Emily Cheung
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
I chose the Political Science program because I wanted to learn more about what is going on in the world and how our society works so I that I could have the foundation to make positive changes in our world. What I enjoyed about my program was the breadth of topics covered and how we learned to observe the world through various lenses. One day I can be learning about how electoral campaigns are designed and the next day I’m learning about international law in the Arctic followed by a class on Asian representation in film. The interesting and cool thing about Political Science is that what you are learning in class, you are actually observing in the news and media in real time.
What clubs, programs or opportunities you were involved in at UBC?
During my undergrad, I was involved with a number of clubs and opportunities offered at UBC. I held two internships with the Arts Internship program: Schema Magazine and Community Legal Assistance Society. I was heavily involved with the Arts Undergraduate Society for two years. As well, I participated in a WorkLearn placement at UBC Communications and Marketing. Additionally, I was an Imagine Day orientation leader and participated in a Community Based Experiential Learning placement at the Immigration Services Society of BC. I was also an executive member of the service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
I was lucky to have been involved in many wonderful opportunities at UBC but the experiences that have had the most impact on me were my involvement in the Arts Undergraduate Society and the Arts Internship program—which both began at the same time in my third year. Up until then, I hadn’t been very involved at UBC, but both of those experiences really opened my eyes to all the resources and opportunities available at UBC to further my personal growth and professional connections. Getting involved with both of those experiences essentially propelled me into more and more opportunities on campus.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
It wasn’t until I participated in the Arts Internship Program as an editorial contributor and took on a position as a promotional coordinator for the Arts Undergraduate Society that I realized a career path in media and communications was a viable option for me. I thought that I would have to be in business or be a graphic designer/videographer to pursue a career in marketing. By taking these opportunities, it widened my perception of what career options are out there for Arts graduates and ultimately led me down my career path.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
I was pretty lucky in my job search in that I already had a job in my desired field prior to graduation working as a Social Media and Events Coordinator at Nintendo of Canada in my final year. At the same time, I also started a WorkLearn placement as a Digital Marketing Assistant at UBC Communications and Marketing. When I graduated, I was able to keep my position at UBC throughout the summer. After my time working at UBC was over I took a few months off to travel. When I came back, I was offered a job at an experiential marketing agency which I had a prior connection with through Nintendo. And now coming full circle, I am back at Nintendo in a different role.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
Yes and no, I didn’t have a planned career path going into my degree. Most of my classmates already knew they wanted to go to law school or work for the government, but I had no idea what I would do after graduation with my Political Science degree. I also didn’t know that a career in marketing was an option for someone with a Political Science degree, so it was definitely a pleasant surprise to learn otherwise.
What do you like about your current job and what do you find challenging? How does it relate to your degree?
As a Marketing Production Coordinator, I work with the internal marketing team in the development and distribution of creative assets for social, web, and television. What I like the most about my current job is that I get to be creative and I get to work with creative people. I get to see a campaign for a new game or product from its planning stages to launch and beyond—and then see the reactions of the fans. The most challenging part of the job is that the digital marketing landscape is always changing, often times I am learning on the go about the newest features and functions and how to use them. While my role isn’t directly related to my degree, I do use some skills I’ve learned such as analyzing data, writing well, and examining content through a critical lens.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
I would say to take risks and explore opportunities available to you even if you think you aren’t qualified for it. I was a Political Science major in my fifth year who had never worked for a tech company before, but I took a risk and I ended up working at one of the most well-known gaming companies in the world while I was still a student.
What advice would you give to your first-year self?
Get involved earlier and don’t let rejection hold you back!
Emily Cheung
Why did you choose your program at UBC and what did you enjoy most about it?
I chose the Political Science program because I wanted to learn more about what is going on in the world and how our society works so I that I could have the foundation to make positive changes in our world. What I enjoyed about my program was the breadth of topics covered and how we learned to observe the world through various lenses. One day I can be learning about how electoral campaigns are designed and the next day I’m learning about international law in the Arctic followed by a class on Asian representation in film. The interesting and cool thing about Political Science is that what you are learning in class, you are actually observing in the news and media in real time.
What clubs, programs or opportunities you were involved in at UBC?
During my undergrad, I was involved with a number of clubs and opportunities offered at UBC. I held two internships with the Arts Internship program: Schema Magazine and Community Legal Assistance Society. I was heavily involved with the Arts Undergraduate Society for two years. As well, I participated in a WorkLearn placement at UBC Communications and Marketing. Additionally, I was an Imagine Day orientation leader and participated in a Community Based Experiential Learning placement at the Immigration Services Society of BC. I was also an executive member of the service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega.
What were some of your most meaningful experiences at UBC?
I was lucky to have been involved in many wonderful opportunities at UBC but the experiences that have had the most impact on me were my involvement in the Arts Undergraduate Society and the Arts Internship program—which both began at the same time in my third year. Up until then, I hadn’t been very involved at UBC, but both of those experiences really opened my eyes to all the resources and opportunities available at UBC to further my personal growth and professional connections. Getting involved with both of those experiences essentially propelled me into more and more opportunities on campus.
What choices did you make at UBC that contributed to your career success / journey?
It wasn’t until I participated in the Arts Internship Program as an editorial contributor and took on a position as a promotional coordinator for the Arts Undergraduate Society that I realized a career path in media and communications was a viable option for me. I thought that I would have to be in business or be a graphic designer/videographer to pursue a career in marketing. By taking these opportunities, it widened my perception of what career options are out there for Arts graduates and ultimately led me down my career path.
What was your first job after graduation and what other jobs did you have before your current position?
I was pretty lucky in my job search in that I already had a job in my desired field prior to graduation working as a Social Media and Events Coordinator at Nintendo of Canada in my final year. At the same time, I also started a WorkLearn placement as a Digital Marketing Assistant at UBC Communications and Marketing. When I graduated, I was able to keep my position at UBC throughout the summer. After my time working at UBC was over I took a few months off to travel. When I came back, I was offered a job at an experiential marketing agency which I had a prior connection with through Nintendo. And now coming full circle, I am back at Nintendo in a different role.
Is your current career path as you originally intended? What challenges did you face in launching your career?
Yes and no, I didn’t have a planned career path going into my degree. Most of my classmates already knew they wanted to go to law school or work for the government, but I had no idea what I would do after graduation with my Political Science degree. I also didn’t know that a career in marketing was an option for someone with a Political Science degree, so it was definitely a pleasant surprise to learn otherwise.
What do you like about your current job and what do you find challenging? How does it relate to your degree?
As a Marketing Production Coordinator, I work with the internal marketing team in the development and distribution of creative assets for social, web, and television. What I like the most about my current job is that I get to be creative and I get to work with creative people. I get to see a campaign for a new game or product from its planning stages to launch and beyond—and then see the reactions of the fans. The most challenging part of the job is that the digital marketing landscape is always changing, often times I am learning on the go about the newest features and functions and how to use them. While my role isn’t directly related to my degree, I do use some skills I’ve learned such as analyzing data, writing well, and examining content through a critical lens.
What advice would you give to students and alumni interested in breaking into your industry?
I would say to take risks and explore opportunities available to you even if you think you aren’t qualified for it. I was a Political Science major in my fifth year who had never worked for a tech company before, but I took a risk and I ended up working at one of the most well-known gaming companies in the world while I was still a student.
What advice would you give to your first-year self?
Get involved earlier and don’t let rejection hold you back!
