Natalia Smalyuk graduated from the CERES program (previously known as CREES) in 2005. Since then, she has worked in journalism and public relations. Currently, Natalia is the vice president at Proof, a Toronto-based PR, communications and marketing firm.
Natalia was born in Belarus and came to Canada in 2001. She initially worked at Canadian Tire in the marketing department, but wanted to apply her past experience in international development and be a “storyteller.” These interests are what led Smalyuk to the University of Toronto and the CERES program. “My education at the University of Toronto is a big part of the path that led me to where I am today,” she said.
The program’s small size and strong faculty created a sense of community and support and this appealed to her, Smalyuk says. She also appreciated the wide range of interesting events available and the opportunity to participate in conferences and international work. One of her most memorable experiences was meeting Stanislav Shushkevich, the first leader of post-Soviet Belarus, at a Munk event, and taking him for a tour of the University of Toronto campus. “Needless to say, it was a fantastic opportunity to meet him and have a deep conversation,” she said.
Because Smalyuk had a lot of international experience, she was permitted to do her internship (a major component of the program) in Canada and found a placement at OMNI TV with the help of Professor Robert Austin. Her position at OMNI quickly led to a full-time job. However, Smalyuk was not entirely satisfied with the job in journalism, which she found formulaic and repetitive. Wanting to tell stories, she started looking for alternatives, and found PR, which allowed her to work with global brands and brought together the skills she loved. Today, at Proof, Natalia leads diverse client portfolios, manages a team of employees and coaches them, and identifies opportunities for growth in new industries.
Although Smalyuk was initially concerned that the skills she learned at the MA level wouldn’t transfer over to professional life, she found that critical thinking, research, writing, and analysis were important in any career, including working at a global PR company, because they “make us great leaders and managers.”
For prospective CERES students, or current graduate students, Smalyuk advises them to find experiences outside of schoolwork to meet interesting people and enjoy life. The opportunities for this are plentiful at CERES, given the international research trips and internships one can apply for, and the frequent events run by the university, which often feature distinguished scholars, ambassadors, and international guests. Smalyuk said her experience at CERES was a “critical part of her path” which helped her discover what she wanted to do and gave her “the tools to do it.”