January 2023 has come to a close, and with it, KPU MA has wrapped up an insightful month of learning for marketers. During the month, @Christie of Flying Horse Designs shared three key insights: the importance of Canva for new marketers to get familiar with graphic design, the benefits of Hubspot as a CRM tool for novice marketers, and the role of community in professional growth.
For those just starting in graphic design, Christie recommends beginning with Canva, a free, user-friendly software that can be easily incorporated into resumes. After mastering Canva, one can move onto more advanced software like Adobe by watching tutorial videos online.
When it comes to CRM software, Christie suggests starting with Hubspot, a free educational platform that provides an overview of the basics. Marketers can integrate this knowledge into their sales and marketing strategies once they’ve mastered the CRM system.
Finally, Christie highlights the importance of community in professional growth. By joining interest groups and communities with like-minded individuals, marketers can learn from others and grow as leaders, graphic designers, and business owners. Taking initiative is key to creating opportunities that are best suited for individual growth.
Overall, KPU MA’s January 2023 session provided valuable insights into the world of marketing, emphasizing the importance of constantly learning and growing, as well as building a community to help support professional development.
Attention KPU students! Are you looking for a safe way to spend a Saturday night with friends? Look no further than the upcoming Vancouver Warriors game as they take on Panther City Lacrosse Club at 7PM on February 5th in what is set to be an exciting matchup. Oh, did I mention that the KPUMA has partnered with the Warriors to provide all KPU students, staff, and alumni with $25 tickets?
This exclusive offer is specifically for KPU students! Don’t miss out and buy tickets here.
What you can expect at Vancouver Warriors College Night
A great atmosphere and fun with friends.
Exciting giveaways for students
Food and Drink specials
$5 Beers
Rogers Arena adheres to the provincial restrictions of Vaccine Passes and
the wearing of face masks when not eating or drinking. CSE has also
implemented additional safeguards to keep you and others in the building safe so you can attend the game with confidence that contracting COVID-19 is highly unlikely.
On Jan. 17, the KPUMA partnered with the KPU Alumni Association to connect current marketing students with experienced graduates on its KPU Connects platform. The free, online hub surveys a student’s interests before matching them with others in their field. The system then recommends conversation starters to make it easier to break the ice and mutually benefit from connections.
In an eight question Q&A, Alex Camilleri, the KPUMA President, explains the inner workings and advantages of KPU Connects.
Where did the idea to collaborate with the KPU Alumni Association come from?
So after the official launch of the KPUMA Network, I wanted to find new ways we could expand what we offer for students in terms of networking with alumni. One day I came across the KPU Connects platform and thought it was a great way we could get our members connected with alumni.
Why did you choose the KPU Alumni Association specifically to partner with?
Our executive team decided that partnering with organizations already involved with the KPU community was a good start for our partnership strategy. With that said, the people working at the KPU Alumni Association were extremely positive about the idea and saw the benefit in teaming up.
How does the KPU Alumni Association benefit KPUMA members?
The KPU Alumni Association utilizes the KPUConnects platform that hasn’t been publicized too much and we want to make our members aware of it and make it easily accessible for them.
How have you personally benefited from the platform?
Yes, I actually have! Right when I came across KPU Connects, I signed up and have already met with a couple mentors. They gave me some really useful insight into how I am going to transition into my new career.
What do you hope students take away from this partnership?
I really hope that students are able to find some insightful mentors out of both the KPU Connects platform, as well as the KPUMA LinkedIn group.
Is there any cost associated with signing up or being a member of the Alumni Association?
No, any KPU student gets access to what the Alumni Association has to offer.
Does the KPU Alumni Association host any in person or online events?
Yes they do! Currently events are online and are integrated with KPU Connects. Keep an eye out for those events once you sign up.
How does the profile system work? (Like, what would a student need to do two sign up and interact with others on the site).
It’s super easy to sign up! Just enter some basic information such as your school email and what you are trying to get out of being on the platform. Another cool part about making your profile is that you can list areas of expertise you can offer to other students such as leadership advice and time management.
Intro to Marketing was one of the first courses I enrolled in at KPU and I had no idea what to expect. In class, my professor once taught us to imagine a product or service. Next, he asked us who would buy our product or service. Finally, he asked all of the students to take out a piece of paper and sketch out what kind of person someone in our target audience would look like.
My professor wanted us to give this person a name. He wanted to know what gender they were, their favourite colours and friends – how much money they earned. Most of all, he wanted to know why the person we drew would pay money to receive our product or service.
Similarly, you can duplicate this exercise by answering these guiding questions from EdKent Media:
1. What is your target demographic?
2. Where do they live?
3. What industry do they work in?
4. How much do they earn?
5. What are their hobbies?
6. How do they get their information?
7. How do they communicate?
8. How do they think?
9. Who is important to them?
10. How can you best reach your target market?
11. What challenges do they face?
12. Can your service or product help them with these challenges?
13. What pushes them to make purchasing decisions?
14. Who had these customers before you?
15. What are their biggest objections to using your service or product?
Are the suggestions in this article going to change the trajectory of your life? No. But they just might make your BBA – Marketing Management a little less stressful.
Simple Tips and Tricks
1. Schedule your time
There are dozens of apps like Friday that make planning your days a piece of cake and doing so can make all the difference. As a first-year student, I made the mistake of thinking I was past the days of planners when in reality, they were only beginning. The semester can fly by and scheduling your time and logging due dates helps you from missing deadlines.
2. Ask for Help
Nobody goes through university without asking for help along the way. Trust me, I know it’s not fun but staff, tutors, and other students are eager to lend a hand. Getting in the habit of recognizing when a concept is beyond your recognition can be hard to do, but thanks to FREE tutoring at KPU, it does not have to stay this way.
Course Considerations 1. Instructors
When trying to decide which instructor you should take a class with, look beyond RateMyProf. Every instructor has work experience in their respective field and will be able to share insight with you. Next time you are registering for classes, take a look at the instructor’s LinkedIn profile and see if their job experience relates to what you want to do in the future.
2. Planning
Planning out your degree can save you from all kinds of headaches later on. This does not mean you have to know what electives you want to take two years from now – instead, get familiar with the prerequisites for key courses and plan accordingly. Academic Advisors are a great resource when it comes to creating balanced schedules, so consider booking an appointment with one today! Also, courses like BUSI 2390, CMNS 3000, and ACCT 3380 are required for many upper-division courses and can be done early on in a degree which increases flexibility during third and fourth year.
KPUMA Opportunities
Keep an eye out for upcoming KPUMA events. Our events cover everything from resume development to WordPress workshops and everything in between. If you are keen on getting more involved within the KPU community, consider joining our association!
By now, I’m sure most people have heard or used the app TikTok. Some see TikTok as the legacy of apps like Musical.ly and Vine while others view TikTok as league of its own. As a part-time social media manager for small businesses, here are they key takeaways I’ve learned from starting a TikTok account for promotional purposes.
People use TikTok more and post daily with lower quality.
TikToks need comments to go viral.
Use original audio and famous sounds but avoid dancing trends since it has the potential to be repetitive to audiences.
You need at least 30-40 engagements to get a boost and to go viral.
TikTok takes a few hours to decide if they want to show your content to a larger audience.
New/smaller accounts are under more scrutiny.
Don’t use a corporate TikTok account because it will limit what audio you can use since they haven’t been approved for “commercial use.” If possible, try using a personal account or a creator account.
As part of my part-time job, I’ve worked with businesses to improve their Instagram strategy and to make the most of their target audience reach. Through trial and error, here’s what I’ve discovered:
Better story/profile engagement when the profile picture is aesthetic and cropped properly.
Bios: Make sure to include your niche in your Instagram “name.” This makes you appear in the search results when people are looking for you.
Also include your location in the bio.
The bio should summarize everything the account is about. It’s okay to include hashtags and emojis in the bio since it will make people more keen to read it. (Keep it minimal and professional).
Always include a location for every post. Previous social media manager said that it boosts engagement and recommends your content to people from the same area.
Always use hashtags. Even if just a few, some people still follow hashtags so it could help with discoverability.
When people search for a topic, hashtags will help your content show up.
Engage with the comments. The more comments there are, the more likely Instagram will show your content to a larger audience.
Some influencers suggest replying to comments when they appear and then liking/hearting the comments after you post new content. Then, go back and like the comments from the previous post. It will make people go, “Hmm, what did I write again?” That way, they’ll revisit your profile and see that you’ve posted new content.
You can block hateful/curse words in your Instagram spelling to prevent people from commenting inappropriate things. Also would suggest blocking words like “DM” for spam bots that always comment saying “DM us here for more opportunities.”
Focus on producing reels. At the moment, that is the best way to gain exposure on Instagram. Instagram said that they will focus less on promoting photo content.
Competition is growing for reels so it’s best to hop on that train before the market gets too saturated.
For reels, you can use trending music/audio so that people will see your content when they look at other creators who have used the same audio.
Reels should be able to grab attention within 3 seconds. Reels have a time limit of 30 seconds so far.
You can get banned from instagram for following too many people or posting too much. Anything that seems like illegitimate engagement (too many actions within an hour), could get you banned temporarily (anywhere from a few days to weeks).
Post content during “prime times.” Whenever your audience is most active. You can see that from the insights page on your Instagram account.
Use stories effectively. Have a clear message and an opportunity for followers to interact. (Use a poll, ask a question, put an emoji slider, etc).
Clean up your “Tagged Photos” page. Make sure the tagged photos align with your brand.
With the new launch of the KPUMA network, we thought you should meet the current President of the KPUMA: Alex Camilleri.
How have your past experiences shaped you for the president role at the KPUMA?
The reason I got into the KPUMA was because of my experience with event marketing. I did go to BCIT for a certificate event marketing. And I’ve also done work with blueprint events in Vancouver for the Contact Music Festival in the park and all of their club events. I’ve also helped plan and execute a marketing strategy for a charity music festival for two years called Impact festival. So pretty much a combination of my event experience got me into the KPUMA. My president role came from my enthusiasm and dedication I had for the club.
What is your favourite moment or story during your time at the KPUMA?
I was happy just being a part of the association but I was offered the president role very early on. After the first few weeks of showing how engaged I was and how committed I was to the team I was offered my president role. I’ve only been part of the KPUMA really since the end of June so it’s not been too long.
What’s something you’d like to say to people new to the KPUMA?
I applaud and respect their initiative to become more involved with their school and take their learning and engagement beyond just going to class every day, and getting the grades and leaving. I’m excited to have them part of the association as members and I feel that they’ll gain a lot of value and give them a bit of an edge.
What’s something you’d like people to know about you?
As long as you have the drive to do what you’re doing, you can accomplish anything, because right now some people may not know I work, and this is in particular for the students that work full time. I work full time. I take three courses, and I’m the president of the association. Yeah I’d say for people that are feeling a bit overwhelmed and you’re not alone. As you have the drive and willpower you can do a lot of things. People might assume that I have a lot of time to be the president. But I really don’t have a lot of time, but I make it happen and I make it work. Along with having a personal life so yeah I’d say that just finding that right balance.
What is a problem KPU marketing students deal with that you want to fix?
I want to help find ways that we can apply what we learn in our classes, and kind of take it to the next level and apply it in real life settings. I’d say the main problem really is building hands-on experience and especially right now with COVID we’ve lost a lot of ways to meet other professionals.
Right now that’s what we’re really trying to do with our new LinkedIn group called the KPUMA network. We’re trying to leverage this platform that we have, which is LinkedIn, which is free for everybody. And we have generous people who are giving their time that are working in the industry, and I kind of want to use that to make new connections.
What is your favourite colour?
My favourite colour used to be red but it’s blue now. That’s probably because that’s the colour of my car, electric blue.
What’s your favourite quote?
If you’ve ever seen the movie Gladiator, there’s this point where he’s in the Coliseum and everyone’s expecting him to lose and he pretty much exceeds everyone’s expectations and then he says, “Are you not entertained?” That’s, that’s my favourite.
I just feel like it just kind of speaks of when everyone’s kind of expecting you to lose and not succeed so you power through just to show everybody what you’re capable of.
What are your top three favourite podcast books or movies?
Now that you have a LinkedIn profile you’re probably wondering how to utilize it to its full potential. Don’t worry, our team has done the research for you! It can feel overwhelming to have to learn LinkedIn from start to finish. That’s why we compiled a list of tips from resources we found online.
Choose the right profile picture for LinkedIn – Make sure it’s a photo that’s well-lit and looks professional.
Add a background photo – People commonly use city landscapes or stock images that represent their personality and their field of work.
Make your headline more than just a job title – Make a catchy and try to list your most impressive experiences in this headline.
Turn your summary into your story – Recruiters want to learn more about you. They can already read your resume and your LinkedIn profile so try to tell them about what uniquely motivates you and what direction you’re heading.
Grow your network – You could start by adding people you know from work or from school. You could also look through the lists of their connections and see if you know them as well.
List your relevant skills – Read up on the skills employers want from young professionals in your field and add those skills to your portfolio.
Spotlight the services you offer – Highlight the services you’ve offered in the past and the ones that you plan to offer in the future. Make sure to spin it so it’s relevant to your field.
Take a skills assessment – There are different quizzes and assessments you can take on LinkedIn to quantify your skills. This is beneficial for recruiters because it makes it easier to compare potential candidates.
Request recommendations – Ask previous employers or coworkers to write recommendations for your LinkedIn profile. This could be a little blurb about how they know you and your work ethic or they could verify the skill sets that you’ve listed.
Showcase your passion for learning – Join groups, follow different pages and post updates about things you’re learning.
Share media and interact – Make sure to be active on LinkedIn by sharing and interacting with other posts.
Follow relevant influencers for your industry – Stay up-to-date with industry changes and network with like-minded individuals.
LinkedIn is the largest online career network that can be used to find the ideal internships and strengthen industry relationships to advance you in your career. LinkedIn can be used on desktop and mobile. You can even download their mobile app so you never miss a thing!
LinkedIn is a professional networking site for anyone looking to advance their career. This can include people from various professional backgrounds, as well as small business owners, and college students. LinkedIn users may tap into a network of specialists, businesses, and organizations both inside and beyond their company.
LinkedIn can also be used to plan in-person activities, publish articles, and post photos and videos, and more.
Paid subscriptions vs. LinkedIn’s free service
LinkedIn offers free, basic membership to anyone who wants to create and maintain a professional profile on the internet.
If you upgrade to a premium subscription, you’ll gain access to all of LinkedIn’s products and features as well. That includes LinkedIn’s courses and InMail features.
How do I join LinkedIn?
LinkedIn has a free version and a premium version. Anyone can join the free version by adding their basic information and setting up a profile similar to social media. From there, users are encouraged to add peers and colleagues to their network.
Tips for LinkedIn:
Make your own profile: The best approach to get started with LinkedIn is to sign up and build your profile. A LinkedIn profile should summarize your professional experience. Your professional life, accomplishments, talents, and hobbies can all be displayed on your profile.
Build your network: Your network is critical to unlocking the power of LinkedIn. It will help you understand what is going on in your industry and professional area. You can start by expanding your network to include relatives, acquaintances, former or current classmates, and coworkers.
Use your network: If you’re looking for a new professional opportunity, you can start your search on LinkedIn. You can use LinkedIn to connect with recruiting managers. You can also look for jobs directly, keep track of your job searches, and let your connections know that you’re looking for work.
Participate in discussions: You can start or join LinkedIn groups to connect and grow with people who share your interests, experiences, or goals. Participating in group discussions allows you to share your thoughts on relevant issues and topics with others. On LinkedIn, you can like and comment on topics and articles. You can also react to posts with emojis similar to Facebook.
As stated by Will Kenton of Investopedia, “soft skills are character traits and interpersonal skills that characterize a person’s relationships with other people.” Contrary to hard skills, which are the practical skills and knowledge that we gain as students, soft skills are not as clear cut.
The Importance of Soft Skills
Success in any job requires one to at the very least get along with co-workers and ideally do so in a respectful, considerate, and seamless way – refining your soft skills will help you do this. Another indication of the importance of soft skill lies within the positive correlation between soft-skills and pay. In fact, those possessing soft skills in the workplace earn an average of 10% more than employees who lack these skills which include teamwork, time-management, and adaptabilityas provided by Catherine Weinberger of the University of California. Not only are soft skills integral to managing the relationship between you and your coworkers but also you and your bank account.
How to improve Soft Skills
Soft skills cannot be taught per say, but you can improve yours by taking the time to learn about them and actively working towards improving said skills. If you have not had the chance to evaluate your soft skills, or want a refresher on what they are, feel free to take the quiz at https://www.jobpersonality.co.uk/soft-skills-test. As you are preparing for spring registration, consider checking out BUSI 1215 or ENTR 3110 if you have the appropriate pre requisites.
Resource used to complete this article include
Kenton, W. (2021). Soft Skills. Investopedia. Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/soft-skills.asp.
Wadhwa, N. (2014). Employable skills: Employers value “soft” skills more than ever. FreshGigs.ca. Retrieved from https://www.freshgigs.ca/blog/why-employers-value-soft-skills-more-than-ever-before/
Blog by Sera Fedirko and Raphael Jian on Jan. 8, 2021
A blog about Raphael Jian’s experience creating his small business, Alps Education.
Q: What inspired you to start Alps Education and how did you start the company?
A: One time during a visit to my friend’s home for a weekend dinner, my friends’ family members were discussing their educational investment in their children when something caught my attention: The family thought that their kids did not really benefit enough from the level of education in school here in BC, especially when there are so many new Chinese immigrants whose kids are outpacing BC children in their learning. It was clear my friend’s family members were concerned that without proper instruction, their children would fall behind in school and risk struggling later in life to find a job.
With this challenge in mind, we decided to start a business to assist new immigrants’ kids in maintaining their outstanding grades in school while also following the play-based teaching strategy of the BC curriculum. I initially partnered with Gary, my longtime friend. After speaking with other friends and connections, we decided to expand to take on more teachers, and eventually added Yumi and Mark (English teachers trained at UBC), Carl (a math teacher from KPU), and Cissy (accountant) as co-founders and core members of our teaching staff. Since then, we have added several new teachers to form a well-rounded team of 11 teachers who offer group learning and one-on-one tutoring.
Q: Can you tell me a bit about the company and its background?
A: Alps Education can be described as a play-based interactive tutoring center for grades k-12. The most unique part of our business comes from the demand of our customers (traditional Chinese parents). They prefer the Chinese teaching strategy (strict, high-pressure learning schedules) and want their kids to be among the top students in the class. To meet this demand, we combine Chinese and Canadian teaching styles to design programs that satisfy the desires of traditional Chinese parents while adapting to the Canadian context we live in.
Many of my students are quite young (elementary school-aged), and as such, I make time to play with them when I pick them up from school. This is mostly to keep them entertained and happy, but a great side-benefit I’ve picked up on is that other kids in the schoolyard tend to get jealous of the games we play. They end up running to their parents to ask if they can join us for playtime, which ends up being an amazing way to recruit new students.
Q: Startups can look different company-to-company. What does a day-in-the-life as the owner and operator of Alps Education look like for you?
A: I’m the marketing guy in the Alps Education team, as this is what I studied at KPU. My favourite part of the job is definitely within the creation side of things – in a typical day, I’ll spend time managing our social media accounts, updating our website, and designing new programs – all of these tasks are done in the morning. In the afternoon, I draw from my background tutoring math and STEM subjects in Singapore to elementary-aged students, where I teach an after-school math course with 3-6 students. We also have a music class that teaches piano, guitar, and drums, where I teach drums. Overall, I assume the role of marketer, math teacher, and drum teacher. One of the biggest challenges for me in my business is determining how to build credibility for all of my roles. Even though I am highly qualified for all these roles with multiple years of experience, it is still challenging to build trust with my clients due to how different the roles are.
Q: What sort of expectations did you have around small business life before you created your startup vs. now?
A: I started this business with my friends during my third year at KPU. My life changed a lot after this business started. I became a super busy person who suddenly had no time to hang out with friends or to partake in weekly outdoor activities. After 3-4 months though, I eventually settled into a routine that worked for me. Even though I’m still busy as ever, running my business is worth it because I love working for myself – I’m constantly inspired to try new things. Every night before I go to sleep I brainstorm ideas about what new program we can open or what theme we should choose for the next Spring camp.
Q: What lessons have you learned since the creation of Alps Education that have made you into a better marketer / more business-savvy person?
A: The most important thing I learned is never come up with an idea just to ‘have an idea’. If you stumble upon a new idea about your business, make a mindmap or write a plan for it. That’s the best way to turn the idea into something valuable. The market is the only ‘person’ who will ultimately tell you whether or not an idea is profitable; not anyone in your team. I would consider myself the ‘idea guy’ on the Alps Education team, not only in marketing but also within the design structure for the education program. I participate in the program design with the teaching faculty, which I suppose makes me somewhat a “product manager” or “user experience designer”.
I find enjoyment in formulating recommendations for other business owners too, even with my humble marketing background. If for example, your marketers are keen to participate in the product design process, I say “let them”! Incorporating the perspectives of your team and working cross-functionally offers a great opportunity for you to create a product that delivers with high consistency on design philosophy, product features, and selling points. Even though marketers may not help you in developing the production details of products, marketers usually think with a consumer perspective in mind, which informs the user experience.
Q: How has attending university prepared you for starting your own business?
A: I would say that the level 3000+ courses were the most valuable for me as far as preparing me for the real business world – especially Professor Rajinder’s MRKT 3000 and 3211, which I completed prior to the COVID-19 lockdowns. I think marketing courses need more projects (such as Rajinder’s) that connect to external businesses such as local breweries or media companies to help them solve real-life marketing challenges.
Q: Any tips you can share for how to stay organized while juggling so many tasks (typical of startup life)?
A: Keep your emotions stable and in check, maintain good sleep habits, make friends with reliable classmates (especially those outstanding students), use a planner, and try not to argue with your boyfriend/girlfriend too much. Startup life is really stressful You won’t make it if your personal life is a big mess.
Over 50 years ago Milton Friedman stated the following in an essay published in the New York Times:
“There is one and only one social responsibility of business – to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits, so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition without deception or fraud.”
Since then business has dramatically changed in many ways. Rather than assuming the responsibility of solely increasing their profits, many businesses have adopted a more well-rounded approach without sacrificing profits. The triple bottom line model (profit, people, planet) suggests that businesses are responsible to stakeholders in addition to shareholders. The stakeholders include but are not limited to owners, employees, suppliers, government, and the community.
The following list of BC based companies is proof that genuinely caring for people and the planet can result in sustainable financial success and growth.
Through its core values of temperance, humility, fairness, prudence, and courage, Jelly is committed to giving back to the community and planet through its operations. Becoming a B-Corp in 2018 affirmed many of the values that the Fort Langley-based marketing and PR firm previously held. Since its infancy, Jelly has continuously strived to improve at serving its clients, the community, and the climate. In addition, the company has created conversations and taken action to support underrepresented groups such as women and indigenous people. As a young company already doing great things, expect Jelly Marketing & PR to continue its inspirational work.
Tentree is a Canadian lifestyle apparel brand that originated in Regina, Saskatchewan, and moved to Vancouver in 2016. For every item purchased, Tentree plants ten trees to help restore damaged ecosystems and remove pollution from the atmosphere. The company works with non-profits and hires local experts who help to determine which tree varieties are most beneficial to plant in that region. So far they have planted over 50 million trees (and counting) in seven countries across the globe.
Salt Spring Coffee is a high-quality organic coffee company based on Salt Spring Island, BC. They offer a variety of roasts with beans that are ethically sourced and Fair Trade certified. Since its inception, the company has placed social responsibility and sustainability at the forefront of its business, being recognized as a “Best for the World” business by B Lab (The parent company of B-Corp certification).
SPUD is an acronym for Sustainable Produce Urban Delivery, which nicely sums up the service they offer while paying homage to the potato – a staple of home cooking. While ordering on SPUD.ca customers can find most of the items they would typically find at their local grocery store; but what makes SPUD unique is that all their products are natural, certified organic, or locally and sustainably made. In addition, after placing your order on their website, SPUD.ca, your groceries will be delivered to your doorstep. SPUD makes the world a better place by making sustainable food shopping choices more convenient for the busy urban dweller.
Fresh Prep is a Vancouver-based company that provides customers with the ingredients for quick, easy-to-cook meals. The recipes consist of locally sourced ingredients that are delivered in reusable cooler bags. Since Fresh Prep works with companies across BC and minimizes waste, they are a more sustainable choice than their competitors. Fresh Prep contributes to a more sustainable world by making home cooking (a lower-waste choice than takeout) easier and more accessible through portion-sized ingredient delivery complete with recipe instructions.
While they are based in Gibsons, BC, Persephone Brewing’s beers and ciders can be purchased at many liquor stores across the province. What sets Persephone apart from other brewers is that they thoughtfully produce many of the ingredients on the land of the brewery itself and locally source the rest. Their work with local non-profits and fundraising initiatives make Persephone Brewing an exemplary corporate citizen.
Coast Capital Savings is Canada’s largest credit union and is based in Surrey, BC. By taking a holistic approach to banking, Coast Capital hopes to empower its members to do the same. Coast Capital also invests in local initiatives that focus on empowering and engaging the youth. They have received multiple awards for their initiatives which have positively impacted the community.
Hootsuite is a social media management company whose vision is to revolutionize communication through social media. Used by over 700 of the Fortune 1000 companies and over 11 million users worldwide, Hootsuite is a leader in digital innovation for social platform management. Hootsuite provides users with the ability to seamlessly manage different social media accounts cross-functionally on a single dashboard.
PELA is a Kelowna-based company doing revolutionary work. They are on a mission to remove one billion pounds of plastic from the oceans by creating compostable everyday products such as phone cases and sunglasses as part of their sustainable consumption model. In short, PELA is tackling the plastic pollution problem by transforming waste into eye-catching products that start meaningful conversations.
TELUS is a Canadian telecommunications company that has done a brilliant job of balancing profits, people, and the planet. Through various initiatives and acquisitions, TELUS has become an innovative problem solver in the areas of business, health, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability. By genuinely caring for the environment and giving back to their community, TELUS illuminates what a friendlier, more sustainable future might look like.
For more information on these companies please visit the above websites.
If you weren’t able to attend our latest event to learn about the in’s and out’s of LinkedIn, this event recap is perfect for you! In this blog, we will provide a quick overview of the important aspects discussed during the event, so you won’t feel like you missed out. Also, a huge thank-you to our event host, UBC Sauder student Madiha Thaver, for sharing her tips and tricks with us!
Who is this blog made for?
You might be wondering whether learning about LinkedIn is worth it. Well, if you fit any of these descriptions, the answer is a resounding yes!
If you:
Made a LinkedIn account for a class so you could pass and didn’t think it was really important.
Have some experience on the platform, and have recently started looking for jobs and internships.
Are somewhat of an active participant on LinkedIn. You engage with posts casually and connect with people frequently, but are seeking more out of the platform.
TOPICS OF DISCUSSION
In this event recap, we will be reiterating the importance and power of LinkedIn, discussing the five keys to LinkedIn SEO, and sharing the importance of your personalSSI (Social Selling Index)!
BUSTING THE MYTHS
Let’s start off by busting a few of the common myths pertaining to LinkedIn.
Myth #1: LinkedIn is only useful when job hunting
Many individuals, including myself, refrain from utilizing LinkedIn because they believe it is only meant for those who are seeking jobs. However, Madiha reassures us that this could not be further from the truth! There are endless opportunities and benefits awaiting those who utilize the platform, such as connecting with like-minded professionals to share resources and life experiences, finding interesting events to keep your mind sharp, and it keeps a virtual address-book of professionals (your contacts) that you can lean on for support (ask for advice, check out their path to career success, or recommend them for a job or gig you’re offering). LinkedIn can be useful even before and after job hunting. In fact, many mentorship opportunities may present themselves – you never know who will reach out to you or come across your feed! Don’t be afraid to ask someone if they’ll be your mentor – extra experience is always an asset, and generally most professionals in the industry are happy to ‘pay-it-forward’ to help a student! After learning of all the possibilities and experiences that can be attained through this platform, I was the first to update my LinkedIn at the end of this event!
Myth #2: LinkedIn is purely a job hunting site
It is important to remember that LinkedIn is a two way street. While there are individuals seeking jobs and looking to be recruited, on the other hand there are companies also looking for people with our skills: Be sure to research and interview your employer to see if they are a good fit for you as much as they want to know if you fit into their organization! Are they a place where you will thrive and extract value from? If you maintain a consistent effort to keep your LinkedIn updated, you are likely to become viewed as a viable prospect for companies looking to hire through LinkedIn, since it’s like a virtual resumé. Madiha’s best piece of advice on attracting opportunities best suited for you and your experiences: “Treat your LinkedIn as your personal website, and use it to showcase the best of your abilities”. Look to professionals in your network that you admire – how do they optimize their LinkedIn and showcase their personal brand? Finding profiles to emulate will help you to model your LinkedIn profile after theirs, which will help you attract recruiters. Eventually, the job offers might start rolling in without you even looking for them!
Madiha also recommends practicing SEO tactics on your LinkedIn account.
What is SEO?
SEO, short for Search Engine Optimization, is the practice of increasing the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through organic search engine results. The goal is to modify your account to best optimize it for the jobs you want to attract. By including keywords relating to a specific field, engaging with posts on your feed regularly, and taking advantage of all the different features available to you, your profile will start to rank higher in the search results for recruiters and others trying to find your page.
Madiha shared 5 keys to unlocking key words
Remember, 5, 4, 3 ,2, 1….
5: Repeat your key words five times
4: Have 4 relevant skills
3: Endorse 3 people
2: Join 2 groups
1: Use keyword in your headline (at least) once
Myth #3: LinkedIn is a guessing game
So, you have gathered all this information about the power of LinkedIn and all the opportunities it can bring for you, and are ready to get started on your LinkedIn journey. However, you may now be thinking to yourself, “Well even if I do all of this and follow all the tips, how would I even know where I am going to show up on the search engine?” This is where your SSI Score comes into play.
What is an SSI score?
Your SSI, short for Social Selling Index, is a measure used to determine your position or ranking amongst others within your network on LinkedIn. Your SSI is a combination of factors relating to your effectiveness in portraying yourself. The four components that derive your SSI score are: establishing your professional brand, finding the right people, engaging with insights, and building relationships. To calculate your personalized SSI score and see how you rank in each of the four components, click here.
Madiha highlights the importance of building relationships when it comes to improving your SSI score. A great way to initiate this action is to build relationships with others by sending personalized messages. When thinking of what to include in your message, it is important to keep in mind the amount of messages that person may receive from others as well. So, it is important to stand out and start out with a personal note or tidbit to catch their attention. Try to look beyond the generic information, and focus on something beyond that, such as how you both are part of similar groups (if that’s the case), and relate to them on that front. Also, try to get to know them and build a base for your relationship before jumping into setting up a call. Madiha likes to think of this as similar to a dating site! If they barely know you, chances are, they won’t be as interested in forming a lasting connection with you (so build that relationship first!). Lastly, always make sure to thank them for their time.
Terminology:
Social Selling Index – A score derived from your combined ability to effectively portray your brand, build relationships, find the right people, and engage with insights.
Search Engine Optimization – The practice of increasing the quantity and quality of traffic to your website through organic search engine results. This can be done by modifying your account to best match the jobs you want to attract.
LinkedIn Keywords – Specific keywords on LinkedIn are used to describe your skills and expertise so that it is easier for recruiters or employers looking for your skill-sets to find your profile. By using buzzwords found in job descriptions of roles you’re aspiring to in your LinkedIn profile (provided you have these skills), you’ll be more easily discoverable!
If you weren’t able to make it to our last event to learn all about social media marketing, don’t despair! We’ve got the crash course right here, complete with all the resources you’ll need to get started.
Who is Darian Kovacs?
Darian is the co-founder of the award-winning Jelly Marketing agency, a celebrated podcast host at Marketing News Canada, an Instructor at his agency’s own Jelly Academy(promo code link at the end of the article), and an overall industry veteran committed to sharing knowledge and giving back to those passionate about marketing. He’s the type of person to replace the expression “kill two birds with one stone” with “feed two birds with one grain”, which is infinitely more positive, kind, and kid-friendly. (For the record, he did use the latter expression very nonchalantly in conversation, and it was a pleasant shock to the system). Darian’s electric presence never fails to light up the room and captivate your attention, and we cannot express how deeply lucky we are to have him return as our event host.
The Best of the Q&A with Darian:
Have you ever talked about a certain product with your phone off, then later that day an ad shows up for that same item? I’m wondering about privacy laws concerning this.
We as marketers don’t have access to and can’t buy voice data. [My guess is that the voice data collected by phones and Amazon Alexa-type things is that] it might affirm the lookalike data. Ads have gotten so good that [it now seems that marketers] know what you’re thinking before you know what you’re thinking. It can definitely be creepy when it gets into the wrong hands, but it will keep happening until regulations and policies are introduced to enforce data privacy. I do know though that cookies are going away soon for privacy reasons – unsure what marketing will look like in the next year so the industry will need to adapt somehow.
I also imagine this data comes up as aggregate data (which would mean it can’t be traced back to you) in Google trends, which is a free tool that allows marketers to study tends around the world by state/province. A paid version of this is https://answerthepublic.com/ , which visualizes the search terms by category in a web. Some applications for Google Trends include the following:
The CDC has used Google Trends to see if there’s a disease outbreak. If the daily searches for a condition go from 20 ppl to 2000, they can conclude there is an outbreak happening.
Marketers can see trends for people searching to buy bicycles or cat sweater during Covid
At Jelly Marketing, we can figure out what keyword synonyms are most often used in searches to help target ads better.
If you wanted to look into anti-spam laws, check out CASL
Could you share your favourite or most successful campaign you’ve done for a client?
It’s called a social media feed, right? We have a client called MCC – they’re one of the top 3 refugee support organization in the world, (Competitors include the Red Cross and the WHO). The goal of the campaign was to create awareness about a refugee-feeding program. What Jelly ended up doing was contacting a slew of foodie and fashion influencers to ask “would you post a photo of an empty bowl with #feedtofeed ?”. The creators happily agreed, and the result definitely disrupted the social feeds of many and became a very impactful campaign.
What’s your approach to TikTok as a marketing agency?
I think it’s best to work with existing TikTok users and giving them the modus operandi. Better to go with native speakers and creators than going in blind to create content. If you decide to create content yourself, you need to be up-to-date on the daily/weekly trends.
I’d been trying to get The Hudson’s Bay on the show for a while, but I was inspired to write when I heard they partnered with Schitt’s Creek on a recent campaign featuring two of the leading actresses on the show who happened to be white. Given that The Hudson’s Bay has a long history of colonialism dating back over 100 years, I thought:
Imagine if you’d taken that $100,000 (a rough estimate of how much the campaign may have cost to pay these white actresses) and given it to 100 Black, Indigenous, body-positive, acne-prone, braces-clad, or any other kind of diverse group – that could be the new definition of ‘Canadian’. The Hudson’s Bay had an opportunity [at an especially important time to act since they are struggling to stay relevant] to not spend $100,000 on white people. Sure, it may be more work to hire a bunch of people as opposed to two people, but it would show Canada that the company embraces Canadian culture and wants to make reparations for its past colonialist behaviour. This ad campaign just showed how unconnected the company is from the great diversity that truly represents Canada.
If you can go in [to your workplace] and use your power to make great decisions, that’s way better than sticking to the status quo.
I was asked to speak on an American panel recently, and I asked them to make a diverse group of panelists. They said they ‘didn’t know anyone non-white’. That shows that ‘established’ people in the industry are primarily white – this was another opportunity to break that power structure to include more POC. Similarly, if you happen to be POC with power and budget, why not empower more people like you?
The Tim Hortons’ campaign did a good job of capturing the diversity in Canadians in their recent Christmas campaign.
You’ve mentioned using Hootsuite and Linktree before – what other tools is Jelly using?
Yes! We’ve been Hootsuite fans from the beginning – switched to Sprout, then went back to Hootsuite. They’re a B-Corp!
What do you think the next big social platform will be?
Depends on the audience. If we’re speaking in terms of B2C:
Pinterest – it’s like a sleeping giant. (for data/conversions on b2c side)
Storytime: Vega (the supplement/smoothie company) spent a ton of money working with influencers – when studying goals, the #1 channel for conversion was actually Pinterest on desktop! People look for smoothie recipes, they’re most often on Pinterest on desktop, and thus that’s where the conversions happen!
Reddit – we’ve barely scratched the surface on all that’s there. Great for community-building.
E-newsletters – highest conversions spot! Not ‘leased land’. It’s your own to do whatever you please with.
Some links that may interest you:
$1000 Jelly Academy Discount: Use the code JA2021-1000 for student pricing – offered online during covid!
Did you miss our WordPress 101 workshopping event? Not to worry – this post is designed to give a brief recap of what was discussed during the event! Huge thank you to previous KPUMA president Daman Garcha (also known as the WordPress Wizard) for hosting this event!
This quick read will have you ready to start building your very own website and be confident your website will be filled with all the right bells and whistles to draw people in.
What is a Domain?
A domain is the searchable URL that allows anyone on the web to look up your website. Before you go to buy a hosting service (where your website will be created and hosted on, such as WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix), you should buy a domain name. For instance, the KPUMA’s domain name is as follows: thekpuma.com
While there are a couple different ways to purchase a domain name, Daman covered how to purchase yours via hostgator.com. Once on the site, go to the top menu and click “Web Hosting” where you will find different plans to purchase. Daman recommends using the cheapest option (called “hatchling”) but you can choose whichever is most suited to your needs. Helpful tip: choosing a plan with a longer time frame makes your monthly payments cheaper!
The next step will be choosing your domain name: there will be various URL options to choose from (containing different extensions such as “.com”, “.ca”, “.org”, “.me”, etc), with icons indicating which are available and which are unavailable. Select the one that makes the most sense for your brand or organization – the cost will be added at the bottom in the summary.
What is a Hosting Service?
A web hosting service is what allows individuals or organizations to make their websites accessible via the web. Once again, there are many options to choose from, but Daman used HostGator. She recommends doing research and finding the one that suits you best. After you add in your personal information and billing details, uncheck the extra add on services they offer you. These services are additional charges that you don’t necessarily need for your first website – pay for the add-ons only when you need them!
Time for WordPress!
The basics – WordPress is a software platform that allows you to create your own website or blog. Once all of the previous steps have been completed, you will be redirected to the HostGator Customer Portal – this is what you will use to install WordPress. Click “Hosting”, found on the top menu of the website, and select “WordPress – 1 Click Installation”. Then, select the domain name that you created earlier. Note: leave the section that says “directory” blank; do not select any other add on options because you typically won’t need them.
Fill in your information as it is requested. Helpful tip: The Blog Title will be the same as your Domain name! The Admin User can be your name or simply “admin” it’s up to you! Once this is done, make sure checkboxes are selected and click install.
Once installation is complete you will be able to log in and start designing your website – the fun part! Please note however that it can take up to a few days to process the website before it becomes available publicly. In the meantime, you can always make a mood board or start drafting a list of everything you want on your website.
Login Details
Once your website is ready, you can finally log in! Go to [yourwebsite.com]/wp-adminand use the provided username and password (found in the signup process earlier – please save this information). This will grant you access to the WordPress dashboard for your new website!
Website Design – The Basics
The first thing you’ll want to do is choose which theme you want to design. Under “Appearance” (found in the menu bar on the left) and click “Themes”, where you will be able to choose from various visual themes that you can design and customize – many of which are FREE! Of course, you can always choose to purchase paid options from WordPress or buy themes through a third-party seller.
When you find a design you like, click “Activate” to start the design process. On the top left corner, hover over your website name and a drop-down menu will appear. Click the option “Visit Site” which will take you to a blank site with the theme you selected. Then, simply go to the top menu and click “Appearance”. From here, designing is an easy process of clicking through options. WordPress will direct you on how to easily update and change any section you like.
Purchasing & Using External WordPress Themes:
Read reviews to make sure you are getting themes from legitimate sellers.
Make sure the themes you are buying are WORDPRESS-SPECIFIC THEMES and not designed for another web hosting service, as some elements don’t transfer well
Genesis Framework is an add-on that needs to be purchased alongside certain themes. This is important for external versions because unlike the themes on WordPress, these external themes are built 100% from scratch. Genesis Framework basically makes your theme look like the ‘Live Preview’ version you would see before purchasing, which makes editing easier.
Reputable themes from external sellers that have been created for WordPress typically will have their own dedicated website. Find the website for the theme and look for the section on the website that reads “tutorials”/ “user manuals”/ “FAQ” etc. These have free tutorial videos on how to develop the site using the template.
WordPress Terminology:
Posts – are your actual blog posts.
Pages – pages (that can contain posts) you can include in your website navigation bar.
Plugins – (adds back-end functions): extensions that can be installed on the server and activated in order to add functionality to your website. If you’re looking to have a special feature on your website, look up “top ten plugins” on Google and install them for a more dynamic website feel!
Widgets – (adds front-end functions): drag-and-drop content areas (such as a header image slideshow, or a carousel of your latest images pulled straight from your linked Instagram page) that can be added to WordPress when the appropriate plugin has been successfully installed and activated. You can add widgets in specific widget-ready spaces (typically in the sidebar) but some themes will add widget-friendly areas to the header and/or footer too!
Want to learn more? Let the KPUMA know what kind of skills you’d like to learn about during our next workshop by sending us an email at info@thekpuma.com
This blog is designed to be a quick recap of discussed subject matters within podcasting, as well a resource to find books, magazines, podcasts, and notable people that were mentioned during the event. (Thank you Darian from Jelly Marketing for taking the time to host this virtual event!)
Who is Darian & What is Jelly Marketing?
Darian Kovacs is an expert communicator and businessman with over 15 years of experience in marketing, communications, and public relations. Through his award-winning company, Jelly Marketing & PR, Darian has worked with various local, national, and global brands. He has helped to build and execute Jelly Marketing’s digital & PR strategies, while also having co-founded the Canadian Internet Marketing Conference. Darian has been featured in BC Business magazine, Business in Vancouver magazine, and on the Canada Post training circuit. He is a contributor to Small Business BC, Entrepreneur Magazine, and to both Rogers and Shaw’s Business Resource Centre for topics including social media and PR.1
Q&A with Darian:
Q: How long should a podcast be?
A: As long as you feel your audience will listen to you! There is no standard time that works for every podcast. If you feel that people will stop listening after a certain point, then that is when you should end the podcast.
Q: How do I market my podcast?
A:Reddit and Quora are two overlooked marketing channels that are great tools to spread the news about one’s podcast. They allow you to target your niche demographic directly with different “sub-reddits” [or discussion topics within Quora] that users already subscribe to. You can also market your podcast via other people’s podcasts by becoming a paid sponsor (inserting your own audio reel or having the other host mention your podcast) if you feel their audiences would be interested in your podcast.
Q: What software should I use to edit my podcast?
A: One of the easiest softwares to use is GarageBand. It comes with all Apple computers and is very simple to use. If you don’t have a Mac, there are tons of other editing softwares online, such as Pro Tools and Adobe Audition.
Q: What kind of equipment will I need and where can I get it? (microphones, cameras, software, etc..)
A: Amazon is a great place to look for microphones, noise cancelling foam plates, and other equipment, however you do not need fancy equipment to make a great podcast! There is equipment available within everyone’s budget. My personal favourite microphone is the Blue Snowball brand.
Q: How much time goes into preparing a podcast?
A: It all depends on the topic for the podcast and if you have a guest. Sometimes a sponsored guest may have an agenda of what they would like to talk about. In that scenario, we have been given a list of what to talk about and what not to talk about. Other times, we have some guided talking points and we let the conversion flow naturally. However, sometimes we do spend a lot of time researching the guest or a topic and have a plan on what we want to talk about. Every episode has a different strategy and requires different amounts of time and prep work.
Q: How do I decide on a theme for my podcast?
A: Find a niche that you have a passion for. You can make a podcast about anything nowadays! If you have an existing audience already, then please ask them! They may have suggestions on what they’d like to learn about next.
Q: How do I publish a podcast (on Spotify, website, etc….)?
A: Anchor.fm is my personal favourite. This is a great place to post your podcast to instantly upload it to 11 podcasting channels! Great for saving time. Works similar to Hootsuite, but for Podcasts.
Bonus Content:
Template for Messaging Guests
Darian was kind enough to share a version of the template he uses to contact people to be a guest on his show, as follows:
We’ve interviewed Malcolm Gladwell, Seth Godin, Guy Kawasaki and many others from LEGO, Starbucks, and Disney. We also have our show on Amazon Prime Video!
Strategy Magazine is dedicated to helping executives, strategists, managers, and other professionals better formulate, implement, execute, engage, and govern strategies.
Godin is known as ‘the ultimate entrepreneur for the information age’. He is an American writer and has written 17 books addressing various aspects of marketing, advertising, business venturing and leadership.
Guy Kawasaki is a marketing specialist, author, and Silicon Valley venture capitalist. He was one of the Apple employees originally responsible for marketing their Macintosh computer line.
Canada’s #1 show on all things marketing. The hosts interview some of the top people from Google, Twitter, and beyond to get their inputs on everything marketing.
Being a student is extremely challenging for your mind, your body, and of course… your wallet. Finances are not something you should have to worry about as a student. However, it is unfortunately an area of concern for most students these days. Here are 3 ways that you as a student can save money in a city as expensive as Vancouver:
1. Facebook Exchange Groups
These are extremely key and most universities have them. An example is the book exchange group at KPU pictured here:
*Image obtained from Facebook.com
These groups are crucial in allowing you to find second-hand textbooks for cheap. Tuition already costs you an arm and a leg, so at least you can save a bit on some second-hand textbooks. Not only can you save here, but once you are done with a textbook, you can come back to these groups and resell it to other students. Cha-Ching! It is always a win-win situation for both the seller and the buyer here.
2. Purchasing Online/PDF Textbooks
We’ve all been there: lugging our textbooks around in our heavy backpacks, thinking to ourselves that not only is this textbook super expensive, but so will the physio treatments be for that sore back! The solution is clear: online or pdf textbooks. This alternative not only is cheaper, but it is much more environmentally-friendly! A website that you can use to purchase online textbooks that seem to have all the textbooks is VitalSource. You can purchase textbooks on this website for up to 80% less than you would spend on physical textbooks.
3. Apps That Help Save You Money
As a student, you can’t avoid going either grocery shopping or out with your friends. Let’s be honest, it’s expensive! Those bills add up and sometimes you can’t exactly do anything about it. We may have a solution for you…there are apps out there that help you save while spending money! In fact, two Vancouver based companies are here to help you. The first company is called Perk Hero. They are an app that allows you to earn cashback rewards on what you spend. You can find great deals from local and international e-commerce brands all while earning redeemable loyalty points – score!
The second company is called Yumii Rewards. If you are ever going out for bubble tea or dessert with your friends, this app is perfect for you. You get rewards for purchasing bubble tea or dessert at certain locations around Vancouver, which then turn into free purchases and discounts. They are essentially your Vancouver-based stamp card for bubble tea! Both these companies are great as they support local Vancouver based companies while also supporting local Vancouverite students’ wallets.
With no on-campus classes or activities, it can be hard to adjust to building your own classroom at home. I personally miss studying in the library or finding secret spots on campus to read my textbook chapters. One of the biggest resources I miss visiting is The Learning Centre at KPU. Multiple times throughout my semesters I have gone there to receive help from peer tutors, especially before exams. Unfortunately, those in-person sessions are no longer available to students because of the current pandemic. However, many students don’t know that there are still resources for them to use in order to help them be successful during this constantly-changing time.
Big news – The Learning Centre has gone virtual. The website lists multiple resources, including informational videos for reading, taking notes, and exam prep – they have even included a video dedicated to the concept of online learning. Beyond video resources, they have educational text-based resources on managing time, communication and more. Visiting the site will definitely help any student boost their confidence when it comes to their academic studies.
For those of you who miss those tutor sessions, you will be excited to hear that online tutoring is now available for students at KPU! You can book your session online with the link provided on The Learning Centre’s website for the date and time that the tutor is available. If you’re feeling nervous, check out the video on preparing for an online tutor session which will have you feeling ready for your first session.
My SSP Counselling and Support App
Beyond academics, KPU is promoting a 24/7 student support program called My SSP (an app) by Keep.meSAFE, which provides all KPU students with 24/7 professional counselling. On the app you will gain access to a large, diverse network of professional counsellors that matches your unique circumstances with a counsellor who understands these experiences in your preferred language and culture. Counsellors can provide immediate support and referrals to address a range of concerns. The best way to access the program is through the MySSP app where you can call or chat with a counsellor at any time.
Virtual Appointments with KPU Support Staff
Finally, offices like KPU international, academic advising, and financial aid have all gone virtual and are available for online appointments. Whether you have questions about what studying in Canada is like, if you need help planning out your semester, or even if you are curious about what scholarships are available to you, these offices are at your disposal.
While you may feel like you are alone in your studies or you are scared to reach out for help, just know that everyone is struggling with something during this time. You are not alone and the KPU community is here to help each and every student be successful in both their studies and in life.
The KPU Case Analysis Network and KPU Marketing Association have teamed up to host a Virtual Business Clubs day. This event features five Kwantlen business clubs from each of the primary business majors (Human Resources, Accounting, Marketing, Entrepreneurial Leadership, General Business). We will be showcasing each of the business clubs and what they offer students, as well as how you can get involved. This is a great opportunity for new students to meet other students (especially with the reality of online classes), as well as current students wanting to get more involved.
Where: Virtual! (Google Meet)
When: Tuesday, September 22 7:00pm
Who: Business Students & New KPU Students
Which clubs will be there?
The KPU Marketing Association (KPUMA)
The KPU Case Analysis Network (KPUCAN)
The Kwantlen Human Resource Association (KHRA)
The KPU Entrepreneurial Leadership Association (KELA)
The Accounting Society of Kwantlen (ASK)
Click below to find out more about the Virtual Business Clubs Day!
When you hear the word “brand”, what is the first thought that comes to your mind? Most people think of company and product relationships – take Apple for example. However, a brand can be anything; even you as an individual. This is what we refer to as a “personal brand”.
Understanding your personal brand is useful for a variety of reasons. For instance, it can help grow your business or social media following. It can also help you understand who you are as a professional, which better communicates your value and uniqueness to the people you meet. When you are able to clearly and confidently articulate who you are, people will have an easier time envisioning what your personal brand is.
So how can you find and build your personal brand?
Write down 3 core values that represent yourself.
Breaking down who you are with three strong characteristics will enable you to convey your personality through your branding. Part of how people perceive you is based on what they already know of you and what you share with them. That is why it is important to reflect on who you are as an individual so that you can reach your target audience. You do not want to lose yourself by trying to appeal to everyone. Staying true to yourself will set you apart from everyone else.
Pick 2 social media outlets to focus on.
Limiting your social media platforms is effective because you can brand yourself through one outlet that offers high value and one outlet that offers high engagement.
First, choose a long-form platform that adds high value for your audience. Ultimately, this will allow you to add depth to your content through lengthier posts. A few great examples include blogs, Youtube, Facebook, and Soundcloud (podcasts).
Next, choose a high-form platform that will increase engagement with your following. Instagram and Twitter are great tools for these types of social interactions. This allows you to build your relationships with your followers through shorter, everyday posts.
Focusing your efforts on two main social media outlets will enable you to create a clean ecosystem amongst your following; as you’re providing your followers two main places to “live” where you can then build a community from. This also avoids making your followers feel pushed into every digital space offered out there.
Be clear and consistent.
Know how to describe your personal brand in a short and sweet way. This is accomplished by being clear on the purpose of your brand, followed by being consistent with your content.
Since consistency is key, your content should maintain a fluid formatting structure. This helps your brand become easily recognizable with your following and potential audience. An example of this would be consistent colour schemes, fonts, and graphics in your social media posts.
To summarize, personal branding should be an authentic and professional representation of yourself. Not only will you be able to grow your social media following or business, but you will also be able to find your niche by targeting like-minded people. By following the three steps mentioned above, you will be able to build your personal brand in no time. Good luck!
Feeling stressed and anxious are not unfamiliar feelings for students, especially right now with COVID-19 impacting our lives. Nearly two-thirds of students reported experiencing “overwhelming anxiety,” according to the latest Canadian national college health assessment (Global News, 2019).
Below are 5 simple tips to reduce stress and anxiety during this pandemic:
1. Have a routine.
Having a routine is a great way to stay organized and live a well-balanced life. A routine doesn’t have to be long; it can be a simple list of 4-5 things you would like to do daily.
This is an example of what your routine may look like:
Now that you’ve completed your routine, you can spend the remainder of your day doing whatever you feel like! This will not only give you a sense of accomplishment – it will help improve your mental health too.
2. Minimize screen time.
Excessive screen time can lead to poor mental health, weight gain, and sleep problems (Comprehensive Primary Care, 2019). So how can we limit our screen time? Take a look at the tips below:
Use the “limit screen time” setting in your mobile phone or on your TV.
Turn on the “silent” setting on your phone to prevent notifications from appearing.
Limit your social media notifications so they don’t distract from the more important parts of your day.
3. Take care of your physical health.
Staying active is critical to your mental health. Here are a few tips on looking after your physical well being:
Eat well-balanced meals at regular times.
Get enough sleep (sleeping at similar times each day can help your routine).
Exercise daily – try finding a new outdoor hobby!
Wear proper protection when you leave your home (plastic gloves, cloth or medical-grade disposable face mask, etc.)
Wash your hands frequently.
4. Spend some time outside.
Spending time outside doesn’t mean you have to do a high-intensity activity, it can be as simple as sitting outside without any distractions. I’ve listed a few ideas below:
Go for a walk/run/jog in your neighborhood or at a park.
Watch the sunrise / sunset at a beach or a lake.
Take a hike up at your nearest local mountain.
Try new sports (soccer, basketball, tennis, badminton, softball, volleyball, etc.)
Host a small distanced picnic or barbeque.
5. Learn a new skill.
Whether it’s taking an online course or learning a new hobby, there is a ton you can learn! Many courses are being offered for free during this time – Below is a list of websites that offer *some free courses:
Yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary.
The insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary.
The breath A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary.
The insects and flies, then I feel the presence of the Almighty, who formed us in his own image, and the breath A wonderful serenity has taken possession of my entire soul, like these sweet mornings of spring which I enjoy with my whole heart. I am alone, and feel the charm of existence in this spot, so absorbed in the exquisite sense of mere tranquil existence, that I neglect my talents. I should be incapable of drawing a single stroke at the present moment; and yet I feel that I never was a greater artist than now. When, while the lovely valley teems with vapour around me, and the meridian sun strikes the upper surface of the impenetrable foliage of my trees, and but a few stray gleams steal into the inner sanctuary.
Last week, we dove back into KPUMA history to gain some sage insights from past program alumni. This week, you get the inside scoop on the best takeaways from being in the KPUMA, wisdom on leadership, and tips for working from home during COVID-19 from Joseph Watson-MacKay!
Q: What was your experience like in the KPUMA? How did your time here change you?
A: My time at the KPUMA gave me different hats to wear as a student. I find it really helpful to take on different roles because they’ll push you to do things that are unfamiliar or scary. Just knowing that there are expectations outside myself helps motivate me.
Community-building was another big takeaway that I realized I enjoyed after my time in the club – realizing that I’ve created value for others beyond what I’m even aware of is really cool. In fact, some of my most memorable moments from the club included forming some strong alumni relationships. I did that through hosting panel discussions and working with faculty – I learned that professionals are very time-conscious and want people to get to the point, so I had to be really concise when pitching for faculty support. The ability to try out so many roles and learn about what I truly liked in marketing were huge learning opportunities that I probably wouldn’t have had without the KPUMA.
Q: What was the leadership component like for you as a president?
A: I actually never pictured myself taking on the president role. To know that my predecessor, Vanessa, believed in me enough to pass on the torch was terrifying. I didn’t think I could pull it off, but somehow having that external belief that you sometimes can’t see yourself can really help push you into that next step. I was also blown away with some of the team members I got to work with – they made all the twists and turns and unexpected disappointments of running a club manageable, as though the failures weren’t “the end”. Having a great team where everyone has each other’s back made it easier to move through. (I guess the team in some ways helps you lead!)
Q: How has the KPUMA changed the way you look at marketing or how you conduct yourself as a professional?
A: The club allowed me to further explore different careers and applications in marketing – I figured that even if I didn’t personally follow these paths, the act of broadening my perspective of what marketing could be and meeting people in the industry allowed me to better connect other students with professionals from all walks of life.
I also developed a sense of ease when talking about marketing over time – people always loved to hear that I volunteered with an internet marketing company from Squamish – that was a great ice breaker. They love to see students going beyond the classroom and meeting other professionals, getting informal mentoring sessions, and learning the ropes. That practice of “getting out there” made my confidence grow enough that at one point, I felt that I finally had something worthwhile to contribute to the conversation – I learned I could be just as engaging and interesting as someone who is years into their career and an apparent expert!
Q: Any advice you’d give to students hoping to get the most out of their education?
A: Make a big, conscious effort to develop relationships with the people you’re volunteering alongside and who you work in group projects with – eventually, those will be the people who can speak to what you’re like to work with, and who can introduce you to new concepts and initiatives. You can do your education in isolation, but I think it’s the peer learning and the experience of applying what you’re learning with other people that makes the biggest impact.
And take advantage of faculty office hours! So many nuggets of wisdom I’ve gotten outside of class – they want to encourage your curiosity. And this way, they’re typically way more invested in your success!
Q: How do you stay productive during COVID-19?
A: Using an automatic break timer! “Google Break Timer” blanks out your screen – digital wellbeing is essential.
For Spring 2020, we decided to collaborate with nabs West to host their second annual Fraser Valley Speed Mentoring event. The event encourages participants to take the leap and immerse themselves in an evening of fast-paced networking. Each individual has the opportunity to meet with four to six mentors of their choice, where they can make their way through small group conversations. Mentors will impart knowledge, advice, and answer questions pertaining to the industry, networking, and succeeding in an ever-changing industry. Our executive team sat on the planning committee and assisted in the planning and implementation of the event.
This was the second year KPU had the pleasure of hosting and it was better than the first event. Students were given the opportunity to mingle with some great mentors from various industries. There was a lot of great conversations had and we received such great feedback after the event was finished.
Most business students at KPU find that most of their university experience revolves around homework and class. If they’re not working on a major report, they are studying for a test. However, what most of them don’t realize is that there are many options on campus for them to get involved, meet like-minded people and have fun for a change. Getting involved in clubs not only looks good on your resume, but it also helps to get your mind thinking in new ways due to the sense of community and drive that it builds – meaning it can improve your grades and your mental wellbeing! We wanted to compile a list of 5 ways (as of Spring 2020) business students can get involved on campus.
#1 – KPU Marketing Association
Founded in 2012, the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Marketing Association (KPUMA) is a non-profit, student organized and governed club that focuses on marketing and business. Their priority: to build a culture that nourishes students in building both social and professional skills, which are essential in the working world. The club organizes events, tours and socials that help link students with the industry, opening doors for future career advancement. These events allow KPUMA members direct access to a pool of industry professionals.
The ASK is an accounting student club designed to help students learn more about accounting at KPU and the opportunities available upon graduation. As a team, they strive to engage their members in continuously improving their skills by bridging their learning through support and resources, fostering personal development, and providing a gateway to professionals in the accounting community. The club was founded in 2007 by Joana Li and Sean McInnes and has since grown to include over 1,700 active members.
The KHRA’s mission is to create a safe and friendly environment to enhance all Business and HR students experience through industry related networking events, meeting like-minded students, case competitions, office tours, workshops and they strive to create more. They are faculty guided student group combined of Business and HR students ranging from first to fourth year. They want to enhance your student experience beyond the classroom hence we chose to create a community.
How to Apply: You will have to inquire about available opportunities by emailing kpuhra@gmail.com.
#4 – KPU Case Analysis Network
The KPU Case Analysis Network (KPU CAN) connects students to all the business case teams offered at the university. There are currently many teams with different focus areas, such as Human Resources, Accounting, Business, and Information Technology. KPU CAN works as a network to connect students to these case teams. Prior to the creation of the network, it was more difficult for students to get information on the case teams and learn about how to join. The network aims to bridge students to the resources and people they need in order to be successful case team members.
How to Apply: Choose which team you interested in joining and fill out an application here https://www.kpucan.com/teams
#5 – KPU Entrepreneurial Leadership Association
KELA is a network for students to connect over the share interest of small business and entrepreneurship. The club hosts formal events, casual meetups, and fosters student connections spanning beyond graduation.
How to Apply: You will have to inquire about available opportunities by emailing kpu.entr@gmail.com.
This Mentor Series is for those of you needing a little guidance along the way. The tips will come in a series of posts.
1. Get to know your instructor. Here are some reasons why:
Make sure you understand what his or her marking scheme is like and understand exactly what he or she is looking for. If you’re confused, don’t be afraid to talk to your instructor directly. They are there at your disposal! It’s all about learning your audience. All your instructors will want things formatted differently. This will make them very happy when they are marking whatever you’re handing in. This is very important. Listen to their instructions. Also be aware, there is never just one way to learning something. You will grow into a versatile person and achieve greater results.
If you are able to recognize this early, you’re already one step ahead of the game. So don’t fret if you end up getting less than desirable marks near the beginning of the semester. This is the best time to learn! Your instructor’s feedback is EVERY THING. If you don’t understand the feedback, again, try talking to your instructor directly. Not only will you be able to hit the nail on the head next time, but also, your instructor will recognize how eager you are to learn.
And let’s be honest, instructors do have favourite students. Use this to your advantage! This could mean a difference of a passing or failing mark. This could mean a difference of an entire letter grade! Furthermore, if you end up making a connection with your instructor, REQUEST A REFERENCE. Do it. No excuses. These references can mean the most to someone reviewing your resume or application because it is the only way this person can get a grasp of what kind of person your really are. Not only that, networking is crucial in this day and age. Your instructor might even be able to get you some great connections!
In the end, remember that the learning experience will always be more valuable than the grade itself. Try to get the most out of your education.
For the past year, the KMA has been in the process of creating a new identity—in other words, a rebrand. After many hours put into meetings and discussion, we were able to very coherently make the correct decisions regarding what aspects of the old brand needed to be adjusted. I put emphasis on the word “adjust” because our rebrand wasn’t about building a brand new persona, it was about taking the identity we’ve already established and making changes that will allow us to be a club that is more impactful and sustainable.
A successful rebrand means all aspects of the organization needs to be re-evaluated. As a team we discussed aspects of branding such as logo, colours, social media, events, what the club is and what we strive for the club to be. After countless hours of trying to come to a consensus regarding all of those topics (and more) we finally came up with an identity we believe is true to itself, meaningful enough for people to notice, and powerful enough to make an impact at KPU.
Inspired by the university’s shift from being known as “Kwantlen” to “KPU”, we chose to follow suit. I was responsible for facilitating and leading the entire rebranding process. One of the first meetings we had focused on deciding a new name and motto. I didn’t expect it to be difficult. I also didn’t expect to take anything away from the meeting, besides perhaps a solid conclusion. We didn’t come to a conclusion that day, but we nailed down quite clearly the foundation of which the KPUMA is built on, and acquired insight regarding our role in the student community. Safe to say, this was empowering for all KPUMA executives. We all left with a clearer sense of why the rebrand was necessary, and also why we bother with the club anyway.
We realized that if there was one word to summarize the purpose of the club, it would be “connection”. This became the basis of every decision we made afterwards. We want students to be empowered through the KPUMA by making valuable connections, whether it be connections with industry, connections with other students, or mental connections by acquiring new knowledge. This is the foundation of the KPUMA—always has been, always will be—but it may have been blurred to the public in the past. We’re ready for a new start.
Photo by: Eric Mclean via Unsplash
