Peter B. Gustavson School of Business

Connor Burge, BCom '19, is currently working as a Team Lead for Sales Development at Galvanize; a global Governance, Risk Management and Compliance (GRC) software company based out of Vancouver with more than 6,300 customer organizations in 130 countries. I’ve had the opportunity to work as a Sales Development Representative (SDR) in many different segments of Galvanize’s business. I lead a team of 4 SDRs who focus on building a qualified sales pipeline for our North America...n public sector business. I also have my own pipeline goals and work closely with the federal sales team based out of Washington, DC. My goal with co-op was about finding out what I enjoyed doing and getting the experience to jump-start my career post-grad. I chose to do my three work terms in different industries: consumer packaged goods, energy, and technology. I’ve found selling enterprise Software as a Service (SaaS) technology to be fast paced, challenging, and rewarding! Tech companies are great to work for early in your career because they value new talent and offer many opportunities for fast career growth. The value many Gustavson alumni bring to west coast tech companies is significant and widespread. Use this network to your advantage if you’re wanting to jump in!

As a recent graduate of the Master of Global Business program, Yinka Fasheun shares her experience from co-op student to full-time employee with the BC Ministry of Jobs, Economic Recovery, and Innovation. As a co-op student, I served as a Corporate Operations Assistant supporting the Corporate Operations and Business Intelligence branch, within the Trade and Industry Development Division. Reflecting back on this work term, this co-op exceeded my expectations and helped broad...en my mindset towards my career options and my approach to work. I learned how to conduct research, manage a project, and be flexible. The UVic MGB and co-op program played a huge part in preparing me for my career. After my co-op, I took on assignments as an Adjudicator for the Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant Program with the same Ministry, and as a Program Officer with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture. The Small and Medium-Sized Business Recovery Grant Program has been put in place to support businesses during and beyond COVID-19. My advice to those looking for a co-op is - continue to put in increasing effort to each application, try not to get tired of it, and continue to build a library of experience from each application process. Wishing you success!

Sarah Cathcart, a fourth year BCom student, is completing her final co-op term at Tailwind Associates. Tailwind Associates is a venture builder in Calgary whose main objective is to create partnerships with companies and investors to achieve positive results and long-term growth. Tailwind focuses on partnering with early-stage companies that are approaching investment-readiness and provides them with the necessary tools for lasting success. My role consists of building and m...anaging internal databases, working with clients on investor relations activities, and creating pitch decks. I currently have a wide variety of projects on the go for clients who operate in various industries. One of my favourite parts of working at Tailwind is collaborating with the team. I work closely with the associates and other analysts on different projects. Additionally, Tailwind has an exemplary corporate culture, that encompasses a variety of strong values. Some of its values include pursuing excellence, commitment to creating value, striving to be better people, and demonstrating enthusiasm for entrepreneurs. By the end of my work term, I hope to further embody these values in my professional and personal life. Overall, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the incredible team at Tailwind!

Liam MacKinnon, a 4th year BCom student, reflects on his eight month co-op term with Rise CPA as an Accounting Intern. I worked primarily in the firm’s accounting department alongside an extremely talented team. My responsibilities spanned across many projects and engagements, ranging from preparing and analyzing financial statements and tax returns for private corporations, to helping prepare several clients’ Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy applications in light of the govern...ment’s COVID-19 response efforts for Canadian businesses. My favourite part of the co-op experience was that every day presented new challenges and opportunities for skill development. Undoubtedly, some challenges may test your character, but framing them in a positive light and focusing on the lessons learned from each challenging experience has made it easier to identify solutions and continue to grow. Another big takeaway for me was to always ask questions, as it demonstrates curiosity and a willingness to learn. This is a skill I will continue to use in my future career opportunities!

Melody Lee, a 4th year BCom student is currently working on a new student initiative called Level UP, with Riipen. Riipen is a company whose mission is to eliminate graduate unemployment by creating a platform that connects professors to industries to create a work-integrated learning experience for students. Riipen has launched Level UP, an innovative work-integrated learning program to prepare students in post-secondary education and employers to thrive in the future of wor...k. My role as a Level UP Program Coordinator is to liaise with employers and students regarding Level UP, to review and approve projects, while assisting my team with any tasks that need to be completed. I have learned many skills so far; one of them being process thinking! As this project is newly launched, my manager is open to any suggestions to better our procedures. I truly feel part of the team and my suggestions are taken into consideration. I feel empowered to be working for a company whose mission is to help students!

"I had the privilege to be the guest editor for Douglas Magazine and it was a surreal experience. Having never done this before, it illuminated for me the intrinsic details of the job and I got a chance to get up close with my own city, Victoria. Based on my interview with Julie Angus (Founder, Open Ocean Robotics) and learning more about the thriving Indigenous businesses and tech companies, I genuinely believe that Victoria is in a unique position to undergo massive economic growth fuelled by technology." Sam Mod, MBA ’15, CEO of FreshWorks Studio Read the issue here: https://issuu.com/page-one/docs/ddj20_dcdd9ffb458c5a

The theme of the workshop was ‘Non-Traditional Careers: Expanding the Possibilities’. I couldn’t have thought of a better theme to be asked to address. Lindsay Brookes, BCom ’15, shares the six key takeaways from her workshop presented at the 2021 Annual Workplace Skills Conference.

Sudhir Nair, Gustavson associate professor, shares what his journey to mental health advocacy has looked like, and why it’s been more important than ever over the last year. #BellLetsTalk

As Gustavson rounds the corner on 30 years of business education, we took a moment to catch up with the first student to ever graduate from the school: Marc Gaucher, now the managing partner of the Metro Group. Marc graduated from the MBA program a semester ahead of his class, in 1993. In the intervening years he has found success as a consultant, and then - following his true passion - as an entrepreneur.

In 2019, a group of Gustavson staff and faculty came together to sponsor a refugee family and support them in relocating to Victoria. It was not an easy journey, but a year later, the sponsor group met for the final time with full hearts and new lessons learned in grit and resilience. Read on for one sponsor’s reflections on the experience.

Happy Holidays from Gustavson See you in 2021 when we’ll make new memories together!

Healthcare and ethics: these topics are at a critical intersection during a pandemic. UVic business faculty Dr. Cheryl Mitchell has spent more than 20 years consulting and researching on these issues. One question Cheryl explores is that of moral distress. Moral distress comes into play when you know the right action based on your morals, but you are constrained from taking that action because of circumstances. ... Read on for her recent research findings and practical tips for leaders.

What’s Mia Maki’s fav Victoria takeout? Does she have any new hobbies this year? Tea or coffee? . As finals approach, their favs might inspire some fun study break ideas. And remember, your professors are cheering you on. Reach out to them if you have questions or want to chat.

Dec. 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women. Classes are cancelled on Friday, Dec. 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. to allow ...UVic students, faculty and staff to commemorate the events of Dec. 6, 1989. We ask our community to share in our commitment to end gender-based violence by taking this hour to reflect and commit to action. Learn more: http://ow.ly/wAAr50Cywq1