Beyond the Degree – Your Journey Begins Now- Convocation Speech by Surjit Singh Babra

Delivered at the TMU Convocation Ceremony on June 6, 2025

Chancellor, esteemed faculty members, proud parents, guests, and most importantly, dear graduates,

Good morning. I am truly humbled and honoured to address you today.

Let me begin with my sincere congratulations to each one of you and to your parents and teachers. You’ve crossed a major milestone—one that reflects dedication, endurance, and an investment in yourself and your future.

Today is more than just a celebration of your academic success — it’s the beginning of a journey into a world full of opportunities. Step into it with open arms and an open heart.

I am grateful to receive an honorary degree [look at chancellor], and it means so much to me because I always wanted a full university degree—but sometimes circumstances are not always in your favour. However, I never gave up self-studying from business books, self-motivational books, and listening to great teachers and gurus. As a Sikh, I am a student for life.

Before I proceed, I would like to thank God for being there for me as a silent friend and partner. I would like to thank my parents and family, my teachers, friends, partners, and employees. Thank you, Canada, for welcoming us and for giving us opportunities. It is a pleasure to reinvest back into Canada.

I am a proud graduate of the University of Hard Knocks. I came to this country as an immigrant, driven by a burning desire to succeed. Through perseverance, hard work, and learning to face challenges—including failure—with a smile, I was able to build businesses in travel, aviation, and food manufacturing. But more importantly, I built resilience—and the unshakable belief that true success means nothing unless it serves to uplift others.

Today, reflecting on my journey, I’d like to offer you six points— principles—that have been instrumental throughout my journey. I hope they serve you well as you enter your new world outside this campus.

First Point: Believe in YourselfHave a mantra for self-affirmation: that you are engineered to succeed. One of my teachers said it’s like brainwashing yourself. Start your day on a positive note: “I am strong, I am powerful, I can overcome anything, I am a leader.” I assure you, self-affirmation is the foundation of success.

Second Point: Be a Problem SolverYou will encounter roadblocks—some big, some invisible. There will be moments when you feel alone, unprepared, even defeated. But here’s what life taught me: never get stuck sulking about a problem. Focus on the solution. You get paid for solutions, not for problems. Other people’s problems are your opportunities. This attitude—turning challenges into opportunities—is the engine of every meaningful success story.

Third Point: Be at Peace with YourselfDo the best you can every day. Your best may not be the same as someone else's best. But when you go to sleep at night, you should know that you did your best. Your degree is important, but what will define you in the real world is your integrity. In every business I’ve run, I’ve learned that you can teach skills, but you cannot teach values. People will remember how you treated them, not just how smart you were.

Remember: while the world may measure you by your achievements, life ultimately measures you by the character you build and the person you become. Beyond your own goals, there is a higher universal goal—to leave the world better for those who come after us.

Fourth Point: Embrace the Spirit of Chardi KalaWhat has helped me from a young age is embracing the Sikh command of Chardi Kala—to live with an ever-rising spirit. It’s more than optimism. It’s a spiritual discipline. Chardi Kala means maintaining a high spirit even during adversity. It’s a blend of resilient positivity, unshakable hope, and deep faith in divine wisdom. This mindset has helped me rise after every setback.

Fifth Point: Accept What You Can’t ControlEveryone is a masterpiece. There’s no one else like you in the world. Don’t carry the burden of things you can’t control. Not everything in life makes sense. When things don’t go my way and I can’t understand why, I put them in my “karma folder”—a mental space where I file the unexplainable: setbacks, disappointments, unfairness. That’s how I move forward. Life isn’t always fair, and we’re not all given the same circumstances. But we all have the power to choose how we respond. Do your best—and leave the rest to God, or nature, or whatever higher truth you believe in.

Sixth Point: Think Like an EntrepreneurLet’s talk about money. From this day onward, you are in business for yourself. Whether you work for someone else or start your own venture, treat yourself as your own CEO, your own board of directors, your own finance officer, and your own marketing team. Sell your knowledge, your service, your skills. That’s how you create opportunities. I’ve gone from factory floors to building travel and aviation companies, to now squeezing tomatoes and making beverages. Business principles apply across all industries.

Today, I challenge you to adopt this mindset: treat yourself as if you’re in business for yourself. In five years, you’ll earn what I call “The Entrepreneurial Degree.” Like a sculptor chips away to reveal a masterpiece in stone, keep chiseling at your potential. There’s super success energy inside you—let it shine.

And don’t forget: write your own monthly progress report.

I conclude by saying: be caring, be kind, be giving, be grateful—and be happy.

Congratulations once again. The world is yours. Go and leave your mark on it.

Thank you.