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UCC Arts Alumni Spotlight: Ross Glavin, Senior Account Executive at Shopify
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- Ross Glavin shares how his UCC Bachelor of Arts experience shaped a global career at Shopify.
- Ross offers practical tips for students interested in an international career in marketing and commerce.
In our latest edition of the UCC Alumni Series, we are proud to feature Ross Glavin, UCC Bachelor of Arts – Economics (CK101) graduate, whose career journey has taken him across continents and into the world of global commerce.
As Senior Account Executive for APAC at Shopify, Ross combines curiosity, a drive to keep learning, and global experience to navigate international markets.
In this interview, Ross shares reflections on his time at UCC, the lessons that shaped his path, and valuable advice for students and graduates eager to make their mark in marketing, commerce, and beyond.
What inspired you to choose to study Economics at UCC?
The decision to study Economics at UCC for me was a combination of factors. As like many, I was not entirely sure which career path I wanted to take in life yet. However, I knew I wanted to study in an area that I had enjoyed in school, as well as focusing on a subject that offered a broad spectrum of learning, and finally something that provided outcomes that were practical and applicable to a career or further study after my undergraduate.
Economics provided the fundamentals I needed to move into an international career in business. Understanding market trends, impacts of state policies, and globalisation are all areas I built my knowledge on in UCC and are practical to the work I do today.
Were there any experiences during your degree that helped you focus on what you wanted to pursue in your career?
Definitely, I really enjoyed my final year module that focused on globalisation. Importantly for me, it gave insights into global markets, trends, and how to interpret them. Being able to make complex cross-border frameworks simple and practical using real world examples helped shape my view on commerce. Simplifying the complex is something I have continued striving to do throughout my career.
What do you enjoy most about your current job as a Senior Account Executive with Shopify?
At Shopify I am fortunate to have worked in both London, UK, and most recently in Melbourne, Australia. So getting to work in a global arena has been a major highlight for me. Similarly contributing to the growth of Shopify’s merchants and being a part of a mission to make commerce better for everyone!
What advice would you give to students or recent graduates who want to start a career in marketing or commerce?
You do not need to have it all figured out right away! Stay curious and explore what interests you, but think about how you can tie those interests together with where you want to go next. Remember curiosity is great, but acting on curiosity is better! There is a common misconception that once you finish your education you stop learning, that is not true.
Your undergraduate should provide you with the tools, understanding, and work-ethic to carry on the journey - either into a career, or further learning. But continue exploring and developing skills and tools in your career, you will have greater opportunities to flourish and fill important knowledge gaps as technology innovates (you will learn more about that in Economics!).
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CAO Change of Mind opens today - 6 May until 1 July. Take this opportunity to explore your options. With diverse subject choices and career pathways, Bachelor of Arts (CK101) at UCC could be the perfect fit for your future.