When Nihal Inel enrolled in McMaster University’s Computer Engineering and Management program, she didn’t expect to find herself exploring the world of food and beverage processing.
But a curiosity about supply chains, a strategic podcast listen, and a drive to make a tangible impact led her to an industry more dynamic than most give it credit for.
Now, as the latest recipient of the $1,000 CareersNOW! Scholarship, Nihal is encouraging others to take a closer look at an industry that too often flies under the radar.
“It’s not just packaging and production,” she says. “There’s tech, science, entrepreneurship, and so many layers of leadership involved. It brings together all these disciplines in a way that actually affects people’s lives.”
Her perspective isn’t theoretical. With a resume that includes software development co-ops and leading a student society, Nihal understands the importance of wearing multiple hats. It was that exact mindset that drew her to a CareersNOW! podcast featuring a guest who jumped from corporate life into startup culture, a move that resonated with her own career questions.
What stuck with her about Joseph Lyons was his untraditional path. “It reassured me that you don’t have to have everything figured out, and that pivoting into something unexpected can actually be a strength,” she says.
What excites Nihal most about food and beverage processing is its intersectionality: tech, sustainability, public health, and business all converge in an industry that feeds the nation — literally.
“It plays a huge role in how we live. If we can make it more sustainable and transparent, that’s real impact.”
She admits that many of her peers haven’t considered food and beverage as a career path. To that, she has one message:
“Be open-minded. Lack of awareness is often the only barrier. Once you look into it, you see how much potential there is.”
As for the scholarship? Nihal is grateful, not just for the financial boost, but for the chance to learn something new.
“Watching the podcast and seeing someone else’s experience was really reassuring,” she says, “I’m so glad I came across the opportunity.”
So are we. Congrats, Nihal. Thanks for reminding us that sometimes, the best career paths are the ones you didn’t see coming!
Hungry for a New Direction?
The food and beverage processing world is way more than hairnets and conveyor belts. With CareersNOW!, you can explore unexpected roles, build real skills, and maybe even find your niche where you least expect it.
Sign up for free and get access to career coaching, virtual job fairs, and 15 self-paced training courses.
Opportunity’s on the menu, grab a plate.
