From FIFA fan to EA Sports intern: BBA graduand turns passion into purpose

For Joaquin Zapata, graduating from SFU’s Beedie School of Business is more than just a milestone—it’s a celebration of grit, growth, and going after what truly matters. The BBA graduand’s journey is marked by a relentless drive to merge passion with purpose. “Dreams remain just that—dreams—unless you put in the hard work, dedication, and relentless drive to make them a reality,” says Zapata. 

That mindset carried him through a whirlwind 2024 filled with case competitions, global travel, and a once-in-a-lifetime internship that brought his childhood dream to life. 

In January, Zapata and his teammates kicked off the year with a major victory at JDC West, Western Canada’s largest undergraduate business case competition. After months of rigorous prep and late-night practice sessions, their team earned first place among 13 top Canadian universities. 

But the momentum didn’t stop there. 

By May, Zapata was representing SFU Beedie on the international stage at the Maastricht Case Competition in the Netherlands. Facing off against 15 leading global universities, his team placed third overall—the highest rank for a Canadian university. “It was intense,” he recalls. “We worked tirelessly to solve and present cases to Deerns, Rabobank, and Starbucks APAC.” 

This was one of several case competitions Zapata took part in during his time at SFU Beedie. Earlier in the year, he competed at the Lazaridis International Case Competition (LazICC) in Waterloo, where his team was a finalist, placing fourth overall, and where he received the Best Speaker Award. He wrapped up his case competition experience on a high note, earning first place with his teammates at CoMIS, hosted by the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Business.

For Zapata, one of the most surreal experiences of his final year wasn’t in a boardroom—it was in a studio. 

A lifelong fan of EA Sports's FIFA franchise (now EA FC), Zapata landed an internship with the company as a Game Product Manager. “Growing up playing FIFA religiously after school and soccer, I never imagined I’d one day be working as a Game Product Manager on the very team that created the game I loved,” he says. 

During his internship, Zapata contributed to high-impact features like Cosmetic EVOs for FC25, shaping the roadmap, pricing, and product strategy. He also helped launch EA Sports's first-ever Ballon d’Or Weekend Event, introducing millions of fans to new in-game content. 

Looking ahead, Zapata is excited to build on this foundation. With a strong track record in strategy, product management, and collaborative leadership, he’s ready to make his mark in the tech and gaming industries. 

“SFU Beedie gave me the tools to think critically, communicate clearly, and lead with confidence,” he says. “But more importantly, it gave me the community and support to dream big—and the challenges to grow even bigger.”

As he crosses the convocation stage this June, Zapata will do so with a deep sense of gratitude—and an eye on the future. “Thank you, SFU Beedie, for the lessons, the incredible connections, and most importantly, the unforgettable memories with friends I'll cherish for years to come.”