If you’re curious about how taking on a student executive role can benefit you after your tenure at BCIT, we have seasoned executives eager to share their experiences. Acting as a student executive hones your leadership abilities and provides a platform to cultivate critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills—all vital in the professional arena! Numerous former student leaders have utilized these competencies to achieve career success, boosting their confidence and expanding their networks. So, to give you a bit of guidance, our experienced executives are here to support you, helping you make the most of your leadership journey at BCIT.
Kevin Adlparvar (BCITSA President 2021-22)
I served as President of the Student Association, advocating for students and enhancing student life by chairing meetings, supporting the executive team, addressing student requests, and representing them on the BCIT Board of Governors. A significant initiative was encouraging dialogue between BCIT’s administration and students about returning to campus during COVID-19, which improved transparent decision-making. Additionally, I collaborated with the SA and BCIT to create a standardized election system for representatives, fostering open communication and empowering student collaboration. These experiences taught me the value of understanding diverse perspectives for impactful results.
After my term as SA President, I graduated from BCIT’s Digital Design and Development program and joined Airble, an aviation-tech startup. I progressed from a co-op student to a contract role, eventually securing a full-time position for over a year. I then moved to Venturis Capital Corporation as a product manager, focusing on expanding a digital acquisition.
The leadership and organizational skills I gained at the SA were invaluable. I learned to engage stakeholders, focus discussions, and consider diverse ideas—crucial skills in any environment. My experience in chairing meetings and making actionable decisions enabled me to confidently step into my roles at Airble and Venturis.
I was incredibly fortunate to have guidance from several inspiring individuals. Previous SA executives showed me the ropes of student leadership and encouraged me to take on the challenge. The SA leadership team was instrumental in opening doors and bringing the right people together to get things done.
In my current role, these abilities allow me to meaningfully contribute to the business’s needs and foster smoother collaboration and focused decision-making.
At BCIT, key executives and Board of Governors members supported me by removing obstacles and offering guidance on institutional processes. Their examples of empathy, clarity, and collaboration continue to influence my leadership style. BCIT’s hands-on approach equipped me with technical skills and strategic planning abilities, essential for high-stakes situations. Balancing a full course load while serving as SA President was challenging but rewarding. Through the SA, I honed soft skills like compassionate listening and diplomacy in conflict resolution.
Overall, my time at the SA gave me the confidence to help guide teams toward shared goals.
I’d tell any student interested in becoming an executive: go for it. Don’t let self-doubt stop you. Reach out to current execs, learn from their experiences, and look for ways to volunteer at SA events—that’s how you’ll get an authentic feel for the role and build your network.
While it can be demanding, the fulfillment you get from advocating for students, the leadership experience, and the connections you forge are priceless. Also, it was just fun.
Approach it with a service mindset and always consider how your decisions will affect your fellow students. If you stay open to learning from everyone around you, the SA experience can be a launchpad for personal and career growth—growth that, for me at least, far exceeded the couple of percentage points I sacrificed on my GPA.
Theo Robson (BCITSA Chair of the Aerospace Technology Campus 2022-23)
I was elected as Chair of the Aerospace Technology Campus in November 2022 by a single vote, a reminder to be grateful. I realized specialty campuses needed more attention as they were disconnected from the main Burnaby campus. Notably, other specialty campuses were often overlooked in a different executive’s portfolio. My key achievement was creating the Chair of Specialty Transportation Campuses (STC) position with my board, particularly Cody Pallin. This role ensured specialty campuses had a dedicated voice in the BCITSA. The motion passed at the AGM, and I took on the role in January 2023. Despite reluctance to change leadership and the challenge of starting from scratch, I learned valuable leadership lessons. The structural change would benefit future leaders, which I considered a success.
After graduating from BCIT’s Airport Operations program and uncertain about my career path, I pursued further studies in psychology at UBC. University served as a ‘holding pattern’ while I searched for a career direction. During my time at UBC, I became Chief of Staff for my industry mentor, JR Hammond, which led to my current role at Canadian Advanced Air Mobility (CAAM). At CAAM, I focus on integrating Advanced Air Mobility into Canada’s transportation system. My involvement with the Student Association was pivotal, helping me develop leadership skills and confidence, which have been crucial in my career.
JR Hammond saw potential in me at the Canadian Airports Council conference when I was still finding my place in aviation. Fresh out of BCIT, I had passion but lacked a polished skillset. JR provided space for me to face challenges, learn through trial and error, and grow from my mistakes, which was invaluable. Every mentor has offered similar opportunities, allowing me to figure things out independently, despite the fear and impact on my self-esteem. But to harken back to Gen-z language, if you want to get better at something, sometimes you gotta lock in to learn.
Stepping into leadership at BCIT and the Student Association, I was initially clueless but driven to learn and make a difference. This ambition led me to tackle challenges head-on, teaching me not only practical skills but also self-awareness and continuous growth.
My experience as a Chair was not easy. I don’t say that to make it seem like I’m some big-wig who overcame adversity and blah blah blah – it was really tough! It was tough, though, because it was real. It was real life, real challenges, real people. My decisions mattered – something I had never experienced before. I had big ambitions and hit walls, and often it felt hard to keep going through the feeling of water running against you. But, I grew to see and recognize that feeling as an opportunity to learn and grow. At work, now, when I’m met with the same feeling, I can nearly summon excitement, knowing I’m going to be better off having gone through it. This is an opportunity for you to do the same, and I can’t recommend it enough.
