Putting people at the core of everything we do is paramount at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). We’re proud to be a people-first organization, where employees are supported, valued, and empowered to thrive, both personally and professionally.
Through the Our People series on BCIT News, we celebrate the passion, expertise, and impact of individuals who help shape a better future at BCIT and beyond.
Meet AJ Purugganan, Institutional Research and Planning Senior Analyst, Academic, and a BCIT 2025 Employee Excellence recipient in the Leadership category.
What does it mean to you to be a 2025 Employee Excellence Award recipient?
I thought it wasn’t real. When I got the email about receiving an award, I assumed it was one of those phishing campaigns that IT Services sends out every now and then.
It wasn’t until I learned that the team I was part of, Student Information & Enrolment Services, had won the Team Category for Service Excellence that it started to feel meaningful.
To me, it meant that BCIT sees its people. It’s an organization that acknowledges its employees and their efforts. And I truly appreciate that.
Looking back on the past year, what do you think contributed most to you receiving this recognition?
I don’t know about the what but I do know the who:
Peter Warren ▪ Rhiannon Coen-Johnson ▪ Linda Le ▪ Mina Khojasteh ▪ Stacey Lu ▪ Patrick Pires ▪ Lola Lewis ▪ Alyssa Chan ▪ Connie Behl ▪ Imogen Mutama ▪ Ekam Makkar ▪ Maria Hobson ▪ Fahmida Ahmed ▪ Sonia Dhaliwal ▪ Nerina Aiello ▪ Marcio Oliviera ▪ Blaze Capdecoume ▪ Kalvin Walker ▪ Luke Walker ▪ Teresa MacNeil ▪ Qiu Mesquita ▪ Amanda Yan ▪ Filbert Filbert ▪ Jamie Fox-Muir ▪ Monica Gillies ▪ Jacinta Wellwood ▪ Lisa Van Bui ▪ Sara Niasati ▪ Anna Zhao ▪ Rebecca Zhang ▪ Candice Chan ▪ Shirlene Ndenga ▪ Natasha Molloy ▪ Nina Nguyen ▪ Amanpreet Kaur ▪ Giselle LaCounte ▪ Joyce Qin
They carried me all the way. I truly believe I was in the right place at the right time, with the right people. Whatever people think I achieved was because of them.
Is there a particular project, initiative, or achievement from 2024-2025 that you are especially proud of?
The personal achievement that stands out the most was when the SIES team had a classic team huddle. At the end of one of our weekly stand-up meetings, we formed a circle, reached out our arms to the center, put our hands in, and, in one breath, we uttered a unified aspiration: “Together”.
It was, without a doubt, cheesy. And I absolutely loved it.
How have your colleagues or team supported your success over the past year?
I’ve been fortunate these past couple of years to work alongside individuals who were consistently kind to one another. They mentored and filled in the gaps every single time with so much grace and finesse. It was contagious. My colleagues gave me space to grow and made work feel so much easier.
What aspect of BCIT’s workplace culture has helped you thrive in your role or project?
That’s a tough one. I would say Engaging with Respect.
I think it’s probably one of BCIT’s hardest tenets to live by and maintain. Having said that, I see and experience people interacting with respect in BCIT all the time. It made my journey lighter, the struggles a little more bearable and the victories a little more meaningful.
What’s next for you – any goals, upcoming projects, or aspirations on the horizon?
Keep learning, keep smiling.
I recently joined Enrolment Planning, and there’s a whole side of BCIT that I’m beginning to discover. There’s still so much to learn and experience. It’ll be challenging, but I’m thrilled to be where I am.
Even better, I work with an amazing team: Lexie Tang, Andrea Ralph, Vernie Tan, Naz Myrzakhanova and Rose Tagle! They’re talented and radiant individuals who I have been learning so much from in these past few months. They work hard, yet still take the time to have fun, laugh and celebrate together.