A last-minute decision to enter a case competition turned out to be one of the best experiences of Shirin Makhkamova\u2019s time as a Brock University student.<\/p>\n
Makhkamova (BA \u201914) entered the 2013 Terry O\u2019Malley Lecture and Grant Dobson Case Competition on the recommendation of her marketing lecturer, Sharon Broderick.<\/p>\n
Created by St. Catharines native and advertising icon Terry O\u2019Malley, the O\u2019Malley lecture honours his legacy as one of the most legendary creative talents in modern Canadian advertising. For the past 16 years, the lecture series has exposed Brock students to some of North America\u2019s top marketing and business communicators.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s O\u2019Malley Lecture will be\u00a0held Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.\u00a0in Brock\u2019s Sean O’Sullivan Theatre. This year’s lecturers are Peter Ignazi and Carlos Moreno from Cosette, which was behind the highly successful SickKids \u2018VS\u2019 campaign launched in 2016.<\/p>\n
Broderick introduced Makhkamova to O\u2019Malley four years ago when she took part in the lecture and case competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I first met Terry, I was incredibly nervous as I knew how accomplished he was as a marketing professional,\u201d Makhkamova says. \u201cThankfully, he was encouraging, kind and curious about my studies. I\u2019m still to this day thankful that we made that initial connection and have remained friends.\u201d<\/p>\n
Makhkamova, now in her final year studying law at the University of Michigan, is looking forward to her graduation next spring when O\u2019Malley and his wife will be there to congratulate her.<\/p>\n
\u201cMajoring in communications at Brock opened doors for me that prepared me for law school and I wouldn\u2019t have been able to do what I am doing now without what I learned at Brock,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
The smaller class sizes and close relationships she developed with her professors while studying here allowed Makhkamova the opportunity to explore what her strengths were and improve upon her weaknesses, which prompted her to attend law school.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t sure what I wanted to do and wouldn\u2019t have considered becoming a lawyer if it wasn\u2019t for Terry O\u2019Malley and my professors. Having people encourage you to consider all your options was reassuring,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Makhkamova encourages students attending the lecture and case competition this year to know their worth and says, \u201cdon\u2019t underestimate yourself as an undergraduate student. Make sure you consider all your options.\u201d<\/p>\n