Catching up with Anita Man
1. What were the highlights of your time working at the Institute?
2. Tell us about what you have done since graduating Ryerson?
I completed my MSc in Conservation and Rural Development at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England. I’ve held roles as a Program Coordinator at Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (a small non-profit promoting sustainable transportation options in Metro Vancouver) and Polar Bear Tour Operations Manager at Natural Habitat Adventures. More recently, I’ve spent the past year working as a Cat Whisperer at Catfé (Vancouver’s very first cat café), and am currently a First Nations Relations Analyst with the BC Public Service.
3. How does research play a role in your current or previous post-Ryerson work?
Research played a big role in my Master’s program, and especially so with the research project I carried out for my dissertation. I was able to apply all of the planning, organizational, analytical, and social skills I developed through working with Dr. Rachel Dodds. Learning how to reach out to industry contacts, follow up with them, and have the confidence to ask for things I needed was a big one. These skills were immediately useful to me at my first job after graduation, and every one after that, as every job has required some element of research and collaboration with industry contacts.
4. How has your experience working at the Institute informed or influenced your career/education so far?
I was able to learn a lot more about sustainable tourism management, which helped me figure out my career path. Like many students, I sort of drifted through most of my degree aimlessly, and didn’t really know what I wanted to do. Working at the Institute with Rachel was a pivotal moment when I began to find my passion.
5. What advice would you give to current or future Research Assistants to find success during and beyond their contracts at the Institute?
Take every opportunity to learn and do things that you may or may not know much about, and get out of your comfort zone! Your supervisors and mentors are an invaluable resource and they are there to help you. The skills you develop will really follow you into your professional lives, as they have certainly given me a competitive edge when applying for jobs.
