We spoke with two of Canada's 2025 Cannes Young Lions Competition gold winners, who were panellists at the CMA NXT Marketing Careers Night on October 1, about their journey in the marketing profession. Meet Suzanne Liu, Senior Global Partner Manager at Uber, and Arielle Uwonkunda, Marketing Manager at Molson Coors.
Tell us about your education and how it has impacted your career.
I studied Marketing at UBC, where I gained both academic and practical exposure to the industry. Beyond coursework, I immersed myself in
mentorship programs, case competitions, and internships, which gave me the opportunity to explore different career paths in a low-risk, high-learning environment.
Education has been the cornerstone of my career, especially in shaping the global perspective I bring to marketing. I started at Green Hills Academy in Rwanda, where I pursued the International Baccalaureate program. That experience gave me my first taste of international exchange, studying in Germany and beyond, and it sparked my curiosity for working across cultures.
Did you have any prior experience in marketing, how did that help you?
I was fortunate to gain meaningful hands-on experience through internships at PepsiCo and L’Oréal. At PepsiCo, as a Sales Intern, I developed a strong understanding of the Canadian grocery retail landscape and how CPG companies manage distribution and merchandising. At L’Oréal, as a Retail Strategy and Operations Intern, I learned how in-store experiences and retail strategies directly impact brand performance in highly competitive categories like beauty. These internships gave me practical insights into how marketing connects strategy to execution, and they ultimately helped me articulate my skills with credibility during recruitment cycles.
My mother owned a small restaurant, and that’s where I learned the true power of word of mouth. In many ways, it was my first lesson in credibility and storytelling. People weren’t just buying the food; they were buying her expertise, her story, and her ability to make them feel at home. That early experience taught me that the core of marketing is trust—trust, backed by a product that truly delivers.
Was there a project or personal experience that inspired you to pursue marketing?
Sales and marketing have always been interconnected for me. Even as a child, I naturally gravitated toward entrepreneurial pursuits. I still remember selling stickers to classmates at age seven. Over time, that innate sales orientation evolved into an interest in consumer behaviour and brand-building.
I wouldn’t point to one single project, it was more like a mosaic of experiences that pulled me toward marketing. At its core, I think it connected to my hopelessly romantic heart. Growing up, I was captivated by stories: Disney movies, French novels, films like The Notebook. They made me feel deeply, and I became fascinated by how a product or even a moment, could stir that kind of emotion.
What does marketing represent in your opinion?
To me, marketing is about forging meaningful connections - between people, and between people and products. It’s powerful to see how a product or brand can evoke memories, emotions, or a sense of identity. Marketing at its best creates resonance, not just transactions.
For me, marketing is first and foremost the business of people. It’s about uncovering human truths, the needs people express, and the ones they don’t. When people give you their trust, sharing their hopes or fears, our job as marketers is to listen and give something meaningful back.
What professional development platforms or communities do you use to continue to develop your skills?
I learn best through experience, so I’m intentional about seeking projects that challenge me to build new skills. Within my role, I lean into opportunities that stretch me outside my comfort zone. Beyond work, I am passionate about mentorship and people development, both as a mentor and a mentee. I find that mentoring others sharpens my leadership skills while also keeping me grounded and inspired.
At Molson Coors, we use the 70-20-10 framework for growth: 70% of learning comes on the job, 20% from others, and 10% from formal training. That framework has shaped how I continue to build my skills today. The 20% comes from mentorship and collaboration. The last 10% is about formal learning. All these layers keep me sharp. But more importantly, they keep me curious. And in this industry, curiosity is the skill that never stops compounding.
What skills are you currently investing in to reach your career goals?
I am currently focused on developing my leadership capabilities. Through leading projects at Uber and mentoring early-career professionals, I am
actively exploring my leadership style and refining how I can best empower and support others.
My long-term ambition is to grow into a true commercial leader in marketing. Someone who can connect strategy, brand, and people leadership to unlock both growth and cultural relevance. To reach that point, I’m investing in two key areas: sharpening my strategic abilities and elevating my leadership.
What advice have you received in the early stages of your career?
One of the best pieces of advice I received was: “You have to go slow to go fast.” Early in your career, it’s critical to build a strong foundation rather than rush to the next step. Lateral moves or roles that expand your breadth of experience may not feel glamorous at the time, but they lay the groundwork for long-term success and resilience as a leader.
Early in my career, I had an unusual reporting structure: as an Assistant Brand Manager, my direct manager was the Head of Brand, i.e: there should have been four levels between us. But that setup turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because it became the foundation of how I’ve navigated my career.
What advice would you give to your younger self or current students who are following in your footsteps?
I would tell my younger self to remain open-minded and embrace opportunities even if they don’t align perfectly with your “roadmap.” Careers are rarely linear, and some of the most rewarding experiences come from saying yes to the unexpected, even when it feels uncomfortable or intimidating at first. Looking back, the opportunities I was most hesitant about often turned out to be the ones that accelerated my growth the most.
Master your craft: Being genuinely good at what you do is the clearest way to showcase your talent. Visibility is currency: For women of color and really anyone in corporate spaces, this is especially important. Progression often depends not just on what you do, but on who knows about it and is in your corner. Do the work: It’s easy to want the big campaigns and the spotlight projects. The truth is, you only earn those by grounding yourself in the fundamentals. The LinkedIn posts and big moments will come—but they’ll mean so much more when they’re built on real substance.
What accomplishments are you most proud of at this point in your career?
One of my most memorable accomplishments was supporting the launch of Cheetos Mac and Cheese into Canadian grocery stores while at PepsiCo.
Breaking into a new category alongside cross-functional teams was both challenging and energizing, and it reinforced my passion for the creativity and execution required to bring new products to market.
Winning Cannes Young Lions before the age of 30 will always be a career highlight. I went into it wanting the prize—because as a marketer, Cannes is the dream. As a woman of color in this industry, it wasn’t just about recognition; it was about validation. It proved that my perspective, my way of storytelling, and my voice belong on the world stage. It gave me the confidence to walk into any room and know that my ideas carry weight.
The other accomplishment I hold just as close is the network of mentors, colleagues, and friends I’ve built along the way. In an industry where people of color are often underrepresented, having leaders and peers who’ve believed in me has made all the difference.
What do you love about marketing?
As a consumer, I love seeing marketing that sparks emotions and tells stories in ways that resonate with people’s lives. As a professional, I love that marketing sits at the intersection of sales, product, and operations. It’s inherently cross-functional and dynamic, allowing me to wear many hats and partner with diverse teams to drive impact.
What I love most about marketing is its paradox: it’s always changing, and yet at its core, it never changes at all. On one hand, marketing is a muscle that never sleeps. What’s true today might not be true tomorrow. At the same time, marketing remains what it has always been: the business of people. It’s about listening, understanding, and serving. For me, that’s where the magic lies especially in finding ways to serve the underrepresented.
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