People of 麻豆直播: Three-time student studies leadership with mom
Aug. 25, 2023
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The 麻豆直播 community is full of unique, inspiring perspectives 鈥攁nd we鈥檙e sharing them as part of an ongoing series.
People of 麻豆直播: Meet Elissa Kozub
My mom and I are taking a 麻豆直播 program together.
First, I took Social Service Worker, which she also took about 10 years ago. Now, we鈥檙e both taking Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Management and Leadership).
We鈥檝e always been close, but I as I got older we鈥檝e built a really good relationship.
From mom and daughter to peers
Taking classes with her is helpful because, for example, we just had an accounting class last semester and were able to help each other study and solve problems we were confused about.
It鈥檚 nice to be able to bounce ideas off her as a peer, especially because I take the program mostly online and don鈥檛 know many other students.
Our first in-person class together was a leadership class in which we learned about our personalities. That was neat to realize, 鈥淪o that鈥檚 where I get that trait from鈥 or 鈥淲e鈥檙e a little bit different in that area.鈥
鈥楨merging鈥 into a leadership role
This program has really helped me be confident in building my leadership skills.
Before I started, I didn鈥檛 know if I had what it takes to be a leader, but as I go through the program, I feel like I do.
Within the program, my program co-ordinator started a pilot project called Emerge that鈥檚 focused on leadership development.
Six of us met about five times throughout the semester and basically learned how to build our leadership skills and relationships with other people in the program. We divided into different roles 鈥 management, co-workers. If any of us had a direct report, they got to fill out a questionnaire about us based on what they think of us as a leader.
It was really cool to see what other people think of you as a leader compared to what you think of yourself as a leader, and then build off that.
鈥楾he COVID-19 pandemic hit, and I changed my whole life鈥
This leadership program is the third program I鈥檝e taken at 麻豆直播.
I just really like being educated, and I like the experience and opportunities 麻豆直播 provides for online learning, especially as someone who works full time.
Originally, I was going to pursue social work but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and I changed my whole life.
麻豆直播鈥檚 business and leadership program looked really interesting, and it makes sense because I鈥檓 such a numbers person. I like spreadsheets and I love, love, love to plan.
It started in childhood when my mom would always ask me where I was going, who I was going to be with, and what time I鈥檇 be home. I always had to have my plan laid out.
My passion for planning comes from my mom, so now being in college with her feels full circle.
Elissa Kozub, student in 麻豆直播鈥檚 Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Management and Leadership) and an alumna of the Social Service Worker (class of 2020) and Business 鈥 Entrepreneurship (class of 2022) programs. Elissa is also a Curriculum and Fees Officer in the Office of the Registrar. As well, Elissa鈥檚 mom, Jennifer Charbonneau, works for 麻豆直播 as an Employment Services Consultant.