At the UBC Faculty of Management, we are proud to celebrate the achievements of our graduating students through this special Q&A series Celebrating the Class of 2025.
Each student represents a unique story of growth, resilience, and ambition, and we want to highlight the incredible diversity and talent within our academic community. This series offers a glimpse into the experiences that have shaped our grads, what they’ve learned, and where they’re headed next. By sharing their insights and aspirations, the Faculty hopes to inspire others and showcase the impact our students are already making in the world of business.
What inspired you to choose UBC Okanagan and why the Management program?
I chose UBC Okanagan because it would afford me the opportunity to gain a world-class education at a smaller campus. I liked the idea of smaller class sizes and being known by my professors.
Before coming to UBCO, I’d had some work experience in Social Work, and while helping people is my passion, I realized the need to learn how to organize people and resources efficiently to make lasting change while preventing common frustrations that arise from scarcity and poor management. For this reason, I decided to study Management, because I wanted to learn the skills to lead well.
My work will always be people-oriented, add to that the skills and expertise that I have acquired in Business Management, I am actively building a professional identity that combines human-centeredness with business savviness.
What are some of your biggest takeaways from the Management program?
My biggest takeaways from the Management program are the courses I took. My learnings from classes on Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Intro. to Finance, New Product Development, Consumer Behaviour, and Negotiations, to name a few, have equipped me with tangible skills that I will be bringing into the workplace, as I advance in my career.
What are some experiences at UBCO that have changed your perspective or helped you grow?
From hosting a dinner and Paint Night for some classmates in second year to engaging in meaningful conversations about faith, hope, and identity at the UNC building bi-weekly, I have had the most amazing community experiences at UBCO. Building and maintaining relationships is important to me, and I have had the privilege to make one-on-one connections, have intentional conversations, as well as encourage, comfort, and celebrate my friends through our university journeys. Learning and doing life with UBCO students from all over the world has broadened my perspectives on life and changed my perspectives in a lot of positive ways.
In addition to building community, being at UBCO has afforded me some amazing opportunities like representing UBC at a student leadership conference in the USA in my second year and receiving the Management Undergraduate Research Award to carry out academic research on Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprises with Professor Eric Li, also in my second year. In my third year, I participated in Vancouver Foundation’s Youth Policy Program, where I learnt about Canada’s public policy system and presented a policy brief on Living Wages in BC. And in my final year, I served on the UBC Okanagan Senate, amplifying students’ voices in academic decision-making.
Trying out new things can be scary; however, doing so in a low-risk environment like university, where failing is not the end of the world, makes it easier. These were all opportunities for me to try out new things, and in the process, learn about and define my interests and passions.
What’s next for you after graduation?
I have some big life changes coming up, one of which includes moving to the Netherlands! I want to continue to learn, as I move through life, whether that is living in a new country and learning the language and culture or pursuing post-graduate studies in social services and health management.
What advice would you give to current and future UBCO students?
Your professors are humans, with a wealth of life experiences and wisdom; connect with them on this level. The Faculty of Management boasts some of the most accomplished faculty and staff. The one-on-one conversations and relationships that I have built with them over the years are some of my priceless takeaways from the Management program. Not only do I know that I can always reach out to my FOM support system, I know that they will vouch for me and lead me to more open doors.
Any parting words or anything else you would like to share?
- Ask questions.
- Take risks and try new things.
- Make eye contact and say “Hi” to people on campus.
- Enjoy your time at UBCO; it goes by fast.