A Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) graduate making his mark in the world of marketing is being celebrated by the university with a 2023 Outstanding Young Alumni Award.
Tate Tham, 28, will receive his award June 13 during spring convocation ceremonies at KPU Surrey, where nearly 1,400 graduates are expected to walk across the stage from June 12 to 16.
Born in Singapore and raised in Vancouver, Tham graduated with a bachelor of business administration degree in marketing management from KPU in 2020. It was a sales job at an electronics store that sparked Tham’s interest in marketing at the age of 18.
“After completing my degree, I fell in love at the crossroads of understanding consumer psychology and digital strategies to win people over. At the current place in my career, it's fulfilling to exercise what I've learned to market a product and company I feel strongly about.”
Tham is now a growth marketing operations specialist for Envisio Solutions – a firm that helps boost transparency and trust in public sector organizations. At Envisio, Tham uses his skills to support many local government organizations, school districts, and higher education institutions to run more efficiently and gain more trust from their communities.
“It's always been fun for me to solve problems, and typically choosing the harder path has made life a bit more exciting for me. My drive to learn more about the world and myself fuels a huge part of my striving to do new things.”
Through mentorship and as a guest speaker, Tham has been involved with the KPU Marketing Association, a student-led group committed to improving the success of marketing students. His guidance and leadership have helped many students hone their skills and reach their full potential.
Tham has also volunteered his time with various initiatives in the community, including with the U.S.-based non-profit organization Global Synergy Group. Tham provides marketing support to the organization, which is raising funds to provide humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
Tham says his experience at KPU taught him the importance of putting knowledge into action – and to have grit.
“We live in a generation where instant results come with a click of a button. Having grit has taught me to really push through and do the work needed with integrity in order to learn and prepare yourself for the future.”
A goal for his future is to give back to the next generation.
“I've always liked teaching and mentoring, and thought it'd be a great way to share everything I've learned to others,” says Tham.
The Outstanding Young Alumni Award recognizes KPU alumni under age 30 at the time of nomination who have demonstrated sustained levels of community service while making a significant or innovative impact in their chosen profession. It also acknowledges those who’ve maintained involvement with KPU or alumni activities since graduation.
Nominator Elizabeth Steward, vice-president of marketing at Envisio, says Tham is a leader and a difference-maker who doesn’t back down from a challenge, and is constantly seeking to stay ahead of the curve.
"Tate has an entrepreneurial spirit and provides the backbone to many company initiatives. As a result, he is supporting many local government organizations, school districts, and higher education institutions to run more efficiently, with higher performance, and more trust from their communities,” says Steward. “Tate's dedication, passion, and drive are truly exceptional and make him a deserving candidate for recognition.”