Originally from China, Felix Wei is a third-year Bachelor of Commerce Co-op student majoring in Marketing. Felix is the current Vice President of the Dalhousie Chinese Society, where he works closely with fellow students to promote a welcoming and supportive campus community. Reflecting on his path to Dalhousie, he shares that he was drawn to the university for both its academic reputation and its experiential learning opportunities. “The program offers three paid co-op work terms, which allow students to gain meaningful real-world experience and develop professional skills before graduation.”

Felix’s interest in marketing has been shaped by a wide range of personal interests, including investing, psychology, philosophy, fitness, and reading. Over time, he began to notice how closely these interests aligned with the core of marketing. “Through my coursework and practical experiences, I came to realize that success in marketing relies heavily on understanding people’s perspectives and psychology, as well as applying creative, strategic, and critical thinking.” Rather than being driven by a single defining moment, Felix describes his decision to pursue marketing as a process of reflection. “Over time, I assessed my own strengths and potential, developed through both academic learning and co-op experiences, while also considering future industry trends and my genuine interest in the field.”

Felix has completed two work terms that allowed him to apply this thinking in professional settings. During his first co-op, he worked as a Global Marketing Assistant with Dalhousie University’s Government and Global Relations department, where he focused on supporting international audiences and contributing to marketing initiatives aimed at overseas markets. “I developed and submitted a proposal focused on integrating an AI-supported system into Dalhousie’s Chinese-language website, with the goal of improving information accessibility and engagement for prospective and current Chinese students.” Seeing his idea taken seriously made the experience especially meaningful. “The proposal was well received and has since been added to the department’s internal assets, with the potential to be considered for future implementation.”

His second co-op in fall 2025 took Felix into the private sector as a Marketing Coordinator on Irving Oil’s Retail Team. In this role, he supported marketing initiatives related to retail operations and loyalty programs, while also ensuring the accuracy and consistency of point-of-purchase materials across Irving’s fuel network.

Transitioning into a fast-paced corporate environment came with its challenges. “One of the biggest challenges I faced occurred at the beginning of my term, when I was required to work with several professional tools that were new to me. As this was my first time using these tools, there was an initial learning curve.” Rather than feeling discouraged, Felix approached the challenge with intention and persistence. “I found that maintaining the right mindset was essential. Instead of feeling anxious when I encountered unfamiliar tasks, I took a proactive approach by researching relevant resources and actively seeking guidance from my supervisor and team members.” Over time, his confidence grew. “Through continuous learning and practice, I gradually became proficient in using these tools and was able to contribute effectively by completing tasks accurately and efficiently.”

Looking ahead, Felix is eager to continue building on both his technical and interpersonal skills. “For my next co-op, I hope to continue strengthening my marketing expertise and key soft skills, such as creative and critical thinking.” He is particularly motivated by the opportunity to make a tangible impact. “I aim to contribute more innovative ideas and actionable suggestions to my team and, ideally, see those ideas recognized and implemented in practice.”