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By Natalie Bruckner

In the world of soccer, diverse talents and cultures converge, each player bringing their unique style to the game. For Sachi Swift, this global interplay of her favourite sport mirrors her journey through the Master of Global Business (MGB) program—a transformative cultural team experience that broadened her horizons. “The MGB was the best time of my life.,” she says. “I knew I wanted to do a master's with an international lens, and the MGB was exactly that.”

From soccer fields to business ventures

From the Solomon Islands, where she played for the Tongan National Soccer Team in 2023, to the Olympic qualifiers for Paris 2024 in Samoa, Swift’s soccer career is a testament to teamwork and strategy—values she also carries into her studies and business ventures. 

Raised in Sooke on Vancouver Island with a Tongan mother and Canadian father, Swift navigated diverse cultural contexts from an early age. This multicultural upbringing made the MGB program a natural fit for her aspirations; albeit a little scary. 

The structure of the MGB program provided Swift with firsthand experience in business across diverse cultural settings. “With the MGB, you don’t just learn about how businesses operate in different cultures; you live it,” she explains. “I collaborated with colleagues from Europe, the US and China, and studied abroad. I really enjoyed experiencing different cultures instead of just reading about them.” 

A global education in action

Her journey also led her to Austria, where she studied as part of the MGB program. “The first module was in Canada, the second in Austria, the third was meant to be in Peru, but COVID hit,” she says. “Austria was remarkable. I discovered I love schnitzel! It was my first time in Europe, and I just fell in love.”

Reflecting on the MGB, Swift highlights several invaluable lessons. “One key takeaway from the MGB that I apply in my current role as Vancouver Trade Commissioner at Global Affairs Canada is the importance of being open-minded and considerate of others and their experiences,” she explains. “Recognizing that people have grown up in different cultures and have diverse perspectives doesn’t mean one opinion is better or worse—it’s just different.” 

The practical application of knowledge was another standout aspect for her, particularly in the supply chain course. “It was a very challenging course, but it forced me to think outside the box,” she says. “I always admire classes that feel closer to real life.”

Shaping a career in global affairs

The MGB also helped clarify Swift’s passion for international business. “I actually stumbled across Global Affairs Canada through my research of co-ops at Gustavson, and learned about the Trade Commissioner Service,” she says. “It matched my broad ideals of business, international focus and client-facing work. I applied through their portal.” 

Today, Swift thrives in her role where no two days are the same. “Our mandate is to help Canadian companies operate internationally,” she explains. “My role involves client-facing work, extensive research to stay updated with industry news and geopolitics, and organizing delegations for ministers visiting Vancouver." 

Specializing in advanced manufacturing, robotics and disaster response, Swift finds her work both fascinating and impactful. “AI and its applications in robotics are particularly interesting. I get to meet a lot of interesting and innovative people, which is the best part of the job. In my field, you can see there are many exciting developments happening. Robots are everywhere, digital twins are on the rise and then of course there is AI. I’m really interested to see how it takes off, how we scale up and adopt these tools, as well as how we respond to them. We are waiting on a new act from Canada trying to put some safeguards into place and there is a lot of discussion around that.” 

Outside of work, Swift remains active and adventurous. “I love anything active—running, hiking, soccer...most sports, actually. Outside of my active lifestyle, I would say I am an avid adventurer. I will try literally anything. There is so much to see, so much food to try, people to meet and experiences to be had, and honestly, life is too short to not put yourself out there!” 

Swift’s MGB journey is one of growth, adaptation and the pursuit of excellence, both on and off the field. And her advice to anyone considering an MGB? “You get to meet people from all walks of life. Whether you're fresh out of your undergrad or have worked for five years in industry or from across the world, the MGB doesn’t discriminate—everyone is welcome. If you are ready, don't be shy; just expect to be pushed outside of your comfort zone.”