Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Mikayla Menezes is a fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce Co-op student majoring in Supply Chain and Logistics. “I was very indecisive about which path I wanted to take with my degree. I switched to this major at the beginning of September, and it was the best decision I could have made. Coming to Dalhousie and choosing the BComm program has had a huge impact on my professional interests and personal growth.”
Mikayla’s co-ops have taken her across three different sectors: marketing, internal audit, and supply chain, each playing a key role in shaping the direction of her career. Her first work term was with TELUS Health as a Marketing Coordinator, where she worked on integrated marketing communications, consumer research, and event execution. “This role showed me how much I love creativity and consumer-oriented work.”
Her second co-op with TJX Canada on the internal audit team offered an entirely different experience. “Although it was a great learning experience, where I leaned on operational auditing, SOX testing, and financial controls, I quickly realized that accounting was not the right fit for me.” Still, it was a pivotal moment for Mikayla. “During this co-op, I was first introduced to the world of merchandising and the role of a buyer. This discovery ultimately changed my career direction.”
Most recently, Mikayla worked at Canadian Tire Corporation on the Product Stewardship team. “This role directly connected me to the merchandise and gave me exposure to product safety, quality, and compliance. I loved the product side of retail and understanding how supply chain decisions ultimately reach customers. In the future, I want to be someone who influences product strategy, assortment decisions, and customer experience.” She describes her final co-op as her most impactful yet. “This was by far my favourite co-op and helped me confirm I wanted a career in merchandising with the long-term goal of becoming a buyer.”
One of the highlights of her Canadian Tire experience was supporting research for the Canadian Standards Association on sustainability and the circular economy. “In simple terms, the circular economy is about keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible, rather than throwing things away and creating waste,” she says. “Working on this research opened my eyes to how much the retail industry can improve and how much power companies have to make positive changes. One of my greatest achievements is that this work has helped me discover my own passion and purpose. Through my CSA research and my courses with Dr. Ulku, I have learned about sustainability and responsible supply chains, and I feel these values have become a core part of myself.”
Mikayla wants other students to know that being uncertain is normal. “It took me changing my major three times, completing three co-ops, and earning so many credit hours to finally discover what felt right for me.” Her advice is to stay flexible. “It’s important to have goals, but don’t become so set on a single plan that you miss the opportunities right in front of you.”
Looking ahead, she hopes to begin as a Replenishment Analyst to build the analytics foundation she needs. “I’m not attached to any one outcome, but I’m full of goals and hope to make my own mark on the world.”