Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, it’s no surprise that Mansi Vishwajitsinh Vansia (BBE ’24) developed an interest in business and financial analysis.
As an international student hailing from India, the Business Economics graduate says she was nervous about starting her studies at Brock University, but her co-op term helped her push past her comfort zone and make connections that kickstarted her career.
“My co-op experience contributed hugely to the confidence that I have in myself and my abilities today,” she says. “It taught me how to talk to people, pitch myself, conduct myself in a professional environment and address complex situations using my critical thinking skills.”
During her co-op term, Mansi worked as an Operation Services intern for Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada Corporation, where she had the opportunity to apply her course teachings in the workplace, learn how to put together ad hoc reports and develop her leadership skills.
According to Mansi, one of the most valuable aspects of her internship was having casual coffee chats with employees and “learning more about their departments and their roles,” which helped her grow her network and gain clarity on her career interests.
“I started becoming more interested in finance, and because of that, I took more finance-focused courses during my third and fourth years,” she says.
When it came to securing a co-op placement, Mansi says the Economics Co-op Professional Preparation course provided her with the tools and resources required to write an effective resume and cover letter, navigate her career interests and identify her transferable skills.
In addition, microeconomics courses offered by Brock’s Department of Economics and Forecasting Using Time Series Data, taught by Associate Professor Jean-François Lamarche, were instrumental in taking her learning beyond the textbooks.
“These courses helped me look at challenges in my workplace through a strategic lens and come up with more creative ideas and solutions,” she says. “The hands-on projects and assignments allowed me to build confidence in my critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which I now apply daily, and supported my professional growth.”
Mansi’s advice for other students searching for a co-op placement is to “have that curiosity always within you to want to know more, learn more,” adding that this is what “really helped me stand out in terms of getting the role.”
Since graduating, Mansi has secured a position with BMW Group Financial Services Canada as a Customer, Brands and Sales System Transformation intern.
“Although I never envisioned myself working in the automotive industry, I was encouraged by our talent coaches to broaden my horizons and explore career opportunities beyond my immediate interests or expertise,” she says. “They emphasized the importance of stepping outside our comfort zones and being open to new possibilities, even in fields we knew little about.”
Mansi says she is happy that she decided to take the leap and see where it led her.
“By embracing opportunities, we may find ourselves in unexpected roles — roles that, while initially outside our radar, could turn out to be incredibly fulfilling,” she says. “Sometimes the paths we don’t plan for can be the most rewarding.”
