Tinnie Chow: The Jetsetter

“I just want people to understand how lucky they are to be part of this community.”

After graduating from UBC with her degree in Asian Studies, Tinnie Chow, BA’99, began the life of a world traveller. She built a career in media, earned an MBA, and worked her way across Hong Kong, New York, and London. Wherever she found herself, she always took the time to connect with other UBC alumni living nearby.

“I’ve always found that connecting with other alumni has been an important way to stay grounded,” she says. I’m so proud that I went to UBC and get to be part of the alumni community.”

When Tinnie started her undergraduate career, she wasn’t on track to be a UBC alum; she was studying business at the University of Alberta. But after being inspired by time spent travelling in East Asia, she transferred to UBC to focus on Asian Studies.

“I studied East Asian studies generally—nothing cool, like K-pop,” she jokes. (To be fair, her Asian Studies degree did end up being put in the service of the genre, when she helped launch K-pop stars while working at MTV.)

After years abroad, Tinnie moved back to Vancouver for a job as the head of Content Strategy for BBTV. She immediately reached out to the Asian Studies department, letting them know she was ready to give back to her favourite university.

Before COVID-19, she regularly went on campus to share her varied experiences with media and Asian studies students, most recently presenting on the “Art of Communications” for a 2021 virtual careers event hosted by the Faculty of Arts. She also volunteers for the Centre for Digital Media.

She particularly enjoys interacting with students on the cusp of their own exciting adventures.

“I just love seeing their faces,” she says. “The world is their oyster, and they have every opportunity coming up in their lives. They’re keen to start their career, so if I can help them in any way, I’m down for it.”

Her main message for students is to develop their passions alongside their skills: “There’s no need to sacrifice one for another – in fact, they complement one another. Passion is becoming more and more important because anyone can get the [technical] skills. It is the passion that stands out now on a resume.”

Mimi Wang, a fourth-year Arts student studying English and international relations, attended the Art of Communication event. She says she is grateful for volunteers like Tinnie.

“It’s so helpful to hear from alumni and to see how they’ve mapped their careers,” she says. “I feel very supported, not only by my school, but by the wonderful alumni that are willing to take the time out. They offer a very intimate lens that you can’t necessarily find on YouTube videos or from online courses.”

Through attending events like The Art of Communication, Mimi has realized what a rich and valuable resource alumni are. “They inspire me to do well in the future. I definitely want to give back and attend these events as an alum one day,” she says.

In fact, Mimi isn’t waiting until she’s graduated to volunteer: she’s already started. In March 2021, she was the student host for another virtual Arts Career Conversations event, focused on technology.

Tinnie says she constantly finds herself inspired by the students she meets, whom she describes as “well versed, curious, well-travelled, and absolutely ready to take on the world.”

“I hope they pursue whatever they’re passionate about,” she says. “They inspire me to stay curious and continually learn and think about what’s ahead.”

Published April 16, 2021.