Stephanie Quek is University Canada West’s Summer 2026 valedictorian after graduating from the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program with a 4.15 CGPA.
“Some of us worked while studying. Some of us held families together while holding ourselves together. Some of us built something entirely new from the ground up. And yet, here we are. Crossing the finishing line together” she told her fellow graduates during her convocation address on July 15, 2026, at the historic Queen Elizabeth Theatre in downtown Vancouver.
Stephanie's academic journey has taken her from Singapore, where she was born, raised and earned her undergraduate degree at Singapore Management University, o Vancouver, which she now calls home.
She built a career in branding, marketing and communications, working with founder-led businesses across many industries. Today, she is Head of Marketing at Eternity Modern, while continuing to consult for clients in Singapore.
Stephanie came to UCW because she noticed her marketing work kept leading to bigger business questions, and she wanted a program grounded in practical, hands-on learning.
At UCW, she found professors who challenged her thinking, and friendships that carried her through the busy work of balancing school, career and life.
Across her studies, a common thread stood out to her: how you do the work, and who you become while doing it, matters as much as what you achieve.
She believes in moving forward with both ambition and generosity — working hard, staying humble and meeting challenges head-on.
She had some advice for the graduating class.
“We live in a world that runs on fast and it was already like that before AI turned up the dial,” she said.
“It is no longer about what you know, it’s about who you are. You cannot generate character. You cannot shortcut judgment. You cannot manufacture trust that is built slowly, quietly, by doing the right thing when no one is watching.”
Outside of work, you'll often find Stephanie exploring new cultures through it’s food or learning to cook local cuisines. She seeks out the highest viewpoint she can find, because for her, a little perspective changes everything.
