “There is a what and a how to do things. And in the municipal world, you know the what is usually a construct of legislation, rules, policies, et cetera. But the how is everyone’s own special sauce. And I think it’s your own unique brand of how you get things done and that’s informed by your education experience and exposures.”
With Extended Education, he says, “Most instructors have the municipal boots on the ground experience and exposure to many of the concerns and issues affecting the municipal world. It was similar to the MBA I did because they wouldn’t allow professors to teach at the MBA unless they had their own business. Working with the Extended Education office was an absolute pleasure. It was definitely Brendan and the team that provided, we’ll call it the precursors to success for the studies.”
Working professional development programs and courses into a busy life is about time management, Lackmanec says.
“When has learning concrete skills, becoming more knowledgeable, and professionally developing one’s own toolkit ever been a detriment to you as an individual or your organization, or your family, or society as a whole? The idea is that learning is not something you should be afraid of. Not learning should be the scary thing.”
Employers recognize learning, and it can take you to unexpected places, he says.
“Definitely all astute employers realize change is the constant in the world, and those that are comfortable with change and have the skill sets to manage forward will ultimately be rewarded for their perspectives and successes. Education is a way to be able to traverse the woods and go through the hills and valleys, and you know, everybody’s life will be different, but the learning will definitely assist in whatever you embark upon.”
Derek Scott is working on his next certificate with Extended Education.
Derek Scott, Certificate in Program Development for Adult Learners graduate
Derek Scott started off as a power cableman for Manitoba Hydro, and now he is training people to be system operators who make sure the lights stay on.
Scott is graduating with his Certificate in Program Development for Adult Learners. It was a requirement for the position he holds.
“I think I was looking for some guidance on how to make our program better, and some tools and techniques that could elevate our training and get more return on investment in the training we provide to our system operators,” says Scott. “To just offer an all-around better program to the people we educate.”
In addition to the knowledge and skills he is learning with Extended Education, Scott says he has also come to realize that, despite being over 40, he could go back to school and be successful in his studies.
“The most important thing is that learning never ends. That you can continue on your journey of learning. And no matter what your age or your life or what’s going on, you can do it and you can still advance and you know you are not stuck where you are. You can always grow.”
To anyone considering taking a program or course to advance in their life and career, he says, “Just do it. Go for it. I was scared coming into this too, but you can get back in the swing of things and you can do it.
“I would absolutely recommend the continuing education here at UM Extended Education, to grow and to learn, and to use the knowledge you gain to advance in your career.”
Scott is happy to be celebrating his program completion but he is also now working on his next certificate with Extended Education, in Applied Management. “It’s nice to be graduating, to be finally done and see the completion at the end. But I am also enrolled in another program. So, I am continuing on my journey.”
Barakat Bamidele pivoted from tech to HR.
Barakat Bamidele, Certificate in Human Resource Management graduate
Barakat Bamidele didn’t know a thing about human resources or CPHR Manitoba, the province’s professional HR organization when she started to study with UM Extended Education. Now she’s working as a human resources coordinator with Canad Inns.
“My certificate is one of the reasons I got the job. It’s actually given me the experience, the certification I need to be able to practice HR here in Canada,” says Bamidele, looking forward to her Fall 2025 Extended Education Graduation. She is graduating from the Applied Human Resource Management program at Extended Education, with her Certificate in Human Resource Management.
“My family is all back in Nigeria. I have friends that I have made here. They will be there for me. To my Human Resource Management colleagues, I say congratulations to each and every one of us. I am very proud of us. I can’t wait for us to meet in the future, you know, being great, doing great in this profession we have chosen to go to do.
“I see myself being at the top of the chain of this profession, you know, being a human resource manager in the future. That’s a dream of mine.”
With a previous degree in computer science and certifications in Python and Java, Bamidele says she was ready for a change. “I know that I just got tired, you know, of sitting in front of the computer. And not having human interaction.”
Her best friend completed the same program before her and inspired her to do it. “Seeing her do well was actually the push that I needed to say sure I can do this. And here I am doing it.”
At Extended Education, she says, “I found community. I found a network. I found great instructors. I know that everything I was taught I still remember, from legislation to total compensation, to strategic human resource management. I won’t forget the instructors and I won’t forget the way they made me feel welcome.”
In 2024, Bamidele made the Dean’s List and received a Student Excellence Award at Empowering Excellence, UM’s continuing education showcase. “It was actually something I was not expecting. So actually it was a push for me to keep going, stay on the right path.”
For anyone planning to go back to school and change careers, she offers her own push. She strongly recommends Extended Education, especially for anyone considering going into the HR profession without prior knowledge or experience. But no matter what you choose to pursue, she says, “You can actually do it. It’s not going to be easy. However, it is doable. You can do it. My advice is that you just start.”
Akhil Eldho Renji congratulates his peers on their graduation.
Akhil Eldho Renji, Certificate in Business Analysis graduate
Akhil is graduating from the Applied Business Analysis program with his Certificate in Business Analysis. Completing his studies has motivated him to want to go even further.
“Extended Education was really great. They have so many programs that could help people to move further in their careers. You are good here,” he says.
Now he has the business analysis concepts and how to approach a problem.
“Always ask questions. Whatever it is, always ask questions,” he says.
Working as a business analyst back home in India had become monotonous. He felt stuck and wanted something different so he came to study with UM Extended Education.
He completed his Industry Placement at Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. “The people were wonderful and Manuela was always there to support us.
“The instructors were the real gift from Extended Education. They were really helpful for me.”
He congratulates all of his program peers on their graduation.
“They had been through a lot to earn a credential from a reputable university like UM. It takes lot of resilience and courage and hard work to complete the course and to move further in their life. It’s a win for everyone.”