Luiza Giocondo Teixeira
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
I chose to study international relations because it reflected my life experience. I was born in Rio de Janeiro, moved to France by the age of three, lived in South Korea by six, attended high school in Mexico City, and eventually moved to Vancouver for university. With such an international upbringing, international relations felt like the most natural way to make sense of my background and interests.
What I enjoyed most about UBC’s International Relations program was its breadth and interdisciplinarity. It allowed me to explore political science, economics, and history while constantly engaging with global perspectives. That freedom to explore multiple interests helped me understand that my career didn’t need to follow a single linear path.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
Some of my most meaningful experiences at UBC came from engaging with people from vastly different backgrounds and with varying worldviews. Being surrounded by such a diverse student body challenged the way I thought, helped me become even more nuanced in my perspectives, and reinforced my values of curiosity and openness.
UBC was also where I learned to embrace being multifaceted—pursuing different interests, asking questions beyond the classroom, and allowing myself to evolve academically and personally.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
The most important choice I made at UBC was learning to take initiative and be proactive. I focused on building relationships, networking intentionally, following up, and genuinely showing care in my interactions. Rather than waiting for opportunities to come to me, I sought them out, and I advocated for myself. These habits ultimately became foundational to my career.
While at UBC, I took on numerous roles on campus such as research assistant with the Office of Regional International Community Engagement, events assistant with the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and cultural assistant with the English Language Institute.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
My first job after graduation was at Threading Change, a multinational non-profit focused on sustainable fashion and the circular economy. I started here as a communications and engagement manager and later became director. In this role, I supported the organization’s work in Canada and internationally.
I also worked with UNICEF’s global headquarters a digital strategist, focusing on social media, communications, and content localization for global audiences.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
My current career path wasn’t something I had fully mapped out from the beginning, but it aligns strongly with my core interests. One of the biggest challenges early on was navigating uncertainty and not having one clearly defined “next step.” Learning to trust a nonlinear path and to see exploration as an asset rather than a weakness was a key part of launching my career.
What do you like about your current job? How does it relate to your degree?
In my current role as senior communications associate at Endeavor, a company that supports high-impact entrepreneurs, I translate complex topics into clear, engaging content. I focus on how information is distributed across different platforms, how messages are tailored to different audiences, and how to make people care about issues that matter.
The most rewarding part is answering the question: “How do we make people care?” This challenge is also what makes the work difficult as it involves balancing accuracy, clarity, and emotional resonance. My work directly connects to international relations, particularly international development.
From your experience, what has been the value of having an Arts degree?
The greatest value of an Arts degree has been in helping me become a strong generalist. My Arts education gave me the ability to understand context, read critically, interpret complex information, and connect ideas across disciplines.
In a world where information is abundant but understanding is often lacking, being someone who can synthesize, contextualize, and communicate clearly has been incredibly valuable.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Stay curious. Read as much as you can. Talk to people. Go after the things you want to do, even if they don’t fit perfectly into a predefined path.
Most importantly, advocate for yourself. The work you do is only meaningful if other people know about it. You can’t hide yourself. Recognition comes from putting yourself out there and allowing others to see and recognize your value.
What advice would you give to your first-year self?
I would tell my first-year self to do everything exactly the same. I have no regrets.
Luiza Giocondo Teixeira
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
I chose to study international relations because it reflected my life experience. I was born in Rio de Janeiro, moved to France by the age of three, lived in South Korea by six, attended high school in Mexico City, and eventually moved to Vancouver for university. With such an international upbringing, international relations felt like the most natural way to make sense of my background and interests.
What I enjoyed most about UBC’s International Relations program was its breadth and interdisciplinarity. It allowed me to explore political science, economics, and history while constantly engaging with global perspectives. That freedom to explore multiple interests helped me understand that my career didn’t need to follow a single linear path.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
Some of my most meaningful experiences at UBC came from engaging with people from vastly different backgrounds and with varying worldviews. Being surrounded by such a diverse student body challenged the way I thought, helped me become even more nuanced in my perspectives, and reinforced my values of curiosity and openness.
UBC was also where I learned to embrace being multifaceted—pursuing different interests, asking questions beyond the classroom, and allowing myself to evolve academically and personally.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
The most important choice I made at UBC was learning to take initiative and be proactive. I focused on building relationships, networking intentionally, following up, and genuinely showing care in my interactions. Rather than waiting for opportunities to come to me, I sought them out, and I advocated for myself. These habits ultimately became foundational to my career.
While at UBC, I took on numerous roles on campus such as research assistant with the Office of Regional International Community Engagement, events assistant with the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and cultural assistant with the English Language Institute.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
My first job after graduation was at Threading Change, a multinational non-profit focused on sustainable fashion and the circular economy. I started here as a communications and engagement manager and later became director. In this role, I supported the organization’s work in Canada and internationally.
I also worked with UNICEF’s global headquarters a digital strategist, focusing on social media, communications, and content localization for global audiences.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
My current career path wasn’t something I had fully mapped out from the beginning, but it aligns strongly with my core interests. One of the biggest challenges early on was navigating uncertainty and not having one clearly defined “next step.” Learning to trust a nonlinear path and to see exploration as an asset rather than a weakness was a key part of launching my career.
What do you like about your current job? How does it relate to your degree?
In my current role as senior communications associate at Endeavor, a company that supports high-impact entrepreneurs, I translate complex topics into clear, engaging content. I focus on how information is distributed across different platforms, how messages are tailored to different audiences, and how to make people care about issues that matter.
The most rewarding part is answering the question: “How do we make people care?” This challenge is also what makes the work difficult as it involves balancing accuracy, clarity, and emotional resonance. My work directly connects to international relations, particularly international development.
From your experience, what has been the value of having an Arts degree?
The greatest value of an Arts degree has been in helping me become a strong generalist. My Arts education gave me the ability to understand context, read critically, interpret complex information, and connect ideas across disciplines.
In a world where information is abundant but understanding is often lacking, being someone who can synthesize, contextualize, and communicate clearly has been incredibly valuable.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
Stay curious. Read as much as you can. Talk to people. Go after the things you want to do, even if they don’t fit perfectly into a predefined path.
Most importantly, advocate for yourself. The work you do is only meaningful if other people know about it. You can’t hide yourself. Recognition comes from putting yourself out there and allowing others to see and recognize your value.
What advice would you give to your first-year self?
I would tell my first-year self to do everything exactly the same. I have no regrets.
