A promising career, a social circle with friends and professional peers that spans the globe and a loving, young family to come home to every night.
In just over a decade, Lokyee Zou has become the embodiment of the Canadian dream.
And it’s due in part to the connectivity she tapped into through her education at the Fairleigh Dickinson University Vancouver Campus (FDU Vancouver).
It was during those formative two years of study at FDU Vancouver that Zou felt that connectivity firsthand, as she linked up with volunteer opportunities, internships, career advice and a network of friends who faced – and overcame – many of the barriers foreign students face when first arriving on Canadian shores.
“Coming from a different background, you can see that there is a different style in the workplace here in Canada, so you really learn from each other in the classroom,” Zou says. “At FDU Vancouver, you learn how you fit into all these different scenarios that you will face.”
From student to leader
Originally from China, Zou came to Canada in 2014 with her sights set on new beginnings. Having attained her master's in administrative studies in 2016, she now holds a prominent role as the people operations manager for the global software firm Tencent.
In her capacity with Tencent, Zou now helps oversee a team of 800 people spanning both North and South America. Her day-to-day routine mirrors the different skills she honed at FDU Vancouver: accounting, onboarding, human resources, communications and so much more.
“When I was first starting out, I needed a reference letter and the career service support team really helped me out with everything I needed,” Zou recalls. “It can be very hard to start a new career here but even today, the team at FDU Vancouver helps me with career advice if I need it.”
Located in downtown Vancouver, FDU Vancouver matches students with personalized career support to prepare them for the workforce primarily in undergraduate and graduate-level programs across business administration, information technology, liberal arts and hospitality.
The institution also provides career opportunities through internships and work-integrated learning models to ensure FDU students and graduates have the necessary skills and know-how as they enter the workforce.
The campus includes small classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art technology in a hands-on learning environment that places a premium on social and supportive spaces for international and domestic students alike.
Since opening its doors in 2007, FDU Vancouver has served as a gateway for students to receive a world-class education while experiencing the cultural diversity and professional opportunities of one of Canada’s most dynamic cities.
That notion of a dynamic city is one that Zou takes to heart, as her adopted home city has now become her home base for work, pleasure and leisure. That she is now married and starting a young family is the cherry on top.
“I really do like the culture and environment here, because I love outdoor activities,” Zou explains. “In the summertime, I can go camping and in the wintertime, I love snowboarding. I really have a lifestyle here and I feel my home is here now.”
Visit www.fdu.edu/vancouver to learn how FDU can help build your future.
