Dreams of studying abroad lead to entrepreneurship and student government
Posted on Thursday, June 12th, 2025
In the lead-up to Convocation Spring 2025, Algonquin College is featuring unique stories of graduates and their post-secondary education journeys.
Maria Silveira
From an early age, Maria Silveira always dreamt of studying abroad. Growing up in São Paulo, Brazil, Silveira’s parents encouraged her to pursue education to achieve her goals. After completing a Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Business Administration in Brazil, she spent eight years working with project management before deciding to apply to Algonquin College.
“It was a very tricky moment for me because although I wanted to have this experience abroad, I was already at a point in my career where I felt I was achieving the success I had aimed for,” said Silveira. “However, I always had encouragement from my parents to try to do new things, knowing it would be better to regret something than to not try.”
Wanting to continue improving her English while also learning French, Silveira settled on Ottawa and was soon accepted into the College’s Business – Management and Entrepreneurship program.
“I’ve always been interested in the oversight of business, like understanding high level strategy…that’s why I chose to study business – to gain deeper knowledge of the strategic side.”
Silveira opted for the non co-op version of her program, owing to her previous work experience and decision to enter student government. Silveria was the 2024-2025 president of the Board of Directors for the Algonquin Students’ Association (SA). After working two semesters at the Social Innovation Lab, volunteering on campus and participating in the Student Leadership Program, she decided to apply for the SA Board – despite some initial reservations.
“My partner was like, ‘I think you have the skills needed and I know you genuinely care about making a positive impact so it will be a good fit’,” she said. “One of my goals coming into Canada was to improve my English and I knew that the president would be the spokesperson, making it a great opportunity for me to enhance my communication skills and further develop my leadership abilities.”
Silveira is proud of her accomplishments during her tenure as SA president, including working with the other SA directors to craft policy changes and processes to streamline operations for incoming boards. They also made great progress with their annual priorities, collaborating closely with Algonquin College in Academics, Transportation and Mental Health, resulting in significant improvements to the student experience.
An important aspect of the SA president’s role is the relationship with senior College leadership. Silveira regularly met with Claude Brulé, Algonquin College President and CEO and Krista Pearson, Vice President, Student Services to discuss issues affecting students.
“This was an opportunity for me to be the bridge connecting students with the College and leave some impact, but also to learn from other incredible professionals…I can’t even express how valuable that was.”
Silveira also found mentorship through her professors, particularly with regards to entrepreneurship. Many faculty shared their experiences of changing careers, acknowledging that while starting a new business comes with challenges, taking the initiative can open new professional opportunities.
For those who may be considering international studies, Silveira says it’s important to anticipate the challenges that come with studying in a new country, particularly when learning a new language.
“In difficult moments, when you face challenges or obstacles, you need to remember the reason why you started and keep pushing forward,” she said. “And if you haven’t arrived yet, especially if you’re from a country that doesn’t speak English, focus on studying the language beforehand. if you can’t communicate with others, everything becomes so much harder. So, prepare well, come with an open mind and enjoy this great opportunity.”
Having now completed her program, Silveira will be attending the June Convocation ceremonies, willing to progress her career in business strategy / project management and continuing to improve her French. She also looks forward to visiting family and friends back home in sunny São Paulo – especially during the cold winter months in Ottawa.
More information on the spring graduation ceremonies can be found on the Algonquin College Convocation website.