GRAD PROFILES

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MacEwan School of Business grad Jarret Miller knows rsthand that job opportunities have a way of presenting themselves in unexpected ways. Miller, 24, worked exceptionally hard so that he could graduate in 2009. He wanted to be among the first class of fourth year students to complete the Bachelor of Commerce program at MacEwan School of Business. I took seven classes my first semester and six my second, says the management major. During my second semester, the job I had intended to walk out of my degree into fell through due to the recession. While still completing his final semester, he started spending six hours each day searching for a job. When he graduated in June 2009, he spent a solid month job hunting, looking for a position in Calgary so he could join his girlfriend who lived there. Determined to jumpstart his career in the construction or mining fields, where he already had experience, Miller also began networking as much as possible, carrying around business cards that directed people to his LinkedIn profile. By August, he had landed a temporary placement doing data entry at Caliber Systems in Calgary. The two-week posting turned into a three-and-a-half month position, where he took on the role of HR and payroll assistant. MacEwan set me up quite a bit to take on the work at Caliber. I learned the analytical aspects and case studies to be prepared. Although no matter how well a school tries to prepare you, you still walk into a new situation green, and you do the best that you can. After Miller put his nose to the grindstone and proved himself as a professional, the owner of Caliber Systems offered him a position at one of his other companies. Now, Miller is the office manager for LAquila Contracting & Mix Ltd., a construction company in Calgary. He is in charge of running the administrative processes, and is assisting in cleaning up the structure and processes. Miller was asked to speak at MacEwans Student Business Conference on March 11 this year. I was really honoured to be asked. It was really fun to speak to the students and talk about how Ive made it to this point, says Miller. I graduated in June and, in a short period of time, I already had trust put in me to be in a management position Its been very eventful so far. This position is a huge step in his career, he says. I didnt want a lull. I wanted to hit the ground running, doing something I was really passionate about.
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By Erin McCarty

lis t as o K ea Anthm. 2009 B.Co gradl n a w a MacEher glob turnsriences expe cal y o l o t in rtunit oppo

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MacEwan grad Anthea Kolitsas hasnt been out of school very long, but shes already making her mark in the world of international business. Kolitsas, 24, graduated from MacEwan School of Business with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, majoring in management, in December 2009. She is now at the helm of Recruitment & Retention for MacEwan International, where she is in charge of recruiting for the Americas and the Middle East. As part of the universitys goal to be a global institution, MacEwan International actively recruits students from around the world. My other goal is to help assist in creating a plan to retain international students, as many are leaving and wed like to keep them here, says Kolitsas. MacEwan provided her with many opportunities to learn about international business practices and etiquette, both locally and abroad. During her time in the program, she went on a two-week study tour of China and Japan. I visited different corporations and saw how business was conducted there. From a business standpoint, it was a really invaluable experience... to see countries that may be new business superpowers in the future. In her final year, Kolitsas applied for a four-month internship with the Global Trade and Regional Integration Program through the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. A successful applicant, Kolitsas interned at Merrill Lynch in Washington, D.C., where she create marketing plans, conducted stock portfolio analyses and received investment strategy training. I thought this internship would be really interesting because I knew something about the Asian business dynamics and Canadian business dynamics, and I wanted an understanding of corporate America, especially in this time of economic recession. So it was amazing to have a first-hand experience at such an imperative time. More than a learning experience, she describes it as a life-changing opportunity. Washington changed me as a person. I developed a lot individually, professionally and as a leader. And the people I met were amazing. I lived with four other people from around the world a roommate from Korea, one from Mexico. It was good to meet people from other places and learn from them. Kolitsas says she doesnt believe she would have had these international opportunities at a larger academic institution. I feel because of the small class sizes and the intimate atmosphere, these business opportunities are more readily available and opened up to us. They want to see us succeed. She credits her experiences abroad as increasing her networking opportunities and making her more marketable upon graduation. Kolitsas never in fact imagined herself working at a job in this international capacity but says the fit is perfect and she loves the path shes on.
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MacEwan School of Business