Emory Dettwiler turns her classroom knowledge into real-world experience
Two years after finishing high school, Emory Dettwiler started seriously thinking about her future career.
“I decided that if I want to run a great business, I must know how business works inside out,” she says.
Originally from Prince Rupert, Emory’s interest in business and entrepreneurship started while working with a construction company in Nanaimo. She decided she wanted something that would let her be creative, build something of her own and be proud of her accomplishments decades down the road. This desired combination eventually led her to the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program at VIU.
“VIU stood out because I could remain close to my family and the coastal environment I grew up in. Nothing beats the ocean views and mild seasons,” she says.
Emory was drawn to the program because it offered “practical knowledge about starting, managing and growing a business that I felt would be difficult to gain through online research alone.”
When she arrived at VIU, one of her concerns was how to meet people and find her place.
She became part of the first BBA Learning Community, a group of about 30 first-year students who took the same required courses while choosing their own electives.
“Being part of the cohort gave me an immediate sense of community,” she says. “Seeing the same classmates every day made it easier to form genuine friendships.”
She also became more confident working in groups, speaking up in class and being okay with mistakes.
Now in her third year, majoring in accounting, Emory has already had the chance to learn from and work with professionals in the field.
One of those opportunities came through the BC Investment Management Corporation’s Indigenous Empowerment Scholarship, which includes a paid work term with the company.
A member of the Nisga’a Nation, Emory applied because she saw the company as a place where she could share her ideas and keep learning. She completed her application and was accepted last fall.
“Getting into the program meant so much to me,” she says. “It made my family proud and gave me something to look forward to and work hard toward.”
Emory completed her internship with the tax compliance team. Her responsibilities included supporting domestic and international tax compliance, preparing and filing tax documents, maintaining compliance records and trackers, and helping with entity administration. She also supported tax work on investment deals through research, deal memos, document reviews and correspondence management.
The work helped build on what she was learning in the classroom and “clarified workplace expectations, provided practical experience and expanded my understanding of international tax, going beyond domestic taxes,” she says. “This experience showed me how much can change when you are willing to put yourself out there. It showed the possibilities when you pursue opportunities that may initially feel out of reach.”
The experience has also helped Emory focus on what she wants to do next.
She plans to pursue either the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Her ultimate goal is to one day is to own her own business and “do my part to strengthen the Canadian economy.”
Learn more about the Bachelor of Business Administration program
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