Why a Sauder alum was inspired to support marketing students

Simon Seshadri loved his time at UBC. He discovered his passion for marketing at the Faculty of Commerce (now the UBC Sauder School of Business) and was actively involved in student life, which started with his time as a member of the First Year Students’ Committee, through to being a student representative on the Board of Governors and serving as AMS president for one year.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1988, Simon went on to have a successful marketing career. But despite his love for UBC, it didn’t occur to him that he could give something back to his alma mater. That all changed when his daughter began applying to universities, including UBC. It reminded him of how much he loved being a student, igniting the desire to reconnect with his alma mater.

“The kindling was there but what really lit the spark and led me to consider the impact a gift to UBC could have, was when I received a call one evening from a student from UBC Development and Alumni Engagement,” says Simon. “That conversation moved me from a warm feeling into action, and I don’t know that I would have actually moved forward with the idea if it hadn’t been for that student.”

When it came to deciding how best to give back, establishing an award that gives financial assistance to marketing students felt like the perfect fit for Simon. The skills he learned at UBC Sauder set him up for a successful career on a global scale, and he felt committed to helping other students have the same opportunity.

Simon established the Seshadri Family Award in Marketing, an endowed award for Bachelor of Commerce students who demonstrate both an interest in marketing and financial need. Preference will be given to students who graduated from a secondary school in BC, reflecting Simon’s experience of attending public schools in Kitimat, Williams Lake, and Tsawwassen as his family moved throughout the province during his childhood.

“I love what I do every day which is end-to-end marketing, and it all started with my time at UBC,” says Simon. “I feel so strongly that great marketing is fundamental to business success and a great career path, so I wanted to give kids who are interested in this career a little extra support to encourage them to explore it,” he says.

For Simon, his years spent at UBC were some of the best in his life, and he’s thrilled to have an impact on the next generation of marketing students.

“I’m just an average person — I needed loans to attend university, and I didn’t have a 4.0 GPA,” says Simon. “It took me a while to realize that I could create an award and make a difference, and the whole process has been very easy. If I can do this, I want other alumni who have benefitted from their years at UBC — who haven’t thought about a gift or who are on the fence — to know that they can, too.”

If you would like to support students like Simon has, please give to the FORWARD for Students Fund.