What drew you to the Bachelor of Management program at UBCO?
I was looking for a business degree and was drawn to UBC for its reputation and its connection to my home province, British Columbia. What sealed the deal was the incredible lifestyle that Okanagan offered. Living in Lake Country at the time, the 20-minute commute was just perfect for me.
What were your biggest takeaways from the program?
The program gave me a solid educational foundation and helped me grow as a person. I gained new perspectives, a deeper understanding of other cultures, and made lifelong friends. The networking opportunities have left me with a professional network that I still connect with today.
What was the most rewarding part of the program?
The perspective I got on life and the relationships I formed were the most rewarding. I came out of school a whole new person, a true critical thinker. I established lasting connections with professors, students, faculty, and administrators. This perspective has allowed me to make excellent decisions in life, and the connections have given me a lasting sense of belonging to UBC.
What advice or insight would you give to a prospective student considering this program?
“If you’re considering a business degree, you can stop looking. You found your program.”
Its general applicability to business is one of the many things I loved about it. The education you receive is relevant to every division of a company, giving you a key to unlock many doors to a successful future, regardless of what you pick. Additionally, even if you don’t know what you want to be when you graduate, this program gives you that opportunity to get an amazing education, but still remain flexible with applicable skills.
What is your current occupation and how did you get there?
I’m an entrepreneur and currently own three companies. Post-university, I started as a general manager in natural medicine, then moved into officer and vice president roles, and finally to an executive vice president, all within about five years of graduating. After several years as an executive vice president, I decided to build my own dream and started my executive business consulting company. I then acquired the other companies along the way, to build a diverse portfolio.
Do you have any career advice you’d like to share?
Be authentic, humble, and ready to learn. It’s so tempting to throw off your cap and gown and run into a workplace thinking that we know it all. That’s what I did, and I learned pretty quickly that it wasn’t the case.
“I think it’s so important for all students and graduates to understand that your role will involve continuous learning beyond university education.”
While university education and real-world education have some distinct differences, both have their benefits. Your real-world experiences and how you show up in your job play a significant part in your success.
What are your future career goals?
Retirement… That is the joke I often make, but honestly, I still don’t know what I want to be when I “grow up.” I’m a firm believer that life presents opportunities based on what you put into it, so I’m excited to see what continues to pop up along my professional journey.
What I do know is that I love entrepreneurship and small business, I want to be surrounded by good people, and I want to enjoy my work. That’s my baseline, and I’m flexible and open to opportunities where I can surround myself with those things.
While my diverse skill set, UBC education, and real-world experience, prepares me for any senior leadership role, the most important thing is being surrounded in a culture that you enjoy, because happiness in is the ultimate measure of success.
