From Internship to Full-Time: How PACE Launched Sumaita Khan's Communications Career in Canada

Sumaita Khan knew what she was good at. People, communication, and the kind of work that sits at the intersection of both. What she needed was a program that could take that foundation and turn it into a career in Canada. 

She found it at PACE. Today, Sumaita works full-time as an Assistant Communications Coordinator in the Water and Waste Department at the City of Winnipeg, a role she traces directly back to a PACE internship that started while she was still a student. 

Choosing the Right Program 

Sumaita came to PACE from Bangladesh with a background in marketing and a natural instinct for working with people. The Public Relations and Strategic Communications diploma was a clear fit, not just because of its content, but because of the environment PACE offered. 

She was drawn to the multicultural and diverse community at PACE, a place where students from different countries and backgrounds come together in one of Canada's most connected urban campuses. The downtown location added its own energy, with the kind of city life that made even lunch breaks feel like part of the experience. 

"PACE is really unique in the sense that it has a great multicultural and diverse platform." 

Building More Than Knowledge 

The program delivered on its academic promise, but what Sumaita reflects on most is what she built beyond the curriculum. Hands-on experience that gave her practical skills she could speak to in job interviews. Networking opportunities that connected her to professionals and organizations in her field. And confidence, something she names repeatedly as one of the most valuable things she took away from her time at PACE. 

"PACE has provided me with hands-on experience, great networking opportunities, but most importantly, it has helped me build my confidence." 

That confidence matters in communications. It is the difference between someone who understands the theory and someone who can walk into a room, represent an organization, and do the work. 

The Internship That Changed Everything 

PACE's industry connections are built into the program by design. For Sumaita, that meant an internship with the City of Winnipeg before she had even graduated. It was a real role, with real responsibilities, inside one of the city's most essential public service departments. 

The internship did not end when the program did. The City of Winnipeg offered her a full-time position, and she accepted. 

"It was actually PACE that opened the door for me through an internship with the City of Winnipeg. And I get to work full time there now." 

That is the clearest possible measure of what a well-connected program can do. 

Looking Back and Looking Forward 

Sumaita says without hesitation that she would do the program again. And when she thinks about students who are considering it now, her message is straightforward: explore it, commit to it, and stay open to where it can take you. 

"I am excited to see future graduates explore this program and discover where the program can take them." 

Explore the Public Relations and Strategic Communications diploma at PACE and take the next step in your career. Book a meeting with our recruitment coach today: https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/UPACERecruitment@webmailuwinnipeg.onmicrosoft.com/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true 

Sumaita Khan

Assistant Communications Coordinator for the Water and Waste Department,

City of Winnipeg