Spotlight on Our Graduates
Name: Rachel St-Amand
Titre: Director of Events
Company: CHU Sainte-Justine
Study Program: DEC in Fashion Marketing
Degree obtained in: 2005
What position do you hold and what are your main responsibilities?
I am the Director of Events at the CHU Sainte-Justine. I supervise the Foundation's event portfolio and the internal and third party events. I arrived just before the start of the pandemic and had to quickly adapt to this new reality. Let’s just say that I came into the job when we were all going through a big wave of change and my role had to evolve quickly.
Can you describe a typical day in your professional life?
No two days are alike and we have to deal with many unforeseen events on a daily basis. With my team, I have to coordinate and execute all the tasks required for developing and implementing events and following up with the Foundation’s various partners, sponsors, suppliers and volunteers.
What is your best memory of your time at LaSalle College?
I had incredible teachers who inspired me. What I liked about the College was that we were trained by people from the field who had real experience to share with us. This allowed me to be prepared more quickly and to be able to adapt to the realities of the job market.
Precisely, what surprised you the most when you arrived on the job market?
Having decided to go into the event industry on my own, I quickly realized that I had to learn to wear many hats. This is a reality that made sense when I started organizing weddings. Not only do unforeseen events always happen, but you also have to deal with people in stressful situations. And as they say, “the show must go on” so you can’t let the unexpected spoil your event.
What advice would you give to a student currently enrolled in the same program as you?
Not to close yourself off to the possibilities, and above all, to listen to yourself. I believe that trusting your instincts is the best thing a person can do, and that sometimes you shouldn’t be afraid to take risks. I was self-employed for a long time and that made me realize even faster what I was capable of. And also, not to be afraid to explore your options.
What are the essential qualities to succeed in your field?
You have to be extremely organized. You can’t let the unexpected take control. You also have to trust yourself and remember your capacities. You have to know how to seize the opportunities that come your way. I studied fashion, but I ended up in event management. I started my own company, it takes confidence, initiative and the ability to have a vision.
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