Shona Reilly, 2026 Alumni Excellence Award recipient and director of trade at Calgary Economic Development, graduated from Bow Valley College’s Global Tourism Marketing and Management program in 2014.
“When I started at Bow Valley College, I honestly didn’t know what I wanted to be,” she stated in her acceptance speech at the inaugural Bow Valley College Alumni Awards on May 20, 2026. “I just knew I wanted to learn something practical, something real—something that could open doors.”
Shona knew she was creative and enjoyed working with people, but she didn’t yet see a clear career path. Traditional four-year degrees didn’t feel like the right fit, and none helped her pinpoint what truly motivated her.
At Bow Valley College, she began to see new possibilities. “Marketing wasn't something that I knew much about other than seeing ads and how people sell the city,” she says.
She quickly found herself immersed in a hands-on learning environment. Small class sizes helped foster close connections with her classmates—many of whom she remains friends with today. Their time together extended beyond the classroom, from late-night study sessions to celebrating graduation at Julio Barrio’s.
She also valued the program’s mix of practical experience and industry exposure. From touring radio stations and interviewing deejays to gaining a deeper understanding of media and communications in Calgary, her coursework connected directly to the real world. Through her work-integrated learning placement at Heritage Park, she saw firsthand how local industries operate.
“We really got to learn in real time about how the city was shaping itself,” she says.
Courses in communications, public relations, global tourism and hospitality law prepared her for the workforce—particularly through their focus on global markets and diverse business needs. That foundation gave her the confidence to pursue her first role at Calgary Economic Development, promoting the city. She recognized it as a strong fit and applied the skills she developed at Bow Valley College.
From the start, she felt ready. “I felt so much more prepared,” she says. “We learned right away the expectations and responsibility that come with going into the workforce.”
In her current role as director of trade at Calgary Economic Development, Shona has led programs that help Alberta businesses scale and compete globally, including launching the Trade Accelerator Program in Calgary and later expanding it across the province. Over the past five years, that work has supported more than 200 companies in securing over $100 million in trade revenue.
She also played a key role in securing a $2.6-million grant to launch Level Up Alberta, which supports companies as they scale and compete internationally. A key focus of her work is expanding access: more than half of the small and medium-sized enterprises she supports come from underrepresented communities.
Her impact has not gone unnoticed.
“Shona is incredibly authentic, and she has an ability to draw people toward her,” says Kristy Calles, a program chair with the Chiu School of Business, who nominated Shona for the 2026 Alumni Excellence Award. “She creates connection and helps businesses understand the impacts they can have globally.”
Shona’s role takes her around the world. In the past year alone, she has travelled to Dubai, London and Ireland, supporting Alberta businesses as they enter new markets.
“Those building blocks at Bow Valley College made me comfortable at getting out of my comfort zone and going into these different countries,” Shona says.
Leading with authenticity and connection
As she progressed in her career, Shona developed a leadership style grounded in authenticity and connection, shaped as much by her education as by her experience working with entrepreneurs.
“When you’re going into the corporate world, sometimes you feel like you have to shrink yourself or fit into a box to be able to do your job,” she says. “For me, being authentically myself—and learning the skills from Bow Valley College about public speaking and how I'm coming across—has been really helpful.”
That perspective guides how she works with businesses today. “I think businesses don’t want to be talked at—they want to be worked with,” she says.
A city she’s proud to represent
Shona is deeply connected to Calgary. After immigrating to Canada from the U.K. as a child, she developed a strong sense of pride in the city that continues to shape her work.
“I’m a very enthused Calgarian,” she says. “I’ve always had such love for the city and to be able to help [support businesses], I feel very lucky.”
That impact becomes tangible in moments when local success shows up on the global stage. During a recent trip to Tokyo, she spotted Calgary-made products inside a Costco in Japan, a moment that brought her work full circle.
“It’s the coolest thing ever to go into a Costco across the world and see local goods,” she says.
.webp)
