Steve Bell-Irving, BHKin’07

What was your first job after graduation?

Events Manager, Eastern Canada. I worked for an outdoor adventure company that organized corporate team building events based on reality shows. My role was to oversee the expansion of the company to the Toronto market where I hired and trained staff, managed all Eastern sales meetings for the Vancouver sales team and directed the entire operation of the events.

What was the most important connection you made?

There are a number of very important connections I have made over the years but there is a group that comes to mind first every time and that’s the alumni and community support of UBC Baseball. Almost every aspect of my professional life has been somehow connected through sport and UBC Baseball gave me that opportunity. It enabled me to create friendships with very influential professionals that have advanced my career and provided me with lasting memories that I now share with aspiring athletes exploring a career in sport.

What was the best advice that you received?

“You don’t know what you don’t know” Sounds simple but it means a lot if you’re an entrepreneur because instead of always saying you would like to do something, you go out there, get it done, then share the experience with others. You will never know if things could have worked out unless you’ve gone out there to try it.

How do you make the best of all situations?

Just say “yes.” So many times in my life since UBC have I had moments where I could have said “no” and carried on with what I was doing but would have always wondered what could have been… I’m a true believer that you will learn something from everything, big or small, so just say “yes” and take that leap of faith and good things will come your way. For those times that I chose to say “yes,” I’ve lucked out and spent three months living and hiking in Nepal; been asked to join very influential teams on Boards and organizing committees; learned incredible skills that I now apply in high level business interactions; and have met some of the most amazing people making my life just that much more interesting!

If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?

If I could go back in time, I would have taken more business-specific classes in school. All of my knowledge in business has been acquired through hands on experience and great mentors but that only gets you so far. My intentions are to go back and complete a diploma or MBA in Project Management or Sponsorship & Marketing.