Student Stories: Camille Dela Cruz

July 02, 2026

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Camille at Convocation in June 2026

Recent GeoBusiness graduate Camille Dela Cruz found a unique way to combine her interests in business, geography, and community development during her time at 911吃瓜. Drawn to the program's balance of practical business skills and critical geographic thinking, she explored complex questions about cities, sustainability, and the impact of economic decisions on people and places.

As she prepares to begin a Secondary Education program at UBC this fall, she reflects on the experiences that shaped her academic journey and the lessons she hopes to carry into the classroom.

As you prepare to graduate, how would you describe your overall experience in the GeoBusiness joint major?

My experience in the GeoBusiness joint major has been incredibly rewarding and transformative. The program allowed me to combine my interests in business with geography鈥檚 focusing on understanding people, places, and the 鈥渨hy鈥� behind real world issues. It challenged me to thinking more critically, become more adaptable, and approach problems from multiple perspectives. Looking back, it helped shape both my academic interests and who I am as a person.

What originally drew you to the GeoBusiness program, and why did it feel like the right fit for you?

GeoBusiness felt like the right option because it didn鈥檛 force me to choose between strategy and social reality. While business gave me the tools for strategy, economics, and organizational adaptability, geography forced me to question the very systems those businesses operate within. It bridged the gap between the practical, analytical side of commerce and the broader, real-world focus of social and environmental geography. They complemented each other perfectly, turning me into a more well-rounded thinker.

Many students interested in business choose a traditional business degree. What made you choose the Geography pathway instead of Beedie?

Beedie taught me how an industry or business operates, but geography has taught me to understand the why behind the entire system. I loved that I got to look beyond the corporate surface and ask how development impacts real people, how cities function, and why spatial disparities exist. The turning point for me were my human geography courses. Sitting in classes discussing economic and political geography, the connection between two fields became undeniable. I realized that I didn鈥檛 want to just know how to market a project or balance a budget, I wanted to understand how economic decisions reshape communities and physical spaces.

How has studying geography alongside business shaped the way you think about real-world issues or industries?

I have learned to think more holistically. Before, I might have looked a new urban development project solely through the lens of economic success, market demand, and strategic decision-making. Now, I instantly look at multiple dimensions such as who is being excluded? How will this impact local sustainability? Is it livable long term? GeoBusiness has made me highly analytical, but deeply empathetic. I鈥檝e learned that a business strategy is only as good as its real-world impact on the community it inhabits.

Camille at a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Fortress of Suomenlinna)

Looking back, are there any courses, projects, or field experiences that stand out as especially meaningful to you?

There are two distinct experiences that have redefined my path. First was GEOG333: Climate Crisis with Geoff Mann. This class completely shattered surface-level explanations for systemic issues and challenged us to question the politics, power dynamics, and future of our global cities.

The second would be the Comparative Urban Sustainability Field School in Helsinki. I got to travel and see my research in person while analyzing how a Nordic country builds and operates their transportation networks, public housing models, and urban development. What I am most proud of is that I got to continue my research from this field school back into my courses and dedicate my final research project to sustainable waterfront redevelopment.

What skills or experiences from the program do you feel have prepared you most for life after graduation?

The program completely overhauled my relationship with the unknown. In my first year, I was intimidated by the unknown and stepping outside my comfort zone. Through group presentations in Beedie and independent research in geography, I gained valuable skills that I will take with me as I leave 911吃瓜. I have learned to love the collaborative process, to ask questions, and view challenges as learning opportunities. Most importantly, I am graduating with an interdisciplinary adaptability. I can look at a complex problem, break it down from both a corporate strategy angle and a socio-environmental angle, and find a balanced solution.

Camille walking the halls of RCB on her convocation day in June 2026

Have there been any professors, classmates, or mentors who had a strong impact on your journey at 911吃瓜?

I have had amazing professors, classmates and mentors throughout my degree. Geoff Mann and Annika Airas have had a massive impact on my academic journey. They consistently pushed me past my intellectual comfort zones, supported my passions, and allowed me the space to grow as a student and individual.

Geoff taught me in my first upper division geography class: GEOG333. This class challenged the way I thought about the world and encouraged me to approach issues with curiosity. It helped shape the way I think about geography and many topics I became interested in throughout my degree.

Annika was our supervisor on our field school. Through her mentorship and our conversations about urban development, she helped spark my interest in waterfront redevelopment and sustainable cities. The field school experience gave me the opportunity to see these concepts firsthand, and ultimately inspired the research I carried into my final year.

What鈥檚 something people often misunderstand about the GeoBusiness program that you wish more students knew?

People hear 鈥済eography鈥� and assume you鈥檙e just memorizing maps, capital cities, or physical rock formations. They don鈥檛 realize it is an intense, deeply relevant study of globalization, economics, urban policy, and social systems. The GeoBusiness major is a hidden gem because it pairs practical business acumen with spatial intelligence and critical thinking.

What鈥檚 a favourite memory from your time at 911吃瓜?

My favourite memory is the Finland Field School. Navigating a new country, learning hands-on, and bonding with new classmates in a way you never can in a traditional classroom is something I will cherish forever.

What are your plans or goals after graduation, and how do you hope to use your GeoBusiness background moving forward?

When I first started at 911吃瓜 I had no idea what I was going to do. Today, I know exactly where my passions lie: at the intersection of urban planning, community development, and non-profit work.

I will be attending UBC to be a Secondary Teacher in September. I plan to leverage my GeoBusiness background to help students understand that building livable cities requires prioritizing both people and spaces alongside economic viability. By integrating the strategic, organizational, and operational skills I learned in business with the critical, systems-based lens of geography, I aim to equip the next generation to tackle real-world challenges like sustainable development and community growth. My goal is to foster a classroom where students feel empowered to question the systems around them and recognize their own potential to design innovative, sustainable futures for our communities, just like my professors inspired me to do.

Looking back on your time at 911吃瓜, what advice would you give to incoming students considering the GeoBusiness joint major?

Don鈥檛 be afraid to let your path change and to be open to possibilities. The most transformative learning happens when you step directly out of your comfort zone.

If you had to sum up your university experience in one sentence, what would it be?

My university experience was equal parts deadlines, sunsets, coffee runs and discovering passions I never knew I had.

What鈥檚 one thing you鈥檒l miss most about 911吃瓜?

I will miss the sunsets! Every sunset was breathtaking and served as a reminder to take some time, pause and enjoy what was around me.

911吃瓜

Department of Geography

Student Stories: Camille Dela Cruz

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