VP Spotlight
Each year, the BCITMA participates in the AMA Website Competition. We want to highlight three of our VP’s; Kiran Budwal, Krystel Cisnero, and Jemima Ycasas for doing an amazing job in revamping the club’s website! We’re extremely proud of the hard work each of you put in!
From left to right: Jemima Ycasas VP of Creative & Branding, Kiran Budwal VP of Digital Marketing, Krystel Cisnero VP of Communications
Let’s get to know our website creators!
Interview Questions
Name: Kiran Budwal
BCITMA Position: VP of Digital Marketing
Interviewer: Kathryn Ryan, Communications Committee
What inspired you to join the BCITMA?
“I joined the BCITMA mainly because I would be surrounded by a large group of future marketers that I could start to network with. I knew I needed something to help set myself apart once I got into the industry and I thought that the BCITMA could allow me to practice the skills I have learned in the classroom. Joining the BCITMA has definitely been the best decision!”
What do you like most about your duties as VP of Digital Marketing?
“I oversee almost all of the Social Media and I manage the BCITMA Website. This year, we got to take on the website competition where we redesigned and revamped the whole website. We also added additional features such as SEO. We find out the results next year, so fingers crossed!”
What apps/platforms do you use most working as VP of digital? How have these platforms made work easier for you? What do you like most about these platforms?
“My team and I are currently using Facebook, Instagram, and Squarespace for website design. I love Squarespace! I’m new to coding and Squarespace is easy to navigate and very user-friendly.”
How can students succeed at BCIT?
“A calendar is an absolute must! It’s easy to get lost in a bunch of different projects, deadlines, and assignments. I live by my Google calendar; having everything in your schedule can help you with time management and allows you to plan ahead to ensure you don’t get overwhelmed.”
Knowing what you know now, what would you tell your first-year self?
“Keep going. There may be times where you get a bad grade and it may feel like the end of the world, but everything you do little by little at BCIT adds up into something big and you will find out what it is after you’re done.”
How do you stay motivated?
“Music! I listen to a lot of music and I have some really great motivational playlists. My parents immigrated to Canada and growing up I saw them work very hard. Watching them work hard has taught me that if I am ever overwhelmed, or if I feel I can’t do something, I know that it’s not impossible. Anything is possible.”
“A song that always makes me feel happy: No Idea- Don Toliver”
Speed Round:
Pasta or Pizza? Pasta
Cats or Dogs? Dogs
Coffee or Tea? Coffee
Favourite Holiday? Christmas
Favourite Snack? Oreos
Favourite TV Show? Breaking Bad
Fill in the blank: the BCITMA is valuable
Name: Krystel Cisnero
BCITMA Position: VP of Communications
Interviewer: Kathryn Ryan, Communications Committee
What inspired you to be a part of the BCITMA?
“I knew going into BCIT that I wanted to join the BCITMA. The BCITMA allows you to apply the skills you’ve learned in the classroom to real-world marketing situations. On top of that, it’s one of the best ways to network with people outside of your set. Although the first year was online, I still had the opportunity to meet some pretty amazing individuals both in my year and in second.”
What are your duties as the VP of Communications?
“The majority of internal and external communications come from within my committee. I help to ensure that events are promoted on all of our social platforms while also creating monthly newsletters to better connect our members. I have a great team this year and I truly wouldn’t be able to tackle the workload without them!”
How do you balance the extensive workload with your personal life?
“I won’t be the first to say it but it’s hard to have a personal life while being at BCIT. With that being said, you want to try your best to protect the relationships you do have along with your personal mental health. BCIT is tough on its students for all the right reasons and knowing how to prioritize is key to your success. I try my best to block off time in the evening or a full day during my weekend to spend with my loved ones and to just separate myself from school. It’s hard but it’s needed.”
How are you adjusting from a virtual setting to being back on campus full time?
“It’s definitely been quite an adjustment. I don’t think a lot of us understood the luxury of having online classes. However, there are so many things I love about in-person learning. For one, the personal interactions have been amazing. Being able to really get to know everyone in your team and even the people outside of your set. Definitely better to put a face to the zoom names! I do miss being able to wake up and go to class in the comfort of my own home, but you really can’t replace the benefits of learning in person and fully diving into the BCIT on-hand experience.”
SPEED ROUND:
Cats or Dogs? Dogs
Coffee or Tea? Coffee
Netflix or Crave TV? Netflix
Night in or Night out? Night in
Summer or Winter? Summer
Go to Bubble Tea Flavour? Fresh Taro
Favourite Holiday? Christmas
Favourite Ice Cream Flavour? Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Favourite Movie? Pretty Woman
Name: Jemima Ycasas
BCITMA Position: VP of Creative & Branding
Interviewer: Zach Blaney, Communications Committee
What inspired you to be a part of the BCITMA?
“To make friends. The professional benefit was important but I mostly wanted to meet people. I don’t want my BCIT experience to be like my UBC one. I only stuck to people I knew from highschool or a few people I met so I thought why not join a club like the MA.”
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
“Right now, I definitely see myself working agency side, though I’m not sure which team specifically. I’m really looking forward to working with different clients and doing different things at once. Even though we do so much of that at BCIT, I feel like it’s a really good learning opportunity to see what kind of niche I want to go into. From working with specific clients to performing specific duties. At this point I honestly see myself working agency side for life.”
What would be your dream job?
“My real dream job is not related to marketing! My dream job would be to read books, it doesn’t exist, but I would love to get paid just to read books.”
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve taken away from your time at BCIT so far?
“Don’t get cocky. Seriously, BCIT humbles you. It lowers your self-esteem which sounds bad but is a great learning opportunity. You learn what your strengths are and where you have room for improvement and I think I really learned the value of working with other people. I’ve never had to depend on anyone to do anything academic-related. I only learned the value of overcoming challenges as a group while at BCIT. There will be things you miss and things you’re not good at when you’re taking seven classes, it’s inevitable. I learned it’s okay to rely on other people, and it’s good too.”
What kind of stuff do you like to read?
“I like to read a lot of sci-fi. I haven’t read in a long time because of school, but I like reading classic sci-fi, like H.G. Wells. I really like the Island of Doctor Moreau, it’s my favourite sci-fi book, very philosophical. That’s what I like about classic sci-fi, it dives deep into morality, what it means to be a human, and how technological advancement affects the way we think.”
SPEED ROUND:
Cats or Dogs? Dogs
Coffee or Tea? Coffee
Morning Person or Night Owl? Night Owl
Most used App? Reddit
Favourite Brand? Kinto
Favourite Color? Pink
Favourite Snack? Bubble Tea
Favourite Vacation Spot? Philippines