Andrea Oh (‘98 BPE) is a dedicated U of A volunteer with a passion for helping others unlock their full potential. As a four-time tech founder, Andrea’s current company, Savvy Knowledge, develops cutting-edge solutions to measure performance that go beyond traditional metrics—measuring not just what people do, but what they think, feel, and believe while performing a skill. From biomechanics to self-reflection, her work supports coaches, trainers, and employers in by turning knowledge into action. A former volleyball player for the U of A Pandas, she has a passion for the "I did it" moment, which has grown into helping others do things they feel are “hard to do”… and succeeding.
For the past seven years, Andrea has been a dedicated volunteer with the Calgary Regional Chapter. In her role, she has brought alumni together in Calgary through, social events at alumni-owned businesses, and educational gatherings in the lecture series where she has “taken on the role of M.C. more than she ever would have thought!” she says laughing. She especially enjoys creating a vibrant green and gold presence at Calgary sports events, amping up the crowd and bringing alumni families together. She loves that working with the Calgary Regional Chapter has allowed her to be creative, try new things, and see what resonates with U of A alumni living down south.
Andrea loves volunteering because it’s always more than she expects—it fills her heart and her cup in new ways each time. Beyond the events themselves, there’s an energy, a sense of connection, and moments of laughter that make each experience special. She cherishes the unexpected conversations, the chance to learn something new, and the way volunteering shifts her perspective on the world. When she leaves an event, she always feels like a better version of herself.
One of her favorite volunteer experiences was the Pandas breakfast at the Calgary Zoo where she had the unique opportunity to wear the Pandas mascot costume. As a former Pandas volleyball player (with the tattoo to prove it) she remembers seeing Patches at every home game but often wondered what it would be like to be inside the suit. She remembers smiling so much that her face hurt (not that anyone could see inside the mask!).
Andrea’s advice to new volunteers is to “Trust your instincts and lean into what draws you to volunteer”. Take the time to figure out your "why"—understanding your motivation will help you find the right group where your efforts will have the greatest impact. Even if you don’t know your exact reason at first, follow what feels right. Andrea is grateful she connected with the Calgary Chapter, even before she fully understood her own "why." Over time, she realized her purpose was to be a role model by simply showing up, reducing barriers and stress in planning events, facilitating authentic connections with others, and watching the magic happen. It took two years of leaning in, but once she truly embraced the Chapter, volunteering became even more meaningful and exciting.
