#FacesofICCIT

#FacesofICCIT is a campaign designed to feature the voices of the ICCIT community: students, alumni, faculty and staff. Hear what our community has got to say!

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A little about Alina:

Alina graduated from the DEM specialist in Spring 2022 and was the recipient of the Outstanding Academic Performance in Program Award for her academic accomplishments.

 

What do you like the most about your program within ICCIT?

What I like most about my program is that it provides a multidisciplinary approach through courses in business, technology, and design, giving a well-rounded understanding of the digital enterprise landscape. The courses are focused on the latest digital technologies, such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and the Internet of Things, which are becoming increasingly important for businesses. Throughout my 4 years of undergrad, DEM has helped me develop a wide range of skills, including strategic thinking, data analysis, and project management, which are highly valued in today’s job market. 

 

What message would you like to share with the broader ICCIT community (students, alumni, faculty, staff, etc)?

The field of information technology is constantly evolving, so it is important to stay up to date with the latest developments and trends. Read publications and websites dedicated to specific industries or technology areas that can provide you with the latest news and insights. Attend conferences and events and follow thought leaders in your field to gain valuable insights into new developments and trends. Remember to keep learning and developing new skills, as the world is constantly changing, and it's important to be able to adapt and evolve along with it.

Kyle Thomas

A little about Kyle:

Throughout his time in undergrad, Kyle has been very active in the ICCIT student life, being one the first people to pioneer the ISMP program. Upon graduation, Kyle started working at EY's Learning Lab and currently pursuing his own entrepreneurial path.

 

How did your time at ICCIT prepare or impact your current career? Please briefly mention what you do for your career most recently.

"In my current position at EY's Learning Lab, I transform the training experience for our clients through creative writing and instructional design. I'm frequently asked to prototype eLearning courses and develop training material using an array of different softwares based on our client needs. My journey throughout ICCIT provided the expertise to quickly learn new technology, and design interactive courses in an engaging manner. This will continue throughout my career and business endeavours where there will always be new technology to learn, and find innovative ways to communicate."

 

What skills or knowledge did you learn in the program that you found most useful in your career? 

"Knowledge and skills in business and technology. Undeniably, technology influences many aspects of our society today. Considering how quickly things are changing in the world, we're forced to learn new ways of working and we're forced to develop new ways of living. The knowledge and skills I learnt from Digital Enterprise Management provides foresight to anticipate and help shape how emerging technology will influence society. Best of all, it helps me to discover innovative ways to bridge the gap between the creative culture we share as a people and our need for technology."

 

What was your favourite course throughout your degree? Why?

"It's hard to choose 1. But, it would have to be IT Consulting. IT Consulting at the ICCIT department gave me an opportunity to work with a real business owner with real problems. I was able to combine course material I learnt from previous courses such as Project Management, Technological Entrepreneurship, UX Design, Information Architecture and more into solving my client problems. Additionally, I learnt proposal writing along with timeless business frameworks such as Design Thinking and more which were valuable for my freelance work and currently helps me when supporting my leaders at EY with Business Development. I highly recommend an early registration for this course as it had by far the longest waitlist I've ever seen for any other course!"

 

What message would you like to share with the broader ICCIT community (students, alumni, faculty, staff, etc)?

"Challenge yourself. Get out of your comfort zone. Get involved and get to know as many people in the ICCIT community as possible. They're all up to something big! Ask about their passions, and discover ways to develop mutually beneficial relationships. It's easy to ask "how can I help?". It's easy to form study groups. It's easy to volunteer. It's easy to strike up a conversation about a topic learnt in class. It's easy to ask a professor about their research. We must remember that our time is always limited, so my message must end by saying; we should always be prepared to make the most out of everything with the finite time we have!"

Sydney Fan

What do you like the most about your program within ICCIT? 

"What I love the most about DEM is the way that it opens doors to endless career paths. I like that the program can be technical, and theoretical, yet highly flexible. I think that a lot of students can appreciate the fact that they are not restricted to simply one area of interest."

 

What has been your biggest highlight(s) from your undergraduate experience at ICCIT?

"My highlight from ICCIT will have to be co-running the Digital Enterprise Management Association (DEMA) with the most amazing team. As the creative director, I was able to network actively with industry professionals, lead a group of talented associates, as well as promote meaningful events working with companies such as Oracle. At DEMA, I found a true sense of belonging and I am forever grateful to be a part of this community."

A little about Dr. Boase:

Dr. Alessandro Delfanti holds a PhD in Science and Society from the University of Milan and MA in Science Communication at the SISSA (International School for Advanced Studies)
DVM, at the University of Parma.

Dr. Delfanti researches labour and technology, the politics of digital media, and digital countercultures, and has an extensive list of research publications!
 

Are you currently working on any research?

"After finishing my book, I began interviewing freelance video makers who work in advertising and TV about their work and how they use cut-and-paste techniques to produce new content. One of the topics I'm looking into closely is rip-o-matic videos. As their name suggests, they are assembled from clips ripped from YouTube or Vimeo and then remixed into something new."

 

What's one word that comes to mind when you hear ICCIT? Please tell us why.

"It took me a bit to memorize the meaning of the acronym! But ICCIT is such a great place to work and I feel privileged to be a professor here! Even though sometimes it can be difficult to explain what we do, what comes to my mind is the mix of communication theory and media creation courses, which is a challenging but productive combination."

 

What message would you like to share with the broader ICCIT community?

"Take it easy! It's a competitive world but helping each other is more important."

Nudrat Zehra

Nudrat Zehra holds a Master degree in the UXD concentration from the Faculty of Information at the University of Toronto. She graduated from the Digital Enterprise Management (DEM) program in 2020. Since her graduation, she has been working at financial institutions. 

 

What's one word that comes to mind when you hear ICCIT? 

Progressive. This is a field that is rapidly evolving with newly developed tools and resources. The ICCIT program offers a variety of courses that reflect these innovations and that can help navigate around opportunities. I encourage students to plan out a tentative route to a particular field. Initially, it is okay to be uncertain about which field to pursue, however, by having a rough plan, you will eliminate some career paths and move to a direction for which you have a passion and one that you thoroughly enjoy.

 

What message would you like to share with the broader ICCIT community? 

Actively motivate yourself to engage within the ICCIT community; whether it’s through courses or events hosted by academic societies and clubs. Remember that even showing up to such events will help you feel confident; simply by interacting with experts and students in the same field. To all the ICCIT students, seize the next small opportunity and build your way up to bigger achievements.

 

Connect with Nudrat!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nudratzehra15/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nudrat-zehra/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NudratZehra 

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What do you like the most about your program within ICCIT? 

"One of the things I like most about my program in the ICCIT is the diverse range of coursework and subjects that are covered. I find the digital marketing, consulting and e-commerce courses particularly interesting, as they provide valuable insights and practical skills that are directly applicable to my career goals (working in consulting) Additionally, the professors in my program are knowledgeable and approachable, providing valuable feedback and support throughout the course. The resources and support available to me as a student in this program are also impressive, with access to industry-standard software and tools, as well as networking opportunities with industry professionals."

 

What has been your biggest highlight(s) from your undergraduate experience at ICCIT?

"One of the biggest highlights of my undergraduate experience at ICCIT has been the opportunity to work as the Program Coordinator of the ICCIT Student Mentorship Program. It is such an amazing experience to be able to give back to the community and help other students navigate their academic and professional journeys. It has also been a great way to develop my leadership, organizational and networking skills. I have learned a lot and met amazing people who I know will be valuable contacts in my future career."

 

What's one word that comes to mind when you hear ICCIT? 

“Innovative" is definitely the word that comes to mind when I think of it. The program that ICCIT offers is constantly adapting to the latest technologies, methodologies and trends, providing students with the knowledge and skills to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly-changing digital landscape. The program also encourages creativity and experimentation, fostering an environment that promotes innovation. Additionally, the faculty and staff are also innovative in their teaching methods, ensuring students receive an education that is not only relevant but also cutting-edge.

 

What message would you like to share with the broader ICCIT community? 

To the broader ICCIT community, I would like to remind you that our field is constantly evolving and advancing. Stay curious, stay open-minded and continue to seek out new knowledge and experiences. Remember that the skills and knowledge you gain during your time in ICCIT will be valuable throughout your entire career. So, embrace the opportunities to grow and develop professionally and personally. And most importantly, NEVER stop learning, as you will be able to adapt to the changing world and be an active part of shaping it.

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A little about Dr. Boase:

Jeffrey Boase holds a Ph.D. from the Department of Sociology at the University of Toronto. He spent a year at the Harvard Kennedy School on a predoctoral fellowship at the National Center for Digital Government. After completing his Ph.D., he spent two years as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Social Psychology at The University of Tokyo.

Dr. Jeffrey Boase researches the role that communication technology plays in the constriction and expansion of personal networks.
 

Please briefly share how you’ve found your passion for the subject you research.

"For most of my life, I’ve been fascinated by technology and people. Technology is a puzzle that requires logic and creativity to solve. People are a different kind of puzzle. Through my training in sociology, I discovered ways of understanding people that also allow me to draw on logic and creativity. My research on technology and society brings these threads together and helps me to understand how technology is embedded into our existence as a species."

 

What's one word that comes to mind when you hear ICCIT? Please tell us why.

"Potential. Communication, culture, information, and technology all have the potential to be used in ways that bring about change in the world. The ICCIT is focused on understanding and harnessing this potential, and sharing this knowledge with the next generation."