SHAYE DONALD (He/Him)

What brought you to KPU and your program of study?

My post-secondary journey began with 3 simple words "I like plants!". I wanted to make one of my passions, gardening, into a career. KPU seemed like the perfect place because it has several directions to pursue when it comes to horticulture. I ended up more in the 'weeds' with a focus on science, but they also have options for people who want to be digging in the dirt every day!

Can you briefly describe your current position and your main day to day responsibilities?

I'm a professional agrologist running a small horticultural consulting firm. I help growers get more out of the facilities they already have, as well as helping growers with the design of their facility. The work includes both data and instinct. Collecting and analyzing what the plants are actually doing, following a hunch toward where the real problem sits, then turning all of it into a clear story with takeaways a grower can act on.

Which skills, knowledge, or experiences from KPU have been most valuable in your career so far?

The knowledge gained in the horticulture program was a sturdy foundation for my career to be built on. More than any one fact, I learned work through a problem methodically instead of reacting to whatever might 'seem' most obvious. That way of thinking shows up in my work almost every day. Also, I hate to admit it, but understanding statistics was really helpful for me to better understand how data relates to the world and vice-versa.

What advice would you give current KPU students who want to build a successful career after graduation?

Careers aren't just built on knowledge. Pay attention to the problems you actually enjoy chasing, and lean toward them. The niche you build a career in often isn't the one you pictured at graduation it's the one you kept getting pulled back to.