Curious about the people behind People and Culture? From hiring and engagement to learning and development, organizational change, and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), Human Resources professionals help shape healthy, inclusive, and thriving workplaces. They design culture, guide leaders, and create environments where people can do their best work – and Arts grads are leading the way.
Join us for The Art of People and Culture, where UBC Arts alumni (now working with employers such as Aritzia, Deloitte, and Arc’teryx) share how they built meaningful careers in Human Resources and organizational leadership. Learn how your degree in the social sciences can translate into a career focused on communication, collaboration, and positive impact.
Stay after the panel to connect with alumni over free pizza, ask your career questions, and enter to win prizes!
Meet the alumni panelists
Amanda Chan (she/her), BA’13 Psychology
Senior Director, People & Culture and Engagement, Aritzia
Amanda Chan is a UBC Arts alum in Psychology and currently serves as Senior Director of People & Culture and Employee Engagement at Aritzia. In her role, she leads Aritzia’s Voice of People and Employee Experience portfolio, driving strategies in employee listening, events & experiences, recognition programs, global talent mobility, and wellbeing. Starting her career with Aritzia on the sales floor, Amanda has built a 19-year journey spanning retail operations, internal consulting, program development—including launching Aritzia’s first internship program—and strategic leadership roles supporting Aritzia’s Founder, CEO, Chief People & Culture Officer, and Chief Impact Officer.
Alyssa Koonar (she/her), BA’14 Sociology
Senior Manager, People & Culture Business Partnerships, Arc’teryx
Born and raised in Richmond, BC, I’m a People & Culture leader with a career spanning hospitality, tourism, large-scale logistics, entertainment, and now retail. At Arc’teryx, I’m excited to help build strong culture and drive growth while staying active through hiking, weightlifting, and multi-sport leagues.
Guilherme Adan (he/him), BA’24 Psychology
Talent Acquisition Analyst, Deloitte
I am a Talent Acquisition Analyst at Deloitte, specializing in event management and early career (campus) recruitment for accounting roles. During my time as a Psychology student at UBC, I volunteered with student clubs such as AUS and ACSA and completed three HR co-op terms through the Arts Co-op program, which helped launch my career in human resources. I look forward to connecting with UBC Arts students as they navigate early career decisions and explore opportunities in the field.
Shuren Batkhuu, BA’22 Psychology
Senior Learning Experience Specialist, Brex
Shuren is a Senior Learning Experience Specialist at Brex, where she designs and delivers innovative people focused learning solutions that support growth, engagement, and operational excellence. As a UBC Arts alumna and former international co op student, her journey exemplifies how an Arts foundation can shape meaningful careers in human centred work.
Arts Career Conversations is part of a series of events in The Compass: Arts Students Engagement Hub.
