For Christian Bordon, building a career in Canada meant taking a chance on a new country, a new industry and new opportunities.
Today, Christian is a National Account Manager with BBW International Inc., an event staffing company. He has also earned recognition as one of the event industry’s rising leaders. In 2026, he was named the Alumni of Distinction recipient for the Faculty of Global Business and Creative Industries at Centennial College. He was also recognized on the Eventex Powerlist 2025, including its lists of the 100 Most Influential People in the Events Industry, the 50 Most Influential People in the Events Industry in the US & Canada, and the 50 Most Influential Event Professionals.
Christian’s journey started far from Toronto. An international student from the Philippines, Christian first worked in marketing there, and then in Singapore, before moving to Canada. His experience at The Business School at Centennial College helped him build the skills and confidence to take the next step.
Finding a new path in Canada
Christian’s journey to Centennial College began during the pandemic, when he was laid off from his job in Singapore.
“I didn’t want to go back to the Philippines, because I was used to living by myself in Singapore,” he says.
His mother suggested that he pursue another degree. Christian decided to take on a new challenge and move to Canada as an international student.
“I really wanted to challenge myself to build a future in a new country,” he says. “I wanted a program that would not only teach me about business fundamentals but also prepare me to work in a global environment.”
He chose to enrol at The Business School at Centennial College because of the range of career paths it could offer.
“It’s very diverse,” he says. “You can work in marketing, you can work in finance, you can work in operations, and sometimes you can work with customer service as well.”
Although Christian had experience in marketing, his career would soon take him in a different direction.
“Honestly, my journey to event management was a little unexpected,” he says. “I did not start with a clear plan, but life always has a way of leading us toward the places where we are meant to be.”
Building career-ready skills at Centennial College
For Christian, one of the most valuable parts of his Centennial College experience was learning and working with classmates from around the world.
“The Business School was the right fit for me,” he says, “because it allowed me to understand different areas, including business, leadership, marketing, operations and strategy. Also, coming from a different country, I value being surrounded by classmates from different cultures and backgrounds, which is really important for me. It’s very diverse.”
That diversity was more than a feature of the program. He says it helped prepare him to work with people from different cultures and perspectives.
“Let’s say we’re talking about business,” he explains. “Business in Mexico, India or the Philippines is totally different from business here in Canada. So, studying and working with people with different backgrounds really help us to make sure to collaborate, communicate effectively, manage challenges and approach problems with a different perspective. That really helped me prepare the realities of working here in Canada.”
The program also gave Christian opportunities to apply what he learned through presentations, group projects and case studies.
“The program is really focused on applying what we learn,” he says. “It’s not a normal type of classroom setup, where we read textbooks, answer exams, or do a case study. It was more about using those skills in real world situations.”
“We’re doing a lot of presentations, group projects and case studies,” he says, “and working with classmates from different backgrounds, really. Collaboration is really a huge thing with Centennial College.”
That hands-on approach helped Christian build skills he would later use in his career.
“Looking back, the program helped me develop confidence to adapt, communicate and grow professionally,” he says
For Christian, the skills he developed at Centennial College continue to shape his work as a National Account Manager.
“Centennial really helped me build strong communication, leadership, teamwork and, of course, problem-solving skills,” he says. “These are really the essentials in working with almost all of the industry here, because it requires collaborations, adaptability and, of course, to manage unexpected challenges. And those are the things that I’ve learned while studying my program.”
His experience as an international student also made communication across cultures especially important.
“All of the professors made sure we were able to respond properly with the right words,” he says, “because sometimes we are not speaking the same language, or sometimes some of the words vary from the ones we use in the Philippines or in Singapore.”
“Being surrounded with different classmates around the world helped me appreciate different cultures, ways of thinking, values, and ways to work with clients, colleagues, and industry professionals up to this day.”
From 100 rejections to his first Canadian job
Christian started applying for jobs during his third week in Canada. The search was difficult.
“Believe it or not, I was rejected more than 100 times,” he says. “I submitted resumés on LinkedIn, and I didn't know that there was a cap on the number of resumés that you can submit!”
Employers often told him that he did not have Canadian experience. Rather than giving up, Christian changed his approach.
“One thing I’ve learned from Centennial,” he says, “is when you apply for a certain job, you really need to recreate your resumé based on the position that you are applying for.”
He also found an opportunity through a Centennial College job posting board. BBW International Inc. was looking for event staff, and Christian applied. He was hired and worked in the role for three months. During that time, his work caught the attention of the company’s owner.
“The owner himself told me, 'Hey, Christian, instead of working with them, why don’t you start interning with me?'” he says.
BBW hired Christian as an intern for the summer and paid him for the role. That opportunity became the start of his career in the events industry.
Today, BBW continues to provide opportunities for international students.
“With 1,800 staff across the country right now, we have around 100 to 200 international students that we were able to onboard to help them with their career and to get their first Canadian working experience,” Christian says.
Finding his place in the events industry
Christian has now worked in the events industry for three years. He was drawn to the field because he enjoys creating experiences and bringing people together.
“Growing up, I realized that I loved creating experiences, solving challenges and being part of the moments that bring communities together,” he says.
“I was really fascinated by how much work happens behind the scenes in order to create an experience that people remember,” he adds.
As a National Account Manager, Christian works with clients, prepares proposals, supports event planning and works with operations and recruitment teams.
“One thing which is really unique with the events industry is that no two days are the same,” he says.
His work requires communication, teamwork, attention to detail and the ability to respond to unexpected challenges.
“The most rewarding part is knowing the work we do behind the scenes that really helps create successful experience for our attendees and clients,” he says.
One recent highlight was working on FIFA events in Toronto.
“Knowing we’ve been part of something big here in Toronto, it’s really very fulfilling,” he says.
Turning recognition into impact
Christian’s work has earned recognition across the events industry. He says his various awards are especially meaningful because of how far he has come.
“From someone who is new to the industry, I really need to prove myself,” he says. “I really need to work hard.”
He sees the recognition as a reflection of the people who supported him, including his mentor and colleagues at BBW.
“Receiving recognition was really humbling,” he says. “It also motivated me to continue supporting others, and showing that success is not only about personal achievements but your impact to the community, and how many people you’ve inspired.”
For Christian, one of his proudest achievements is helping other students and emerging professionals.
“When I look back at where I started, leaving my home country, moving to Singapore and eventually coming to Canada as an international student, I feel really grateful for all of the challenges and the opportunities that brought me here,” he says.
He now mentors students from colleges including Centennial, Humber and George Brown.
“Being able to mentor students from different colleges ... and support emerging professionals, that is something which I really value deeply,” he says.
Christian’s advice for students
Christian believes students should stay open to opportunities, even when those opportunities feel unfamiliar.
“Just be open to any opportunities and never underestimate the power of saying yes,” he says.
He encourages students to volunteer, build relationships, ask questions and find mentors who can help them grow.
“Your education is really an important foundation,” he says. “But your experiences, connections and willingness to learn will help you shape your career in the long term.”
His own experience taught him that career paths do not always follow a straight line. For international students in particular, moving to a new country can bring uncertainty and setbacks. Christian believes those challenges can also create opportunities.
“When you are starting over, not just in a new country but, let’s say, with a different job, learning a new environment, or building a new relationship and finding your own place, there are a lot of moments of uncertainty,” he says. “But you need to always continue to move forward and believe that every experience is preparing you for something greater.”
For Christian, that journey began with a decision to study in Canada. His Centennial College education gave him a foundation in business, while his classmates, instructors and experiences helped him develop the confidence to build a career in a new country. Today, he is using those skills to lead in the events industry and help others find their own path.
“Stay consistent, keep growing, and trust your own path,” he says, “and just believe in yourself.”
By Anthony Geremia