Isabel de Verteuil is the 2023 co-op student of the year

April 24, 2024

MBA student Isabel de Verteuil is UVic’s business co-op student of the year. Each year, UVic recognizes co-op students who have excelled in their work terms. Co-op students are nominated by their employers and co-op coordinators. 

Isabel de Verteuil has a dual passion for the environment and data management and found a co-op work term that incorporated both while working as a strategic planning analyst co-op student with the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office (EAO). The MBA student designed ways to assess the organization’s progress towards its strategic goals and created an organization-wide data management plan. 

De Verteuil made the most of her co-op experience by initiating coffee chats with members on her team and within the larger BC Public Services. Her enthusiasm was noticed; she was nominated for the BC Public Service Student Employee of the Year Award. 

Relationships were central to the success of her co-op work experience. 

“I spent a lot of time trying to get to know the broader organization and figure out how my role and my work contributed to each department - rather than just my own. This meant that I built connections across the EAO at various levels of leadership and I think this both improved my own experience and helped me stand out and remain memorable.” 

She took advantage of every opportunity to connect with others. 

“I tried to attend every event that was offered to me - trainings, social events, talks - and that helped me build relationships throughout the organization and gave me new skills to apply at my co-op and in my future careers.” 

This focus on building connections and participating in the organizational culture played a significant role in her positive experience and subsequent recognition. 

“My co-op term was a critical part of my MBA. It introduced me to work I’m incredibly passionate about—helping organizations design and implement sustainable and impactful strategy—and gave me the confidence that I could pursue a career in that work.” 

She'll join KPMG's Environmental, Social, and Governance team this May, where she’ll be able to continue this winning strategy at her new job.