From Carleton to the Islands: Alumni Build Global Careers with Deloitte
From Ottawa classrooms to international careers, three Carleton University alumni—Dan Byron (MAcc/23), Naim Jusic (MAcc/23) and Erica Newman (BCOMM/11)—are proving that a foundation in business and accounting can open doors around the world. All three have relocated and successfully joined Deloitte’s global network, highlighting the value of community, connection and experiential learning on building transferrable skills.
Byron works as an Audit Senior in Deloitte’s Bermuda office. Jusic and Newman each call the Cayman Islands home, serving as Audit Senior and Senior Manager of Recruitment, respectively. Though their career paths differ, all three say their experiences at Carleton helped prepare them to thrive in a fast-paced global environment.
For Byron, taking the leap to work internationally was both exciting and intimidating.
“I was nervous to take the jump, because I’d never lived anywhere other than Ottawa in my entire life, so that was a pretty big step for me,” he says.
“But I have a growth mentality, so I wanted to take the next step, and it just seemed like a unique opportunity—something I didn’t really want to pass up on.”
That willingness to embrace new opportunities was shaped during his time at Carleton, where he built connections with classmates, faculty and professionals in the accounting industry. Like many students in the university’s business program, Byron says networking played a major role in preparing him for the workforce.
As alumni working internationally, all three graduates say the skills they developed at Carleton—from technical accounting knowledge to communication, teamwork and adaptability—continue to serve them in their careers today. Their experiences also reflect the increasingly global opportunities available to graduates entering the accounting and commerce fields.
Jusic says Carleton’s professors played an important role in preparing students for careers beyond the classroom by bringing real-world insight into their teaching.
“They not only taught you the theory but also prepared you for how this is applicable in the workplace,” Jusic says.
Newman says experiential learning outside the classroom also shaped her career path. Exploring opportunities during her time as a student, particularly Carleton’s exchange program, helped expand her perspective and ultimately encouraged her to pursue a career abroad after she graduated. She encourages students to take advantage of experiences that push them outside their comfort zones.
“I would encourage students to pursue opportunities like Carleton’s exchange program because experiences like that can really broaden your horizons,” she says. “It pushes you outside your comfort zone and opens your eyes to opportunities you may never have considered otherwise.”
Ultimately, each alumnus credits Carleton not only with helping them build technical expertise, but also with giving them the confidence to pursue careers beyond Canada. Through networking, hands-on learning and mentorship, they say the university helped shape the mindset and skills needed to succeed in an increasingly global industry.
For Jusic, Carleton opened doors he never imagined possible.
“At the end of the day, I would have never known about this opportunity if I didn’t go to Carleton,” he says.
Whether in Bermuda, the Cayman Islands or beyond, Byron, Jusic and Newman’s experiences reflect how a Carleton education can prepare graduates to adapt, grow and build meaningful careers around the world.