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Tarah Johnston (BComm’98), General Manager for Global Advisory and System Integration Partners at Microsoft Canada, empowers partners to support customers in embracing productivity, cloud, and AI solutions. But the roots of her remarkable career can be traced back to her formative years at Dalhousie University. “There is no doubt my time at Dalhousie in the Commerce Co-op program changed the trajectory of my career and my life. Though it was decades ago, the experiences and lessons I learned still apply today and will continue.”

Johnston is one of thousands of students, who chose the Faculty of Management because of the opportunity to participate in work-integrated-learning. The team who facilitates and supports students to do this at Management Career Services have reached a significant milestone – they are celebrating 20,000 business work terms for students in our faculty. Throughout the year we’ll introduce you to some of the people, like Tarah Johnston, who’ve contributed to this achievement.

Discovering her passion through work-integrated learning  

Reflecting on her work terms, Johnston acknowledges their impact in shaping her career. “My work terms provided clarity in my natural strengths and what I enjoy doing, and what I did not enjoy doing, which was just as important.” Her first work term at Diversey-Lever is a prime example of this. Hired as a Marketing Information Assistant, Johnston’s initial responsibilities involved working in isolation, consolidating and calculating marketing data—a task she found less than 
fulfilling. However, when a critical error in program instructions threatened the accuracy of marketing plans from over 50 countries, she seized the opportunity to pivot into a tech support role. Drawing on her skills from an Intro to Computers to Business course, she resolved the issue, working directly with each country. This experience helped her discover her passion for translating technology into business solutions and her preference for being in an environment where there is consistent human interaction.

Introducing new technology to institutions  

Johnston, completed two work terms at IBM in the 1990s, when the internet and laptops were not yet used in classrooms. At IBM, she played a pivotal role in the integration of laptops into curriculums at colleges and universities. “In my second work term at IBM, I was part of a pilot program for co-ops to work with resellers in Canada to introduce them to the business opportunity of a new technology called the internet.”  

This experience was a turning point for Johnston, as it challenged her to adapt quickly and think strategically. “In four months, I had to quickly get comfortable with the technology, its practical applications, and the value proposition for the resellers. That experience taught me how to seek out experts in the company, build a point of view, and learn quickly what works.” 

Getting involved on campus

During her time at Dalhousie, Johnston immersed herself in student life, where her leadership qualities began to shine. In her second year, she took on the role of VP for Bronson House in Residence Council. Her dedication to making an impact continued as she became president of the Commerce Society and later, valedictorian for the Faculty of Management upon graduation.  

Reflecting on her journey, Johnston offers this advice to current students: embrace variety. “Being open to different societies and activities gives you diverse opportunities to understand what your natural talents are, who you enjoy spending time with, and what contributions you can make in your life.”

Working with students at Microsoft  

Today, as a senior leader at Microsoft, Johnston values the fresh perspectives that students bring to her team. She sees their potential to challenge the status quo and infuse energy into the organization. “Students in our organization can lift spirits and even remind people how exciting it is to be part of an organization and career with endless possibilities.”