Kunny Ma
Kunny Ma, a 4th year Business student majoring in Accounting and Marketing, is a shining example of one of the many SFU Business students who complement their studies with active on-campus involvement and participation in experiential learning activities.
As Chairperson for the 10th Annual SFU Business and BASS Banquet 2011, SFU's largest student-organized networking event which brings together students, business professionals, faculty and staff, Kunny is responsible for recruiting and leading a team of students to organize and execute this gala event.
In addition, Kunny is heavily involved with the Young Women in Business (YWiB) network, a non-profit society for emerging female leaders in Western Canada. In 2009, under Kunny's leadership, the YWiB SFU chapter launched the first student-run mentorship program at SFU. As the current Chapter Development Officer for the greater YWiB network, Kunny works with university representatives from across Canada to launch the YWiB network in their communities. Through these experiences, Kunny has honed her leadership skills, while learning to be resourceful and entrepreneurial, in order to develop sustainable strategies that align with an organization's long and short-term growth objectives.
Kunny has also found time to train for the Inter-Collegiate Business Case Competition (ICBC), to be held at Queen's University, March 2011. Kunny feels that the in-depth case competition training process will be as rewarding as the actual competition, as both will allow her to use what she has learned in the classroom to solve real world business problems and will have helped her develop soft skills such as teamwork, presentation and problem solving.
Kunny has taken time between semesters to complete co-op work terms as an Associate with KPMG LLP and as an Account Services Intern with DDB Canada. Kunny spent two work terms at KPMG LLP (eight months) working in audit and assurance services for publically traded companies and private enterprises with a specialization in the financial sector. The work term at DDB Canada afforded her the opportunity to play an active role in different phases of a product launch. Kunny particularly enjoyed working closely with both the creative department and the agency’s clients to develop concepts that would foster brand loyalty and create messaging that would resonate with the end customer.
Kunny credits faculty, staff and various programs at SFU Business as instrumental in her personal and professional development. Without the support of faculty, many of whom are "seasoned professionals in their respective fields [...] who made lectures engaging and relevant", the Student Affairs Office, Business Co-op, and the Business Career Management Centre (CMC), Kunny feels that she would not have been presented the opportunities that she has had. While crediting the coaching she has received from faculty and staff, in particular, she credits the CMC with advertising job postings through the Business Career Network, making online resources and in-person coaching available to assist with resume writing and interview preparation, and offering corporate mock interviews and resume review sessions. She also believes that career management workshops and employer-led information sessions are instrumental to helping students learn more about industry.
To learn how you can contribute to enhancing our students experiential learning experience, and connect with great students like Kunny, please contact Lisa Dalla Vecchia at lmd11@sfu.ca.
