Brian Theloma, Marketing student and emerging entrepreneur

What made you choose Business Admin?

I enrolled in Business Administration – Marketing because I liked the opportunities it offered for the future. Marketing is very much in demand, so job possibilities are good in the long term.  

Why Vanier? 

My sister went here and studied in the Social Science Psychology profile. I also come from the United States and although I spoke French when I was young, because I’m originally from Haiti, I then lost it because we always spoke English in the States, and only spoke French at home with my parents. So, when I moved to Quebec at age 11, I had to attend a French school and relearn French—which I speak well—but because I feel more comfortable in English, I wanted to attend an English CEGEP.    

What have you liked about Vanier? 

Everything—the campus, the people, the teachers, and the resources like the CAF (Centre d’aide en français). All the help centres are very useful. Vanier does a good job of teaching actively and proactively; we learn in the classroom but also through outside projects.  

Outside projects to build new skills 

For one project, the entire class of the Leadership course participated in a team building event at the Parc Domaine Vert nature center. We did activities in the woods that required teamwork and the application of leadership theory, such as how to form a team, brainstorm collaboratively and resolve conflict. We were placed in an environment where we had to work together and support one another in any way possible. 

One of the activities was climbing trees. Some team members would freeze due to a fear of heights, slowing down the entire group. So, we had to help that person persevere in an empathetic way, drawing on leadership skills. It was a very interesting and enlightening exercise. 

Another activity we were tasked with was to make an "unbreakable egg" by building a protective barrier around an egg from sticks, marshmallows and paper, then dropping it from a tree. There are many ways of designing such a barrier, so we had to manage conflicting ideas and suggestions within our groups, assigning tasks based on peoples’ individual strengths.  

Were there any specific goals, interests, or career paths that influenced your choice of program? 

Entrepreneurship attracts me. I want to own multiple businesses. Business Administration teaches you all the fundamentals of running a business, whether you are in the Marketing or Accounting stream, or in Financial Services and Insurance Technology.   

Why are you interested in Entrepreneurship? 

I like solving problems and providing a service, exactly what starting a business involves. In Haiti, my father was an engineer. He built schools, churches, and homes. He inspired me. I plan on eventually going to university, but first, I want to gain work experience. I already own a business,an e-commerce brand called Maison Sanctum Inc. that is still in the development phase. It sells eco-friendly toiletries such as wooden razors as well as pre-shave and after-shave products. 

Have any particular teachers, projects, or assignments had a big impact on your learning? 

My favorite course was Digital Marketing, which taught me the skills I need to run a business, and the Entrepreneurship course, which taught me the principles of actually starting a business. Another important aspect of the program is that we get to build connections with our teachers, especially those with whom you have several courses.  All have had a really big impact on me.  

How well do you feel your courses have prepared you for the kind of work you want to do after graduation?   

I feel very well prepared. For students in both the Marketing and Accounting streams, teachers have provided tools and skills and opportunities through simulations of real-life business situations.  

Even as a marketing student, you had to take accounting and general business courses. How did you find these?  

Marketing students learn accounting step by step, starting from the basics and gradually moving on to more complex matters. Students in the Accounting Stream learn more. They learn about SAGE 50 software,accounting software for small and medium-sized businesses that covers invoicing and billing, expense and cash flow tracking, inventory and job management and payroll processing. So, no matter which stream you are in, you learn the basic accounting principles of running a business. 

What was the social life like at Vanier? 

Social life at Vanier went really well. I got to meet a lot of people interested in the same things as me. The are many clubs and social events, so there are a lot of opportunities to connect with people. People are friendly and approachable here, so it’s easy to start a conversation. We have a lot in common, we’re all in the same boat. 

What advice might you offer a high school student choosing a program? 

Choose a program you are passionate about. This is your first real step into adult life. You should enjoy it. You also need to study in CEGEP. You get out of your courses what you put into them. If you don’t work, your grades will show it, and your attitude will be affected. The resources are here at Vanier, so you should use them. When it comes to exams, if you don’t study, you’ll have a hard time succeeding. 

My other piece of advice is to do things that make you uncomfortable. Try different things. This is the best place to figure out who you are, what you like. I have always wanted to learn how to swim and I plan to learn it here at Vanier. Set a goal for yourself and do it before you finish CEGEP.  

If you had to choose again, would you make the same choices?  

Absolutely. I’ve loved everything about being at Vanier.