Flavia da Cruz Silveira is a third-year Bachelor of Commerce Co-op student from São Luís, Brazil who is majoring in Managing People and Organizations. With a passion for marketing, she chose Dalhousie for its reputation, curriculum, and the opportunities it offers to shape a successful career for students. “I also deeply value Dalhousie’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity,” she shares.
This past winter term, Flavia completed her first co-op as a Chapters & Events Coordinator with Get REAL Movement, where she was drawn to the team’s mission of promoting diversity and empathy. She says that it was rewarding to contribute to impactful projects, in particular collaborating with Capilano University and organizing the second Virtual Career Conference to connect students across Canada with networking opportunities and free workshops.
After completing her co-op, Flavia continued her involvement with the Get REAL Movement and started to promote their mission through Get REAL Dalhousie, which she is now co-President of, and is proud to lead and engage the academic community in. Her previous experience as a teacher in Brazil has shaped her leadership style and empathy. “I believe these abilities are essential to spread the mission and purpose of The Get REAL Movement.”
Currently, Flavia is completing her second co-op as the Marketing and Social Media Coordinator at Dalhousie’s Faculty of Open Learning and Career Development, focusing on creating social media content, marketing research, and performing competitive analysis on prospective certificates and courses. Enhancing processes related to marketing and sales reporting is a big focus for her this term.
Flavia’s background as an educator has allowed her to develop skills that have been fundamental in her Commerce studies and in securing co-op positions that align with her values. She shares that teaching refined her organizational and communication skills along with the ability to multitask.
For those considering a career switch or new degree, Flavia advises thorough research and connecting with the right people to ask questions. “As much as you want to change right away, it is important to take the time to do in-depth research and closely examine the curriculum of the programs that interest you. It’s essential to fully understand what each program offers and assess whether it aligns with your interests and goals”.
Aspiring to one day become an academic advisor, Flavia is motivated by the desire for meaningful work in a diverse environment and plans to continue seeking guidance to achieve her goals. To support her journey on becoming an advisor, she plans to participate in workshops, utilize the Writing Centre to enhance her writing skills, and join Dal Toastmasters to sharpen her public speaking abilities. She is engaging in student societies, including the Dalhousie Spanish and Latin American Society, with which she is Vice President of Internal Communications, and volunteers as a tutor. “I’m passionate about student engagement and languages, as I speak Portuguese, Spanish, French, and English. Being involved provides me with valuable opportunities to connect with the academic community and share my knowledge in the university environment.”
Before coming to Dal, Flavia completed her master’s research in Women and Gender Studies, focusing on discourse analysis inspired by her own journey of figuring out her role as a woman in society. Today, she is interested in how societal perceptions intersect with marketing.