Expanding my presence at UBC
When I started spending time in Vancouver in 2014 in preparation for our move, I chose to lease a condo on the campus of The University of British Columbia. A beautiful area but equally important was the excitement of learning and techology.
I quickly decided I should pursue a job at UBC. Best of all, I could walk to work. I started networking at the Sauder School of Business and met some influential professors and instructors. At the same time I regularly reviewed the online job postings and submitted applications to those positions best suited to my qualifications.
In two years, I had zero responses or offers. I even contacted the HR Department to make sure I wasn't making some error with my submissions.
Around that time I became involved as a volunteer mentor with entrepreneurs@UBC, a newly developed, cross-faculty initiative to encourage and guide business ventures. It is open to students, faculty, alumni and staff. It is intended to bring home-grown ideas and technology to the world.
And I am loving it! At the same, I am getting increasingly involved with related programs. This summer I offered to develop and teach an "effective presentations and pitching" workshop for the students. I spent the summer doing interviews with mentors, instructors and students to understand needs and areas for improvement. Almost everyone told me at the end of the interviews, "I am so glad you are doing this".
Perhaps I am coming at it through the back door but I feel as though all of these efforts will eventually lead me somewhere. In the meantime, I am keeping busy and engaged.
