Research, Advertising and Motorcycles: Meet Gurmitsingh Baldevsingh Sandhu

An advertising professional in India, Gurmitsingh Baldevsingh Sandhu wanted to enhance his skills and grow as a person. That’s why he decided to enrol in the Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Business Management program at Cape Breton University.

Originally from Mumbai, a city thousands of kilometres away from Cape Breton Island, Gurmit says he hasn’t felt like he’s living outside of his comfort zone since arriving in Cape Breton. He attributes that to the friendly interactions he has had with people at CBU and in the community. “I really like it when strangers smile upon seeing you, say hello and ask how you are,” he says. “You don’t feel like you are in a foreign land, but among people who care.”

Over the past year, Gurmit has relished his experience at CBU. Despite having arrived amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, he has done his best to make the most of the opportunities the University has to offer. One such opportunity was a student job at the Boardmore Theatre. “It was so great to go back to the theatre after a long time away,” says Gurmit. “I was able to be part of some amazing productions which was very rewarding.” 

This summer, Gurmit decided to jump at another opportunity and became part of the Community-Student Research Connections Program (CSRCP) at CBU, working on a project at Novaporte, a green energy infrastructure initiative. His previous work in the advertising industry provided Gurmit the opportunity to work on a number of research campaigns and he was excited to learn about the CSRCP at CBU. In his role with Novaporte, Gurmit conducted research on various ports across the coast of the United States. 

Gurmit says programs like CSRCP can considerably benefit students and help prepare them for future careers. “I would strongly encourage students to take up similar opportunities,” he says. “It helps students look beyond the academic world and start to learn about what industries are looking for in the field.” 

In the future, Gurmit hopes to become an entrepreneur and help businesses grow in Cape Breton. “I am looking for opportunities in business consulting and research after graduation,” he explains. “I want to settle in Sydney where I can help businesses grow and achieve their goals.” 

When he’s not in class or working on research initiatives, Gurmit loves riding his motorcycle and says he can’t wait to explore the Cabot Trail this year. “One of the biggest things that attracted me to the Island was the Cabot Trail, and I hope to cover it all on an Enfield soon,” he says. We know Gurmit has an exciting future of adventure and success ahead!