Kenta Shirakura, He/Him

Co-op Consultant - Civil Engineering, Environment Engineering
Bachelor of Policing and Honours Bachelor of Interior Design programs

Georgian College

Member of EWO

1. Tell us a little bit about your career and why you do what you do?

Currently, I am a Co-op Consultant in Co-op & Career Success at Georgian, attached to Environmental, Civil, Bachelor of Interior Design and Bachelor of Police Degree programs. Previously, I worked as an International Experience Consultant supporting International students and global mobility at Georgian for a short while. Prior to that role, I worked in International Education and Development in various roles, primarily supporting international student services, including orientation, insurance, housing, events, recruitment - pretty much everything over the years, but always student facing. I was studying part-time and have recently graduated from the Big Data Analytics Grad Certificate program at Georgian to complement my previous education in Hospitality & Tourism (H&T) and my degree in English Language and Literature from Japan. I came to Canada as an international student in 2011 as an ESL student and then graduated from Georgian’s H&T program a few years later. I was working on campus as a student which ultimately led to a full-time opportunity supporting students. I graduated from a co-op program, where I worked in Toronto and learned the student experience side of things. This experience really helped me to speak to the student journey and sparked my interest in working in higher education. Some very cool opportunities that I’ve had the pleasure of getting involved in include the opportunity to travel to Japan as a cultural ambassador and recruitment representative, working with agents, partner institutions as well as governments such as Embassies and Consulates due to my background in International and my language skills.

I have participated in various Internationalization type committees, meetings and events in our region. Simcoe County Immigrant Health Survey Steering Committee where we developed a survey for Simcoe County residents, including international students to learn more about their experiences using health care in Simcoe County. Other committees include the International Relations Committee with City of Barrie which focuses on municipalities and global friendship cities to better support study exchanges, cultural exchanges, sport opportunities, and academic partnerships.

I’ve always enjoyed supporting students, working with community and contributing to cultural and global opportunities that help to create better understanding and experiences.

2. We work with a talented group of individuals across the province who are passionate about the work they do. What do you consider your ‘super powers’?

Every appointment that I have with students, I feel I can turn their frustration or concerns into something positive. When they leave my office, they leave feeling better than when they came in. I try to maintain a very positive outlook and see every challenge as an opportunity. Students find comfort in knowing that I’ve lived a similar experience. I help them find the connection to the job they are applying for, building confidence, building awareness. Helping them to transfer the skills and knowledge they have into context that industry values, whether it’s an international student with no Canadian work experience or a domestic student who feels they have zero related experience. I help them to better explain their experience, whether it is a school project, technical knowledge, growing skills when they feel like they are still learning. Teaching them to tell the story and putting words to their experience helps their resume come to life as well as prepare them for future interviews and networking opportunities.

I have a history of working with international students in my previous roles which has helped to translate into my experience in my current role as Co-op Consultant with their co-op job search and transition to the workplace. For international students this means working with them to identify their global competencies such as their language skills and how their experience back home translates into transferable skills in Canada. Through conversations with them I’m able to help build their confidence by pulling out their strengths and helping to put words to their skills so that they can explain them with confidence in their interviews, networking and through the job search process. I find it really helps them with self-advocacy and professional growth.

3. Tell us about what is important to you in the work that you do? What speaks to you?

EDI and global citizenship through the lens of Co-op is a big one for me. I enjoy getting involved with things, such as “Come Together Week” at Georgian, where we celebrate diversity with Cultural Events and the #ITSTARTS campaign, which is designed to take a proactive step towards addressing racism and discrimination in Simcoe County

I’m also a person of efficiency and enjoy ways to optimize or leverage things. Technology has always been something that has intrigued me, hence my interest in the Big Data program and the Co-op programs I support.

4. Who have some of your professional/career mentors been?

We work with incredible and influential people at Georgian. Each step of the way, I have been inspired by some of Georgian’s leaders including the Manager of our Dining Room lab space. She was an instructor of mine when I was taking H&T. As a professional in the industry, she takes hospitality seriously and always makes the customer feel good and puts them at ease. She always finds positive ways through professionalism, through kindness and making people feel good about themselves and their experiences. She really helps to keep students and teams motivated.

I have a colleague who has influenced me when it comes to the bigger picture, work integrated learning and building knowledge beyond co-op. This includes supporting International students and globalization through mobility and work abroad. Various ways that WIL and experiential learning can be applied to academics. She inspires me with ways to support non-traditional ways of student work, like through innovation and entrepreneurship. Because I have had an incredible international experience and how much I have had the opportunity to grow, I want to share this with other students, so they can grow and develop a global mindset and set goals to achieve personal growth. Institutionally Georgian can grow and our capacity to grow and develop student skills through WIL and EL. More brains to pick, more questions to ask, more experiences to learn from.

I have a special bond with one of the Dean’s I used to report to. She has helped me to look at my experience globally. I never thought I had ‘global experience’ and she helped me to realize how my skills fit in Canada. She recognized my skills from my global background - language, translating cultural pieces by explaining similarities and differences in culture to help people understand the unspoken rules of Canadian culture. I learned from her to be curious and to appreciate all different people, their background and what they have to offer. You can always learn from others, especially from other cultures and. It’s simply new or different ways of doing things.

Find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kentashirakura/