Jessica Nguyen

MY JOURNEY

I pursued a Bachelor of Business Administration at SFU Beedie with concentrations in Marketing and Management Information Systems, along with a certificate in Business Analytics Decision Making. I was drawn to business because I’ve always been interested in how ideas turn into real, scalable businesses. 

A major influence for me was my dad. He’s an immigrant and the first person in my family to earn a university degree—also in business. Seeing his journey shaped how I viewed education and possibility and made pursuing a business degree feel both meaningful and natural. 

Marketing felt like a natural fit because of my interest in consumer behaviour and brand building. MIS complemented that by giving me the systems and technical perspective needed to scale operations efficiently. Together, these areas allowed me to combine creative and analytical thinking—an approach I’ve applied directly to building my own business while still in school. 

MY SFU BEEDIE EXPERIENCE

I was involved in several student organizations, including JDC West, Enactus and Young Women in Business, and also served as a Business Faculty Representative and Vice‑President of Student Life with the SFSS. 

Getting involved early had a significant impact on my university experience. These roles pushed me into leadership positions and gave me hands‑on responsibility beyond academics. I learned how to communicate effectively, solve problems in real time, and work with people across different teams and perspectives—skills that translated directly into entrepreneurship and professional growth. 

HIGHLIGHTS AND TAKEAWAYS

One of the biggest takeaways from my time at SFU Beedie was learning how to think critically and adapt quickly. Through case competitions, group projects and leadership roles, I was constantly challenged to make decisions with incomplete information and explain my reasoning.

Just as impactful was the SFU Beedie community itself. Being surrounded by ambitious, driven individuals raised my own standards and encouraged me to think bigger. That environment played a key role in giving me the confidence to start and grow my business while still completing my degree.

LEARNING IN ACTION

Concepts from marketing strategy, consumer behaviour and data analytics have had a direct influence on how I run my business today—from brand positioning to analyzing customer data and optimizing operations. 

Beyond individual courses, the structured way of thinking I developed at SFU Beedie—breaking down problems, testing ideas and making data‑informed decisions—has been one of the most valuable outcomes of my degree. 

Two courses that stood out most to me were BUS 360 and BUS 272. BUS 360 significantly shaped how I communicate, and I genuinely believe it should be mandatory regardless of concentration. BUS 272 had a strong influence on how I think about leadership, team dynamics and building a healthy workplace culture. 

NEXT STEPS

Right now, my focus is on growing BAK’D Cookies into a multi‑location café brand while staying intentional about how we scale. To me, growth isn’t just about expansion—it’s about creating community‑driven spaces and building a business that scales without losing its values. 

In the long term, I want to build something lasting—something that people feel proud to be part of, both as customers and as team members. 

ADVICE FOR FUTURE STUDENTS

There’s no perfect time to start something. I started my business during the pandemic with no prior industry experience, and most of what I learned came from taking action and figuring things out as I went. 

SFU Beedie gave me a strong foundation, but real growth came from applying it. I’d encourage students to start before they feel ready and use their time at SFU Beedie to build something—not just study. 

Where I am Today

Andrew is currently working in a consulting analyst position at Accenture.