For Syed Shah MBA ’25, a Canisius business education became a foundation for pursuing a long-standing goal: using his financial expertise to serve public education and his community.
Today, Shah is putting his education to work as assistant business manager for Williamsville Central School District, where he supports the district’s financial operations and fiscal health. At the same time, he is continuing his education at Canisius University through the School District Business Leader (SDBL) program, with plans to complete the program in May 2027.
“My long-term goal was always to return to public education where sound fiscal stewardship directly impacts students, teachers and the local community,” Shah said.
Shah’s path—from school district finance to corporate finance at Citi and back to public education—illustrates how graduate education can provide a foundation that professionals can carry into new roles and industries.
A Canisius MBA as a Foundation for Leadership
Shah began his professional career at Williamsville as a senior accounts payable associate before joining Citi as a product control analyst. During that time, he strengthened his skills in financial analysis, resource allocation, risk management and operational efficiency.
Now in his current role, Shah supports budget allocations, financial reporting, accounting procedures and compliance with New York State regulations. His work helps ensure the school district has the resources needed to support students, teachers and the broader school community.
“Ultimately, corporate finance proved that sound fiscal management isn’t just about numbers; it is the primary engine that enables a mission to succeed,” Shah said. “In public education, that mission is giving every student the resources they need to thrive.”
Shah credits his MBA in finance from the Wehle School of Business at Canisius with providing the foundation he needed to take on the added responsibilities in public education. Through his MBA, Shah learned to look beyond the day-to-day mechanics of finance and consider how financial decisions affect an entire organization. That broader perspective has helped him approach his work not simply as a financial function, but as part of the larger mission of a school district.
“The rigorous coursework and focus on ethical management gave me the confidence to step into leadership responsibilities in a major school district,” said Shah, adding that Canisius taught him how to think critically, adapt quickly and lead ethically.
“My graduate degree from Canisius opened doors across multiple sectors. It gave me a versatile toolkit that allowed me to transition between corporate environments and public service seamlessly,” Shah said.
Building on an MBA Through Canisius’ School District Business Leader (SDBL) Certificate
While the MBA provided Shah with a business and financial foundation, he recognized that school district administration requires specialized knowledge.
Because public education involves unique state aid formulas, specialized fund accounting and complex New York state regulations, Shah returned to Canisius to pursue his SDBL Certificate. Offered through Canisius’ School of Education & Leadership Studies, the program, builds on the skills Shah developed through his MBA and translates them to the specific demands of school district administration.
“The SDBL program builds directly on my graduate studies by translating core business principles into the specific regulatory and operational frameworks required of educational leaders,” Shah says.
Meg Keller-Cogan, EdD, director of Canisius’ Graduate Education Leadership and Supervision program, said Shah’s decision to continue his education demonstrates how professionals can build on existing expertise rather than start over when pursuing a new area of leadership.
“Syed's decision to earn an SDBL certificate broadens his professional opportunities,” Keller-Cogan says. “School districts across the state have been struggling to find a deep candidate pool from which they can choose a successful business candidate.”
Keller-Cogan says successful school district leaders also need more than technical financial knowledge. They also need the interpersonal skills to collaborate with colleagues, mentor others, solve complex problems and work effectively with varied constituencies. Because of that, the SDBL curriculum is designed to align closely with the responsibilities of school business managers, with courses taught by professionals actively working in the fields represented in the program
“The individuals who teach are employed in the field. They’re already doing the work they are training our graduate students to obtain,” Keller-Cogan said.
The program’s asynchronous online format allows working professionals across New York State and beyond to continue their education while maintaining their careers. For professionals like Shah, that flexibility creates an opportunity to expand their expertise without putting their existing careers on hold. It also reflects the value of continuing to build expertise across disciplines as professional needs evolve.
“Syed's story shows how one Canisius graduate program can lead naturally into another,” Keller-Cogan said. “I see an increased need for disciplines to work with one another to support our students, thus expanding cross-disciplinary opportunities.”
Shah’s experience also reflects the personal impact of his Canisius education. He credits Shawn O’Rourke, PhD, dean of the Wehle Business School and Keller-Cogan with helping shape his approach to leadership, finance and community service.
“They shaped how I view the intersection of finance, leadership and community service,” Shah said. “Their visionary approach and supportive leadership style pushed me to think big, embrace complex challenges and lead with purpose.”
Now, Shah is continuing to build on the foundation by adding specialized knowledge that will prepare him for greater leadership opportunities in public education.
Shah’s journey demonstrates that Canisius graduate education does not have to prepare professionals for just one career path. It can provide a strong foundation, allow professionals to add specialized expertise and help them continue developing their skills as their goals evolve.
“Earning a degree that opens executive-level opportunities while enabling you to make a tangible, positive impact in your community is invaluable,” Shah said.
