We are thrilled to catch up with Gabriela Bednarova, an SIS alum from the Class of 2015.

Gabriela was a Gecko who attended SIS from 2010 until her graduation in 2015. After receiving her IB Diploma, Gabriela pursued a Bachelor's degree at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), majoring in Finance with a minor in International Business. Later, she completed her Master's in International Business with a specialisation in Data Analytics at Hult International Business School. She has since lived in several cities, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London, St. Gallen, Milan, Frankfurt, and Prague, and is currently located in Vancouver, where she works as a Business Systems Analyst in the Finance department at the University of British Columbia (UBC).

Finance to Analytics: 

Gabriela's Career Evolution

Gabriela tells us she was drawn to finance after enjoying finance-related courses at RIT. One of her professors recognised her potential and encouraged her to switch her major to finance—a proud moment since students were usually advised to reconsider this path due to its competitiveness. Gabriela also specialised in marketing to broaden her skill set, allowing her to tap into her creative side and become more versatile in the job market.

Gabriela's career path has matured to the point where she is in a role she loves and where she can apply her diverse skills and experiences daily. Her job as a Business Systems Analyst is dynamic and challenging, requiring knowledge of different areas and constant collaboration with multiple teams. Her current goal is to continue growing in this role, contributing to meaningful projects while maintaining a stimulating and engaging work environment.

SIS: Nurturing Talents in a 

rapidly changing world

Gabriela notes that exposure and experiences at SIS shaped her character and supported her career path, “The school’s emphasis on creative thinking and problem-solving helped prepare me for the challenges of university and professional life. I am deeply grateful for the support and preparation SIS offered, shaping me into a well-rounded individual ready to tackle real-world challenges.”

She adds there are benefits to studying with a diverse range of people. “SIS provided me with lifelong friendships and a global network. No matter where I travel, I can always count on a fellow SIS friend to show me around.”

Undertaking the IBDP and participating in extracurriculars at SIS developed essential skills and aptitudes. “The IBDP at SIS taught me invaluable skills like time management, critical thinking, and teamwork. I developed leadership qualities through clubs and sports, learned how to collaborate effectively, and strengthened my resilience. These experiences provided a solid foundation for both my academic journey and professional life.”

She summarises how these have supported her personal, academic, and professional growth. Gabriela shares, “The skills I gained at SIS—both academic and interpersonal—gave me the confidence to excel in university and my career. They taught me how to approach problems from different angles and adapt to changing circumstances, which has been crucial in my professional development.”

What advice does Gabriela 

offer to current SIS students?

“My advice would be to enjoy everything to the fullest and build as many connections as possible. Your grades and extracurriculars are important for university admissions, but your relationships will be valuable throughout your life. Always stay positive—even when things don’t seem to be going your way. Every challenge has a purpose, and things will make sense in time as long as you keep working hard and moving forward.”

我们很欣喜能够重新联系上Gabriela Bednarova，Gabriela是深圳市蛇口外籍人员子女学校（SIS）2015届的校友。

Gabriela曾是壁虎学子，她的学校生活从2010年一直延续到2015年。在获得国际文凭（IB Diploma）后，她前往罗切斯特理工学院（RIT）攻读金融学士，并兼修国际商务。随后，她在霍特国际商学院获得了国际商务硕士学位，专注于数据分析领域。

Gabriela的足迹遍布世界各地，她曾在阿布扎比、迪拜、伦敦、圣加仑、米兰、法兰克福和布拉格等城市生活过。现在，她选择在温哥华定居，并在不列颠哥伦比亚大学（UBC）的财务部门担任业务系统分析师。她的生活充满了丰富多彩的经历，而这些经历也塑造了她今天的成就。

跨界成长：从金融到数据分析

Gabriela向我们分享了她对金融领域热情的起源：在罗切斯特理工学院（RIT）修读了一些金融课程后，她便深深爱上了这个学科。她的一位教授慧眼识珠，看出了她在金融领域的潜力，于是鼓励她大胆转至金融专业——这通常不是一条容易的道路，因为金融专业以其竞争激烈而闻名。但Gabriela不仅勇敢地迈出了这一步，还特别选择了市场营销作为她的专攻方向，这让她的技能组合更加丰富多元。通过市场营销，她不仅能够发挥自己的创造力，还在职场上展现出了难得的多面手特质，为她的职业发展增添了独特的优势。

Gabriela的职业生涯已经达到了一个她无比热爱的阶段，她每天都能在这里施展丰富多样的技能和宝贵的经验。作为一位商业系统分析师，她的工作充满了激情与挑战，这不仅要求她对多个领域有所涉猎，还意味着她需要不断地与不同团队进行紧密合作。她目前的目标是在这个职位上持续进步，为那些能够带来实质性影响的项目贡献自己的力量，同时保持一个充满动力和吸引力的工作环境。Gabriela正在职场上发挥才能，每一天都以她的才华和热情，为公司注入源源不断的活力与创新思维。

SIS：塑造未来，

培育在多变世界中成长的人才

Gabriela深刻体会到，在SIS的日子不仅塑造了她的个性，还为她的职业旅程奠定了坚实的基础。她满怀感激地说：“SIS对创新思维和解决问题能力的培养，为我迎接大学及职业生涯中的挑战做好了充分的准备。我非常感激SIS给予的支持和培养，它们让我成长为一个全面发展的人，准备好面对现实世界的挑战。” 

她还提到，与来自不同背景的人们一起学习，带来了无尽的益处：“SIS赠予我一生的友谊和遍布全球的人脉网络。无论我身在何处，总有SIS的朋友愿意带我探索当地的风土人情。”

这些宝贵的经历，无疑为Gabriela的人生旅途增添了丰富的色彩和无限的可能。

在SIS，国际文凭大学预科项目（IBDP）和课外活动课程都提供了宝贵的技能和素质培养。

“IBDP课程不仅教会了我时间管理、批判性思维和团队合作等关键技能，还通过俱乐部和体育活动培养了领导力，学会了有效协作，并增强了韧性。这些经历为我的学术旅程和职业生活奠定了坚实的基础。”

Gabriela在回顾SIS学习生涯时，感慨万分。她表示：“SIS不仅赋予了我扎实的学术根基，还磨砺了我的人际交往能力，这让我在大学乃至职场上都能自信地绽放光彩。” 她继续说道：“学校培养了我多角度审视问题和适应万变环境的能力，这对我的职业道路有着举足轻重的影响。”

校友寄语：

Gabriela对SIS学生的成长建议

Gabriela分享了她的人生建议：“把握每一个瞬间，尽情享受生活，并积极地去建立广泛的人脉。虽然成绩和课外活动在申请大学时扮演着重要角色，但你所培养的人际关系才是伴随你一生的真正财富。即使遇到不顺心的事情，也要保持乐观的心态。每一个挑战都是成长的一部分，只要坚持不懈，不断前进，最终一切都会豁然开朗。”