David Goad, BEng Management’91 (Chemical Engineering)

It’s not uncommon to hear people tout the broad versatility of an engineering degree. Anyone looking to bolster that argument could point to the living example of McMaster grad David Goad.

Building on the foundation of a B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering and Management (‘91), Goad has constructed a career spanning several continents, several industries, and multiple successes. From his start in the nuclear industry after graduation, he headed into chemical manufacturing, then on to business consulting and software sales. Work as an IT consultant in Australia eventually led him to launch his own systems integration business, eSavvy, which he sold in 2014.

Along the way, he also earned a Masters in Finance from McMaster, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from York University. Now living and working in Australia, Goad teaches at the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales business schools while working on his PhD.

“I think the lesson here is that an engineering degree sets you up to do almost anything,” says Goad. “It trains you to learn and think in a structured way, which helps in most career scenarios.”

With the sale of his successful business, Goad now enjoys the luxury of following his passions. His PhD research focuses on the Internet of Things (IoT), and he combines freelance consulting on business issues related to the IoT with the teaching and mentoring of entrepreneurs.

“It’s been predicted that by 2020, more than half of all major new business processes and systems will incorporate some element of the Internet of Things,” says Goad. “The degree to which IoT will change business strategies and business models promises to surpass even the dramatic technology changes we’ve seen in recent decades.”

In his spare time, he also works as a volunteer firefighter and ambulance attendant while enjoying the abundance of outdoor opportunities that Sydney offers him and his young family.