05/27/2026
As a part-time MBA ('26) student, veteran and Calgary firefighter Max Reinthaler, took his master’s degree beyond the classroom through Business on the Frontlines (BOTFL), a course offered with professor Emily Block that provides students life-changing front-line experiences in global markets.
Learn more about Max's time with BOTFL in Cambodia:
→ What experiences did you find changed your perspective?
I came to see education not just as an opportunity, but as a luxury. In Phnom Penh, I was humbled to meet parents who worked three or four jobs so their children could attend public, private and language schools, in hopes of enabling them to achieve a better standard of living.
In the economically repressed rural areas of Cambodia, I met subsistence farmers who simply could not afford to have their children in school if it meant losing essential labour on the farm. This contrast highlighted the duality of economic and educational opportunities; it is very difficult to have one without the other, especially when portions of a society are worried about securing the basic necessities. Long-term investment becomes a privilege instead of a choice.
→ Are there any skills or insights you learned from your time in the BOTLF program that are still applicable for you today?
As an infantry officer, I was trained to assess situations through a threat- and security-focused lens. That focus has served me well, even in my MBA studies, because it transitions easily to tackling difficult problems with relatively short horizons. Through BOTFL, that lens remained a valuable tool, but it no longer worked as a primary viewpoint; I had to adapt.
I had to learn not only to see, but also to appreciate the human element of the enormous challenges facing communities on the fringe of chaos.
→ Do you have any advice for future MBA students interested in applying to BOTFL?
Go for it, get out of your comfort zone. Yes, imposter syndrome is real (I’ve felt it more times than I care to admit) but you’re not alone in it. Every classmate I’ve had throughout the program has brought immeasurable value to our classes.
