NOVEMBER 2020 ISSUE
RACHEL ROCHAT FOUNDER OF WOMEN IN BUSINESS. INSPIRATION AND MENTORSHIP. SCENIC JOURNEY TO ASOB. HOW WIB STARTED.
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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
Editor’s Note
CONTRIBUTORS VP Editorial Nandini Chandra
Writers
Timiro Mohamed Josie Coutain-Segall
E D I TO R ’ S N OT E
VP Art & Design Jazlynn Chan
Designers
Vaneeza Asif Kim Tinana Jacqueline Wong
Photographers Jerry Cao David Dang
VP Marketing Red Enorme
VP Operations & Finance Bradley May
Guest Writer
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s winter sets in, Edmonton looks like a whole new city with the first snow settling - one quite different from summer and fall. Just like the weather, Edmonton changes with each of our needs. This city has been home to some of us for our whole lives, some of our late-night study sessions, and for some of us, it is still a location we are yet to visit. YEG has been and will continue to be the foundation of many young, tech-savvy entrepreneurs and hopeful’ friends-slash-business-partners.’ It has also been home to many late-night study sessions, and Whether it be student groups, social movements or business establishments, YEG has a space for everyone. This month’s theme is MADE IN YEG, where we want to explore the businesses, student groups, and creativity that Edmonton holds as a reminder to those of us missing it this year and those who want to find out more about our city. With winters approaching, we hope this issue warms your spirits and shows your potential and this city’s potential. In this issue, we will be hearing from clubs such as Women in Business, debating whether convenience or community is more important in our everyday shopping practices and learning more about our peers about their journeys in this very city. Also, keep an eye out for reviews and discussions about local businesses ranging from those here for years and those just budding. Read on!
Nina Varghese
Parul Kanwar Editor-in-Chief
Table of Contents
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
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CONTENTS 06
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Meet the Team
Social Studies
Thought Vs Thought
Jacqueline Wong Nandini Chandra Timiro Mohamed
Eurocentrism in Curriculums
Shop locally vs. shop on Amazon out of convenience
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Student Spolight
Lazy Chat
Club’s Corner
Rachel Rochat Founding Women in Business. Scenic journey to ASOB. Inspiration and mentorship.
Heather Thomson Executive Director at the School of Retailing
Network of Empowered Women
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Guest Article
LF Reviews
Nina Varghese The Imposter
Intent Coffee. Deadmonton.
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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
Meet The Team
MEET THE TEAM
Jacqueline Wong
Hello! I’m Jacqueline and I will be graduating with a marketing degree pretty soon! I am a very friendly, outgoing person. I always do my best to look out for others and make sure no one feels left out. I can also get pretty creative when it comes to my ideas whether for work, school, or my own personal life! I am planning on releasing a blog in February 2021 about skin and skincare, so please look out for that! My passion is to positively influence people and encourage others to be the best version of themselves. I am always looking for opportunities to grow and challenge myself, as seen from the many case competitions I enter. Eventually, I aspire to be in a top management position where I can help take things to the next level.
Designer
Hi everyone! I am so excited to write for Lazy Faire this year. I am from India and I have been in Canada for the past three years to pursue an Arts degree in Psychology. I am in pursuit of finding the best clubs and professors on campus and in business. I am in this magazine to know everything about business and gain an insider’s perspective.
Nandini Chandra VP Editorial
Timiro Mohamed Writer
As a marketing student and artist I’m really interested in expressing myself through creativity. Even though 2020 was insane, quarantine gave me the free time to explore new mediums like photography and graphic design which has been really interesting!
Social Studies
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
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EUROCENTRISM IN CURRICULUMS
Written by: Nandini Chandra | Designed by: Jacqueline Wong
EUROCENTRISM (adjective): “Focusing on European culture or history to the exclusion of a wider view of the world,” or more specifically to the feeling of European exceptionalism regarding historical advancement. This phenomenon has prevailed in our society for a long time and has also affected the world’s educational systems.
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olumbus Day is a holiday in the United States that commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492. American students are taught that this was a “heroic” discovery for North America. However, this “heroic” deed has led to the forgotten experiences of those who were violently and forcefully colonized upon. Westernization has expanded in places like India too. During high school in India, I learned more about Shakespeare than I did about Rabindranath Tagore, an Indian writer. Even when we studied ancient history, we learned more about European history than we did about the Indus Valley or Harappan civilizations. Such education perpetuates European exceptionalism, and imposes harmful prejudices. Another problem with Eurocentric curriculums is the victimization of other countries because they are viewed from Western lens, creating a black and white picture. The fact that we only talk about the impacts of the World Wars on the Allied and Axis powers eliminates the same implications for the other countries involved. Eurocentricity leads to ignorance in regards to the atrocities in other countries like the Armenian genocide, the Arab slave trade, and Mao Zedong’s genocide in China. While shifting to a single non-European perspective is not the answer, it does speak to the imbalance that needs to be addressed.
Multicultural perspectives are greatly needed in our education and is evident in the one-sided manner through which people learn history. A multicultural approach to education promotes cultural relevance, antibias classrooms, and challenges people to think critically. It encourages understanding without having to compromise our cultural identities. It also exposes people to different cultures and fosters acceptance in the process. A vital aspect of a multicultural curriculum is that it allows students to learn from beyond the confines of a classroom; from their surroundings and their classmates while also building empathy.
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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
Thought Vs Thought
SHOP LOCALLY...
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hen it comes to our decisions as consumers, it is vital that we take into account where our hard earned money is going, and the impacts of our purchases. While the convenience of shopping from Amazon is certainly intriguing, the benefits of shopping locally are even greater. Local businesses tend to create more jobs than a large corporation might. Even though Amazon recently opened two large distribution centres near Edmonton, local businesses continue to be the largest employers nationally (Lending Loop, 2019). It goes without saying that a key component of a community’s economic prosperity stems from the employment rate, and local businesses can greatly benefit their communities in this way. Local businesses are more likely to donate to local charities charities that give the majority of the donations they receive back to the community, as opposed to organizations that keep large cuts of donations for themselves. Local businesses also keep their revenues within the local community, often purchasing required supplies from local producers, further supporting the local community (Hargrave, 2014). Multinational companies like Amazon almost guarantee that the dollars you spend will end up somewhere else. In addition, shopping locally can help on a number of fronts regarding two major global crises:
the climate crisis, and the COVID-19 p a n d e m i c . Shopping locally helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As local businesses purchase their supplies from local providers, there is less transportation involved, which saves money and is better for the environment. On the other hand, Amazon is continuously shipping goods across the world, resulting in a larger carbon footprint. The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on everyone, but has had a particularly large impact on local businesses. According to Statistics Canada, “32.0% of businesses with 500 or more employees reported declines in revenue of 20% or more. This figure almost doubles for smaller businesses” and “47% of small businesses with 5 to 19 employees that laid off at least one employee, laid off 80% or more of their staff” (2020). In order to keep small businesses afloat, it is imperative that their communities support them. When shopping online, items are so easy to access, and so we tend to underappreciate the value of our items as much as we undervalue locally handcrafted goods. This had led to an increased overconsumption of goods over the past few
years. Additionally, shopping from Amazon loses the human aspect where social interactions become less common. And while technology is a convenient aid, nothing can replace the human connection. In conclusion, there are countless reasons to support local businesses. While Amazon is highly convenient, next time, remember how your choices as a consumer influences a number of other factors before you click that “confirm” button.
Written by: Josie Coutain-Segall Designed by: Vaneeza Asif
Thought Vs Thought
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
...OR
SHOP ON AMAZON?
n NBC’s hit tv show The Good Place, viewers are presented with a theoretical representation of the afterlife. Humans are sorted into either “the bad place” or “the good place” based on a points system that tallies all the good and bad a person does in their lifetime. However, viewers are
presented with an interesting paradox when we realize that for 100’s of years, almost every human being has ended up in a “bad place.” The idea presented here is that people from all walks of life make unethical decisions everyday under capitalism.
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In our current world, we may link decisions as simple as buying groceries to factory farming industrial complex, destabilizing economies in the global south, and climate change. If we extend this same line of thinking to buy local or buying via international e-retail giant Amazon, we realize that several unforeseen factors complicate the decision. This, in turn, begs the question, to what extent can we achieve ethical consumption under capitalism? And if we are responsible for our global and local communities, what type of agency do we, the consumers have? If, for example, the desire to buy local is rooted in an ethical need to minimize harm to the environment, we know that 70% of emissions can be attributed to 100 companies. On the question of ethical consumption, Amazon presents a particularly troubling track record. Amazon dominates the digital retail space by providing users with the convenience of
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shopping for virtually any product from home at an affordable price. For an annual fee ranging from $59-$119, Amazon’s Prime subscription gives users exclusive access to unlimited free-two day shipping and online streaming via Prime Video. As a result, Amazon reported 101 million Prime members in the U.S as of December 2018. Additionally, at the quarantine height, their unique competitive advantage made the site increasingly attractive for consumers everywhere. Unfortunately, this convenience and accessibility come at a cost. Since the onset of the pandemic, rising tensions have led Amazon workers globally to speak out about the company’s lack of safety regulation. Across the U.S, 46 states mandated the shutdown of all non-essential businesses, and on March 16th, Amazon released a statement saying they would limit all sales to essential products. In the report, they expressed their regrets,
communicated the safety precautions they would be taking and stressed the importance of continuing to remain efficient under the circumstances. They even announced they would open 100,00 new full-time and part-time positions. However, repeated allegations suggested that Amazon continued to sell and ship non-essential items. Truthfully, it is difficult to determine which choice consumers will be called to make. Despite numerous attempts to boycott Amazon, we have watched as convenience and affordability still attract Amazon buyers. Yet, 2020 has been a year of global transition, and as we have watched this pandemic launch us into a new reality, we have all been forced to reconsider how we want our world to look. The question of ethical consumption and the need to remain connected to our community feels increasingly urgent. Written by: Timiro Mohamed
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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
Student Spotlight
RACHEL ROCHAT “MOTIVATION COMES FROM WORKING ON THINGS WE CARE ABOUT. IT ALSO COMES FROM WORKING WITH PEOPLE WE CARE ABOUT.”― Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead
RACHEL’S SCENIC JOURNEY INTO BUSINESS AT THE U OF A It’s a long and entangled story and so I like to tell everyone that I took the scenic route. After high school, I took two years off to figure out what I wanted to pursue. I had intentionally landed upon business, but I had also decided to play Varsity hockey. This led me to St. Catharines, Ontario to play on the Brock women’s hockey team for a year. I loved the team’s camaraderie and culture, where all these women were working exceptionally hard to forward and better themselves to benefit the team, but I realized I didn’t want to play hockey anymore. After that year, I moved back to Edmonton where I attended MacEwan for a year to get my prerequisites. Once I finished that, I finally made it to the UofA! It has been an exceptional experience, as I have gotten the opportunity to get involved in many clubs and activities. I knew I wanted to pursue business; I just didn’t know how or where. I am now a Finance student in my 3rd year and loving every minute of it! Written by: Nandini Chandra Designed by: Jacqueline Wong Photographed by: Jerry Cao
Rachel founded Women in Business in 2020 at the University of Alberta
Student Spotlight FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS 11 WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WOMEN IN BUSINESS, AND HOW HAS other women what she gave me, which is this confidence to work towards my THE EXPERIENCE BEEN SO FAR? goals while being my authentic self.
In October 2019, I found that I didn’t know how to negotiate a salary, interview, She is featured in our blog, and I just or speak publicly. There were these fantastic opportunities and events on campus, but I was looking for more of a mentor where I could feel comfortable with this person and learn these skills in an intimate atmosphere. I went to the Undergraduate Student Services and the Business Students’ Association, but I had missed the deadline and had to wait until next year. I said that I completely understand and should have been aware of this in September; however, I thought there should be more opportunities available. They both had said that the Network of Empowered Women (NEW) is amazing for women’s development and after hearing about it, I couldn’t have agreed more. I asked when their event was, and was informed that the conference is in March. I thought to myself, “Okay, that is an amazing opportunity, but what can I do between October and March for women-centred mentorship?” I ended up talking to a friend at the University of Calgary about this and asked how she received mentorship. She said they had a Women in Business program that allows women to develop many of the skills I was seeking. I then went down to Calgary and spoke to the Women in Business President about their club. I brought the ideas back on a very small scale and asked my friends how I could help them, and maybe we could all learn together. It snowballed from there - in the most fantastic way - as people in my support system said, “Why don’t you start a mentorship club for women in business?” From there, I began creating the foundation of WIB, and was lucky to have an incredible executive team that believed in the power of this idea. Together, we have created this program allowing women to have more mentorship in the ASoB. To summarize, WIB came from having a need and looking at how to fill that need in the best way possible. I think that we’ve achieved our goal thus far.
think she is amazing. By far, she is my biggest inspiration and is someone I will always look up to as a friend, mentor, and an incredible woman who I know is going to change the world.
WHAT IS A BIG CHALLENGE WOMEN FACE IN BUSINESS? I speak from a privileged perspective where any challenges that I face are not intersectional, so I want to recognize my privilege right off the bat. I do not think I can speak for all women so will only speak for myself. I think one of my biggest challenges is Imposter Syndrome. I have faced this in my past and it remains as something I continue to work on. Being able to head into the workforce and make sure I remember that I am a great and capable person is so important. For me, it will be making sure that I know I have earned this opportunity because I have worked hard. I cannot speak for all women, and I don’t want to pretend we all face the same issues; I, instead, hope to be there to help those who open up about their challenges.
WHAT ELSE HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN?
Women in Business Executives (from left to right): Mya Dunn, Remington Irwin, Rachel Rochat, Navya Baradi, and Sadhna Mathrani.
WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATION AND IDOL? My biggest inspiration is a woman named Lindsay Jones. I had the extreme fortune of growing up in the house next to hers in St. Albert. She started mentoring me when I was very young and since then, she has gone on to do incredible things; she is currently an Investment Banker at Scotiabank in the New York office. She is just absolutely contagious - I know that doesn’t make sense, but it would if you’ve met her, it would. If you’ve met her, you will understand that she exudes mentorship, confidence, drive, and motivation. She is so passionate about uplifting other women, and was actually the first person I talked to about the idea of Women in Business. I told her that I wanted to give
In my first year, I had the opportunity to be a Cohort Representative with the BSA, where I represented Cohort X (which is for transfer students). From there, I fell into a familiar habit and joined JDC West as an Athletics Delegate. I was fortunate to be involved in both these clubs because they helped me transition into yet another university. I then had the opportunity to be on the Board of Advisors for the BSA. I was their firstyear advisor and am thrilled to be back this year. From the athletics team I have transitioned into the academic side, and am on the JDC West Finance team. Outside of campus, I help advise the Edmonton Women in Finance Post-Secondary Committee from a student perspective.
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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
Lazy Chat
LAZY CHAT WITH
HEATHER THOMSON EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SCHOOL OF RETAILING
Written by: Timiro Mohamed Designed by: Jazlynn Chan
CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT YOUR ROLE IS WITH THE ALBERTA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, AND WHAT YOU'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT CULTIVATING WITH YOUR ROLE? I started off my career in retail when I was 17, as one of the first employees hired for Lululemon in the province. I was hired and trained by Chip Wilson himself and worked with Lululemon for 10 years. I then ended up going over to banking until I realized it wasn't a fit for me. Later, I joined the university’s School of Business, working with municipalities to develop leadership educational programs. I then ended up in this role as executive director at the School of Retailing although the previous executive director and I have different backgrounds. I’ve been in this role now for two and a half years. I'm passionate about students being able to understand all of their options. I really want to make sure students understand that there are great lives to be had in a variety of career settings. I often find that a lot of the emphasis is skewed towards a traditional
career model. Although I went down that road briefly, I found working nine to five in the corporate structure stifling and unfriendly. When I first started out with the school, I had no idea how many people didn't understand the industry. People were very surprised to hear that, at Lululemon, it is easy to make six figures a year. It started off as a financial conversation and it morphed into a lifestyle conversation, the element of flexibility and the ability to be your own boss. My mission is to help students get the right information and to change the narrative so students understand all of their career options.
WHAT DOES THE PHRASE “MADE IN YEG” MEAN TO YOU? HOW DO YOU FEEL THAT THE SCHOOL OF RETAILING FOSTERS A CULTURE OF INGENUITY AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND ENRICHES LOCAL BUSINESS AND CULTURE? Currently we’re working with the City of Edmonton and the Digital Main Street partnership. We’re helping local “Made in YEG” businesses become more digitally equipped.
Lazy Chat
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The pandemic is showcasing inconsistencies economy, possibly picking up side contracts in the resources that businesses have. We’re and if you can afford it, volunteer and invest in going to do what we can to help businesses your community. increase their profits. For example, many restaurants don’t have a branded Google CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE ROLE profile, or a PDF of their menu. The School OF WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP AT THE ASOB AND of Retailing has a team of digital consultants WHAT MESSAGE YOU FEEL THE NATURE OF made up of business students. They are going YOUR POSITION SENDS TO YOUNG WOMEN IN into the world to help these businesses move the dial, learn what they can and encourage THE SCHOOL OF RETAILING AND SCHOOL OF confidence so that they’re able to keep going BUSINESS? on their own. I think it’s important that we support business providers, and consumers Since becoming a mother four years ago, I who want to support locals. But, as business am well aware of the biases that are at play, owners, we’re not doing a good job of making and the handicaps that women have to deal it easy for people to support. Your community, with every single day. As women there’s and your city is only as healthy as the this element around, making ourselves business sector it has. smaller, to make others feel more “Don’t comfortable. worry about AS NEW GRADUATES ARE TRYING I would say, especially to women finding your job, who are undergraduate and TO NAVIGATE UNCERTAINTY IN MBA students right now, try to find something TRANSITION, WHAT UNIQUE that you enjoy, that work hard but know your CHALLENGES DO YOU FEEL value. You need to be your THEY’RE FACING? AND HOW challenges you, and own advocate, you need to ARE YOU WITHIN THE ALBERTA set yourself up for as many something that SCHOOL OF BUSINESS TRYING opportunities as possible and interests you for the you need to be very vocal about TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THIS next two years.” that. I regret putting extra hours TRANSITION? when my male counterparts didn’t have to. I wish I could go back in time I think the pandemic is creating uncertainty for because I wouldn’t have done it. I would have employers and that’s the unique challenge that said no, that opportunity’s not for me, and I graduates are facing right now. I graduated would have been okay with leaving things. from university in 2008 which was another huge recession so I can empathize with going into a market that isn’t as excited to take new people on right now. I would use this opportunity to hone skill sets that you didn’t necessarily think that you needed to. I would challenge students to shift their vision of their career. Don’t worry about finding your job, try to find something that you enjoy, that challenges you, and something that interests you for the next two years. Thinking about the next two years, rather than the next 10 becomes less overwhelming. I’m not usually one to say think short term, but consider working the gig
The School of Business is really aware of these biases. They have Dr. Michelle who’s our Diversity Associate Dean. She was hired to help correct these sort of biases that are run in any sort of systemic theocracy and I think they’re making a lot of headway. I think they took a big chance on me being in this role because I didn’t have a degree from the University of Alberta. I would suggest that women do what they can to find these sorts of values, wherever they work, and never compromise them, because there will always be another job.
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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
Club’s Corner
Network of Empowered Women
Written by: Josie Coutain-Segall Designed by: Kim Tinana
Inspire. Connect. Empower. These are some of the guiding principles of the Network of Empowered Women (NEW), a student organization founded in 2012 by female Bachelor of Commerce students at the Alberta School of Business. In an interview with Lazy Faire, NEW’s VP Public Relations, Shawna Truong, added that, “NEW’s mission is two-fold. Firstly, NEW facilitates knowledge and experience sharing, awareness and
discussion on the topics of female empowerment, career and personal development, leadership, work-life balance, among others, while tackling big ideas like how these affect us, individually and collectively, and how becoming more aware and empowered will lead to a better and more sustainable future. Secondly, NEW connects undergraduate students with successful, interdisciplinary leaders from the community as a means of fostering meaningful connections from which inspiration and support can be drawn. Through these objectives, NEW supports delegates in discovering and gaining confidence in their potential.” The organization holds an annual conference at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Banff National Park to empower delegates to realize their potential, create personal and professional connections, and inspire and be inspired by others. During the conference, attendees have the opportunity to listen to keynote speakers from a variety of sectors, attend exciting Gala events, career fairs, and partake in breakout sessions. Past speakers include Carolyn Graham, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Canadian Western Bank (CWB), and Teresa Spinelli, President of the Italian Centre Shop.
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Inspire. Connect. Empower.
Club’s Corner
This year’s conference is themed “Amplify Your Voice: Leave a Legacy”. Undergraduate students of any gender orientation from any faculty and university are invited to apply. Despite previous conferences being held at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, this year’s conference will be held online due to COVID-19. NEW still strives to deliver many benefits for attending delegates which includes, but not limited to, various breakout sessions, networking events, and of course, virtual social events! Certain details are still being determined, given the change to an online platform. The made-in-YEG organization attracts participants from universities all over Canada, from as far west as The University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, to Ryerson University and The University of Western Ontario from farther east. Some previous sponsors include Scotiabank, Xerox, Husky, TD, Ford, Lululemon, the City of Edmonton, and the Alberta School of Business, among many others. Truong adds, “being founded at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, NEW is proud to be recognized as a student organization that has been able to spread the values and mission of female empowerment, career and personal development, leadership, work-life balance, among others, all in the name of leading a better and more sustainable future. It has been incredibly rewarding to create a community of empowered leaders, and finding new and innovative ways to support our delegates in discovering and gaining confidence in their potential is always the greatest payoff to see in the work that we do.” Martina Elegino, Co-chair of NEW says that, “NEW is proud to be recognized as a student organization that has been able to spread the values and mission of female empowerment, career and personal development, leadership, work-life balance, among others, to attendees and sponsors from across the country” and that, “the biggest challenge [NEW] had to face was making sure that there was enough representation from different universities, faculties, backgrounds, and genders”.
In addition to the annual conference, NEW hosts various workshops and fundraising events. This year, NEW hosted a Wellness Month to promote mental and physical health over the summer. The organization hosted three different virtual sessions: a paint night, workout class and a cooking class which raised $790 for the WIN House in Edmonton. This semester, they plan to run an online interview series with corporate professionals, executives, and entrepreneurs as well. If you’re interested in learning more about the organization and want to know more about how to get involved, please visit their website at https://www.networkofempoweredwomen.ca, follow NEW’s social media channels, and email their team at uofanew@ualberta.ca with any additional questions you may have.
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
Guest Article
P O O M M S I
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he interesting thing about business is its presentation of femininity. Women in business trend towards the “power woman” trope (though part of that might be the pantsuits we end up wearing at one point or another). In business, I find women feel pressured to be effortlessly capable. That they should be able to “do it all” - join clubs, get good grades, land a good job, and have successful personal relationships while still being well-dressed, put together, and amicable. I also think that within this “power woman” stereotype, there is pressure for women to conform to a particular idea of femininity, which I believe is detrimental in 2 ways: For one, it negates all other presentations of femininity across a broad spectrum to focus on “professionalism.” We tend to forget that men created these professional standards when women weren’t privy to the conversation. Women entering
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the workforce conform to preexisting standards that have not changed alongside the new business terrain. These standards and attitudes need to be changed, but right now, all they do is force women in business to present a genderless front, all in the name of professionalism. It tends to outcast everything that doesn’t conform, whether they be very feminine or incredibly geeky (and as someone that can quote the Star Wars prequels, I take personal offence to that). This trend has caused me to feel many insecurities about the way I present myself. I want to wear makeup, a sundress, and hoop earrings to tell you about Endogenous Growth Theory, and I swear I will be just as effective as if I was in a pantsuit. But that’s not possible under these standards. I feel as though if I stray from this idea of genderless professionalism, the credibility of my thoughts and ideas will be tarnished. I do not think I am alone in feeling this way.
Written by: Nina Varghese Designed by: Jazlynn Chan Photographed by: Jerry Cao
I used to be staunchly “not-afeminist”. I used to think that sexism could be regulated away. That the fight for equality was over and done with the last generation, and that our generation of women would have equal opportunities. Sure, we would have to play against rough odds sometimes, but that was just the way the world worked. I was raised under the idea that the world was a meritocracy and that raw ability was sufficient to guarantee success. However, in the last few years, I’ve learned that rough odds aren’t the same as a glass ceiling. Second, and most importantly, the very idea of what a female professional should be leads to a vast amount of imposter syndrome among young women in business. Women feel pressured to live up to this unattainable ideal of a “power woman”, infinitely capable and talented in all they do. After all, this is the most common representation of a businesswoman seen in popular media. This is only compounded by the feeling that in maledominated fields, every action you take is under a microscope and representative of your sex. Women feel pressured, not only to be as good as “one of the boys” but to be better because there are many fields in business where they still have something to prove. This pressure to be a perfect professional drives women to hide their struggles, to their detriment. I also think that it leads women to put on a facade of perfection. In reality, they struggle simply because they
I M PO STER. IMP O STER . I M P O
Guest Article feel like they will be ostracized by their peers or have their credibility questioned if they show even the slightest amount of inability. Being a woman in business, at least in my mind, is almost characterized by feeling as though you are never truly “good enough to play the game”. I have been a member of JDC West for the last two years. In both years, I have had the privilege of participating in all-female teams competing in 2 classically male-dominated fields: Debate and Finance. The first all-female team in both areas. It has been the most enlightening experience of my undergraduate degree, and I wholeheartedly attribute these experiences to making me a feminist. There’s something unique about going where “no wo(man) has gone before” (cue Star Trek theme). There’s a certain sense of pride in being one of the first - no matter how big or small that first might be. The imposter syndrome is somewhat held at bay by the idea that, at the very least, someone believes that your ability to get the job done. That is quickly forgotten when you realize how much better than your competitors. You have to get the judges to listen to you, your arguments actively, and your analysis before they even begin to trust you. You have to be clear, confident, with solid fundamental reasoning backing every word you speak. In other words, an almost perfect representation of a “power woman”.Why is that? For one, humans are creatures of habit, and we tend to dislike change. Therefore, we tend
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
to be highly critical of things that represent that change. Since an all-female team represents that rapid change of integrating women into all parts of the business world, it is understandable that we would be held to a different standard. Sometimes this different standard forces us to consider if our arguments and analysis are good enough for the judges and our peers. Furthermore, men and women bring different strengths, talents, and opinions to the table, both valuable and necessary. The issue is that history has only shown us how to judge the success of male views, ideas and arguments. Women have only recently joined the table, so there is no historical standard to judge our nuanced arguments. The great privilege of our generation is that we get to play a role in what those standards will be. When a team of women come up with a nuanced argument or different finance strategy than another male team, the imposter syndrome rears its head as you consider your work. You wonder if it is good enough, simply because it is not what a male team might have thought. You also wonder about your style of presentation: too emotional, and you’re not professional enough; too unemotional, and you’ll be called “cold”; laugh and smile too much, and you’ll be called “vapid and ineffectual”. I was always warned not to debate with my male competitors’ arrogant speaking style lest it come off as “cocky and pretentious” and hurt our team. I cannot help but wonder if all-
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male teams from other schools were given the same warning. I remember wondering if I was just not good enough to pull it off. However, in breaking these glass ceilings, we managed to set a standard. At least in JDC West. For our teams, it was a glass ceiling. For the teams that come after us, it will be rough odds. But there is a standard for you now. Your existence in those male-dominated spaces is not alien anymore. There is a history that shows you belong. And there will be less reason to second-guess yourself because I feel as though we did much of the second-guessing for you. There is some small semblance of a standard for you now, and an objective measure to say that you no longer have to feel like an imposter. I will always be grateful that I had an, albeit small, role in making that happen. But the thing to notice is this: I was a team member in both years I participated in JDC West. So while I am incredibly thankful to have the opportunity to write about a topic relevant to me, I would have nothing at all to speak about without those other women. Let it be known that Ellen Savage, Hanna Daniel, Sadhna Mathrani, Kseniya Kataeva, and Rachel Rochat are also women who broke glass ceilings and changed opinions and who I am sure will go on to break many more. And to the women reading this article: stop listening to your brain screaming that you aren’t good enough. You belong here, and you are good enough to play the game.
O S TER. IM P O STER . I MP O S TE R
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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
LF Reviews
A quick visit to their menu highlights their dedication to their community ...with treats starting at just a dollar and ranging from a variety of traditional Filipino delicacies to some baked goods more local to Edmonton.
Intent Coffee @Southgate Mall
Written by: Parul Kanwar | Designed by: Vaneeza Asif
Edmonton’s newest additions have been Intent Coffee - a coffee collective rooted in the community. Owned by Mavi and Reika, two first-generation, Queer-Pilipinx immigrants; the collective is an ode to the role it plays in their community. This collective aims to create a more equitable, inclusive and sustainable coffee industry that envisions a “better, kinder and more just world.” To put it in their own words: they want “to foster relationships and connections to build a stronger and more resilient queer community, putting people first. We are a coffee collective rooted in Bayan (community/village) working in the spirit of Bayanihan (community building).” This is reflective of their hiring and execution practices. Intent Coffee, by ensuring that they hire, invest and empower marginalized communities and peoples in coffee, want to positively impact both their communities - Edmonton and Philippines - socially and economically. The coffee shop aims to support Indigenous coffee producers in the Philippines in their daily operations.
Collect Alberta Public Interest Research Group’s almanacs at Intent while the stocks last!
Importance of Community However, more interesting than their coffee and mission is how they started their business. With a communitysponsored fundraiser on GoFundMe, the team acquired a Southgate Centre space, right where Tutti Frutti used to be! They did so to combat the struggles of bureaucracy that often stops small businesses from starting up. Some of these can be problems with getting loans and financing from banks but not having enough assets. Ultimately, Intent Coffee is one of the spots that contributes to community building and supports local businesses who “reinvest back into our communities by hiring and working with people within [their] communities,”
LF Reviews
FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS
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When: On now until November 14 Time: Times vary based on date Where: 7031 Gateway Boulevard, Edmonton Price: Regular Admission, $34.99 plus fees; Speed Pass, $49.99 plus fees Businesses worldwide have been changing operations and customer service due to COVID-19, and Edmonton’s favourite Haunted House is not far behind! Deadmonton is opening this year with additional safety precautions, keeping its customers and staff safe to ensure that their plans to re-open for the 2020 season go smoothly. This will be their 7th year bringing the Halloween spirit to Edmonton. As their promotions read, they will follow all COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions issued federally, provincially and by the City of Edmonton. All customers will be required to wear masks, and do not worry if you do not have a mask - they will have masks available to purchase should you need one. In the same vein, the Deadmonton team, composed of local artists, actors and technicians, has overcome challenges by auditions both in person and virtually. With lots of work and creativity, they have created a completely outdoor haunted house in addition to their signature indoor haunted house. Area 51 is their main haunt inside the warehouse, and as the name might suggest - get excited about some spooky alien fun. Dusk is their new haunted house outside built as an old-style New Orleans Cemetery. Your ticket allows you into both haunted houses. For those faint of heart, the haunted house offers emergency exits every few rooms and features different types of scares. For those who make it through, a Halloween store awaits at the end with all the various decorations, costumes and props you can imagine! On the other hand, if you feel that Deadmonton has got nothing on you, their lights out events in November might be your calling. The lights to the haunted house will be turned off, and each group will only get one light to try and make their way through Deadmonton House. But as winter approaches, we suggest that you try to dress in your coziest fall attire - the only chills you get should be from the scares and not the cold! However, with COVID-19 restrictions come a decreased number of tickets available each hour. To ensure that social distancing regulations are met and the staff adhere to the number of people allowed in a gathering, fewer people will experience the frights this year. But, fret not, walk-ups without pre-purchased tickets will be allowed entry as long as there is space available! Written by: Parul Kanwar Designed by: Kim Tinana