DECEMBER 2020 ISSUE
BRITTANY JOHNSON
CO-PRESIDENT OF SMO CLUB. CREATING A NICHE. GETTING INVOLVED. GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
WINTER RECRUITMENT DESIGNERS WRITERS PHOTOGRAPHERS SOCIAL MEDIA & WEBSITE DIRECTOR FIND OUT MORE & APPLY ONLINE: https://www.lazyfaire.com/recruitment SUBMIT YOUR RESUME AND 1-2 SAMPLES OF YOUR WORK TO UOFALAZYFAIRE@GMAIL.COM
DECEMBER 27, 2020 DEADLINE
STAY LAZY STAY CONNECTED
@LAZYFAIRE
WWW.LAZYFAIRE.COM
@LAZYFAIREMAGAZINE
LAZYFAIRE
Want to be on the cover? or have an Ad featured? Nominate yourself or a friend under “Contact us” via our website Submit a poster of your event to be advertised
4
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
Editor’s Note
CONTRIBUTORS VP Editorial Nandini Chandra
Writers
Timiro Mohamed Josie Coutain-Segall
VP Art & Design Jazlynn Chan
Designers
Vaneeza Asif Kim Tinana Jacqueline Wong
Photographers Jerry Cao David Dang
VP Marketing Red Enorme
E D I TO R ’ S N OT E As the semester comes to an end, we prepare for the final stretch and the next semester. It has been a challenging and stressful semester for all of us, and everyone’s lives have changed dramatically since. Let’s not forget that December is the most festive month of the year so let’s spread some joy and be hopeful that we have a great year ahead. This month’s theme is THE FINAL STRETCH, where we want to talk about the end of the fall semester as we go into a new semester. In this issue, we will be hearing from the Strategic Management and Organization and talking about how we feel like the winter sets in and how it affects our semester and motivation. Read on!
Suits LF David Dang
VP Operations & Finance Bradley May
Parul Kanwar Editor-in-Chief
Table of Contents
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
5
CONTENTS 06
07
08
Meet the Team
Miscellaneous
Winter Blues
David Dang Vaneeza Asif Kim Tinana
Preparing for a New Semester
10
12
14
Student Spolight
Lazy Chat
Club’s Corner
Brittany Johnson Creating a Niche Getting Involved Greatest Accomplishments
Onita Blankenfeldt
SMO Club
6
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
Meet The Team
MEET THE TEAM
David Dang
Hey there! My name is David I am the Suits LF Director & a Photographer! I am in my 3rd year of the BCom program, majoring in MIS. One thing to know me is that I am a very big Oilers fan! In my free time I play and teach piano. My favourite movie is Avengers Endgame! My dream job would be working as a General Manger for any NHL team. I am passionate about photography because I like to capture special moments in time that can’t be expressed in words. I decided to join Lazy Faire because I want to expand my photography portfolio and gain more experience, as I currently run an amateur photography page on Instagram @DangGoodPics !
Photographer
Hi! I’m Vaneeza and I’m a 4th year finance student. I joined Lazy Faire this Fall through my interest in design and art. I’ve always loved drawing and designing random things, but all my other club experience has been related to finance. I’m so glad I applied for this role, because I’m having a blast!
Vaneeza Asif Designer
Kim Tinana Designer
My name is Kim and I am in my second year in BCom. I major in MIS with a minor in Accounting. This year, I am a designer for Lazy Faire. I am very thankful for having this role. I can finally let my buried creativity run wild! With school aside, you will find me listening to podcasts about real life stories, life advice and romance. I also enjoy trying out new food and binge watch TV shows.
Miscellaneous
Preparing for a new semester 01 Slow Down! Slow down and take a breather. You’re probably feeling stressed about the semester, your job, classes or other commitments but taking a few minutes to clear your head will help you focus on doing your best in 2021.
02 Do what you enjoy Watch a movie! Read a book! Finish that TV show, spend time with your family or complete the project you’ve been putting off since September. Just have fun and remember that a break is meant to be just that; a break. Life isn’t only about work it’s also about you
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
7
03 Exercise You may not feel motivated to go to the gym, but a short at-home exercise will help to improve your mental well-being and your mood.
04 School Supplies Having new school supplies to use while you listen to your professor’s video for the third time is going to do help you feel more prepared mentally and physically for the work you have going forward.
05 Fill your calendar The best way to manage your stress about your new classes is to know what you’re facing in the new year, including important dates & appointments.
06 Sleep in...but not too much The break is for you to relax so rest, catch up on the sleep you missed while studying for that last final. I know that it can be tempting to stay in bed until afternoon but to make sure your transition into the new semester is an easy one, start waking up earlier and earlier to train yourself to get to that 9 am lecture on time. Written by: Timiro Mohamed. Designed by: Vaneeza Asif
8
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
Winter Blues
Winter Blues
Written by: Josie Coutain-Segall & Nandini Chandra Designed by: Jacqueline Wong
About 2 to 3% of Canadians will experience SAD in their lifetime. Another 15% will experience a milder form of SAD that leaves them only slightly depressed, but still can live their life without major disruptions. People with seasonal affective disorder make up about 10% of all depression cases.
Source: Canadian Mental Health Association 2020
Winter Blues
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
A
9
s we approach the final few weeks leading up to the end of an unparalleled fall semester, many university students are struggling to find the motivation to continue. This online environment is hard enough in terms of motivation, but how does the weather change contribute to this?
suffer from SAD, making up many student demographics. Those who live far from the equator tend to be more likely to suffer from SAD, given that the daylight hours change drastically from summer solstice to winter solstice. This also applies to those of us living in Canada, far north of the equator. Light therapy is the most common Many will probably observe that long treatment for SAD, using artificial hours of darkness and cold weather light sources available at home. outside makes for a lack of energy. As it turns out, these casual findings For those who don’t suffer from may not be simply a side effect of SAD, winter weather can still affect some “winter laziness.” Seasonal motivation. It is recommended Affective Disorder or SAD is a type to set realistic goals, get physical of depression linked to a particular activity to elevate endorphin levels, season. Most of the time, it is felt boost energy, and most importantly, most strongly in the fall and winter take good care of yourself. months. Symptoms of SAD are similar to major depression, such as Students like to push through the a consistent despairing mood, sleep lack of motivation, but it often problems, changes in appetite and leads to more mental exhaustion. weight, irritability, fatigue, to name a Acknowledging your resistant few, including the lack of motivation. feelings and difficulty with motivation often helps because you The leading cause of SAD tends to put those feelings aside and study be a change in the amount of sunlight without distractions. During this exposed to it. This lack of sun may time, people tend to procrastinate upset the body’s natural circadian to no fault of their own but doing rhythms, also known as the biological that only makes them feel more clock, or affect neurotransmitter deflated. It is more emotionally functions. Interestingly enough, straining than doing the task at young people are more likely to hand. Finishing a job gives a sense
of accomplishment and activates our internal reward system. I find that it kind of increases our motivation to move forward.
For Alberta School of Business students, visit https://www.ualberta.ca/business/student-services/wellness
Urgent or Crisis Situations
Individual Counselling http://www.alberta.ca/current-students/counselling/index 780-492-5205 Monday, Thursday, & Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday & Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
ACCESS 24/7 780-424-2424, ext 2 Kids Help Phone 1-800-668-6868 24 Hour Distress Line 780-482-4357
However, jumping straight into a task can also bring about a slump, which is why it is essential to take it slow and gently go back to it sooner than later. Do not blame yourself. Think about hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro; it is not easy and can be uncomfortable, but the pleasure comes when you see the view from height, feel the fresh air. When you reach the destination, you get a sense of achievement and satisfaction. Focus on the outcome and not the struggle to get there! It is easy to question our abilities and compare ourselves with others but remember that we are all going through a challenging time. It is okay to be down. Talk to the people you are comfortable with who will also understand what you are going through. This can help you engage with the process and identify the critical tasks. Communication/ externalization can help you commit to immediate goals. You could also find out other points of view and tips. We are in this together!
10
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
Student Spotlight
Brittany Johnson
Q
A
Tell me a little about yourself, what major are you pursuing, why you choose it and what extracurriculars you are involved in?
I
am in my fourth-year university, third year of business. I started in science and transitioned into business because I love organization, projects, and strategy and I appreciate the peopleoriented atmosphere. I am an Operations Management major, and though I am not sure exactly where my degree will take me, I am so excited to try new things, and work on new projects! In addition to my OM major, I decided to keep my chemistry minor, as living in Alberta with the oil and gas industry, I felt it was important to have background knowledge, and I’ve always really liked the chemistry subject. Additionally, I’m the current Co-President of the SMO club. I started two years ago as Director Team Ambassadors, then last year I was the VP Events, and I’ve had such an amazing time. I wanted to continue with SMO because I genuinely believe that the club provides so many events that help ASoB students, and along with my co-president, we want to make new opportunities for students to expand their network and support their professional development, especially during COVID. The amazing SMO club executive team has organized five events this past semester, and they’ve all gone tremendously well. I’m also involved with JDC West as part of the OM competition team, which has been great fun, and I’ve learnt so much!
Student Spotlight
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
11
How do you see yourself creating a niche in business? I think that’s one of the most exciting parts of business, is the ability to try different areas of interest to find your strong suit. I remember in first year business, I was surrounded by so many talented people doing amazing things, which really motivated me to try as many of the different opportunities that I could, and I think that’s important, because it helps you learn more about your strengths.
What Advice would you give someone in their first year of business? The advice I would give a first year would be to get involved. With clubs and the community. I think everyone at heart wants to, but with the stress of studies, it’s often easier said than done. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how busy you are, as you have time to make time for those extras, because that’s how you grow, and gain practical experience. Even if you just allocated half an hour a week to something new, that’s still a great effort! Additionally, pay attention to all the events and services around you at university! There are so many different opportunities, that people put a lot of effort into to support students’ professional development, and they can be so useful! Lastly, especially during the pandemic, I would say to continue to make time for those around you, and take some time for breaks too, especially exercise! It seems counter-intuitive, but taking breaks and ensuring you’re eating, sleeping and exercising right, will actually increase your productivity.
How do you bring the technology you learn about in the classroom into your everyday life? Organizationally, functionally etc., what is the crossover? I use excel a fair bit. For example, I use it for health and wellness, and I also use it to monitor the time that I’m spending on different activities, especially my studying, so that I can see how long I spend on each subject. I additionally do a lot of planning on excel. Being organized is something that I’ve always been passionate about, anyone who knows me will confirm that. As an organized person, I try to take the efficiency and optimality that I see from operations management and apply that in my life the best I can.
What’s one of your proudest accomplishments as an ASoB student? I suppose one of my proudest achievements is winning the Executive of the Year award from the Students Union. I wasn’t proud because of the award itself, but because it was a great reflective moment that I utilized the opportunity to give back to the campus community and was able to create events to help other students get involved and enhance their university experience, which was the most rewarding aspect. Actually, there are many aspects that I’m proud of. I’ve learnt so much, met lots of interesting and kind people, and have tried so many new and exciting things! I’d additionally like to say, that during my degree, I’ve met a lot of talented individuals, and each one has a unique story, and each one trying their best to make the most out of their degree. It’s amazing and inspiring, and I’m so lucky to know and be a part of the campus community, and I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Written by: Timiro Mohammed Designed by: Kim Tinana
12
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
Lazy Chat
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
LAZY CHAT WITH:
ONITA BLANKENFELDT
Interviewed by: Nandini Chandra Designed by: Vaneeza Asif
I fell into teaching by accident. In the early 90s. At that time, Finland was joining the European Union, so there was a growth of business programs in English in universities and colleges. So, while I was doing my MBA, I had the opportunity to start teaching there. After that, I ended up teaching in Sweden and Russia. My goal wasn’t really to teach because I am a finance person, but it was an excellent way to build my resume. When my kids were little, I quit my job because I couldn’t work from 8-5 every day, and ended up moving back to Canada in 1996. I started teaching at Grant McEwan and the University of Lethbridge’s satellite campus in Edmonton, and eventually at the UofA. Once my daughters grew older, I went back into the industry of finance. In 2016, I technically retired, but I got bored. Then I ran into an old colleague from the School of Business, and she asked if I had thought about teaching there again. I said that I would love that, and now I have been back for three years. So that is my journey into teaching, but I had a career before and in between. I have had a career mostly in finance and on the business development end, so I have worked with science and math-oriented companies.
Lazy Chat Can you please elaborate why you think an international perspective is essential to learning? I have an international background because my father is Indian and my mother is English. I moved all around the world with them, which has changed how I look at the world. It is easy to have an ethnocentric perception of the world where you think that “everything is so amazing here, I don’t need to learn new languages, we have a huge market, so why do I need to understand?” There are so many dynamic shafts going around right now, like the US Presidential Election. North America is so individualistic that it makes us great, but it is also our greatest weakness that undermines our collective good. So in business, it is essential to see how other nations view the world, their responsibilities to each other, to the environment, and global peace. This is why I try to bring the international perspective, especially for those who might want to go abroad, those who haven’t had exposure, and the foreign exchange students because I want them to know that I see them.
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
We know you are very involved in your community and were a board member of the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS). Can you tell us more about how COVID-19 has impacted its influence on the community? EHS is a non-profit organization, so they depend heavily on donations. Right now, there are a couple of things making raising money a challenge. Many people are suffering financially, so that is one element. People are more likely to donate if there is a face to face interaction and during annual events. From a business perspective, for them to deliver on their mission, they need to have funds. I would say that since EHS has been around for a long time and has a loyal donor base, they are probably in a better position than other organizations. The facility where the animals are kept for adoption is not open to the public. COVID-19 has ramped up interest in having companion animals, so there is a lot more adoption than fostering. Once everything goes back to normal, these animals will still have a place in a home!
13
What is the best course that you have ever taught? The most favorite classes are the ones where the students get to do stuff. In some of my courses, like Marketing Communications and Marketing Strategies, I try to bring in actual projects. For example, in Marketing Communications, Goodwill Industries will come in and pose a marketing communications challenge to each section. We always remember what we do, and learning is better when we implement things. It is of good value for the students because they can put this on their resume. Some of the guest speakers I have in my class are some of my students from about 20 years ago who are now CEOs or own businesses. What advice would you give to students during the pandemic? Because of the environment, think about what you can do during your degree to differentiate yourself, like volunteering or networking. Take time out to develop an area of interest for your career. After graduating, people apply for everything, but if you can narrow your focus, it is easier to decide what works for you and what does not. Even if you don’t get paid for the experience, it is as valuable as getting paid.
14
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
Club’s Corner
Written by: Josie Coutain-Segall Designed by: Jacqueline Wong RECONCILING THE GAP BETWEEN ACADEMICS AND THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD
THE ORGANIZATION IS BUILT ON THREE PILLARS
VISION
STRATEGY
INGENUITY
Club’s Corner
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
15
T
he University of Alberta’s Strategic Management and Organization Club (SMO Club) is an initiative committed to increasing awareness and demonstrating the relevancy of the University’s Strategic Management and Organization program. The organization also strives to reconcile the gap between academics and the professional world, providing members with “academic resources and vast opportunities for the practical application of classroom skills.” The organization is built on three pillars - vision, strategy, and ingenuity - represented by the three burgundy beams in their logo.The group has a vision of providing opportunities for members to challenge themselves and improve their interpersonal skills and adaptability to different scenarios and their business knowledge. In an interview with the Co-President, Brittany Johnson, she stated that “[the SMO Club is] known to do unique events and hope to keep that up this year. We want to continue to provide students with new, valuable opportunities so they can continue to grow, even during a pandemic”.. The SMO Club’s most popular event last year was called Cipher, a case interview event that takes shape in the famous board game Clue. Johnson says that participating in case of interviews instead of case competitions gives the participants the opportunity “to better understand the case and propose a recommendation.” The club hosts Insightopedia (an online research competition), Light in the Dark (a case competition where participants must navigate mystery surprises collectively), and Gameplan. In this sponsored case competition, the prize is an interview for a summer internship with the sponsor company! Johnson says, “[t]he SMO club aims to support students more during an unpredictable and stressful COVID year. We wanted to increase our offerings and resources so that all business students have continued opportunities to get involved, gain relevant practice, and create a sense of community in a safe way”. Additional online offers this year include video interviews with the owners of 6 local businesses about their business strategies about entrepreneurship and management and the effects of the pandemic on their companies, as well as an array of online workshops. Johnson encourages anyone interested in SMO to get involved with the SMO Club to “participate in online events [and] try to make time to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible.” Learning more by visiting their website at www.smoclub.org or check out their social media.