We have so many stellar Options alumni, and in our new series, we wanted to shine a light on a few of our past clients who have gone on to do great things both near and far. This month, we chatted with Megan about what she’s been up to since she graduated and her advice for current post-secondary students.
What’s your name?
Megan O’Neill
Where and what did you study?
I studied Hotel Administration at Cornell University (Class of 2014) and then received a Juris Doctor in Law at the University of British Columbia (Class of 2017).
How did you choose this institution and program?
I chose to go to Cornell for the Hotel Administration program specifically. This program is well-known and highly esteemed in the world of hospitality. The hotel business is a family business that I was always interested in. But overall, I wanted a general business education, which the Hotel School certainly provided (albeit with a few more interesting courses such as culinary and hotel operations!).
In turning my mind to what would come next after graduation, I felt that I wanted to do more school, but this time back home in Vancouver. I wrote the LSAT while at Cornell and was lucky enough to get into UBC Law. I was not set on law as a career path at the time, but thought that it would be a good education regardless. As it turned out, I found a fit in law and have stayed at the same firm as a summer student, articling student, and now Associate 6 years later.
What would you tell current post-secondary students about finding a path?
My advice to post-secondary students on finding a path would be to not worry about the first thing you choose being a lifelong fit. Just pick something you are interested in, and give it your all! Most career knowledge is learned on the job, so use school as a time to explore, be curious, and have fun.
When it comes to applying for jobs, just get out there and get to work! A starting job doesn’t have to be perfect, but building a resume and experience starts somewhere. Show up with energy and enthusiasm and you will do well. I never thought that I would be a lawyer and LOVE what I do. But I get along well with the people I work with, and the job is fascinating and fun. I couldn’t ask for anything more.
What are you doing now?
I am a corporate lawyer at Farris LLP in Vancouver, BC. I practice in a wide range of legal areas including corporate commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, securities, corporate finance, and real estate, but in particular, I specialize in the purchase and sale of wineries and advising clients in the BC wine industry.
With over 500 licensed wineries in the Province, BC’s wine industry is very fast paced with a lot of fantastic people and brands. I love working with the wineries to help them navigate the legal regulations, but also to learn about the intricacies of owning and running a winery. The wine industry is centred around tourism and hospitality, which ties back nicely to my undergrad in Hotel Administration.
What at Options Solutions helped you the most?
Options Solutions helped me significantly with three things:
1) Standardized Test Prep. Back in 2009 when I was applying to Cornell, fewer students from my high school were attending US colleges. The resources that Options Solutions provided were invaluable. As a Canadian high school student having never been exposed to standardized testing, attending SAT prep classes, writing practice tests, and learning test taking strategies helped me to achieve the scores I needed.
2) Ideas and Options. Melinda and her team have so much experience and know about so many interesting schools, programs and career paths that I would have never known to look into. OS gets to know their clients and can then recommend what they think might be a good fit for each student (some aspirational, some more achievable). For me personally, I ended up with a great roster of business programs that I applied to for my undergrad, and was admitted to some fantastic schools before choosing Cornell. I was set up for success and had realistic goals.
3) Confidence! The main thing that I will always be thankful for is Melinda’s confidence in me. Having someone tell you that they believe in you, and ‘way to go kid’ meant the world to me. Everyone has different strengths, and Melinda has a gift for finding those strengths and drawing them out, helping students find a path that will help them shine. I am forever grateful.
A fun fact about you?
A fun fact about me is that I love skiing! I ski at Whistler Blackcomb any chance I can get, and Vancouver’s close proximity to the mountains makes this the perfect place to live and work. I have recently explored more of BC and skied at Revelstoke, Kicking Horse, Fernie, Red Mountain, and done backcountry ski trips near Revelstoke and Pemberton. I ski around 20 days per season – not bad for a working lawyer!
Where can our readers find you?
Firm Bio: https://farris.com/people/megan-oneill/
