Hometown: Rome, Italy
Pietro Montanarella
What are you up to post-graduation?
This past summer I worked at KPMG in their Strategy and Operations Management Consulting group in Vancouver. Currently, I’m in London pursuing a master’s at the London School of Economics in their MSc Economics and Management program.
How did your economics degree prepare you for life after graduation?
I think the BIE degree from UBC definitely opened up a lot of doors for me, allowing me to continue on with a masters degree. An economics degree does give you a set of analytical skills and a problem-solving toolkit that can be applied in a vast range of different scenarios. I definitely benefited from this in my work in consulting, when devising operational strategies for our clients.
Why study economics at UBC?
UBC is an amazing university and the VSE is consistently ranked as one of the top economics schools in Canada and globally. I think what really makes the economics experience at UBC special is that there are so many opportunities to interact with faculty outside the classroom, giving students the opportunity to discuss with professors current events and other economic phenomena in an informal manner.
Why did you choose the BIE program?
What really attracted me to the BIE are its small size and cohort-based structure which make it very easy to build strong connections with everyone in the program as you’re in most of the same classes for four years. In addition, I appreciated the opportunity to be able to get access to many top-tier Sauder courses, while still having Economics as the main subject of my degree.
What was the one memorable or best experience at the VSE?
I think one of the most memorable experiences was having the opportunity to TA in ECON 101 in my fourth year. It allowed me to meet and interact with many first-year BIE students and was a great experience overall that allowed me to challenge myself and step outside my comfort zone.
What advice do you have for BIE students?
Make sure to make the most of your 4 years in the program, and don’t be afraid to take on challenges if an interesting opportunity arises.
Favourite place in Vancouver?
Pacific Spirit Park – great for a short run close to campus.
