Congratulations Gyan Chowhan and Shruti Singhal for Securing 2nd and 3rd Prizes in our Spring 2024 Competition!
In this post, we celebrate the victories of second and third prize winners Gyan Chowhan, alumnus University Canada West, in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and Shruti Singhal, alumna, University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business (Master of Marketing Research) in Athens, Georgia, US from our Spring 2024 Virtual Insights Career Fair and Competition held on April 26, 2024. Read about these two achievers. To learn about the first prize winner, Rin Hrahsel, scroll to the end of the article to access our past post. If you have not yet signed up for our Fall 2024 Virtual Insights Career Fair and Case Competition, there’s still plenty of time to! You can find more information here. We got chatting with Gyan and Shruti to learn about their experiences and goals. Take a read!
Your Victory
What strategies did you employ to ensure your elevator pitch reflected the cutting-edge trends in data analytics resulting in your win?
Gyan Chowhan: Above all continually conducting research and monitoring Canada’s market has helped me tremendously for the elevator pitch and other aspects of my professional and personal development. Apart from that rehearsing and optimizing my pitch for around 2 months in the current job market helped make my elevator pitch more concise and effective.
Shruti Singhal: To ensure my elevator pitch reflected cutting-edge trends in data analytics, I highlighted the importance of having experienced data visualization tools like Tableau and SPSS. Additionally, while trying to keep up to date with the trends in marketing research, I emphasized the role of artificial intelligence in marketing research, underscoring its potential to support and enhance research processes rather than replace human researchers.
Reflecting on the Virtual Insights Career Fair and Pitch Competition, what piece of advice or insight resonated with you the most, and why? How will you apply this to your further career?
Gyan Chowhan: Having the opportunity to connect with well-established professionals was one of the biggest insights that resonated with me. I have and will continue to take this learning with me throughout my career, to uncover professional opportunities.
Shruti Singhal: A strong understanding of the career fairs’ professionals’ businesses was hugely informative and helpful in learning what everyday problems are worrying industry leaders at different types of organizations. As a creative problem solver, I am ready to take on any business challenge with my research skills.
Your Dream Career / Roles
What does your ideal career role look like at this juncture?
Shruti Singhal: My ideal career role is a Marketing Research/Consumer Insights position. I prefer a role that allows me to work with a variety of research methodologies and gain comprehensive insights into the business. I want to continue working in an environment where I can contribute to strategic decisions and drive business growth through data-driven insights.
In your journey to becoming an even more respected and well-known professional, what have been the most valuable skills or attributes you have learned or developed recently?
Shruti Singhal: I am working on honing my skills in data visualization, quantitative and qualitative research including brand tracking. Additionally, my ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and maintain high standards of accuracy as well as timeliness in my work has been enhanced.
Gyan Chowhan: Considering I have a passion for Data and structure, any roles that focus on data such as analytical roles are the most ideal. Furthermore, I have an abundance of curiosity towards entrepreneurship and leadership, so I hope to lead a team which focuses on analytical work. High levels of communication, time management, entrepreneurship, continuous learning and self-starting skills are the most valuable in my experience.
Your Career Connections
What standout insights from the career fair helped you in your professional journey in North America?
Gyan Chowhan: Data analysis has been a passion of mine for many years, so it was highly inspirational for Generation1.ca to set a theme focused on Data Talent. Infact, it validated a lot of research I have conducted that iterate the focus on Data. I was reassured that continually researching and monitoring markets are important regardless of what purpose you have. This coupled with practice is a must for real-world applications at work or personal goals.
Shruti Singhal: At the career fair, I connected with industry professionals who provided valuable insights about how their businesses progress with the help of marketing research.
Moving to North America / Cross Cultural / Global Workforce
What is the most challenging and the most rewarding part about moving to a new country or continent / or moving across continents as a global professional?
Gyan Chowhan: Having the ability to compete in a challenging environment considering the current economic climate is the most challenging and rewarding as it will mold me into a more resilient professional.
Shruti Singhal: The challenges of moving across continents is adapting to different cultures and work environments. One of the most rewarding parts is the opportunity to learn from different perspectives and broaden my horizons both personally as well as professionally. Because of my global experience, I have become a lot more adaptable and can easily get used to different environments because of moving across continents.
What kind of resources or supports do you hope for the most to improve the career and workplace integration journey for new movers and arrivers in North America?
Gyan Chowhan: Attending such career-enhancing events as this career fair and competition that connect professionals with leaders of industry is the best support to improve your career. I value professional development in my downtime and very much value the ESOMAR Academy Masterclass I won in addition to the Royal Ontario Museum membership given my passion for adventure, history, cultures, and travel.
Shruti Singhal: I hope for resources such as mentorship programs and networking opportunities with diverse professionals. These help individuals arriving for the first time to North America to integrate more smoothly into the professional environment and build positive working relationships. Actually, Generation1.ca is just the right step in this direction and I recommend every jobseeker to participate in their virtual insights career fairs and case competitions to not just help you break out of your comfort zone, but also go and engage with top leaders shaping and changing the industry. This opportunity was so useful, and my insights case pitch helped me win an ESOMAR Virtual Academy Masterclass as well because of Generation1.ca. Today, I am happily employed in a role of my choice with an eagerness to create business impact with marketing research.
Congratulations again to Gyan Chowhan and Shruti Singhal for their hard work and performances at the Spring 2024 Virtual Insights Career Fair and Pitch Competition.
Read about our Spring 2024 winners here and here.