Mini Bio: Sam Thiara

Sam is the Student Affairs Officer for the Business School at Simon Fraser University.

Sam Thiara

I have known Sam for a decade - he was my boss when I worked for ICBC one summer as a Communications Officer. He was always very encouraging and very patient with me (you had to know me back then). We’ve kept in touch over the years and now our lives have re-connected at SFU where I am on the Alumni Association Board of Directors - a group that works extensively with Sam and his colleagues. On a personal note, Sam is the only Fijian guy I know that’s in a Scottish pipe band (very cool) and he is about to become a new dad this year.

I e-mailed Sam on August 6, 2008 and asked him the following questions. His responses are listed below my questions:

1. Where did you grow up?

North Vancouver. I have spent most of my life in North Vancouver but have also enjoyed traveling.

2. What did you want to be when you were a kid?

I thought of an ambulance driver because I felt I could help people…funny enough, I still help people but in a more social way.

3. How would you describe to someone like me what you do for a living?

I get to meet people and talk and have had three jobs where I can say I love going to work on Mondays

My current position is a Student Affairs Officer at SFU Business. What that means is that I take the academics that they get in the classroom and incorporate all the practical experiences.

I feel that students sometimes are so focused on the degree as their final destination that they don’t realize that the most important part is the journey. The people they meet, the experiences and the time they spend while getting their degree.

I have created this position so that it is flexible for the students to choose their level of student involvement. We have the five pillars of student involvement: case competitions, conferences, clubs, exchange and student development.

Part of what this is all about is building on their experiences and story - my favorite saying is: Everyone’s life is an autobiography, but you have to make yours worth reading.

I am an avid story teller and my stories relate to life experiences that students can relate to.

The other two positions where I enjoyed going to work on Mondays: working in Road Safety at ICBC and working on the 2010 Winter Olympic Bid Committee in consultation.

4. How would you describe what you do to someone who has no idea what your industry is about?

My focus is to make students understand that the academics complement who they are but it is a combination of their academics, personality, experiences and life that determine who they are. I build on the practical experiences because employers are saying that it is great that you have the marks, but what about the experiences.

If you’re interested in getting in touch with Sam, you can e-mail him (link).

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO “16 Elevator Pitches from 15 Good Looking People and 1 Ugly One”

Share/Save/Bookmark