Busayna Borno: Determination to Succeed

Busayna Borno chose to travel thousands of kilometres to earn her Business Administration diploma at Northwestern Polytechnic. She then put her Marketing specialization to work promoting her first product: herself. Busayna’s determination and positive attitude helped her secure an interesting and challenging professional role and will help her land on her feet wherever her career leads her.

The biggest leap on Busayna’s path to success was choosing to study in Grande Prairie. After completing a Bachelor of Business Administration and working in marketing in Bangladesh, Busayna resolved to seek out further education and independence in a new country. Busayna took the gutsy step of enrolling at NWP in 2023, supported by her partner, who had recently settled here.

“Everyone knows and helps each other,” says Busayna of her time at NWP. “You can connect easily with professors. If you need help, they help you.” 

She found the instructors approachable and enjoyed making friends with people from all over the world. 

There were adjustments along the way. Busayna had to adapt to the quiet of Grande Prairie compared to the familiar noise and bustle of her hometown in Dhaka. With her partner working long hours, Busayna learned to overcome her initial loneliness by focusing on school and part-time work. Quiznos was one early employer, and Busayna speaks fondly of her employers and customers there. She appreciated the kind-hearted folks who helped her learn Canadian currency and repaid that kindness by memorizing the orders of regular customers.

Upon graduation from NWP, Busayna focused on finding work related to her degree. When a connection suggested Bannister GP Kia was a great employer and might be hiring, Busayna used her characteristic positivity to put her best foot forward. She dropped off a resume with Bannister’s service manager. When a week passed with no word, Busayna knew she needed to sell herself. She visited again, and although she learned that someone had been hired for that initial position, Busayna used her marketing skills to forge a connection with the busy professional in front of her.

“I told her, I have a willingness to learn that’s above and beyond. I’m mature, and I want to develop my career,” Busayna recalls. “They asked if I knew anything about parts, and I told them, I do not,” she laughs. “But I can learn.”

Busayna was true to her word, doing a deep dive into parts and service advisor roles. When the Bannister team offered her an interview, her preparation was apparent. “They saw that I did my homework!” Busayna smiles. That work paid off with a Parts and Service Advisor role that Busayna is finding fun and rewarding.

“I’ve learned so much,” she says, noting the strong training, tools and support offered by the company. Her positivity and work ethic have earned her more responsibility, and Busayna is determined to reward their trust.
Busayna’s advice to NWP business students is to build relationships at school and in the community. “Make connections, don’t stay in a bubble,” she says. Busayna worked hard to get to know professors, attend job fairs and build connections outside of her friend group.

Trying new foods is another way Busayna is connecting with Grande Prairie. She “fell in love” with poutine, discovered excellent Nigerian food and tried McDonald’s for the first time – more evidence of her openness to new experiences.

“This city gives you the room to grow and learn,” says Busayna of her new home. With her commitment to education, infectious positivity, and adventurous spirit, Busayna will have no problem marketing her way to continued success.