From building sites to brand strategy: How a UBC Sauder MBA alum leaped from construction to marketing iconic beverages

After several years in civil engineering, Vaughn Coomansingh took a leap and enrolled in the Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the Robert H. Lee Graduate School at UBC Sauder School of Business to explore new possibilities. The program gave him the tools and confidence to pivot from construction into marketing. Today, he is Regional Marketing Manager for AB InBev in Singapore, overseeing iconic beer brands and driving market expansion across Southeast Asia. 

Where are you from (country of origin), and where are you currently based?

I’m from Trinidad & Tobago, but I lived in Canada for almost 15 years before moving to Singapore. 
 

What are you passionate about—personally or professionally? 

Personal: I enjoy the challenge of meeting new people and building meaningful connections. I don’t mind breaking the ice! 

Professional: I love solving problems. Regardless of the given scenario, I enjoy identifying relevant patterns and issues, and devising alternative approaches to proceed. 
 

Can you walk us through your career journey since graduating from UBC Sauder?

In 2015, I resigned from a career in civil engineering and completed a more than 13 hours drive to Vancouver, where I enrolled in the UBC Sauder MBA. The program gave me the knowledge and coaching needed to navigate a career change from construction to marketing. 

Then I joined AB InBev and would spend the next decade supporting a variety of marketing roles (brand, trade, innovation, activation) with beer brands like Corona, Stella Artois, Budweiser and Mill Street. 

Today, I reside in Singapore as Regional Marketing Manager (Trade) for the Southeast Asia business unit supporting global market expansion. Additionally, I sit on the Board for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and serve as an active member in the business community. 
 

What is one highlight of your career that you’re especially proud of? 

Becoming Brand Manager for Mill Street Brewery. After completing my UBC MBA, it was my dream to become a brand manager. In 2020, I was assigned the role of Brand Manager and was invited to be part of the Canadian craft beer community – learning from the best and getting access to microbrewery-fresh beers! 
 

Why did you choose UBC Sauder and your specific program? 

I chose the UBC MBA because to me it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore new career possibilities and to expand my network in Vancouver.  

I remember being asked this question during my interview, and my cheeky reply, “because it’s Vancouver, and it’s beautiful!” 
 

How did your experience at UBC Sauder shape your career path or contribute to your growth? 

Professor Tim Silk’s Marketing Introduction course had a profound impact on me – it gave me the North Star I had to follow. 

During one of Professor Silk’s case studies, he described the magnitude of Red Bull’s 2012 stratospheric jump as avant-garde. This made me realize that in marketing, it is acceptable to have "touch the sky" ambitions and push boundaries of what is deemed conventional.

Is there a standout memory or moment from your time at UBC Sauder that you often reflect on? 

I sailed competitively with a team and finished seventh in the 2016 Rolex MBA Sailing Regatta in Portofino, Italy. 

During the final semester, we were given the opportunity to participate in the Regatta. This gave me a feel of competitive high-stakes moments while building on communication and collaboration skills. To this day, I still share stories of race moments. 

What advice would you give to someone considering a business education at UBC Sauder? 

If you are chasing a dream, seeking a new career leapfrog, and/or looking to unlock new superpowers – then take the leap! 

I’m often asked, “Was it worth it?” or “What’s the return of investment (ROI) of pursuing an MBA?” I prefer to reframe the question as, “What’s the return on effort (ROE)?” With the right effort, the UBC Sauder MBA can change your scenery, supercharge your network and lead to more meaningful paths in life.