career paths
Raised in East Vancouver by a family who immigrated to
Canada from the U.K. and South Africa in the 1960s, it
makes perfect sense that Danielle Samuels is now helping
new faculty from all around the globe find their way to the
University of British Columbia (UBC).
“I grew up with people from everywhere and that was fantastic
because it really drove me later on in life to go explore the world
and understand that there’s not one perspective when it comes to
life. I’ve taken that into my professional life and that’s something I
look at constantly,” said Samuels, the manager of work life and relocation
for UBC.
“There’s not one perspective or paradigm, and you have to look
at HR that way, too, because you’re dealing with people,” she said.
“For me, it’s looking at how people view the world, and how I
can help with anything when it comes to that. We’re all fantastically
different, and that’s a wonderful thing.”
In her early 20s, armed with a bachelor’s degree in political science
and government, she volunteered in Africa and worked in
Europe, aspiring to a career in international development.
Opportunity eventually brought her back home to work as the
HR manager for the TED Talks production team in Vancouver,
as well as helping to support staff at a local pulp and paper company.
But in 2014, a week after completing her certification as a
regulated Canadian immigration consultant to better understand
the complexities of global recruiting for skilled workers for her
then-job at the mill, Samuels accepted her current position with
UBC, which consistently ranks among the 40 best universities in
the world.
HR CAREER PATHS:
Danielle Samuels, RCIC
RELOCATION AND IMMIGRATION
By Kristy Rydz
Arthimedes/Shutterstock.com
HRPATODAY.CA ❚ SEPTEMBER 2016 ❚ 49