January 2016 by Lazy Faire

FOR AND BY BUSINESS STUDENTS

JANUARY 2016

DARREN CHIN A RISING LEADER IN THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

FINANCE & ACCOUNTING INSIGHT ON DESIGNATIONS PERSONAL FINANCE 101

SUITS

OUR NEWEST ONLINE FEATURE

PRODUCTIVITY IN THE NEW YEAR

EFFECTIVE MEETINGS EARLY BIRDS VS. NIGHT OWLS THE KEY TO RESOLUTIONS

CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kevin Espenido

CREATIVE CONTENT EDITORS WRITERS

Bulcha Dolal Isabela Maciel Kara Hauca Lindsay Rainbow Marina Bryan Nicole Hammond Rahique um Maktoom Handoo

ART DIRECTOR

Anna Lee

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

Mimi Ngo

DESIGNERS

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Deanna Bains Jessica Aranibar Maggie Lam Nichole Chen Patrick Li Sarah Vlieg

EVENTS COORDINATORS

Zhayate Meng

Paulina Brittner

DIGITAL COORDINATOR

Clarissa Samuel

EXTERNAL DIRECTOR

Kelsea Zalaski

SPONSORSHIP COORDINATOR

Matthew Ryan

PRODUCTION SPONSORED BY

SPECIAL THANKS TO

WEBSITE

Giving In Style Impactful donating and where to do it

The Finance of Fashion Maximizing ROI in your apparel investments

Personal Finance 101 Your basics to growing and keeping personal wealth

FYI

Early Birds vs. Night Owls Who comes out on top in the struggle for productive supremacy?

Darren Chin Learning and growing as a leader

Nathan Petersen Crafting your own success

PRIME The rigorous and prestigious student run fund

Colleen Xie CPA Ambassador to the Alberta School of Business

THOUGHT VS. THOUGHT

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

CLUBS CORNER

LAZY CHAT

Xerox Canada Priority Printing CPA Alberta Diana Wyley Business Alumni Association

Editor’s Note What’s Up

FASHION TRENDS

Steven Co Kristi Wong

MARKETING COORDINATOR

5 6

COMMUNITY CENTRE

Adrienne Leung Felicia Liang Samantha Semler

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

JANUARY 2016

Carey Poon Kyra Cusveller

Workout Playlist Hard hitting songs to inspire your gains

#SuitsLF Our newest online initiative to share your stories

Effective Meetings Five key tips to maximize your time in groups

New Year, New You? It’s all about the intention

A Tale of American Apparel A once glorified retailer now struggling to stay afloat

uofalazyfaire@gmail.com www.lazyfaire.com

cover designed by ANNA LEE cover photographed by ADRIENNE LEUNG

EDITOR'S NOTE

As a marketing student, I often hear comments critical of our friends in accounting and finance. They’re easily passed off as socially awkward or blindly chasing job security and wealth rather than fulfilling careers. But my time at the School of Business has offered me an appreciation for my peers who deal in financials. I have met incredible individuals who are passionate about the work that they do and are on incomparable trajectories to success. They handily put the contrived stereotypes of “pompous investment banker” and “hermit auditor” to bed and greatly benefit the clubs and organizations they work with. So, in the spirit of this month’s Finance & Accounting theme, I’d like to focus your thoughts on an aspect of business that every professional is tasked with: creating value. Whether it be marketers who create value in the brands they manage, or the auditors who ensure accuracy and compliance, every role serves to better the company.

professional. From holding effective meetings, to keeping your resolutions resolute, to the experiences of past and present students who have generated immense value for the groups they’ve worked with, our January publication goes beyond the major written on the top of your transcript. At the end of the day, your success and renown are a result of the value you’ve created and the impact you’ve made on your teams. Take every baseless criticism with a levelheaded grain of salt, and make every effort to ensure your work and your value speak for themselves.

KEVIN ESPENIDO Editor-in-Chief

This month’s issue contains articles to help you add further value to your life, both personal and

FROM THE TEAM KYRA CUSVELLER, CONTENT EDITOR Going vegetarian has hands-down been the best step I have taken to save money as a university student. Alternative protein sources like beans and lentils are often much cheaper than meat, and have the added bonus of reducing your environmental footprint. INSTAGRAM: @kyracusveller

PAULINA BRITTNER, MARKETING COORDINATOR

As a student, creating a long-term savings plan can be difficult. Having a part-time job definitely helps, and I like to save approximately 20% of my pay cheque for both long-term savings and traveling when I complete my degree. Create a realistic budget, and stick to it!

INSTAGRAM: @paulinabrittner

In the interest of creating and preserving value for other business students, this month, I asked the team what steps they take to save and invest their money:

SAMANTHA SEMLER, PHOTOGRAPHER The number one thing that has saved me financially through university has been applying for as many scholarships as I can. Some applications are more intense than others, but using the scholarship forms from the Undergrad office, and going through Student Awards on Beartracks allows you to apply for a whole database of cheques with only one application form. Even getting a single scholarship makes the time worth it.

JESSICA ARANIBAR, DESIGNER Taking finance last year really taught me the importance of saving as soon as you can. Ever since that class, I’ve set up my bank account so that a portion of every paycheck I get is automatically put into my savings. This has been so helpful, and I would recommend it to every student, as you are actively adding money into your savings every month with little effort.

SUHUR OMAR, PHOTOGRAPHER I use a stricter savings account where I can’t easily transfer my money from an account to another; it also has a few more perks that allow me to earn more interest. Saving a quarter of my paycheques and a dollar after every transaction helps too. I’ve also started selling my old clothes and slowly letting go of my hoarding tendencies. Today, I’m brushing up on my sewing skills so I can start selling my own clothes to my community. INSTAGRAM: @suhuromar

WHAT’S UP

CASE COMPETITION New year, new semester. You may still be writing “2015” at the end of your dates, but 2016 has officially arrived, and as usual, the clubs in the SoB have gotten down to business faster than you can say “Happy New Year!” And in true Business fashion, there’s no better way to get the ball rolling than with the first case competition of the year, hosted by the University of Alberta Accounting Club. Far from being the “anti-social bean counters” that accountants are supposed to be, the UAAC has been extremely active in providing opportunities and services to accounting students and other business students alike. They are a great source for any accounting

student wanting to learn more about the CPA program, or about the accounting firms in the city – many of which attend their annual Alberta Accounting Dinner. The ever-useful Tax Clinic you see popping up under the Atrium stairs every March is also courtesy of the UAAC (look out for more information if you are interested in volunteering)! This new year, the UAAC is rolling out another event with the fourth year of their case competition! Teams of four will be competing in the 24-hour case competition, which will focus on current accounting issues. The winning team will win a cash prize, but as if that weren’t enough motivation, participants

also get a chance to show off their skills to, and receive feedback from, industry professionals from the best accounting firms. It will be an invaluable opportunity for students to network with professionals while munching on some free lunch and dessert – after all, who doesn’t love free food? The event will be held from January 15th to 16th in the MBA Lounge (4-06), so feel free to come out and watch our accounting students put those debits and credits to good use!

written by RAHIQUE UM MAKTOOM HANDOO designed by ANNA LEE photo courtesy of UAAC

written by LINDSAY RAINBOW designed by KEVIN ESPENIDO

COMMUNITY CENTRE

Now that it’s January, you may find yourself with piles of unwanted clothing items taking up space in your closet. Maybe a “New Year, New You” mentality resulted in a complete purge of your closet, or you received clothing as gifts over the holidays, or you took advantage of Boxing Day sales. For whatever reason you may find yourself in this predicament, remember there are a few different ways you can get rid of these items while giving back to your community, taking care of the environment, and keeping the giving season going.

DONATION CENTERS This is the most obvious solution to the problem of a clothing overload. There are several places throughout Edmonton where anyone can drop off gently used clothing, and help others in the community while doing so. Check out these options to find one near you, or one with a cause close to your heart. Goodwill & Value Village: Goodwill and Value Village both collect donations of all types (read: not just clothing), and sell the items at their thrift stores. Typically, the donations are sold at low prices to foster the sustainable independence of people who were once disadvantaged. The profits are put towards funding numerous important programs, community events, and local non-profits. If you choose to donate to Value Village, your unsold items will be recycled or sent to

developing countries. Check out the “Get Involved” tab at goodwill.ab.ca for donation locations, or valuevillage.com/donate. Boys & Girls Clubs Big Brothers Big Sisters of Edmonton & Area: This organization also collects donations of clothing and other items, which are then sold to Value Village thrift stores, offering low income families inexpensive options. The proceeds of the sales go towards BGCBigs programs, which continue the important work of helping kids in our community. Check out bgcbigs.ca under “Get Involved” to schedule a free, at-home pick up of your items, or to find the location of the donation bins nearest to you.

CONSIGNMENT STORES & RECYCLING PROGRAMS If you have some particularly nice items that you just don’t reach for anymore, consignment stores might be a good option for you. Consignment stores buy your nicer items that are in brand new condition, but that just aren’t getting the love they deserve from you. There are a few in the city, and similar online options if that’s more your speed. Caprice West: Caprice West is a popular option if you want to sell some of your nicer items. Don’t be put off by the distance – it’s definitely worth a trip to West Edmonton, whether you’re buying or selling. Check it out at 10630 – 170 Street NW, or at capricewest.com for more details.

themselves. Threadflip allows you to mail your unwanted items in a prepaid box. They are then photographed, listed, and sold for you. If you choose, they’ll even donate your unsold items to Goodwill on your behalf. Check out threadflip.com sell for more details. H&M: H&M has donation bins in each of its stores, and they’ll reward you with a $5 discount voucher (off a $30 purchase) for every bag of used clothing you drop off, in an effort to encourage others to be more environmentally conscious and help out local charities. For more information check out hm.com/ca/garment-collecting.

Threadflip: Threadflip is an online consignment shop that is great for those who aren’t interested in doing all of the work involved with selling their items Sometimes old clothes aren’t in the best shape anymore, and if they can’t be donated, there are tons of cool DIY projects all over the Internet (Pinterest and POPSUGAR have some awesome ideas) to repurpose old items and have some fun doing it! There are several options out there if you’re looking for ways to get rid of old clothing, give back to the community, and protect the environment. However you choose to do it, remember that the start of a new year is the perfect time to give your old clothes new life, and an opportunity to keep the giving season going, even if the holidays are over.

FASHION TRENDS

THE FINANCE OF FASHION: MAXIMIZING YOUR ROI written by ISABELA MACIEL designed by NICHOLE CHEN & ANNA LEE

As students entering the professional world, we are constantly struggling to build an acceptable and appropriate wardrobe that doesn’t break the bank, and still leaves money for coffee. Spending more than $50 on any clothing item can be heartwrenching, especially when you’re living on a student budget, but some pieces are worth the splurge. Investment pieces are clothes that, while being on the pricier side, will generate you the best return on your purchase. Not into finance? Our best tips are below.

A quick guide to investing: Before you pull out your credit card to buy that watch that costs half a month’s rent, there are a few things to consider to ensure you’re getting the best return on your investment. 1. It should fit. And if it doesn’t, it should be tailored to fit you. If you’re going to shell out a large sum on any piece it should look like it was made for you and flatter your body. 2. It should be versatile! Cost per wear is important when every dollar counts. Make sure you’ll get a good amount of use out of the piece to make the splurge a little less painful. Pick pieces that will transition you to different seasons and that can be paired to create a multitude of outfits. 3. Pick timeless pieces. Don’t spend an arm and a leg on a passing trend. Pick pieces you know will carry you through many years to come. 4. Sleep before you buy. Take at least one night to think about the purchase to ensure you don’t make any impulse buys. This will also ensure you’ll love and wear everything in your wardrobe.

Five investment-worthy pieces everyone should have in their wardrobe: 1. A great blazer. 2. Comfy and smart shoes; dress shoes for men, heels or flats for women. 3. A suit; pants for men, skirt or pants for women. 4. A leather bag. 5. A white oxford shirt; timeless and versatile. Bonus: For women - the perfect Little Black Dress.

5. Quality over quantity. One pair of classy heels that feel like you’re walking on clouds is far better than ten cheap pairs you can’t even walk down the hall in – even if the comfortable pair costs the same as all the cheap ones combined. Having options seems great, but if you find a good quality piece you love you won’t want to wear anything else. 6. Buy what you love! If you feel great in a piece and you love it, it’s worth the splurge! You’ll feel confident wearing it and rock whatever you’re doing. 7. Accessories are the icing on the cake. A great bag (for both men and women) instantly makes an outfit more professional. Same goes for a tasteful watch, tie and statement jewelry. Plus, high quality and good care will ensure these pieces will be your signature for years to come.

Welcome to Lazy Faire’s newest monthly feature, FYI! Just like you, Lazy Faire is making some improvements in the new year, and so starting this month, we are saying goodbye to our Networking Smarts section and introducing you to FYI. As our longtime readers know, we love to give advice, and we decided it was finally time to give those articles a permanent home; while it won’t just be about networking anymore, FYI is going to be our general advice column – chock full of useful information and tidbits about life, school, and everything in between. We know you will find this feature helpful and we hope you are as excited as we are for all the great things to come!

FYI

PERSONAL FINANCE 101 In honour of your post-holiday bank account balance and a new semester of Finance 301, we decided to kick off our FYI feature with some of the most practical advice we can give – how to manage your money. We know the world of personal finance can be intimidating and confusing, so today, we are going to break it down and show you that saving and investing is actually a lot easier than it seems.

WHY YOU SHOULD SAVE:

One of the best ways to have more money is to spend less of it! In this world of instant gratification, it seems to get harder every day to save money. But the problem is, if you spend all your money impulsively on multiple small items, how will you ever have enough money at one time to buy big-ticket items such as a car, a down payment on a home, or even just to pay off your student loans? Not only does saving make good financial sense, it is also crucial to your financial stability in the long run.

HOW TO SAVE:

Pay off your credit card balance - Resist the urge to pay only the minimum balance on your monthly credit card bill, and pay off the full amount instead; if the option of paying a $700 bill with a mere $10 seems too good to be true, it is. The credit card companies make back the difference, and more, by charging absurdly high interest rates on the remaining balance, and you could easily end up paying a few times what your original balance was worth. Take advantage of student discounts - If you haven’t heard of the SPC card yet – prepare to have your life changed. The Student Price Card (SPC) is a discount card that can be purchased with a piece of student ID, and offers students savings from a vast assortment of partner retailers. From fashion (like 15% off at Banana Republic) to lifestyle (think: $25 activation bonus at Wind Mobile) to food (10% off at Pizza Hut, anyone?) – the SPC card has you covered for every aspect of your life. Many retailers also post discounts geared toward social-media active students – so “Like” retailers’ Facebook pages for exclusive coupons, and follow Safeway on Twitter for their “Monday Deals” to get some pantry staples at a steep discount.

WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR MONEY:

Now that you have all this money saved up, the last thing you want to do is put it all in a box and bury it in your backyard – because while trees might not grow money, interest certainly does! Before we even get into investments, the easiest way to earn returns on your money is to deposit it in the bank. When you put money in a bank account, you are essentially “lending” money to your bank, and in return, the bank will pay you a percentage of interest. Depending on the type of bank account you have and the current interest rates, leaving money in the bank that you aren’t spending otherwise can really pay off. TFSAs - Speaking of savings accounts, a Tax-Free Savings Account should always be first on your list. As the name implies, unlike your other savings accounts, any income earned in your TFSA is non-taxable, so you get to keep the full amount earned. There is a maximum contribution limit of $5,500, and to the extent you can afford, you should contribute as much as possible to your TFSA before even considering depositing money into your other savings accounts. RRSPs - It’s never too early to start saving for retirement, and Registered Retirement Savings Plans are the way to go. The government wants to encourage Canadians to save for retirement, so contributions to your RRSP fund are deductible for federal tax purposes, and income earned in the plan is not taxed until it is withdrawn, allowing you to defer your taxes for a while. Talk to your bank about setting up a RRSP and to discuss your yearly contribution and deduction limits. Now that you know the basics of personal finance, go forth and grow those fortunes! Of course, you can always speak to a financial advisor at your bank for more information, or If you are interested, an excellent resource for more personal finance tips is The Piggy Bankers club (http://www.uofapiggybankers.com/) right here at the U of A. written by CAREY POON designed by MIMI NGO

Early Birds

written by NICOLE HAMMOND AND MARINA BRYAN designed by SARAH VLIEG

Nicole Hammond

Everyone knows that, if you want to GSD, you need to wake up early. According to The Guardian, most CEOs are early birds, waking up between 5:00 and 6:00AM. In fact, the morning is one of the most critical parts of an executive’s day, as many of them use that time to exercise, catch a head start on replying to emails during breakfast, and to avoid rush hour commutes. Imagine all the early morning action executives would miss if they slept in. Now, you may say that the reason CEOs get up so early is because they are merely following established business hours. However, I would argue that early risers have actually set business hours to their convenience. That’s right – early birds are so smart that they have actually caused society to conform to their prime time, their preferred working hours. If night owls were so smart, why aren’t we all working at night? Why aren’t the night owls pushing for later start times and finishes?

I know what you’re thinking: you’re about to tell me that we work 9-5 because we conform to the sun’s working hours, and historically humans have always 10

done work accompanied by the light of the day. However, there is no longer a need to limit our working hours to daylight hours, for we can have our offices lit up around the clock. If night owls were really as efficient as they claim, they would conspire to institute a society-wide shift towards night-centered working hours, so as to suit their personal preferences. These night owls, capitalizing on their so-called intelligence, should be engineering studies that claim we are most productive at night and creating “innovative” start-ups that run on a 9:00PM to 5:00AM schedule. Show me the night owls that are vigorously working towards the utopian state of the night shift. You can’t. And that’s because night owls, hopeless in their sleeplessness, bend to the will of the early risers. They are unable to change society’s norms to their benefit, and are thus forced into a life of perpetual lateness; skipped breakfasts and poor outfit choices. That brings me to my last point: it all comes down to capitalizing on daylight. Our forefathers have been fruitful and multiplied; they have hunted, invented, built, studied, and learned in the daylight. The cave man that stayed up late by the fire and slept in the

next day was left hungry when he didn’t have enough daylight hours to catch his prey. Historically, night owls have suffered: just look at composers Bach and Handel, both of whom went blind from the visual strain of composing music by candlelight. Early birds have used the light of day to push the forefront of human knowledge, accomplishment, and technology. In fact, we wouldn’t even be having this debate if it weren’t for early risers. One of the most famous early risers in history is Thomas Edison, who is credited with the invention of the light bulb. Oh, the irony: an early riser made it possible for night owls to exist. Where would night owls be if it weren’t for an early riser using the light of day to make artificial lighting possible? We have descended from early risers, who have progressed the capabilities of the human race through their hard work under the sun. It’s in our genes to be early risers: because that’s what has made humanity great. Intelligent? Early risers are beyond intelligent: it is their tendency towards daylight that has ensured the survival and progress of humankind.

Night Owls

Marina Bryan

The determining factor in whether you are a night owl or an early bird is your natural sleep cycle – something that varies from person to person. Personally, I love sleeping. I will fall asleep as early in the evening as I can, and will sleep in as long as possible, although unfortunately this does not leave a lot of time for getting work done. And so, for the love of sleep, I choose to stay up late so I can stay in my bed for most of the morning. My main motivation for the late nights spent awake is actually my love for mornings – or more precisely, mornings that are spent in bed, followed by a leisurely breakfast and a cup of tea. My favourite mornings involve taking a good four hours to accomplish anything. Although this may seem unproductive, it makes a big difference in my day. Starting my day off in a relaxing fashion makes for a happier and more energetic afternoon and evening, especially when compared to mornings that begin with 8:00AM classes, which leave me feeling frustrated and unprepared for the rest of the day. Beyond having a relaxing morning, there are a lot

of perks to being up at night, after everyone else has gone to sleep. I think a lot of readers will agree that business students work best under pressure, and setting a target to finish a task before you go to sleep is one of the most effective ways to finish something you’ve been putting off for a few days. This may have mixed results for non-night-owls, but an excellent way to get started is to accept the necessity of daytime revisions (preferably in the late afternoon). In addition to the productivity bonus is the sense of peace that comes from being the only one around, whether you find it in some quiet time away from your family or roommates, or in the stillness of the library late at night. One upside to studying at school after hours is the absence of people – and the abundance of space. Is everyone leaving campus? Snag those comfy couches in SUB. Take that desk right by the outlet. Sit at any table you like – heck, spread your stuff out over two. There won’t be any lineups for coffee or microwaves, either. Treat yourself. The world is your quiet study space. At night, you’ll be able to make the most of the study spaces that are open 24/7, like SUB or

THOUGHT VS. THOUGHT

the Knowledge Common in Cameron, and crush out assignments without interruptions. My opponent addresses an important point to the benefit of the early birds: Daylight. Fortunately for us, the powers that be have addressed that issue with the miracles that are Christmas lights. My favourite thing about staying late on campus during the winter is the way Quad transforms into a winter wonderland. The trees are lit up, the snow is bright, and there isn’t a soul around to get in your way. Beyond being downright magical, the scene makes for a great Instagram photo. Boost your productivity to new heights by finishing your studying, and getting the perfect shot for social media, all in one night. You can take your time finding the perfect filter, too – you’ll be sleeping in tomorrow morning. So consider taking one of these nights to stay up past your bedtime. Get some work done, or just bingewatch Netflix like the rest of us. Once you’re finished a whole season of your favourite show, set the real challenge to sleep in as long as possible. 11

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

DARREN CHIN

written by LINDSAY RAINBOW designed by ANNA LEE photographed by ADRIENNE LEUNG

CHIN FOR THE WIN! As a rising leader in the School of Business, Darren Chin’s life is a bit of a balancing act. He’s a busy co-op student in the third year of his OM degree (to which he recently made the switch from accounting), he is the VP Finance & Operations for AIESEC, an active member of the Edmonton Rotary Club, a part of the JDC West Debate team for 2016 and the 2017 organizing committee, and to top it all off, he’s a part of the first group of students to participate in the program at the prestigious Peter Lougheed Leadership College. Darren is genuine, charismatic, and easy to talk to – it’s easy to understand why he’s been so successful in his endeavours. But for him, this list is not just fluff to pad his resume. He has the true heart of a leader, and his greatest reward comes from the impact he has on the lives of others. You’ve recently changed your major from accounting to OM. Why the switch, and where do you now see your career headed instead? I did my first co-op term in industry accounting, so I did a lot of project management and I really liked the OM and MIS side of things, but for accounting it wasn’t as interactive as I’d hoped; I figured it would be better to switch to something where I played more of a consulting role, since I love talking to people. I’m interested in management or supply chain consulting. I’m also looking into Law as well right now – but we’ll see. I still have a few years to decide so we’ll see what happens. What are some clubs or other volunteer experiences you are passionate about that you’ve been involved in during your time at the ASoB? Right now I’m in an exec role in AIESEC Edmonton. It’s a chapter of the world’s largest student run non-profit, and what we do is international exchange through leadership development. I’ve been in AIESEC since my first year at the U of A, and when I came into Business, I landed the VP Finance & Operations position. I’m also really involved with Rotary, I’m currently chairing the Rotary Youth Leadership Committee – it’s all volunteer and service based community outreach with organizations. My job is to go in and organize

conferences and seminars for youth who are coming from different provinces and rural communities. It’s really cool to be able to work with them. I’m also a part of JDC West – right now I’m on the debate team for 2016, and just recently found out that I’m going to be VP debate for the organizing committee for 2017 when it will be held here at the Alberta School of Business. It’s a lot of work, but it’s all fallen together really nicely. What has been the most meaningful experience you’ve had during your time at ASoB? My first conference with AIESEC. It was completely life changing. Getting to meet so many different people, learning different things – it makes me really excited to be involved with JDC West on the debate team this upcoming year. Everyone keeps hyping it up but I can’t wait to experience it myself. You’re a member of the Peter Lougheed Leadership College – can you explain a little bit about what the college is, and what you’ve taken away from it so far? The Peter Lougheed Leadership College is a two-year certificate program for a certificate in interdisciplinary leadership studies. It’s one class that you take for a full year for two years, and you learn about the principles of leadership, leadership models, and how to be an effective leader. I think it’s really unique because you pull a lot of different influences from other faculties. You get sorted into cohorts and you work with people from different faculties like Engineering, Sciences, and Arts, and it’s really cool to see the different mindsets. In Business we have such a nice and tight knit community, but it can be a bit exclusive and prevent us from making connections with other faculties and hearing those outside perspectives, and that’s definitely something that I’ve gained from the PLLC. What would you say are the most important traits a leader should have? I think things like organization and time management, and making sure that when you work with different people, you’re making them feel their time is valued

too. One of the biggest things I’ve learned from AIESEC is making sure that your members are getting a good experience, and that they are receiving substantial roles and responsibility. Another thing would be being flexible and open to learning new things. I think that it’s hard to admit when you’re making mistakes when you’re in an exec position, but I think that clubs are a playground for us to experience these things before we go out in the real world, and I think you earn more respect when you’re able to have humility and admit your mistakes early on. What has been your challenge as a leader?

biggest

I think one of my biggest challenges would be proper delegation – I’m a bit of a control freak. I want everything done to a really great standard. I think that on par with being a leader, you want to make sure that people are getting learning experiences too. That’s something I have to be really actively conscious about – people won’t be able to learn anything if I’m always intervening and they have a crutch all the time. What has been your most rewarding moment as a leader? One of the conferences we run at Rotary is the Rotary Youth Leadership Experience, usually with kids who have never experienced conferences before. Getting the feedback that I was a supportive counselor and knowing that I did a good job was really rewarding for me, and really touching for the whole team. Seeing that I made a concrete difference in the lives of others, it was really great. What is something important you think other students, especially those new to business, should keep in mind? I think it’s important to get involved and take as many opportunities as you can – and be on the lookout for them. I never saw myself as a business student and I used to be very close-minded, but I think keeping your eye out for opportunities and actively searching for them – and then following through and taking advantage of them – is key; the power of following through is so important.

written by KELSEA ZALASKI & ZHAYATE MENG designed by PATRICK LI & ANNA LEE photographed by KEVIN ESPENIDO

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

N PE A T TE H A RS N EN 14

R U O Y SS E G N CC I T U F S A N R C W O

Nathan Petersen is an Alberta School of Business alumnus who, without question, has had a huge impact on the School, from getting involved with the Alberta JDC West Social team as a first year to bringing JDC West to Edmonton. After earning his CMA designation and spending nearly 4 years with EPCOR Utilities as a Financial Analyst, Nathan has recently found his passion working for Brookfield Residential as the Senior Accountant for their Edmonton Communities division. Nathan has undoubtedly already begun a noteworthy career; he was the perfect person to sit down with to discuss how current students can craft their own path to success.

Why did you choose to go to the Alberta School of Business? Originally, I did not have the intention of going into Business, I had an interest in marine biology and all I wanted to do was train dolphins. The interest started at a show at West Edmonton Mall. I got that dream job at 15 years old, and I started working with the dolphins and penguins there; I loved every minute of it but I knew I couldn’t make a fulfilling career out of it. So I had to reevaluate what I wanted to do. I didn’t know what to do with Business at the time but I knew it was versatile. I chose accounting not only because it makes sense to me but also because of my professor Kristie Dewald (she’s the bomb)!

How has attending the School of Business benefited you in your career? I got really involved in university and became a social butterfly. During my first year of school, I didn’t really do anything except go to school, go to work, and then go home. Business changed all that. I got really involved, really quick. During my last year of school I did nothing but go to school and my extracurricular activities; I didn’t work at all. I changed a lot, and eventually student involvement was the reason why

I got the job that I wanted to get. Now, I work for Brookfield Residential and those experiences have made me a stronger person, increased my work ethic and made me a better manager. I completed the CMA program before the CPA program came into place but it’s cool to see that the designations have combined together.

Do you have any advice for students pursuing their CPA designation? First, make time for it and set priorities. School deadlines and work deadlines are going to overlap and no one cares except you. So you’ll need to find a way to cope. Second, find a stress reliever. For me it’s running that keeps me going. You’ve got to find something that isn’t school or work to keep you energized in the hard times.

Can you discuss your experience with JDC West? With JDC West, I started on the social team, became a captain two years later, then decided it was time to bring the competition back to the U of A in 2012. One day in a bar, I was with a friend of mine and I mentioned putting in a bid for JDC West as a joke. That joke eventually turned into the successful bid that would take over my life for the next 2 years. JDC West was the best experience I ever had; I got to know more people across the country by doing that. It was definitely a life changing experience. I’m super stoked to see it happen again through Dan Park and Josh Tang. I know those individuals are more than capable, and I’m excited to see how JDC West goes in 2017.

What advice would you give to students undertaking the planning of a large event? Take risks and be passionate. I’ve seen people do it for their resumes and those who do because of passion, and the difference shows. I can say when I do something, I do it because I believe in the cause, and I want

to make a difference. People are sometimes scared to take risks and to do something that hasn’t been done before. They do not want to put their name on something that might fail. But you’ll surprise yourself with what you’re capable of if you put your mind to it. School of Business students especially; you have so much support from the Dean and other faculty members, you shouldn’t be afraid to take chances. The faith that individuals have in business students is incredible. You should take advantage of that support because you’ll be surprised by what you can accomplish when you do.

Any other pieces of advice for business students? Have hobbies. A lot of times, where students screw up in interviews is during the “Tell me a little bit about yourself” question. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people answering that question with just information about their professional career or academic career. That stuff is boring. Instead, develop an interest in other topics and be able to have a conversation about them, whether it’s sports or Greek mythology (I took a class in university, and I still talk about it during interviews). Get involved in volunteering and find out what makes you tick and what makes you feel good. There is no shortage of volunteer opportunities, but find one that you care about and that is valuable to you. You don’t know what you don’t know. The only way to find out is to explore for yourself. Finally, regardless of who you are, you need to go through experiences with other people. You will benefit from being in a community, whether it’s the JDC West team, or a Sci-Fi club. Give yourself the opportunity to meet like-minded people, and I guarantee you that you’ll have more fun.

Want more from our interview with Nathan? Visit lazyfaire. com for the full interview!

U CLUBS CORNER

of A’s Program for Research and Investment Management Excellence, more commonly known as PRIME, is not a club, but a student run investment program in the School of Business.This highly competitive program has a group of students that manage a fund worth over $1.7 million dollars. The program has been in place since March 2000, giving students hands-on investment analysis and portfolio management experience. To become a member of PRIME, students must be able to commit to the two-year program. In their first year, new students are analysts for a sector of their choice. There are currently six sectors to choose from, including Consumers and Health Care; Energy; Financials; Industrials; Information Tech, Telecomm, and Utilities; and Materials. In their second year, students are promoted to become a manager of their sector.

PRIME

Admission to PRIME is based on an intensive four-step process. First, students must fill out an application form, including a resume and a letter of intent, as well as provide their GPA. Next, candidates undergo an interview with PRIME student managers. This is followed by a multiple-choice test, consisting of questions testing knowledge of finance and of current events. And finally, the candidates will write a company analysis. Recruitment takes place from September to October, and typically eight to ten students will be accepted every year. PRIME is open to anyone with a passion for investing, regardless of their major. Historically, the average GPA of students accepted into the program has been at least 3.3. The fund, benchmarked against the S&P/TSX Composite Index, seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation by investing in the Canadian equity market. Since its inception, the fund’s annual return has met or exceeded the goal return 11 out of 16 years. These eight management teams have managed this through several challenging economic times, including events surrounding 9/11, uncertain times surrounding corporate scandals in the early 2000’s, and notably, the unprecedented and disastrous 2008 recession.

The fund was established by contributions from the Edmonton Society of Financial Analysts and the Department of Finance and Management Science at the University of Alberta. Other sponsors, such as TD Canada Trust, have also made contributions. PRIME was also granted responsibility by the Alberta School of Business over parts of the University Endowment and the Winspear Endowment.

Analysts Akshaan Tejwani and Rory McKinley share some of the duties they perform day-to day for PRIME:

• Pull weekly macroeconomic news and news regarding research companies that PRIME holds • Perform relevant quantitative analyses that are used to make investment decisions • Meet and discuss the direction for their portfolios

written by KARA HAUCA designed by MAGGIE LAM

SHOULD YOU GET A DESIGNATION?

“

His interviewer looked him straight in the eye and said “You’re never going to get a job.”

”

guest article written by DEEPA MAISURIA, CA, CBV designed by ANNA LEE

My husband and I were in the co-op program while in university. His major was international business. During co-op interviews, the interviewer asked him “Why are you in international business?” With enthusiasm he said “I want a job where I can work internationally.”

Research is the only way you’ll make an educated decision about your career path. There are so many designations/degrees that you could pursue: CPA, CBV, CFA, CFE, CFP, CIA, CHRP, AACI, MBA, PhD, Law degree, just to name a few!

a mutual friend, then get him or her to introduce you via email as a soft intro.

His interviewer looked him straight in the eye and said “You’re never going to get a job.”

Some of these designations will allow flexibility within your career while others may pigeon hole you. If you know exactly what you want to do, then being pigeonholed isn’t necessarily an issue and you can make a lot of money being specialized. On the other hand, if you want variety within your work, then you’ll hate being specialized even if you make more money at it.

1. What type of work do you do? 2. What is an average work day/week like for you? 3. How many hours a week do you work? 4. Do you work in a team, or individually? 5. What do you love about your job? 6. What do you hate about your job? 7. What type of personality is best suited for this type of job? 8. What makes this job difficult? 9. If you did it all over again, would you make the same career choices? Why? etc.

Feeling dejected and lost, he did what everyone else seemed to be doing. He changed his major to accounting because the market was hot, and most accounting students had a handful of job offers to choose from. It was an easy path to start a career and all you had to sacrifice was your time for a couple more years to get a designation. Like my husband, how many of you feel the need to get a designation simply because you want a job? The economy sucks right now so I wouldn’t blame you for wanting to take the road most travelled. And unfortunately, we live in a world where a degree isn’t enough anymore. Educational inflation is real and as the world evolves, careers will inevitably become hyperspecialized. But I’m not telling you to pursue a designation. I’m also not telling you to disregard the pursuit of a designation. What I am recommending you do is research.

Let’s be real, lots of us leave university wanting money. Then after a few years you realize that chasing a life worth living is more important, but by then you’ll feel trapped by the “Golden Handcuffs” since you’re getting paid really well to do something you hate. So I’m begging you to make a decision for your happiness, not wealth. You’ll thank me later. Anyway, when you research the potential designation/ degree you might pursue, Googling it is meaningless. The research I’m talking about is networking. Find people who have careers you aspire to have. Reach out to them via LinkedIn, email, phone call, etc. and ask if you can pick their brain over coffee. Most of them will likely say yes, so don’t be afraid to blindly ask. If you have

You have nothing to lose, so ask them easy and tough questions:

Asking these questions will give you a peek into the type of life you could be living and will help you make a better decision than just listening to hearsay. So don’t blindly follow the road most travelled, unless you know you want to. As for my husband, he did his research after 5 years of accounting and found his true calling, which doesn’t require his CPA designation anymore. Live and learn, I suppose. 17

written by BULCHA DOLAL designed by ANNA LEE

WORKOUT PLAYLIST

It’s that time of the year again! Time to get fit and strong. So, to make sure the motivation stays at an all-time high, you’re going to need a great playlist. Altogether, there will be a list of four songs in this playlist, but before I start naming these tracks, I have to preface them with a “No Drake” rule – after all, you can’t be too busy thinking about your ex when you work out.

“Lose Yourself,” by Eminem This song is about making the most of your opportunity in life. When you’re in the gym pumping out reps in your last set, this song will make sure that every rep finishes strong. Even the times when you feel like giving up, Eminem will be in your head with these legendary words: “I’m like a snail, I’ve got/ To formulate a plot, or end up in jail or shot/ SUCCESS is my only mother@#$%&@ option – failure’s NOT.”

“Eye of the Tiger,” by Survivor We’ve all seen Rocky (if not, stop reading now, and go watch it), and there is nothing more euphoric than pretending to be Rocky Balboa training to beat Apollo Creed and/or Drago. As you’re walking through the gym, this song will give you Rocky Balboa’s swag. Every time you head to get weights, you will want to show the world that this underdog is coming for the championship. Sweat, blood, and tears will be put into every workout – because if Rocky can beat the odds, so can you!

“Killing in the Name,” by Rage Against the Machine With this song playing loud (it has to be played loud to gain the secret powers), you’ll have the lead singer screaming anticorporation and anti-political lyrics with every verse. Your inner mad emo kid in you will rise up and momentarily possess you, and with these new powers, you’ll be able to lift weights you never knew were even possible. Think about it, with this song in your playlist, you’lll never have to take pre-workout supplements again!

“Hit ‘Em Up,” by 2Pac As for the finale, we’re definitely going for the ‘gangsta’ mentality. I’m sure most people have a Biggie Smalls in their life, and want nothing more than to make a diss track. However, since it’s quite costly – financially and emotionally – to make a diss track, working out will just have to do. When this song comes up in your workout, a sudden urge to be “hard” will take place. Then every weight that comes near you will feel easy and light due to all the hate surging through your veins. That gangsta feeling will come when the hook starts up: “ Grab your glocks when see you 2Pac/ Call the cops when you see 2Pac/ Who shot me, but your punks didn’t finish/ Now you about to feel the wrath of menace/ @#$$& I hit em up.”

Now every time you go to the gym, you’ll enter as a person with a vengeance, and leave as a legend. All I ask that you do not hold me responsible for all future gains in your workout endeavours. 18

Between group projects, clubs, and committees, you are guaranteed to spend a sizeable portion of your time at the School of Business in meetings. Whether you booked a room in Winspear, found a table in the Atrium, or managed to get a whole classroom to yourselves, you can benefit from knowing how to properly run a meeting. This month, we aim to show you how, by giving you a crash course on how to host the best meetings ever. 1. Be prepared! Distribute an agenda at least a couple hours beforehand, if not a couple days before – this allows everybody attending the meeting to prepare properly, and it will keep the meeting on track. Agenda making tips: - Seek input for agenda items from team members – they will engage more when the topics are relevant to them. - Items should be posed as open ended questions to encourage creativity. - Estimate the amount of time each item will take and put that information on the agenda. - Leave time for an open question/ideas period, if applicable to the meeting topic. - List group members who will be attending and those who will not, participants can prepare accordingly. - Be sure to include time to schedule your next meeting – it will be easiest when everyone is present.

2. Endless meetings kill productivity - Have definitive start and end times – and stick to them. - Don’t wait for people who are late – by waiting you are telling people that it’s okay to be late. Latecomers can check the meeting minutes after the meeting to find out what they missed. - Experts suggest a 45 meeting maximizes the average human attention span of participants and that 60 minutes is the longest people can stay engaged. If your group is too large to effectively communicate in this time, consider scheduling a short break to help your team regain focus.

5 Key Tips for Holding Effective Meetings

4. ALWAYS FOLLOW UP! - Meeting minutes should be sent to everyone, present or absent, to ensure consistency, and to remind your team of all decisions that were made. - This should be done as soon as possible after the meeting, before ideas discussed get pushed back in people’s minds.

Bonus: Be a Better Meeting Participant - Come prepared – know what you need to talk about for each agenda item, and consider making a list of questions you have. - Show up on time – it doesn’t matter how casual the meeting is, it’s disrespectful to be late. - Put away your phone and consider taking notes by hand to reduce distraction. - Actually listen, instead of just waiting for your turn to speak. - Speak up – active participation will help you stay engaged. Just aim to be as relevant and succinct as possible. - Additionally, don’t be afraid to speak up if you feel a discussion is going off track and wasting time. - Follow through: actually do the things you said you would do in the meeting!

3. Be concise and stay on topic - Respect that people are busy – don’t take any more time than required. - Don’t be afraid to make sure other people stick to this rule as well. - An agenda will do part of this job for you, but a firm “Thank you for your contributions, let’s table this discussion in the interest of time.” will go a long way to setting the efficient tone for the meeting.

5. If it can be said in an email - say it in an email! One of the most common complaints about meetings is that they can be pointless. As any business student can attest to, unnecessary or irrelevant meetings are frustrating – if you are simply sharing information, send it in an email.

written by KARA HAUCA designed by ANNA LEE

written by NICOLE HAMMOND designed by DEANNA BAINS photo courtesy of AMERICAN APPAREL TUMBLR

A Tale of American Apparel.

From Label of the Year to filing for bankruptcy, the American Apparel story reaches its climax as tensions rise between current CEO Paula Schneider’s reorganization plan and infamous ex-CEO and founder Dov Charney’s final push to regain control of his company. Will the company choose a safe bet or a controversial comeback?

ne would think that creating the largest garment manufacturer in the Charney was faced with three sexual harassment lawsuits, and had his lessthan-puritanical personality cited as cause for investors’ hesitation. In 2014, US with sweatshop-free working conditions and fair wages would be a this colourful character was finally boxed out of his chief executive title for recipe for success in a business environment of unprecedented misconduct. But this turned out to be a temporary fix — American Apparel is corporate ethics and philanthropy (see: Mark Zuckerberg’s promise to give away now plagued with 20 lawsuits v. Charney. The retailer’s legal fees have nearly 99% of Facebook shares). But ever since 2009, American Apparel, an apparel doubled since 2013 which, in the face of continually plunging sales, only spells retailer known for its racy ad campaigns, shiny gold leggings, and brightly further trouble. coloured hoodies, has been in tumult. In American Apparel’s case, it seems like everything that could possibly go wrong for a retailer did. After being named “Label of the Year” by The Guardian and “Retailer of the Year” in the Michael Awards in 2008, American Apparel’s fortunes began to fall. In 2009, it was forced to fire 1,500 immigrant workers for invalid papers from its LA-based factory, which stalled inventory and forced the retailer to borrow at high interest rates. Later that year, American Apparel’s auditor Deloitte & Touche resigned, citing “material weaknesses” in their financial controls, leading to an all-time low in share price – just $0.75 per share. Other analyses pointed to another common mistake; falling prey to investor pressure, the company expanded store counts too quickly following their 2007 IPO. And, just one year after being the cool kid on the block, American Apparel began closing stores in 2009. Although American Apparel was temporarily able to avoid filing for bankruptcy with an $80M rescue loan from private-equity firm Lion Capital back in 2009, the inevitable filing has come. This past October, the retailer filed for bankruptcy protection, while their stores remain business-as-usual. Paula Schneider, newly appointed CEO of American Apparel, is angling for a major restructuring and a stabilization of finances by granting bondholders ownership of the company.

But the downward spiral has an added layer of drama when it comes to Dov Charney, the eccentric founder and recently ousted CEO. During his time CEO,

Schneider already has her work cut out for her, but there is yet another layer of struggle to this story: Charney may be vying for a return to American Apparel. News broke in early December that Charney has engaged Cardinal Advisors LLC, a small investment bank, to put forth a potential bid to buy American Apparel out of bankruptcy. Although this would require the approval of management he has mostly alienated, Charney is playing up the fact that the company’s sales and gross profits have fallen even further in his absence. With the current tough outlook for sales across the retail sector, it’s unclear whether this will prove to be an argument convincing enough to return him to power. American Apparel will decide its fate at the end of this month, as leaders will evaluate any bids that have been made. If none prove to be satisfactory, creditors will vote on approving the reorganization plan. Will Charney succeed in his fight to get his baby back, or will Schneider pull forward with a new gameplan for this beleaguered retailer? One thing is certain: regardless of the future leadership, in a retail environment conditioned to greenwashing, the company’s original competitive advantage of an L.A.-based factory just isn’t going to cut it anymore. Whether it’s Schneider or Charney at the helm, it’s going to take a lot to pull American Apparel back up to its former glory.

#SUITSLF

Suits, or #SuitsLF, is Lazy Faire’s newest online feature. Follow any of our social media accounts, and every Tuesday morning during the school year you’ll see a new post featuring a member of the Alberta School of Business community. Inspired by the simplicity and powerful messages of Humans of New York, these posts aim to show off the depth of the experiences and the breadth of the stories held within our school. Below, our content editors Carey and Kyra, and our Suits photographer Samantha describe the concept and process that is #SuitsLF.

Where did the idea for Suits come from? K: “One of the reasons why I joined Lazy Faire is because I love hearing and telling stories. I appreciate the magazine as a medium for sharing the stories of the incredible individuals that populate the School of Business, and I think Lazy Chat and Student Spotlight have always been my favourite features for that reason. But, only having two features focused on the people in the School of Business didn’t feel like enough for me, so Carey and I started brainstorming ways to feature more of the cool people we had met in school.” “I’ve moved around a lot in my life maybe seven or eight times. My dad had a transferrable job, so we were used to moving cities. I am from India, originally, and until grade eight, I had moved six schools. Coming to Canada was the hardest, because it was an entirely different culture altogether.” The biggest difference, I found, was not something I had to overcome - it was something I really wanted to adapt to quickly - it was the politeness of the people here. Everyone holds doors for other people and they say, “After you”; I was like, “What is this kindness?” Because in India, with millions of people in one city, it is so crowded and people need to go and make their own way; they are so focused on getting things done for themselves, or their immediate family. No one would give a second thought to a random stranger. In daily life, no one would hold doors for you.” - Oshin

C: “While our regular student profiles feature some of the most impressive, and highly visible students in the SoB, there are so many more hidden stories than just the 16 that we can publish every year, and it is a shame if they remain untold. We want Lazy Faire to be the voice of Business students, and that means representing – and celebrating – the diverse voices that make up our school.”

What is the process to making a #SuitsLF post? S: “When asking questions, the main goal is to find a topic that each individual is really passionate about, or something that interests them. Even though someone may say they aren’t interesting, or that they have nothing to share, I’ve found that’s never the case. I love the challenge of finding a topic that excites them and encourages them to open up beyond simply sharing standard demographic details. The real purpose is to capture their individual story. The interviews are recorded for memory purposes, though sometimes I take notes to remind myself of the moments the interviewee lit up the most, or seemed most engaged in what they were saying. Following the interview, I will listen back to the recording, writing down quotes that particularly stand out. Once the quotes are narrowed down to a handful - and this is often a very difficult decision - the editors then choose the quote to be featured.”

“I guess as a kid, I always think back to the summers. My grandma is basically the one who took care of me, because I have two older siblings and they were busy and my parents were busy with them. So my grandmother would come and look after me. I never went to daycare or preschool. And I remember that there’s a plum blossom bush in front of my house. There’s juniper there, and there’s a large kind of birch. And every time I would go out, because it’s a north side house – you have a big backyard and a big front yard – it would be so fun because I would just be capturing damselflies with my grandma. And I’ll always remember that. Catching damselflies. Blue ones. I don’t see them anymore. I really miss that.” - Joshua

“I never thought we would leave. But then my wife and I came out one very nice fall weekend and visited. It was probably end of September, early October. And it was just one of those glorious times where it was crisp, but not cold. The sky was blue. The sun shone. The river valley was beautiful. People were friendly.” - Dean Doucet

written by CAREY POON, KYRA CUSVELLER, & SAMANTHA SEMLER designed by ANNA LEE

New Year, New You? written by BULCHA DOLAL designed by JESSICA ARANIBAR

The new year is here, and so are lofty New Year’s resolutions. It’s always interesting (and somewhat entertaining) to see people claim to want to be a “better me,” and stumble on their resolutions within eight weeks of the new year. That being said, what makes most people think that “this year,” is going to be different? For the most part, I don’t know; what I do know is that many people fail their goals for the same reason: intentions. When someone chooses a goal, there is an intention behind it. That intention will determine whether one sticks with their goals or not. For example, if your intention is to get into law school, then you’re going to set high academic goals for yourself. As a result, you’re going to put more effort into school, study in advance, and establish relationships with professors to get reference letters. Although these goals are tedious, they are likely to be accomplished due to the strength of the intention behind them. Without the proper intentions, however, motivating oneself in reaching a goal becomes increasingly challenging.

One of the top New Year’s resolution is “going to the gym more.” This is a goal fraught with faulty intentions, namely the intention of “looking more attractive.” This is a fairly poor intention, as it carries little motivation. Because, if looking better is all that matters, you won’t force yourself to go the gym when you are feeling lazy, as you’ll already be mostly satisfied with your general appearance. Then over time, the rationalization of ways to avoid the gym will occur more and more frequently, to the point that March rolls around and you have been to the gym a total of seven times, and the goal is, for all purposes, dead. A better intention for going to the gym would be to “get healthier to avoid any future unknown health complications.” When one is feeling lazy and not wanting to go to the gym, this intention would help clarify the decision of whether to go or skip. Although they may feel lazy one day, they do want to be healthy long term and avoid preventable diseases. Looking at the pros of going to the gym outweighs the ephemeral benefits of being lazy. As a result, most people with this intention would still commit to their gym goals. So this brings me to you. If you’re serious about wanting to commit to your New Year’s resolution, you’re going to have to make sure that your intentions are sound and well-reasoned. In any endeavour, you have to make sure your foundation is set before doing anything ambitious. Like the saying goes, as you can’t build a house on a sandy foundation, nor can you build a gym routine on shallow intentions.

CPA AMBASSADOR

LAZY CHAT

COLLEEN XIE This month, we met up with Colleen Xie, the Alberta School of Business’ resident CPA Ambassador, to talk about the designation and her responsibilities with CPA. written by RAHIQUE UM MAKTOOM HANDOO designed by MARINA BRYAN photographed by FELICIA LIANG

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your role as a CPA Ambassador. I’m an accounting major who started off on a very different path. I began my university career by taking some science and arts courses but I liked neither. So I thought, “Why not try business?” In my first year of Business, I remember filling out this form that asked whether or not CPA was my goal after school and at the time, I didn’t know much about the program. I heard about recruitment for the CPA Ambassador Program and applied so I could get an inside look. As a CPA Ambassador, I talk to students about the program, answer their queries and also get to take advantage of the numerous networking opportunities CPA provides. Besides school, I also love cooking. I enjoy recreating dishes, especially vegan ones even though I’m not a vegan myself. Right now, I’m trying to recreate the Mucho Burrito Bowl.

it might be something to reconsider, as it does get more difficult as it progresses. As for getting a CPA, do not stress about it too much. Lots of learning is done through workshops and there are many people surrounding you to help and guide you. Make it a goal that you work towards. It’s completely okay if you don’t do too well in your first few accounting classes.

Most accounting students want to pursue a CPA. Why do you think someone that is still unsure about their career path should consider doing a CPA? CPA opens up a lot of doors. Doing a CPA isn’t just about doing accounting work and it isn’t just for people that want to work in the accounting field. In today’s world, everything is a business and accounting is the language of business. The designation is gradually becoming the bottomline to measure professionals against.

The CPA and accounting itself can seem very daunting to many students. What advice do you have for these students?

What can students do right now if they do want to get into the CPA program?

If accounting is something you enjoy but you’re not getting the grades, keep at it! But if you feel like accounting isn’t something you enjoy, then

Be familiar with the process of the program and what you need. Make sure you’re taking all the required courses. If you have any questions, ask now!

You worked for Deloitte Canada in the past. Are there any tips you’d like to share that helped you land the prestigious job? For most of the firms, experience is important. It doesn’t have to be anything related to accounting. Another important aspect is how you handle the interview. It’s also good to get all your skills out there. For example, being skilled at a sport can be handy for all the corporate challenges that the firms take part in and would be great to mention.

Finally, what is your new year resolution? I want to learn the art of coffee!

Have questions about the CPA designation? Not sure about where a designation can take you?. Colleen is here to help! Feel free to send her an email at uofa_ colleen@cpaalberta.ca!

Last year across Canada we hired 100 new business grads. Find out why a Xerox Agency is the right next step after graduation. Findyourxfactor.ca ©2014 Xerox Corporation. All rights reserved. Xerox®, Xerox and Design®, and Ready For Real Business are trademarks of Xerox Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Xerox Canada Ltd. is the licensee of all the trademarks.