Q: What is your name?
A: Mary Gail M. Villanueva
Q: What are your pronouns?
A: She/Her/Hers
Q: Where is your hometown and where are you located now?
A: My hometown is in Muntinlupa City, Philippines, and I am currently located in Kelowna, B.C.
Q: What did you take at OC? When did you graduate?
A: I took the Post Baccalaureate in Human Resources Diploma back in 2019. My last semester was in December 2021 and walked down the grad aisle in June of the next year (2022).
Q: What got you interested in your program?
A: Having a background in Marketing (bachelor’s), it got me in this mindset that every person is unique and how important human capital is to a business – it’s what makes it grow. Topics such as organizational behavior and organizational change and development are both critical to a company’s success. I love that HR is a combination of business and the school of thought, or at least that’s how I see it.
Q: How did you find out about the program you took at OC?
A: I found out about it as I was looking for courses to take to grow my education.
Q: What is your current position?
A: I am currently working as a HR Coordinator for Canco Petroleum (Head Office).
Q: How did your training at OC prepare you for what you’re doing now?
A: It prepared me to look at not just what’s in front of me but also what the underlying things could be. I was taught to think out of the box and that helped me to continuously improve.
Q: What was one of your most meaningful memories during your time at OC?
A: The classes and how it is so open to discussions and ideas. Mainly what the unforgettable part of my experience was the professors too. At OC, I met very inspirational mentors that, while studying, I looked up to. It is the guidance, supportive and collaborative learning that made me challenge myself to become a better version of me and to learn what I can academically for my career ahead.
Q: What do you think has been the biggest turning point for your career success?
A: My turning point was when I was a bookkeeper and was promoted laterally to the profession, I look forward to being in Human Resources.
Q: What advice would you pass on to current/future students?
A: Just in a general sense, have the mindset of a beginner that is open to learning but don’t hinder yourself in sharing what you know. All industries are subject to change and having an open outlook to this can bring you to great heights. One more important thing, try not to take things personally.
Q: When you’re not working, what are you doing?
A: Outside of work, I am immersing myself in the hobbies/things I used to just want to try. Currently, I’m liking building miniatures, reading, art and gaming.
Connect with Mary Gail
Post-Baccalaureates
The Okanagan School of Business offers Post-Baccalaureate programs for students who have undergraduate degrees and would like to pursue further knowledge in human resources management, marketing, accounting, and marketing and data analytics.
OC Alumni Association
The Okanagan College Alumni Association (OCAA) is a non-profit organization that celebrates alumni by creating connections and opportunities. Founded in 1988, the OCAA aims to connect alumni with each other and with the College, while supporting the College's mission statement of transforming lives and communities.