Top Students and New Grads

“It’s important to be a multimedia journalist because that’s what it says on the ‘Help Wanted’ sign.” —Stuart A. Thompson, media studies graduate, The University of Western Ontario

Tracy Zhang – the self-proclaimed Energizer bunny of marketing – is finishing her third year in the Queen’s School of Business at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. Tracy is interested in pursuing a career in marketing and advertising, specifically marketing in digital spaces.

Marina Tran-Vu graduated from the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business in 2010 with a Bachelors of Commerce with a focus in marketing. She is currently working as a media planning assistant for Cossette Communications.

Vicky Zhao, a student in the University of Toronto co-op bachelor of business administration management program with a specialization in marketing, competed in the Canada’s Next Top Ad Exec competition this spring. Zhao describes herself as highly organized, dedicated, scrupulous and an avid list-maker. She grew up in China and South Africa as well as here in Canada.

Brad Hallwood, a fourth-year business administration student at Capilano University in Vancouver, was recently a finalist in the Canada’s Next Top Ad Exec competition and pictures himself as a future advertising account executive.

Haris Saeed has gone sky diving, speed water rafting and solo backpacking, but he’s no lone wolf: he’s also raised thousands of dollars for charity, worked as a volunteer to help kids with challenging lifestyles, and tries to be as social as possible by getting to know new people all the time.

Brian Alkerton, a recent York University economics grad who co-founded #GenYOTT and now works in social media, eventually sees himself educating public and private sector employees about the benefits of collaboration and sharing information.

Regis Dudley is the kind of student who “gets” how valuable extra-curricular activities and volunteer experience are in her industry.

In the second instalment of our Top Talent series, we’re featuring Laura Christensen, a second-year commerce student at Queen’s University.