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30th Anniversary Promo NC 2011 Awards Exchange Night Alumni Spotlight Coastal Conference Final Goodbye Incoming EB Keep In Touch
Issue 6.0 - Spring 2011 AIESEC SFU Alumnus Newsletter
AIESEC SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY ISSUE 6.0 - SPRING 2011
Editors
Salina Siu Pamela Santos
Design
Pamela Santos
Contributors
Writers Tamara Hombrebueno Alex Juy Ann Wang James Lim Salina Siu Colleen Wong
Photographs Tamara Hombrebueno Alex Juy Ann Wang James Lim Salina Siu Colleen Wong Dennis Chen Iris Eom Ellen Law Shawn Johnstone
AIESEC SFU
Simon Fraser University 8888 University Drive Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 T 778.782.4187 F 778.782.5571 www.aiesec.ca
AIESEC SFU EXECUTIVE BOARD 2011-2012 From left to right: Local Committee President Vice President of Finance Vice President of Outgoing Exchange Vice President of Communications Vice President of Corporate Relations Vice President of Alumni Relations Vice President of Talent Management
Alex Juy Jodi Hui Chaitanya Spencer Salina Siu Christina Buiza Esther Cheng Iris Eom
For any Alumni inquiries, please contact: Esther Cheng Vice President of Alumni Relations esther.cheng@aiesec.net
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AIESEC SFU Alumnus Newsletter
Tamara
30 Anniversary Promo th
Hombrebueno
“30 years of Activating Leadership” Since 1981, AIESEC SFU has been providing students with leadership opportunities and the chance to participate in a Global Internship Program. Thirty years of activating student leadership is a milestone we want to share with you. For our anniversary, we are celebrating our achievements and honouring our alumni. The event will bring together the past, present and future of prominent AIESEC Alumni from past decades and the ambitious student leaders of tomorrow.
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WHO: AIESEC Alumni and Members WHAT: Casual Mixer WHEN: Thursday, April 28, 2011 WHERE: Ceili's Irish Pub and Restaurant
For more information, check out http://www.aiesecsfu30th.com/
In honour of our 30th Anniversary, Alumni Relations is collecting aspiring stories from alumni to highlight some of their best experiences and how their involvement has professionally and personally developed them. These stories will be featured as “30 Stories for our 30th Anniversary” and shared on different media channels such as our alumni e-newsletter and SFU newsletters. We also hope to use some of these stories for member recruitment and to promote AIESEC’s GIP to externals. If you have any AIESEC stories to share, please email Esther Cheng at esther.cheng@aiesec.net.
Keep posted for updates on registration!
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AIESEC SFU Alumnus Newsletter
Alex Juy
NC 2011 Awards
National Congress 2011 was held in Edmonton, Alberta over the winter holidays. Four very qualified individuals took the next step in their AIESEC careers to run for Member Committee President (MCP) of AIESEC Canada. Congratulations to Peter Gallivan, current MCVP Corporate Relations and previous LCP for AIESEC Ottawa, for being elected as AIESEC Canada’s next MCP! NC 2011 was a huge success for AIESEC SFU. The biggest accomplishment was winning the Communications Excellence Award. AIESEC SFU was recognized for its social media initiatives in Communications as the best out of the 28 local committees across Canada. With consistent brand aligned media appearances throughout the year, and making use of new media, AIESEC SFU was rewarded with the Communications Excellence award. If you are able to help us with
our communication efforts, such as including an AIESEC blurb in your company newsletter or blog, please contact our incoming VP of Communications, Salina Siu at salina.siu@aiesec.net.
In addition, AIESEC SFU was announced as the top three finalists for two awards. Congratulations to our Alumni Relations portfolio for being nominated for the Alumni Relations Excellence Award. Their determination and passion in seeking alumni and learning about their stories and past involvements in innovative ways earned them this nomination. This portfolio is now starting its third year, so this is a huge achievement for something so new to be recognized. As our alumni, if you have any suggestions on how we can improve our portfolio, email our incoming VP of Alumni Relations, Esther Cheng at esther. cheng@aiesec.net. Our second nomination for an award was the Financial Sustainability Award. After owing a large debt to AIESEC Canada, AIESEC SFU has taken a huge effort to decrease it substantially over the past two years by focusing on core work. It has been a tough two years, but I can proudly say, AIESEC SFU has become financially
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sustainable. If you would like to support our core work and hire an AIESEC intern at your company, email Christina Buiza, our incoming VP of Corporate Relations for more information on our Global Internship Program at christina. buiza@aiesec.net. After a rough couple of years, it was an amazing achievement to be nominated as finalists for two portfolio awards and winning the third. Thank you to everyone that has supported AIESEC SFU. Without your support, the Executive Board 2010-2011 team could not have accomplished what they did and paved a path to excellence in our local committee.
AIESEC SFU Alumnus Newsletter
Ann Wang
Exchange Night
AIESEC SFU held our first Exchange Night on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at SFU Burnaby to give students a glimpse into what an AIESEC Exchange is like. It was a night to promote and talk about AIESEC’s Global Internship Program where past exchange participants came to talk about their experiences abroad. It was really inspirational and motivated a lot of AIESEC members to start thinking about going on their own internship. The majority of the evening was spent listening to fascinating presentations given by each speaker, which were all aided by interesting compilations of photographs and/or video. Their personal insights and testimonials gave the opportunity for attendees to re-live their experience aboard. Each presenter had gone to a different country and had varying experiences during their respective internships. We also had Julius Walczynski, an AIESEC Alumni present about his exchange to Armenia in 2004. He emphasized how difficult it is to experience a country’s culture if you are not living there. Julius met a lot of friendly people there and retold some funny moments.
There was also time for casual mingling, during which interaction between the guest speakers, AIESEC members and students were encouraged. This resulted in great conversation and allowed everyone to get to know each other. Exchange Night inspired a lot of students to go on an AIESEC Exchange so it was a great success. A special thank you to our Alumni, Julius Walczynski for taking the time to join us for the evening and offering a great presentation!
Exchange Participants
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AIESEC SFU Alumnus Newsletter
Exchange Participants Amir, who went on a technical internship in Belgium, was able to take time off for weeks at a time and travel all over Europe. He had some really great insight on budget management which allowed him to travel to so many countries. We also had Ellen present about her development internship for Mercy Corps, an international NGO, in Padang, Indonesia. She stayed with her host family where they cooked her a new dish to try every night, in an effort to help her experience Indonesian culture. Ellen also described how accomplished she felt being able to map disaster evacuation routes for the schools. After her internship was complete, thousands of copies of her maps were printed and distributed. They were also printed on huge billboards in the area. Ellen truly made a difference in the disaster risk reduction program in West Sumatra. Read about her experience on her blog www.ckmh.wordpress.com Shawn, who spent two months in Chennai, India on a development internship, described how different the work environment is in India compared to Canada and how he overcame the language barrier. He was able to travel all over after his internship ended. You can read about his experience in his blog Indiyea www.indiyea.blogspot.com If you would like to share your AIESEC story with us in the future, contact Bealaine Pamandanan at bp.aiesecsfu@gmail.com to share your own experience.
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AIESEC SFU Alumnus Newsletter
James Lim
Alumni Spotlight
When you were in AIESEC, what did you do? Hello, my name is Igor Faletski and I am the CEO of Mobify, a Vancouver based mobile web company and an AIESEC Alumni. I graduated from SFU and from AIESEC in 2007. I spent about a couple of years involved with AIESEC and that was mostly in the ICX portfolio, which was what it was known then, and as OCP of Coastal 2007, which was a conference organized for AIESEC chapters in BC. I had an OC of three people and we tried really hard to do the best that we could, like raising money for the conference. Two out of those three people are working with me right now in my current company which is a testament to how great that experience was for all of us, not just in the acquisition of skills, but in the friends that we have made.
How do you think your experience in AIESEC helped you in your current career? My educational background was in computer science, so I was trained to be a software developer and Coastal was the first time that I had somebody report to me and work with me and whom I could delegate tasks to. I did learn the skill of how to delegate tasks to others which I do more now in my current job rather than software development, so I think the experience of leading Coastal has helped me become a better manager and I think it applies not just to me, but everyone who worked with me as well. Have you taken any interns from AIESEC? I haven’t but we have been looking recently and I think eight to twelve months from now, we might be looking again. We are a very technology driven company which means that we need extremely advanced engineering talent but later on as our organization gets more diverse and we need more
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people for our marketing, sales and HR, we will look to AIESEC to help us hire people.
Do you have any advice to give to new AIESECers? Well first I want to say that they have made the right decision and the friendships, learning, the parties, the culture-everything is going to be extremely worth it and they will definitely become busier because they are in AIESEC. If they were not in AIESEC, then they would not be doing things that could have done. One never knows what to expect in an organization like AIESEC. Do you think your AIESEC experience enabled you to achieve where others have not? I think it gave me some basic business skills that I would not have gotten otherwise for starting this company. What do you love and not love about AIESEC? I think I love the people. My first experience in AIESEC was going to West Coast Conference, I forgot where it was, Saskatoon maybe, but anyway I love the people. They were amazing people that made me want to do more with my life and I think being around people who are inspired and passionate is a great reward for being in AIESEC. Even though there is so much work, it feels good to be working so hard. As for the things that I don’t like, one thing I would say that I dislike is the turnover where you only serve a year in your position. I find that it takes a while to learn what you’re supposed to be doing and before you know it; it’s time to train the next person. So I wish the turnover in AIESEC was longer. Do you have any suggestions on improving that? I would test a two year term as opposed to a one year term and see what happens, or maybe a year and a half. I know it might not work with the university structure but I would think of AIESEC that is something different from the university or college that benefits students in a different way. As an alumnus, I look at AIESEC from the outside and you kind of know what to expect because every year it’s the same thing just with different people.
to because there isn’t any ongoing work apart from showing up every now and again and meet new people, which is the same as any networking event where you go back to the foundation that gave you something. Do you or your company benefit from all these interactions with AIESEC? It’s hard to say, but the fact that I could hire people that I used to work with back in AIESEC is very assuring. Beyond that, I think we are looking at who are the next generation of leaders and perhaps making some hiring decisions early and seeing who would qualify for a job with Mobify. Right now, the web segment market is very competitive in Vancouver and in some job markets, the salaries are the same as the U.S. so it is important to actively seek out new talent and acquire them. Did you have any bittersweet moments in AIESEC? Was it sad for you to leave? Well, I was more interested in starting a business than remaining in AIESEC, but you never really leave AIESEC because now I’m an alumnus. However, I was very interested in starting a business after leaving school. I think it’s important for the EB to maintain contact with former AIESEC members instead of just letting them drop sharply of the map and never be seen again. Do you have any advice for AIESEC members who will be leaving AIESEC soon? Apart from starting a business, I would say that learning never ends so I would suggest doing things that involve interaction with others and always trying to improve oneself. I think it’s important to not relax after leaving AIESEC because work is a part of a happy life. You should find something you love and try to do it for a living and get paid for it. Do you have any closing words for our readers? I would like to thank AIESEC for the opportunity, the people, and the parties!
As an alumnus, you are quite involved with AIESEC SFU events such as the recent LCP election. Yeah, it is not difficult to be involved in AIESEC if you want
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AIESEC SFU Alumnus Newsletter
Salina Siu
Coastal Conference
Hosted by AIESEC UBC, Coastal Conference 2011 brought together AIESEC UBC, SFU, Kwantlen, Victoria, Seattle and San Jose for a weekend of intense learning and development. The three day conference was held on Friday, February 18-20, 2011 at the Holiday Inn downtown. The theme of this year’s conference was discover, connect and lead. We had some amazing facilitators, including SFU’s own outgoing Local Committee President, Colleen Wong and outgoing Vice-President of Alumni Relations, Bealaine Pamandanan. The facilitators ran workshops to help old and new members discover more about AIESEC, as well as themselves. One of my favourite workshops divided all the delegates into groups and then sub-groups. Each sub-group had to present and sell AIESEC to different audiences such as parents, students, the Dean, alumni and companies. It taught us how to tailor our AIESEC pitch in different situations and we received valuable feedback on how we performed.
Another highlight of the conference was Simulation, which was a replication of an entire AIESEC year with four quarters and only 15 minutes for each quarter. It was pure chaos as groups tried to plan recruitment and alumni events while raising internships and exchange participants. We learned how valuable it is to have a Local Committee President so each portfolio receives direction on what to do and how to work together. We also learned how much work there is to do in the finance portfolio every quarter! It was an eye-opening experience and it will help members realize how important communication really is. With 120 delegates present from six different Local Committees, there were
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definitely a lot of connections made which is essential for the long term growth of the Coast. Every year, Coastal Conference gives us the chance to build relationships with other Local Committees and work together as a whole. It was really amazing to see members step up and leaders emerge throughout the learning, laughing, cheering and dancing. It has inspired many to come back to our Local Committee and contribute more by taking on a leadership role. This year has so much potential and I can’t wait to see how much we can accomplish! I truly believe the Coast, the Coast, the Coast is the most! And that the West, the West, the West is the best!
AIESEC SFU Alumnus Newsletter
National Leadership Development Conference 2011
Y
r e f ! Of t r o p p u S our
It’s time to start counting down to our next conference which is National Leadership Development Conference (NLDC) 2011. It will be held on May 4-9, 2011 by AIESEC Ottawa. This national AIESEC conference consists of over 250 members from 28 Local Committees across Canada. It is designed to develop top leaders, cultivate AIESEC Canada goals and explore social issues affecting youth and businesses today. AIESEC SFU will be starting a Conference Fund to provide financial assistance to students to offset the costs of travel to national conferences. Your support is greatly appreciated and will help develop top leaders. As a registered charity, AIESEC Canada is able to issue tax receipts for all donations over $50. To donate, please visit www.aiesec.ca/en/alumni/make-a-donation
Donate Now! Once AIESECer,
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AIESEC SFU Alumnus Newsletter
Colleen Wong
Final Goodbye
To all of AIESEC SFU’s Alumni and its Current Members,
If you asked me a year ago, if I thought AIESEC SFU would ever be financially sustainable while still producing results, I would have answered with an “I really hope so”. If you asked me a year ago, if I thought I would ever see AIESEC SFU become one of most improved local committees in AIESEC Canada, I would have answered “Let’s be realistic and just focus on what we are doing right now”. If you asked me a year ago, if I was certain that AIESEC SFU would have successors and leadership pipelines, I would have answered “I don’t care, I will stay local committee president as long as it takes…to see AIESEC SFU become successful” I sit here today with a smile on face, trying to find the words to describe how incredibly proud I am of what we have achieved since last year. AIESEC Canada has recognized our achievements through three excellence award nominations at national Congress 2011: Alumni Relations, Finance and finally we were the winners of the Communication award. By the end of January, we already had 3 Traineeships raised and currently we have over 15 exchange participants in the pipeline. For the first time in approximately two years, we no longer owe any money to AIESEC Canada and is financially sustainable. Thanks to the outgoing team, who has worked hard to build a strong foundation for the future of AIESEC SFU. It seems like only yesterday, that we were still getting to know each other and trying to figure out how to work as a team. AIESEC SFU is where it is now because of your dedication and love for the organization and I am happy to say…that is it time for us to let go. To the AIESEC SFU’s incoming executive team of 2011-2012, don’t be afraid. It is your turn to write your own chapter within AIESEC SFU. You all have already accomplished so much and you haven’t even realized it yet. You all have the passion for AIESEC, and I can’t wait to see AIESEC SFU as one of the top 10 local committees in AIESEC Canada. Thanks to all the alumni for staying with us through the ups and the downs, and I hope that you are as proud as I am of what this team has accomplished. I look forward to sharing and celebrating AIESEC SFU’s future success as alumni.
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Thank you all for your continuous support and contributions to and remember: “Nothing is Impossible, Strive for Excellence, and Don’t ever Stop” AIESECLY Yours…Always,
Colleen Wong Outgoing Local Committee President
AIESEC SFU Alumnus Newsletter
Esther Cheng VP, Alumni Relations esther.cheng@aiesec.net
Incoming EB
Past Position: Director of AR Major: English Year of study: 3 Joined @: January 2010 Best @ moment thus far: I don’t have a favourite moment in particular; but I always have a lot of fun when the entire LC gets together, be it during a conference or bonding events.
Chaitanya Spencer VP, Outgoing Exchange (OGX) chaitanya.spencer@aiesec.net Past Position: Dir of National Projects, EP Manager, Dir of Recruitment, Dir of Assessment Center Major: History Honours and International Studies Major Year of study: 3 Joined @: Fall 2009 Best @ moment thus far: AIESEC 101 in the Fall sem was truly rewarding as I was able to tangibly see the result of the work the ROC and EB had done to recruit so many interesting and excited new people.
Jodi Hui VP, Finance jodi.hui@aiesec.net Past Position: Controller Major/Concentration: Business: Accounting Honors and Finance Year of study: 4 Joined @: Fall 2010 Best @ moment thus far: WRC2010. This conference showed me that AIESECers play hard but work even harder.
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It is my pleasure to introduce the new Executive Board of AIESEC SFU. After returning from turnover weekend, we are pumped up to kick off the new term and make this one of the most memorable. Thank you to outgoing Executive Board for laying the foundations and restructuring our local. Without their hard work, determination and passion for AIESEC SFU, we would not be where we are today! With three companies already signed up for our Global Internship Program, we are looking forward to introducing three interns to Vancouver soon. Also, with over 15 candidates ready to experience the world, our Outgoing Exchange portfolio will be preparing for their departure. The outgoing Executive had a large impact on so many individuals. On behalf of the 2011-2012 team, I hope you will join us on taking AIESEC SFU to a whole new level. AIESEC-ly yours,
Alex Juy Local Committee President alex.juy@aiesec.net
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Past Position: Director of Matching, OGX/ Director of Information Systems, Comm / Director of Alumni Events, AR Major: Computing Science, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Year of study: 5 Joined @: February 2009 Best @ moment thus far: Development traineeship in Malaysia, international conference in Korea
Christina Buiza VP, Corporate Relations christina.buiza@aiesec.net Past Position: Director of Corporate Relations Major/Concentration: BA Comm Year of study: 3 Joined @: Fall 2009 Best @ moment thus far: Nothing can compare to the adrenaline rush you feel after booking your first marketing call!
Salina Siu VP, Communications salina.siu@aiesec.net
Past Position: VP Communications Major: Joint Major in Business Administration and Computing Science Year of study: 5 Joined @: February 2009 Best @ moment thus far: Tie between winning the Spirit Keg and winning the Communications Award.
AIESECer
Iris Eom VP, Talent Management iris.eom@aiesec.net
Past Position: Marketing and Branding Manager Major: Business: Marketing and Entrepreneurship Year of Study: 4 Joined @: May 2009 Best @ moment thus far: Creating an infographic that AIESEC committees will be using from all over the world.
AIESEC SFU Alumnus Newsletter
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Alex Juy
Local Committee President alex.juy@aiesec.net
AIESEC SFU
Simon Fraser University 8888 University Drive Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6
778.869.2478
Esther Cheng
www.aiesec.ca/sfu T: 778.782.4187 F: 778.782.5571
VP, Alumni Relations esther.cheng@aiesec.net 778.388.3976
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AIESEC SFU Alumnus Newsletter