Meet Kiara, MBA candidate, Forte Fellow and Graduate Co-President of Women in Leadership at Schulich. She has been an engaged and empowering presence in Schulich’s student community, and just landed the job she aspired to before starting her MBA: this July she’ll begin an exciting new chapter as a full-time Assistant Brand Manager at PepsiCo.

As a scholarship student, a busy club leader and now a consumer packaged goods marketing professional, Kiara seems to do it all! Below she shares some of her goals, insights and experiences at Schulich that have gotten her to this point in her career.

Congratulations on being a named Forte Fellow! What does this mean to you personally?

Being a Forte Fellow has been a great opportunity! Not only I get to represent Schulich, but I’ve been able to expand my network among incredible future female leaders from MBA schools all around the world.

Tell us a little bit about Women in Leadership

Being WIL’s Graduate Co-President has been an amazing experience that allowed me to contribute to the Schulich community by helping to empower many future leaders of business. Coming from Peru, where there is still a lot of work to do in terms of gender equality in business (and in society in general), made me realize that I’ll do anything to contribute to advocacy and awareness of this issue.

WIL’s main objectives are to empower Schulich students to become successful leaders, help them make valuable connections for their future, and most importantly, to keep up the conversation and action around gender equality in the workplace.

“I couldn’t be happier that I’ll get to work in an industry and role that I’m really passionate about. I’m looking forward to putting in practice everything I’ve learned in my Marketing courses.”

We’re so excited for your next career move! Tell us how you landed the job.

I got my full-time job from PepsiCo Canada through campus recruitment. I attended the information session, met some of the company Brand Managers, and got hooked almost instantly! That same day I applied for the Marketing Leadership Program, and after three rounds of interviews, received my job offer.

I’ll be an ABM (Assistant Brand Manager) at PepsiCo Beverages, where I’ll be managing one of the many brand strategies, marketing communications plan, and retail strategy.

What are you most looking forward to about this new chapter?

I’m excited about working in a top tier, multinational consumer packaged goods company; this was my goal even before I started my MBA at Schulich. I couldn’t be happier that I’ll get to work in an industry and role that I’m really passionate about. I’m looking forward to putting in practice everything I’ve learned in my Marketing courses, and to continue learning about what it’s like to work in a CPG company in Canada.

What’s one piece of advice that you have for other women starting a career or education in business?

Never give up. Follow your passion, work hard and the results will come – and rely on the wonderful friends, professors and connections you’ll gain during your MBA.