Serving as CSA President fuelled graduate’s personal growth and boosted her confidence

If there is anyone we can call a ‘yes person,’ who confidently accepted invitations to take the microphone and speak on behalf of the CUE student body, it was Navleen Kaur. As a recent graduate in the Bachelor of Management program, Navleen’s support for international students, enhancement of CUE’s campus life, and fearless leadership as President of the Concordia Student Association (CSA) served as an inspiration to us all.

During her time in the CSA, Navleen says she’s most proud of her pivotal role as a member of the Federal Student Advocacy Alliance (FSAA). She insisted on ensuring the voices of international students were heard at the federal level, particularly in terms of students only being allowed to work limited hours.  Navleen actively began involving government officials, policymakers, and advocacy groups to raise awareness about the issue. Navleen said, “Our efforts paid off when the federal government implemented policies that extended the work hours for international students.”

“I was very proud of the work we were able to achieve, including CSA’s crucial role in helping make change happen at a national level and giving CUE students a voice beyond the walls of our campus,” – Navleen

The FSAA was able to champion changes by joining together with provinces across Canada, says Navleen. “The FSAA is a coalition of 33 universities and colleges in Alberta, British Columbia, and Saskatchewan – from Alberta there are 17 post-secondaries. We pooled our resources and were very effective at lobbying meetings and effecting change.”

Being President of the CSA was no easy task, it took a lot of organization, budget planning, and people management. “I would say that a key responsibility of my job was setting my team up for success,” says Navleen. “I had to take away the roadblocks, whether that be financial or helping out if another CSA member is struggling with their workload.” Navleen said there was a long list of tasks the CSA performed, from organizing events, managing their newsletter, and advocacy work. 

While CSA President, Navleen honed her skills as a phenomenal public speaker and grew more confident after each event – of which there were many. Through her compelling speeches, Navleen shaped the university by being the voice of CUE’s student body and speaking at the President’s Fundraising Breakfast for Mental Health, the World Gala and many other high profile events at CUE. 

One of the most inspiring aspects of Navleen’s time at CUE is her talent for balancing her responsibilities as CSA President while maintaining stellar grades. By developing effective time management strategies, seeking support from her team, and prioritizing her studies, Navleen excelled in her studies. Her tip for future students is to “put everything on your calendar. Schedule your whole day, including your breaks. If something pops up, you can move things around, but if everything is on your calendar you’re ensuring you get everything done,” she advises.

The role of CSA President transformed Navleen in that it gave her confidence. “I never thought I was built for a leadership role. It does take a lot of effort, but now I have the attitude of ‘Yes, I can do it. I’m going to go for it.’ I dared to do things I could never have imagined.”

Her advice to future students who are considering a club or student association is “Just go for it! CUE has great opportunities for students to get leadership experience.”

“Even if you’re scared, consider joining the CSA anyway, that way you can really figure out what you are capable of.” – Navleen

Navleen’s next steps on her journey after graduating is her new role as Talent Acquisition Coordinator for HelloFresh, one of the most popular meal kit delivery services. Navleen said she is thankful to CUE for offering two concentrations unique to Alberta, Data Management and Conflict Management. The program gave Navleen the interest and passion for venturing into Human Resources, and gave her the tools to succeed in her chosen career. 

“The coursework I learned are the tools I need to succeed in the real-world – the data management, for example, is very applicable to my industry and helps me understand information needed to implement successful strategies, project growth for the company and helps with decisions such as who to hire and how to retain employees.”

Navleen’s legacy at CUE serves as a reminder that with determination and passion, one can create positive change within the CUE community and beyond. We are wishing her luck on her journey ahead!