Student Spotlight: Kaila Hamawi

March 10, 2025 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Kaila Hamawi, a fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce Co-op student from Ontario, is pursuing a major in Marketing with a certificate in Entrepreneurship & Innovation. She chose Dalhousie to experience life on the east coast and take advantage of the co-op program. “I wanted to start fresh in a new environment, and the program sounded great, especially because it included co-op,” Kaila explains. Her decision was also influenced by her cousin, a Dal alum, who spoke highly of the university’s supportive atmosphere and opportunities for personal growth.

Kaila’s co-op journey began at ProudMouth, a company that helps businesses market their services through podcasts. “Finding a co-op was difficult in my first year,” she recalls, “but a connection referred me to ProudMouth, and I liked the idea of working at a small company where I could make a big impact.” The company’s focus on podcasting as a marketing tool also resonated with her.

Kaila went on to complete all three of her co-ops at ProudMouth. During her time there, she appreciated the flexibility of the remote work environment, which allowed her to balance her job with her mental health and school responsibilities. Kaila’s co-op roles varied, but her favourite was working as a content creator and project manager. “I enjoyed producing content for clients, editing their podcasts, and managing the PodBlast website.” This hands-on experience gave her valuable insights into the importance of content creation in building a business and fostering audience engagement.

Kaila’s time at ProudMouth also taught her the significance of authenticity in content. “I learned how crucial it is to create content that resonates with audiences,” she reflects. “It’s not just about pushing a message, but about connecting with people and giving them a reason to follow along.” These lessons have fueled her passion for content creation, leading her to start vlogging and producing her own social media content. “It was something I had always wanted to try but never did because I was worried about what others would think,” Kaila admits. “But with the encouragement of my stepsister, I finally took the leap.”

Looking ahead, Kaila envisions herself growing her content creation platform and building a community of like-minded individuals. “I want to document my journey, give advice to others, and create a space for people who share similar passions,” she says. Her advice to aspiring content creators is to focus on doing it for themselves. “It’s important to remember that this journey is for you, not for anyone else. Don’t worry about the end goal—just enjoy the process and adapt along the way.”

With a growing portfolio, Kaila is excited about her future in marketing, content creation, and entrepreneurship, confident that her experiences will continue to shape her professional path.

Student Spotlight: Laurel O’Brien

March 22, 2021 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Originally from Toronto, Laurel O’Brien is in her second year of the Bachelor of Commerce program. Because she enjoys and excels in the arts, Laurel moved to Halifax after taking a gap year following high school, where she began a Bachelor of Fine Arts at NSCAD. After studying at NSCAD for one year, she decided to try something different, but knew she wanted to stay in Halifax, so she transferred to Dal as a Bachelor of Arts student. She tested the waters by taking a Commerce course and fell in love with it, so she enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce program, and as they say, the rest is history.

Laurel is currently completing her first co-op at LPi Group as an Account Coordinator. LPi is a marketing agency specializing in shopper marketing. “I handle a variety of tasks and projects supporting the accounts teams, including leading client asks and organizing client files, as well as some research and analysis.” She was able to develop her networking skills as well as her ability to navigate LinkedIn throughout her job search. “I spent the majority of my job search not understanding how to leverage my personal network or LinkedIn as a tool, and it was only after an MCS advisor gave me a ‘crash course’ that I started making real headway in securing a position.”

Due to COVID-19, Laurel has been completing her work term remotely, and although there are challenges that come along with working from home, she feels very lucky to have secured a co-op position during this stressful and uncertain time. “The culture at my current workplace is very social and fun, so my colleagues have made it very easy to feel like part of the team. I do wish I could have been in the office, but there’s really not all that much to lament. I feel very lucky!”

Laurel’s advice for you:

Take full advantage of MCS! Have them look over your resume as much as you need – as you’re editing your documents to align with a particular job opportunity, you might miss something your Career and Recruitment Specialist won’t. And I can’t overstate the extent to which practice interviews helped me put my best foot forward in my job interviews.

Don’t be shy about the fact that you’re looking for work. More times than not, when I mentioned my job search to friends and acquaintances they responded with “oh, I might know about a position” or “I have a friend who’s hiring right now” – people want to help!

Pronouns: She/Her

Student Spotlight: Gillian Kirk

January 19, 2021 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Originally from Oakville, Ontario, Gillian Kirk is in her third year of study at Dalhousie and her second year in the Bachelor of Management program. After her first year at Dal she decided to switch to Management because of the option to participate in the 8-month internship program, allowing her to gain valuable work experience before graduating.

Gillian has secured an internship starting this May with PepsiCo Beverages Canada, a worldwide company that distributes hundreds of food and beverage items to more than 200 countries and territories. What stood out to Gillian about PepsiCo specifically was their “strong emphasis on providing employees with meaningful work opportunities to build and maintain a strong career from the start”. She was keen to pursue this company because even though they are a big corporation, they are committed to supporting their team and communities. In her role as Sales Intern, Gillian will work with a diversified list of retail customers to educate and excite them about PepsiCo’s products, as well as assist the company in achieving sales and customer service objectives.

Prioritizing networking and making connections is what Gillian contributes to landing the position. To secure her internship, she began by “reaching out to a personal contact who also started out as an intern, but worked her way up after working for PepsiCo for 10 years. I saw this as an opportunity to gain insight on how large corporations operate”. Her personal networking efforts led to an internal referral for an interview, in which she was offered the position.

Gillian is looking forward to gaining the work experience that comes along with completing her internship. “I’m most excited to build new relationships with customers and fellow employees, to work hard to achieve high sales volume, and to be the best representative of all that PepsiCo has to offer for their customers,” she says.

Gillian’s advice for you:

Make use of your connections early on in the work search process. Reach out and learn about their experiences. You will be surprised where this takes you in being exposed to potential job opportunities, and building relationships and a good support network with professionals with a vast amount of experience and knowledge for career growth.

The internship prep seminar course I took this fall with Jennifer Coombs [MCS Career & Recruitment Specialist] was very beneficial in helping me learn how to create a professional resume and cover letter, build my LinkedIn profile, network, and how to prepare for and have a successful interview (especially focusing on virtual interviewing). This knowledge made me feel more confident going into my interview with PepsiCo, and I was prepared to represent myself and effectively tell my own story.

Pronouns: She/Her

Student Spotlight: Kenny Johnston

September 13, 2016 Allison Auld Leave a Comment

Kenny Johnston is a fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce student who is a member of the Rowe Marketing Association (RMA), having joined in the winter semester of his third year. This week, Kenny and the RMA will be taking over our social media channels, including launching and growing our new Snapchat account! Kenny’s experience in different industries during his work terms has allowed him to develop a diverse of range skills and he’s keen to help grow MCS’ presence on social media.

“I joined RMA because I was looking for ways to get involved outside of class and I had a strong interest in marketing. I really enjoyed the ‘you get out what you put into it’ aspect of joining a society.

Throughout our takeover week, you can expect to see posts about current and upcoming events on the MCS Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as live Snapchat updates; I will be attending many of the Career Day events throughout the week to give students a real-time look at some of the many opportunities that MCS has to offer.”

On Dalhousie’s commerce co-op program, Kenny says “don’t be afraid to look into new career avenues if you are unsure or curious about a certain industry. The co-op program is designed as the perfect way to try new things and discover what you are truly passionate about.

All three of my co-op work terms were unique as I was looking to experience different areas of business. Working in three different industries allowed me to determine what my passions were, meet new people and develop a variety of new skills. This range of experiences has helped me feel better prepared for the future when it comes to entering the workforce.”

We are excited to see how Kenny, his RMA colleague Erica and the team grow MCS’ social media presence over the next few weeks, and we encourage everyone to check out our Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat channels to stay up-to-date with all the great opportunities MCS has to offer. We are sure that that Kenny and the Rowe Marketing Association has some great ideas to help boost our online presence!

Student Spotlight: Noor Jarrar

May 3, 2016 Allison Auld Leave a Comment

Noor Jarrar is a fourth-year Bachelor of Management student who recently secured a full time position post-graduation, which she largely credits to the career development resources available to her as a student. Noor’s active job search and willingness to reach out to Management Career Services helped her land a job with RBC as a client advisor.

“To start off, I would recommend to all of my fellow students that they visit Management Career Services regularly. The staff at MCS not only help you to search for a job, but they also take the extra steps to help you with your application, make sure you ace the interview, and develop your networking skills.

Thanks to my career and recruitment specialist, Gillian Fowler, I recently accepted a job at RBC as a client advisor. My previous work with Plan Canada as well as the support from my Career and Recruitment Specialists were key to my securing the position.

At the beginning of this past fall term, I spoke with Gillian about my goal of having a job before I graduate. Like many students, I went into my degree without really knowing what I wanted my career to look like. She helped me narrow my passions and aided in me finding a job that reflected those interests.

What truly impressed me from the specialists was that they don’t stop trying to help their students. Personalized emails about job openings were a norm from Gillian, and she helped me find opportunities that I never knew existed. She also went out of her way to introduce me to her contacts, which in turn led to me finding my current job.

Gillian also advised me to make a LinkedIn profile, and I encourage students to create a profile on the site and to network as much as possible, because you never know how far one connection can take you. And of course, students should also take advantage of other programs offered with MCS, including the C3 mentoring program and ongoing networking events on campus.

MCS is a tremendously helpful place to help you jump-start your career, but as a student, you have to make the effort to help them help you. Take the extra time to continually check for job postings, be ready at all times to extend a hand and make a new connection, and work frequently to improve your resume and cover letter. These actions will surely lead to your success in finding a great job.”

We would like to congratulate Noor on her success in finding a grad job and we urge you all to take advantage of everything Management Career Services offers. It just might be the extra help you need on your career path. If you’re on campus this summer, take advantage of our soon-to-be-launched MCS Power Hours – special skill-building sessions that will help launch your fall co-op job search early. Keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter for more details as information is released!

Student Spotlight: Torsten Palmer

January 12, 2016 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Meet Torsten Palmer, a fourth-year Dalhousie student who is currently in his second year of the Commerce program. Torsten has participated in numerous Career Smart Workshops which have helped him gain valuable insight and useful tips that have become essential to his career path. Here’s what Torsten has to say:

“The Career Smart workshops revolved around a ‘how to’ platform for interacting and networking with potential employers – the importance of which I don’t believe is successfully conveyed in coursework alone. These workshops covered topics from leveraging social media to find and impress employers, to developing skills such as speaking over the phone and preparing for interviews. Each workshop was beneficial in its own way. There was unique content in every event and though some content may have been repeated, this helped to highlight the significance of the material.

“There have been several times since the workshops where I applied the skills I had learned. Over the phone, I have focused on being direct with my purpose and questions. Before making any phone call, I also prepare somewhat of a script in case I have to leave a voicemail. Overall, my presence over the phone (as well as online and in person) has become far more confident as a result of using the information received during the workshops.

“The true value of these experiences is how they lend themselves to building confidence and character. Learning how to effectively and appropriately present yourself is paramount when considering any career path. I would highly recommend taking advantage of every opportunity provided by MCS.”

Note: Students who are interested in attending the MCS Career Smart Workshops can register through the myCareer events calendar.

End Your Semester With A Win

April 2, 2015 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

The winter semester is quickly coming to a close and whether you spent it on campus or on a co-op, internship, or corporate residency work term, there are steps you can take now to set yourself up for success in the months ahead.

All students:

If you participated in select fall 2014/winter 2015 career events, programs and activities, be sure to get them recognized through the Co-Curricular Record. This is a great way to enhance your resume and LinkedIn profile!

BComm 1st year/BMgmt 1st and 2nd year students:

While it may seem like you have the summer “off”, try to take advantage of this time by developing your employable and transferable skills, gaining some experience through volunteer or paid summer work opportunities, and starting to expand your network. This will pay off in second year as you build your resume, prepare for your co-op job search, and partake in your first work term.

BComm 2nd year students/CRMBA students:

Before you complete your first co-op work term experience, make sure you review our list of the 8 Must-Do’s to Make the Most of Your Work Term – it’s not too late to implement many of these useful tips! Since you’ll be returning to campus this summer (or fall for CRMBA students), look for ways to apply the concepts and skills you learned in your work term to your contributions in class while they are still fresh in your mind, and be sure to sign up for any available career workshops or recruitment events.

BComm 3rd year/BMgmt Internship students:

As you embark on your final co-op work term keep our work term must-do’s in mind. Since you have already completed two prior work terms, the third work term is your chance to really go beyond the job description and let your skills and strengths shine. Challenge yourself; look for extra opportunities to demonstrate initiative, gain experience in new areas, and add value to the organization you’re working for.

BComm/BMgmt 4th year students:

Graduation is now in sight. Congratulations! If you haven’t already, start looking for grad jobs under the Career & Leadership section of myCareer and apply these grad job search tips to help you succeed. Remember that career skill-building doesn’t stop when you land your first job; it’s an ongoing process. Play an active role in your professional growth and you’ll see the rewards at every stage of your career.

Student Spotlight: Mackenzie Knowles

January 20, 2015 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Mackenzie is a fourth year Business Management student who is passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation. She is the Vice President of Project Development at Enactus Dalhousie and also a Grad Year Representative for the Management Society. Mackenzie loves to be involved and be a leader in and outside of the Rowe building. This past summer she was a part of the C3 Mentoring Program offered through Management Career Services and worked at SickKids Foundation as a Finance Co-op student, generously sponsored by P&G. She is currently focused on finding a job with a start-up to learn the ins and outs a business while also strengthening her own skills, to one day start her own business.

“This past year I have attended information sessions for businesses like TJX and Write Your Best Cover Letter and Succeed In Your Job Interview workshops offered by Management Career Services. I wanted to attend these workshops to gain as much knowledge as possible before I lose access to such amazing resources.

More recently, I attended the Succeed In Your Job Interview preparation workshop, to make sure that I do everything before, during, and after an interview that will help me to be a top candidate for that position. While some parts of the workshop may have been a review of things a fourth year student like myself should know, I still learned new tips and practices.

Set aside time and attend these workshops because they prepare you to succeed in your job hunting and, ultimately, your career. Learning simple things like sending thank you cards or e-mails to your interviewers after an interview is very important. As well, learning to search your interviewers on LinkedIn before the interview can help you become a more attractive candidate. I recommend all students take advantage of these workshops because it doesn’t hurt to learn more.”

Register for the last three of Management Career Services’ winter Career Smart workshops on myCareer, happening next week.

Student Spotlight: Ethics in Action Leadership Team

December 2, 2014 Management Career Services Leave a Comment

Ethics in Action is an event that was created in 2013 through a partnership with the Rowe School of Business and Scotiabank in order to shine a light on the importance of bridging the gap between social responsibility, ethics and business success. Its goal is to provide business leaders with the necessary tools to tackle complex decisions while maintaining a commitment to ethical principles.

The event (which was held November 14-15, 2014 at Dalhousie) has four components: a case competition for both undergraduate and graduate business students, an essay/video contest on creative leadership, the presentation of the Scotiabank Ethical Leader Award, and the conference itself. Behind this event is the Leadership Team, consisting of the following Corporate Residency Master of Business Administration (CRMBA) students (pictured above):

Top Left: Samantha Burnet (Director of Events and Logistics)
Top Centre: Samantha Huelin (Director of Sponsorship and Awards)
Top Right: Josh Mitton (Director of Case Competition)
Bottom left: Christina Meagher (Director of Communication)
Bottom Centre: Kathleen Leadbeater (Chair of the Leadership Team)
Bottom Right: Jessica Sinclair (Director of Conference)

This year’s Ethics in Action event was a great success, even with the unique challenges the Leadership Team faced while organizing the event. Second-year CRMBA student, Jessica Sinclair, explains:

“We started preparation for Ethics in Action back in February while we were all on our corporate residencies. This posed a series of challenges as we were spread across the country; therefore, our communication strategies had to grapple with time zone challenges and very different schedules. To overcome this, we utilized multiple forms of communication such as email, Facebook, Skype and Google hangout and planned a very successful event!”

Students can get involved with Ethics in Action by both participating in the competition and becoming a volunteer for the event. Jessica spoke on behalf of the Leadership Team about how participating or volunteering in the event will not only help students develop their leadership skills, but also provides a unique experience to add to their portfolio:

“The reasons to get involved are based upon the increasing emphasis of ethical behaviour in the work place and a commitment to values-led leadership. It is important to develop the skills and awareness of ethical practices early on in your career. It is also important to note that Ethics in Action is one of a kind across the country which makes it a phenomenal opportunity.

Please reach out to anyone on this year’s Leadership Team to learn more about the event, the different roles and opportunities to network with prominent business leaders across a variety of industries.”

Applications for next year’s Leadership Team (restricted to CRMBA students) will be available this week!

For more information, visit the Ethics in Action website as well as their Facebook page.

Category: Entrepreneur