Past Guest Speakers and Workshops

On November 9th , we welcomed three guest speakers from BC schools: Amy Guan (UBC Sauder - Commerce), Sofia Li (SFU Beedie - Business & Computer Science), and Sofia Lopez (UBC Political Science & BCIT Marketing). They shared valuable insights on writing university applications and answered audience questions.

For Part 2, on November 17th, we invited three more guest speakers from outside BC: Polina Shukut (UofA), Katie Chen (Western Ivey), and Emily Xiao (UofT). They provided further guidance and advice, offering their experiences and perspectives on university applications.

Spill The Tea: University Applications Workshop

Anjali Dhaliwal- Youth Helping Youth Non-Profit

Anjali Dhaliwal, a startup investor and founder, previously worked in corporate roles at Nasdaq and CPP Investments ($575B AUM). She also contributed to startups such as Nas Company (a Dubai-based EdTech valued at $50M) and N+1 Analytics (a crypto hedge fund with $500K AUM). In 2019, she founded one of Canada’s leading youth-led EdTech nonprofits, helping thousands of high school students navigate higher education, careers, and personal development through social media. Under her leadership, the nonprofit grew to over 200 volunteers, seven chapters, and secured over $100,000 in non-dilutive funding before she passed on the reins in 2022. She has been recognized with numerous accolades, including BC Business 30 Under 30, Vancouver’s Top 25 Under 25, and as a finalist for the Reebok Human Rights Award and the G20 Young Entrepreneurs Alliance in Milan, Italy.

Bethanea Chou- Career Fundamentals Workshop

Bethanea Chou is a Career Development teacher and coach at UBC Sauder, known for her work in supporting students with career growth and professional development. As a second-generation immigrant who overcame financial adversity, she is passionate about creating a more equitable and emotionally intelligent world through education.

In 2022-23, Bethanea provided career support services to over 4,700 university students, conducting 250 individual advising appointments, 130 hours of drop-in career support, and delivering 25 guest lectures for UBC courses. Her experience in coaching and mentorship has made a significant impact on students navigating their careers.

She was a guest speaker at the "Career Fundamentals" workshop, hosted by EMGirls Vancouver, where she shared insights on career strategies and overcoming challenges in the professional world.

Amanda Kao, founder and CEO of The Bad Academy, created and produced workshops designed to empower women by teaching self-sufficiency and confidence. Before founding Bad Academy in 2019, she worked as an HR and Operations consultant in tech, social and environmental justice, and startups. Since then, she organized over 150 workshops and was invited as a speaker and facilitator for brands such as Arc'teryx, Lululemon, UBC, and The Good Food Company, focusing on women's advocacy and business. Passionate about building community, she continually sought opportunities to bring people together.

Aisha Amijee- Resume & Cover Letter Workshop

Aisha Amijee, founder of the Voices of Muslim Women Foundation and Freed Education, led a Resume & Cover Letter Workshop with EMGirls Vancouver. She has dedicated her career to reformative community education and holistic growth. Aisha taught Policy Studies and Interdisciplinary Expressive Arts at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and held a BA from UBC and an MEd in Justice, Law & Ethics in Education from SFU. Through this workshop, she provided valuable insights on career development, helping attendees refine their resumes and cover letters to unlock new opportunities.