October 2013 by Lazy Faire

OCT 2013 COMMUNICATION + Presentation secrets + Effective group work + Case Competitions to join + Interview w/ CEO of ATB & MORE!

Jenna Balogh

STUDENT

love and success with case competitions SPOTLIGHT

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C O N T R I B U TO R S Editor-in-Chief RACHEL LEE Managing Editor TAYLOR BANISTER Executive Editor LOUIS LIU Writers CAITLIN HALL CARISSA THAM EILEEN LEE ELNUR KASUMOV FELICIA LIANG GABRIEL NUNES JAMES LO JENNY WANG KAWTHARA SHIRE ROSHNI PARHAR

C O M M U N I C AT I O N E D I T I O N 4

CALENDAR

EDITOR’S NOTE

WHAT’S UP

JENNA BALOGH LF interviews the case competition guru

NEW Empowering the Network of Women in Lake Louise

DAVE MOWAT CEO of ATB on leading and unmapping your future

JDC CHILLIN’ 4 CHARITY Business students plunge into icy waters for charity

GROUP PROJECTS Is it a fair representation of your performance and the world?

APPROPRIATE ATTIRE The do’s and don’ts of professional wear

DESIGN Art Director ASHLEY TRUONG Associate Art Director LINNEA LAPP Designers BONNIE TRUONG CHRISTINA STEFANIUK COLLEEN DO DAVID TON-LAI EILEEN LEE JENNIFER TRUONG JENNY WANG MICHAEL BAKER SHIRLEY DU Photographers CARISSA THAM DAVID HE ELLA LIN FELICIA LIANG

EXTERNAL

R E L AT I O N S

Online Director WILSON HUANG P RO D U C T I O N Sponsored by XEROX CANADA Special Thanks to DIANA WYLEY Contact us UOFALAZYFAIRE @gmail.com

cover photographed by ELLA LIN

MEET THE TEAM A close-up of this year’s LF editors

CAMPUS FOOD BANK Thanksgiving: a time to give back to the community

ALL ABOUT CASE COMPS Upcoming opportunities to compete in case comps

TYPICAL GROUP ROLES Identify these members and how to prepare for them

DATABASE SEARCHING DEMYSTIFIED Effective researching using database resources

10 QUESTIONS Get to know Kirsten LePage

ALL ABOUT PRESENTATIONS The art of presenting a case

M 30

T 1

OCTOBER W 2

TH 3

F 4

ETIQUETTE DINNER MENTORSHIP START-UP DINNER UAHRMA

BEA BANFF TRIP

(CESA)

HENRY SINGER AWARDS

INTERNATIONAL

(UAMA)

(BEA)

SPEAKER SERIES

BSA - AGM

S/S 5/6

12/13

19/20

FARE MIXER

7 HR CASE COMP INFO SESSION

(UAMA) BSA AICC BFA MOCK MARKET COMPETITION (14th to 28 th)

26/27

INFO SESSION

BEER OLYMPICS

BP TRAINING SESSION

NETWORKING EVENT

HALLOWEEN DRINK EVENT

(NEW)

(BSA)

(BFA)

(NEW)

(BEA)

BSA SPORTS TOURNAMENT (26th) JDC RETREAT (27 th)

BFA MOCK MARKET COMPETITION (14th to 28 th)

28 MOCK MARKET 4

CHILLIN 4 CHARITY (JDC WEST)

2/3

BEA INTERNATIONAL CASE COMP

EDITOR’S

Health Clin

N O T E

E: Frantic

PATIENT NA M

Business S tudent Glossophobia (fea r of PRESCRIPTI ON: public speaking) DIAGNOSIS:

DEAR READER

Picture the audience naked --Doctor

I often cringe at the widely spread prescription for glosso-

eryone pampers you with their undivided attention. A

pobia - if I had to picture the audience naked, I’m sure I

time when everyone in the room is forced to listen to you,

would be too traumatized and preoccupied to stand in

smile politely and clap no matter how boring or terrible

front of the audience, let alone make a speech. So what

your ideas might be. A time when you can truly put your

does it really take to be better at public presentations?

ideas out there and get an adrenaline rush out of it.

It is undeniable that any form of public speaking is of-

A wise man once said ‘If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it’. If you

ten a source of panic for many people (and conversely

can’t enjoy the unavoidable, then at least make the best

a source of passion for others). It is also true that the

of it. Here is the blunt truth about these presentations,

thought of putting yourself out there, subject to public

cases, and speeches: no matter how much you love or

scrutiny, can be just as rattling and traumatizing as pic-

hate them, these are a mandatory part of your degree,

turing your professors naked during classroom presen-

your life, and your communication to the world. The best

tations. I had a friend that once told me about all the

you can do is prepare by reading advices and tips for pub-

things that went through his head when he stood up in

lic speaking, focusing on group team work, highlighting

front of his classmates for his BUS 201 presentation:

your strengths, and thoroughly analyzing your case. Af-

“Will the audience like me? Will they laugh at me? Will

ter that, you can only practice, practice and PRACTICE.

I screw up my words and embarrass myself? Will they fall asleep? Will the audience throw tomatoes at me and ruin my tailored suit? Will I be dumbfounded and speechless?” So many thoughts! No wonder he was speechless every time he went on the stage… his brain was too busy thinking about these unrealistic “what if” scenarios.

This issue of Lazy Faire is focused on the first part of this essential process- preparation. Everything you need from effective researching to working with group members, tips for presentations and opportunities for case competitions can all be found in this month’s issue. Whether you are a brilliant speaker or a shy presenter, all

Quite frankly, these fears are all unwarranted. Think

the tools you need to improve can be found within these

about it – your audience is bound by social norm and the

pages. Now the responsibility is on you: are you willing

code of human respect to clap and acknowledge your ef-

put these tools to use?

forts at the end of your presentation. No one in the audience is allowed to throw tomatoes at you or laugh at your speech, at least not during the classroom presentations (or they might lose participation marks). Instead,

BEST WISHES,

I suggest my glossophobic friends to think of their time on the stage as their right to shine. I think the students

RACHEL LEE

Editor-in-Chief

passionate about case competitions will agree with me

when I say that stage time is a privileged time when ev-

photographed by ELLA LIN

W H A T ’ S

written by KAWTHARA SHIRE designed by LINNEA LAPP

U P

the winspear LIBRARY: QUICK STATS

numbers

Location of Winspear Library in the Business Building

6 Group Discussion rooms located in the Winspear Library

“Through effective communication, leaders can inspire and motivate. It’s all in how you deliver the message!”

32 Computer Station stalls located in the Winspear Library

“Right now, I’d pay $100,000 for 10 percent of the future earnings of any of you. By having good communication skills, you can improve your value by another 50 percent. If you have good communication skills, see me after this, and I’ll pay you $150,000 for 10 percent of your future earnings.”

| Justine Snaychuk, 4th Year SoB Marketing major

“Be a better communicator by improving your understanding of exactly what information you want to share, and by slowing down and simplifying your messages.”

| Warren Buffet, Founder of Berkshire Hathaway, talking to Business Students

| Julia Rudolf, 3rd Year SoB Accounting major

22.1 24.0 6

Average age of all male students in the SoB Respective U of A average

Network Access Stations located in the Winspear Library

1984 november 26

21.7

Official opening date of the SoB Building

23.9

Average age of all female students in the SoB Respective U of A average

The four Editors of Lazy Faire are very excited for a great 2013/2014 year with the magazine, and are thrilled to bring our readers 24 pages of insightful, entertaining, and informative reads each month. Whether it is our traditional Student Spotlight and Clubs Corner features, or our new features including the “What’s Up”, “Thought vs. Thought”, and “External Relations” features, the Lazy Faire will have it covered throughout the year for your reading enjoyment. From the Editors of 2013/2014, we say this to our readers: best of luck to us all for a great school year filled with learning, networking, and most importantly– fun! A note from your Editors –featured in order from picture above.

written by TAYLOR BANISTER designed by ASHLEY TRUONG photographed by ELLA LIN

L O U I S L I U Executive Editor

A S H L E Y T R U O N G Art Director

What will be your biggest takeaway from your time here at the School of

From Highlights to Seventeen to Cosmo and more, I have been

Business? We believe it’s all about the people. Your business experience

exposed to magazines my whole life. It wasn’t until I considered Art

thrives on your ability to form strong connections with others and to

& Design as a career that I realized I never really read the Readers

maintain those relationships throughout the coming years. That’s what

Digest or TIME magazines that came in the mail every month– I just

Lazy Faire is here for and I’m extremely excited to be a part of this awe-

looked at them. Now a 4th year Bachelor of Design student with a

some team as Executive Editor for the 2013-2014 year. Happy reading!

program route in Business & Marketing, I couldn’t be more thrilled to contribute to Lazy Faire’s overall aesthetic. I am determined to continue to steadily grow the magazine in the design and photography departments. This is going to be a fun year!

R A C H E L L E E Editor-in-Chief

TAYLO R B AN I S T ER Managing Editor

As a 4th year U of A student in my second year of Business, I truly believe

I am very excited to be Managing Editor of the 2013/2014 edition of the Lazy

in the value of the various opportunities and privileges the School of Busi-

Faire! As a 3rd Year U of A, 2nd Year SoB student, I am proud and excited to be

ness has to offer. From clubs to conferences, we are privileged to have the

part of such an engaging, high intensity team. I look forward to the challenge

opportunity to grasp endless chances of doing extraordinary things. Such

this year will bring, hopefully competing in case competitions, participating in

being the case, I like to constantly expose myself to new extracurricular ac-

great extra-curricular activities, and networking with the numerous amazing

tivities. My goal for this year is to turn Lazy Faire into THE communica-

individuals present in the SoB. I see myself as a strong believer in openness,

tion tool that provides informational foundation for our readers. In the

continually striving to explore new ideas, concepts, and opportunities; one of

famous words of Oscar Wilde, "To live is the rarest thing in the world.

my foremost goals with the magazine this year is to introduce new features

Most people exist, that is all." Lazy Faire is here to help our readers live–

which will hopefully further engage our fantastic reader base. I am excited

by providing the essential information of the School of Business.

about the prospect of growing the prominence of the Lazy Faire in our great school this year– the Alberta School of Business.

Case competitions are excellent opportunities for business students to challenge themselves in a variety of ways, including the utilization of analytical skills under a fast-paced environment. Students also learn how to work effectively in a team, deal with conflict, and manage time. Whether you are new to the School of Business, or are now a senior business student, case competitions are always a great way to get involved, enhance your resume, and receive invaluable experience during your BCom degree. Below is a list of upcoming case competitions you might

2013 - 2014 Case Comp Timeline

want to keep an eye out for. Alberta Energy Challenge (Sept.25-29th) – hosted by the School of Business and the Commerce Energy and Environment Group, this case competition focuses on challenges in the energy and environmental sector. Asian Business Case Competition (Sept. 23-26th) – hosted by the Nanyang Business School in Singapore, this is Singapore’s first international undergraduate business case competition. This case primarily focuses on sustainability, and the Alberta School of Business is excited to be one of only two universities representing Canada overseas!

Collegiate Case Ethics Competition (Oct.24-26th) – primarily focused on business ethics, this case competition gives students a chance to challenge their moral reasoning, and understand the importance of corporate social responsibility.

Inter Collegiate Business Competition (Oct.-Jan.) – comprised of a preliminary and final round, students are given the option to compete in eight different events, including: accounting, business policy, ethics, debating, finance, human resources, marketing, and management information systems. Alberta Internal Case Competition (Oct.) – the first internal case competition of the year, AICC is an excellent way for both rookies and senior business students to get involved.

Business Exchange Association International Case Competition (Nov.) – a unique case competition where you will be paired with exchange students from various countries.

written by FELICIA LIANG designed by CHRISTINA STEFANIUK

Keep in mind that it is never too late to start participating in case competitions! While it may seem intimidating at first, participating will give you a fantastic learning experience, helping you develop your critical thinking, problemsolving, time management skills. Take your learning beyond the classroom and challenge yourself —who knows where it may take you!

JDC West (Jan. 17-19th) – Western Canada’s largest student-run business competition that includes ten core academic competitions.

EDGE Business Competition (Jan.31st-Feb.2nd) – a high-energy case competition that is multidisciplinary in nature. This case competition encompasses areas such as accounting, finance, marketing, and public relations.

CaseIT (Feb. 4-8th) – an international undergraduate management information systems case. This case competition is tailored for students with an interest and background in information technology. To see the full list of case competitions that the School of Business will be involved with this year, please check out the link above: http://www.business.ualberta.ca/Programs/BachelorOfCommerce/CurrentStudents/Competitions.aspx

Da tabase Searching Demystified written by CAITLIN HALL designed by DAVID TON-LAI

I grew up with Google, Yahoo Search, and Bing. Searching a database should be easy for me, right? Not quite. I’m sure I’m not the first student to be dumbfounded by the database.But, luckily for all of you, my summer job as a Research Assistant has turned me into quite the expert. In the following paragraphs, I will attempt to take you from an amateur to professional databaser. First off, why use a database? Databases are used to search for the articles within journals. As such, the first thing you need to do is determine what type of database you want to explore. The University of Alberta Library website allows you to view available databases by name or subject. If you’re going by name, two databases you should remember are: Academic Source Complete and Business Source Complete. Academic Source Complete searches a large number of journals across a variety of disciplines. Business Source Complete, on the other hand, narrows in and examines business journals and peer-reviewed publications only.

Rule #1

‘AND’ will find articles containing both items.

Rule #2

‘OR’ will find articles containing either or both items.

Rule #3

‘NOT’ will find articles with one item, but not the other.

“

If you’re going by name, two databases you should remember are: Academic Source Complete and Business Source Complete.

”

Once you know your database of choice, select your search terms. The more general

your search terms, the more results you will get. For example, searching ‘business’ will provide more results than searching ‘marketing’. And, searching ‘marketing’ will pro-

vide more results than searching ‘socially responsible marketing’. Conversely, if you find your search comes back with next to nil, broaden your terms! You’ll also need to master the skill of combining multiple search terms. This is called Boolean searching and is derived from the work of 19th century mathematician, George Boole (the more you know!).

To focus the search even further, you can also select limits on your results. Will you need articles written in Latin? How about an article from 1954? By choosing your desired language and date of publication, you’ll avoid unnecessary results. Different databases allow different limitations. Playing around with these restrictions will help you get the best possible outcome. One last tip: utilize the librarians. While I have just attempted to turn you into a database pro, I understand these things are complex. Visit the service desk or http://www. library.ualberta.ca/askus/. Trust me, they’re happy to help.

written by ELNUR KASUMOV

ALL ABOUT

PRESENTATIONS

Enjoy a quick overview of some important lessons to learn about presentations as you head off to build your own. There is always much to learn and improve when it comes to presentations. We at LF hope this will get some creative juices flowing and help you produce higher quality professional work!

WHAT GRAPHS OR CHARTS TO USE?

Tell a story with one story teller that might

bring specialists for specific sections. Two leaders that go back and forth and

There are infinite possibilities when it comes to which graphs and flowcharts you can use in your presentation. Organizational flowcharts, pie charts, timeline graphs and decision trees are some examples. You can definitely get creative with this.

present the different aspects of the presentation, sometimes with seemingly opposing views, but one overall message. Informative point form – usually quick,

covers a lot of ground in little time.

The more far-out and effective you are, the better your chances of being remembered by the judges.

Whatever tools you use in your presentation, remember to keep them free from unnecessary formatting clutter and make sure the scales of graphs accurately convey your information. Visual aids allow you to convey a hefty amount of information so long as you remember to separate “need to know” information from “nice to know” information. I strongly encourage you to examine as many presentations as possible and seek out structural formats that would work best for your message.

Corporate type – very long and comprehen-

sive, often with breaks in the middle. Ad promotion presentation – full of

visuals, motion and simple messages; meant to convince in a very short amount of time. Keynote speech – often a story that sets

the tone for what is about to follow. It is meant to steer the audience’s thinking process in the direction of the agenda that is about to follow.

WHAT TO DO

WHAT NOT TO DO

å Make eye contact, especially with the judges, but preferably with the entire audience. It makes them feel included and is a good indication of their level of attention.

ã Do not look at the floor.

å Smile –shows confidence and connects you with the audience by making you more attractive to them. A smile is contagious and that’s a good thing. å Talk with your hands; slope your fingers in the directions of graphs, list points on your fingers, draw attention to yourself with your arms and wrists. å Turn your body toward the audience when you are speaking; turn toward your teammate when they are speaking or (slightly!) toward the presentation deck when directing attention to it. å Talk loudly and audibly, animating your voice to create your presentation voice. Your tone will help you emphasize important points. å Learn a bit about how audiovisual equipment works. å Courteously pass the presentation to the next speaker, introducing them in the process and thanking the audience for tuning in.

DIFFERENT PRESENTATION STYLES AND SLIDE DECKS

ã Do not chew gum. ã Do not keep your hands in your pockets. ã Do not face the screen with your back to the audience. ã Don’t make up stuff, people in the crowd will notice, and you will lose your credibility. ã Do not tap the mike. ã Do not dive into an awkward silence as soon as you are done your part.

Think of yourself as the maestro, orchestrating the symphony that is your presentation; always conscientious, in tune, signaling delicately, but firmly and confidently. Concentrate on your message to the audience and make sure you have their attention.

BODY LANGUAGE I feel that this comes from within and is projected toward your surroundings. Relax your shoulders and stand up straight, breathe in and enhance your calm. Be composed and confident. Maintain eye contact. Your face looks friendliest when you look at the nose of your conversation partner. Your facial muscles align to create the friendliest expression. Prior to your presentation, in “the green room,” stand up and stretch out your arms all the way to your fingertips. This will open your airways and release relaxing chemicals in the brain which will instill you with a sense of confidence and calm.

10 TIPS & TRICKS ON BUILDING YOUR DECK

If you have a slide with favorable and unfavorable information (ex. risks vs. opportunities), use red backdrop for negative and green for the positive. People are very used to this split.

Build a hidden hyperlink directory to your slides. I found adding a Closed Chevron Process smart art with hidden hyperlinks to essential slides at the bottom of the presentation very useful. It helps the viewers along and retains the context of past slides.

You can use SmartArt to accentuate processes, lists, timelines and much more. You can make a customized graphic using shapes and text boxes, with just a little patience.

If you use media –video or audio, make sure your formatting matches the machinery you are using to present with.

If you use pictures or JPEG files, put all of them in one folder with your presentation. When moving data always move the folder on its entirety so that the hardware you are accessing it from can recognize and read all the necessary data. Store all your stuff in one folder.

WAYS TO PRACTICE PRESENTATION It’s old school, but practice in front of the mirror. Another way is to practice in front of a low stakes audience. Grab a friend and ask them to check out your presentation. Don’t worry about the comments at the beginning; every time you practice, you polish your skills. I’ve found that recording your presentation is useful. You get to see or hear what parts of the presentation flow well, what needs some work and, most importantly, how long each section takes, give or take a few seconds for nerves. I like to time my presentation slide-by-slide. I turn on the presentation mode on PowerPoint and freeflow about what’s in each slide until I feel like I’ve made my point. This way, I know how much I have to say about each topic without stuttering or stopping to think.

Eventually you should go to your assigned room, run the PPT and

Use contrasting colors in your presentation! Try to read this. Now imagine staring at a green on blue presentation for 20 minutes.

pretend there is an audience.

7 8

No fonts smaller than 18, ideally 24. Graphs can go smaller as long as you explain the scaling system.

mouse, decide where everyone is

Lay out 15-20 points to deliver and make sure you hit all of them. Each slide is a concept, so free flow around the concept.

going to stand and how are you

9 10

Practice with the pointer or

going to move throughout.

Pay a visit to the Toastmasters Club!!! Really know your stuff! Bottom line, your lack of familiarity with the subject matter will be blatantly obvious to the audience if you can’t answer questions confidently and assuredly.

BUZZ WORDS Strategic plan – the highest level of planning. It depicts how you are going to structure your organization to overcome a certain issue. Business plan – setting up your business goals, explaining why and how they are attainable. Operation plan – a tactical layout of goals and objectives derived from the chosen strategy. Includes an assessment of the current situation and all the necessary steps towards the desired one. It should include assessment measures as well. Vertical integration – concentrating the management responsibilities of a company in fewer, more efficient channels. For example: merging departments, buying out a supplier, merging management responsibilities, etc.

Trigger point – an event that will tilt the estimated situation in a foreseen direction and will require immediate action and possibly change of strategy. Mitigation strategy (risk mitigation) – a general direction of that we are going to do if we hit a certain obstacle in our implementation. Barrier to entry – something that would prevent or discourage new competitors from entering your niche.

Sustainable growth – can refer to growing the company in an environmentally conscientious way or growing the organization in a manner that will ensure recurring solidified streams of revenue. Outsourcing – delegating a part of the operations of the business to an outside party when costs or other circumstances are favorably aligned to do so.

STUDENT

SPOTLIGHT

Jenna Balogh love and success with case competitions

written by EILEEN LEE designed by JENNY WANG photographed by ELLA LIN

For our October Student Spotlight, we have selected Jenna Balogh - case guru and world traveler. As a fifth year accounting major with a minor in Business Economics and Law, Jenna has had a busy summer this year. She has been a Project Intern for the “Light the Bridge” initiative, traveled to New Zealand to compete in a case competition, and has been studying for the LSAT exam she is soon set to write. We were lucky enough to catch up with her during her busy summer and learn about the many insights she has had from her vast experiences in the SoB. LF: What extra-curricular activities are you involved in? Jenna: I am currently Vice President of External Relations for JDC West, and the Student Services Director on the Business Students’ Association. For JDC West, I am responsible for obtaining the sponsorship, and funding necessary for the Alberta School of Business team to compete at JDC West 2014. With the BSA, my main role comprises of the organization of the fall and winter BSA book sales. In addition to these two roles, I will be working as both a BUS 201 Seminar Manager and an ACCTG 311 Tutorial Center Manager this semester. This will be my second year working as a BUS 201 Seminar Manager, and something that I greatly enjoyed last year. I am thrilled at the opportunity to help other business students

Which business case competitions have you competed in at the School of Business? During my first year in the SoB, I was selected to represent our school at LIVE, a competition in Toronto. That year I also competed in EDGE, and BSA Apprentice, with our team placing first in the BSA Apprentice competition. During my second year of business, I was given the opportunity to participate in the JDC Marketing Team, placing fourth at the competition held in Vancouver. I also participated in AICC that year. This summer I was fortunate enough to be selected to compete at SDS, an international case competition in New Zealand, where we placed second!

Which case competition did you learn the most from and what did you learn? This is a difficult question to answer. One of the reasons that I love cases is that each case teaches you numerous valuable things. I’ve probably

learnt the most from JDC West and SDS, as both involved months of preparation. They not only helped to improve my critical thinking, analytical, and presentation skills, but have also vastly improved my teamwork skills.

In your opinion, which case competition is a good one to start with for students who have little experience? A great case competition to start with is AICC. It is an internal Alberta School of Business competition and it has a separate division for first year business students. This allows students with the same amount of case experience to compete against each other. It also offers the chance to compete in another case competition if you place first. EDGE is also a very valuable and exciting competition for all students, as it is a simulated case competition with lots of twists and turns, rather than your standard case competition.

What are some tips on how to be successful in a case competition? 1 Work as a team! Identify your personal

strengths and weaknesses, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of your teammates. In a time pressured case competition, you won’t be able to do everything on your own, and will need to rely heavily on your teammates to use their strengths, while you utilize yours. 2 Read the case very carefully, and be sure

you identify the correct and main problem. 3 Be unique and memorable –at the end of the

day, you want to be the team that really stands out to the judges. This is a difficult task as you must balance being unique and memorable with being realistic and professional. 4 Pay very close attention to the time – cases are

very time pressured and you must always be

aware of how much time you have remaining and what you have left to complete. 5 Have fun!

How has being involved in extracurricular activities benefited your career in the School of Business? Good grades have always been a top priority for me, but after switching from Sciences to Business, I decided that I wanted to gain more from my university experience than a transcript with a 4.0 GPA. I wanted to obtain an excellent Grade Point Average, while still having a great time…which is possible if you’re committed and have great time-management skills. Being involved in extra-curricular activities has allowed me to extend my learning beyond the classroom setting. Not only have case competitions and involvement in school clubs allowed me to travel the world, but they have also given me a taste of the “real world”, whether I choose to work as an Accountant, Consultant, or Lawyer. I have also made invaluable relationships with people right here at the University of Alberta, and with people across the globe!

What is your advice for students who would like to become more involved? I would like to say do everything, but that would be unrealistic. Rather, I would suggest learning about all the different clubs and case competitions available to you, decide which ones best fit you, and apply, apply, apply. I went from being extremely uninvolved in Sciences, to extremely involved in Business, and not only did my GPA improve, but I also had greater enjoyment in my University experience. The best advice I can offer to students is to become involved to the greatest extent that you possibly can. You will meet extraordinary people, form lifelong friendships and learn invaluable lessons that just can’t be taught in a classroom setting.

Being involved...has allowed me to extend my learning beyond the classroom setting C

Jenna has truly shown the Lazy Faire all the great achievements and life experiences she has had during her SoB career. From the positions Jenna has held to the vast cases she has competed in, Jenna has made it easy for all SoB students to see why her exceptional University career has put her in our Student Spotlight.

C L U B S

C O R N E R

This month, the Lazy Faire has decided to feature the Network of Empowered Women (NEW) in our monthly feature we like to call Club’s Corner. This unique club aims to empower students by connecting with successful female business professionals as well as many other talented, ambitious students from across the country. In order to learn more about this club, we spoke with Justine Snaychuk, VP of Public Relations, and Olivia Kwok, Public Relations Director. To begin, please tell us about NEW. What is the club’s overall objective? Justine: The Network of Empowered Women is a student run group which strives to provide students with numerous opportunities to develop personally and professionally. This is done primarily through our annual business conference as well as the series of events that run throughout the year. Our primary objective is to connect like-minded, ambitious students with successful female business professionals, while inspiring students to strive to achieve their professional goals.

Discover the NEW

Experience 14

What sets you apart from other clubs in the SoB? Olivia: NEW focuses on the abstract idea of empowerment. We want to inspire delegates to grow both professionally and personally, so it’s not about

what we think or what we do, but more so about how we think, and how we choose to do things. At the end of the day, we want our delegates to learn, have fun, and acquire a new sense of confidence, showing that they are capable of balancing everything that is important to them in their lives.

What can be expected for this year’s delegates? Olivia: Delegates can expect a fun-filled, busy weekend full of opportunities such as networking with students and business professionals across Canada, a team scavenger hunt, exploration of the Banff National Park, etc. This conference is definitely something to look forward to and we hope that our delegates are

I know people probably ask this all the time, but is NEW

ready to join us for a journey of empowerment!

exclusive only to women? Justine: Absolutely not! Men are more than encouraged to attend

Besides the conference, are there other NEW events students

not only our events, but our conference as well. We are built around

should look forward to?

empowering women to strive for success in their professional careers, while reaching a harmonious balance with their family and social lives. However, we promote equality in the workplace and believe that men are key in attaining this.

Olivia: We are very excited about our pre-conference networking events, the first of which is taking place on September 24th in the MBA Lounge. Students will have the opportunity to connect with our Platinum sponsors, including Cenovus and CPA, exploring employment opportunities within these companies. They can also

Please tell us more about your annual conference. Justine: This year’s annual conference will once again be held at the beautiful Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Banff from January 23-26th, 2014. Delegates begin bonding during the drive together

look forward to a series of Zumba classes, which received great reviews from participants last year. Students from any faculty at the University of Alberta can come join the fun at these sessions which are led by our very own co-chair, Julia Choluj!

to the conference by motorcoach, and after a brief check-in and registration, the weekend begins! During the day, both academic and non-academic sessions are offered, with each session relating to individual majors and interests. These workshop sessions also delve into being a woman in business, and the challenges faced in the working world. Students will also have the opportunity to meet and network with our amazing sponsors at the Career Fair, and participate in a case competition where ambitious delegates can share their business skills. Each meal is followed by a keynote speaker, and every evening wraps up with a themed hospitality

How do students sign up for NEW conferences and events? Justine: Students can sign up for our conference by applying online at ualbertanew.ca. The application deadline for this year’s conference is October 31st. I would also recommend that students sign up for our online newsletter and follow us on Facebook (Network of Empowered Women (NEW)), or on twitter @UAlbertaNEW for event and conference information, as well as inspiring articles, videos and other interesting posts!

event, providing time for delegates to let loose and have some fun in the beautiful mountains. There will also be ample time for students to explore Lake Louise, while having the opportunity to connect with the influential female business leaders of today and of tomorrow!

written by GABRIEL NUNES designed by EILEEN LEE photographed by CARISSA THAM

How was the first annual conference last year? What was learned? Justine: The positive feedback I heard about last year’s conference was one of the main reasons that I was so keen to become involved with NEW this year! Multiple delegates reported that the conference was the most inspiring event they had experienced in their undergraduate experience to date, and that everything from tears to laughter were experienced by many.

EXTERNAL

R E L AT I O N S

DAVE MOWAT

UNMAPPING THE ROAD TO SUCCESS Lazy Faire interviews the CEO of ATB Financial written by LOUIS LIU designed by COLLEEN DO photographed by ATB Financial

I always followed opportunity. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t remember saying no very often. If somebody had an interesting challenge or an interesting opportunity I always said yes.

LF’s monthly External Relations feature is all about connecting our fellow students with business professionals of all disciplines in today’s business community. For the month of October, LF sat down with Dave Mowat, CEO of ATB Financial and former CEO of VanCity Credit Union, to talk about the myriad of experiences he has enjoyed on his journey from a university student to a business professional.

get, putting on a big social event… I think I learned

pany? I’ve seen people take jobs just because their

as much and matured more from those processes

role says “Vice-President,” but they end up hating it.

than I ever did from my classes. As I got to my last

You should try to do stuff you love doing and that

year I started to see Finance as something I was

you enjoy doing. Only then will your success define

really interested in. That final year was my time

itself. We’ve all met the person who has a calendar

to align myself with what I enjoyed doing and

in their bottom drawer, marking off days until

what I was good at doing. I think that guided me

they retire. I always tell people that the longest

throughout my whole career. Once you see those

period in the world is 14 days – the time between

two things come together, everything becomes

paycheques if you don’t like your job. If you like

easier. School becomes effortless, work becomes

your job, you don’t even remember the days that

effortless... all because you are enjoying what you

you get paid on. You need to make sure you align

do. It was that alignment that I remembered the

yourself with something that YOU want to accom-

most in my fifth and final year. I always followed

plish as opposed to what society or business school

opportunity. I don’t remember saying no very

or your peers think you should accomplish. There’s

I was born and raised in Alberta, but I worked most

often. If somebody had an interesting challenge or

so much that both you and I don’t know about the

of my career in BC and Quebec before moving back

an interesting opportunity I always said yes. If I

world. You can’t really map out where you’re going

to Alberta 6 years ago to work for ATB. I've been in

see anything in business today, it’s that I see people

to be. Focus on opportunities that you think you

banking all my life, including venture capital and

over-planning their careers. It’s wasted time and

will enjoy and don’t let others define your success.

commercial lending. I was also the CEO of VanC-

effort. If you keep looking for opportunities that

ity credit union for 10 years or so. I’ve renovated

interest you and are in your sphere of confidence,

houses and built my own cabin. I enjoy doing

you will do a good job.

Hi Dave, welcome to the Lazy Faire Magazine. Could you tell us a little about yourself to start?

things with my hands and am involved in most

One of the most prominent fears university students have is the fear of uncertainty, whether it’s with regards to our academic or career paths or both. Did you experience similar concerns while

sports including hockey, baseball, and golf. I think

you were in the University?

my fascination with business is certainly more so with the details of the business – turning the dials to try to make it a little better every day, every week, and every year. This is the first time we’ve been able to sit down and talk to a CEO of a big organization. What are some of the challenges you face every day as the CEO? The hardest task in a job like mine is to really hear the truth and see the real issues in the organization. A part of that is to get people to not worry about what I might say or do, but to feel free to speak freely. The more senior you go in the organization the more difficult it becomes to really hear and be in touch with the people of the company. The most powerful tool you can have is good communication. There’s so much wasted time, effort and resources that result from poor communication. It’s all about breaking down

My most recent experience was when my son

I once drove behind someone to work and their license plate read “CEO-2-BE,” and I thought to myself, “Oh… you poor person.” They’re defining themselves and their success by something they don’t have any control of. You should try to do stuff you love doing and that you enjoy doing. Only then will your success define itself. Focus on opportunities that you think you will enjoy and don’t let others define your success.

graduated from business school with a BComm degree. I remember him saying, “I wish I were a doctor, or architect, or veterinarian.” You can see how specific those jobs are and you can see exactly where you will fit in the world. On the other hand, when you come out with a commerce degree, you can do almost anything. It can feel like you don’t know where you will fit in. I completely encourage people to just chill out and wait till you get your first job and just start from there. Relax, life is long. Get out and start working. Once you’re working, do the stuff you’re good at and follow where opportunity takes you. You’ve got all the smarts, it’s just a matter of finding what you’re good at and what you’re interested in. People focus too much on “How reputable is the company I will work for,” and not enough on “What can I learn from this job

some of that hierarchical noise. That’s the biggest

and where can I go with these skills?” My son was

challenge. Banking may look and feel extremely

the night manager of Earl’s when he was in Univer-

complex, but it’s all learnable stuff. The people and

sity. He knew more HR skills from working there

leadership skills are much more of an art and are much more powerful in terms of creating leverage in the organization. You grew up in Alberta and chose to attend business

When you do a good job, you will get ahead. It sounds old-fashioned, but I’ve seen all the schemers

What is the single most important skill any business

let other people define your success. I once drove

professional should have?

behind someone to work and their license plate

Finance. Could you tell us about your business school

read “CEO-2-BE,” and I thought to myself, “Oh… you

experience and how it was that you came to shape your

poor person.” They’re defining themselves and their

career path?

success by something they don’t have any control

last year of my degree. A large part of my university time and education was spent in responsible positions in some of the clubs like you guys do with this magazine. I remember those far more as well – meeting a deadline, raising money, balancing bud-

storehouse of experience, it will definitely pay off.

and planners. The huge risk with that is that you

school at UBC, graduating with a degree in Business

I’m not so sure I was a very good student until the

than I did 10 years into my job. Keep building that

over. It’s important to make sure you define your goals by things you CAN and LIKE doing. Some people say, “I want to be a Vice-President by the time I’m 30.” That’s so ridiculous to me. What if you hate being a VP? You don’t even know what a VP does. VP for what? VP of a bank? A diaper com-

The ability to communicate. At ATB, we talk about the ability to be a Translator. This means the skill to speak and be understood. You have people who explain something to you and at the end of the conversation, you still have no idea what they said. They were speaking to make THEMSELVES sound good and to show you how much THEY know. They’re not bad people, but translators have the intent to truly help you understand the topic and work you along in a way that will benefit YOU. It’s a completely different result.

Common Personality Types in a Group Project To all of our fellow students who are enrolled in BUS201, we at Lazy Faire have prepared an identity sheet to help with your group’s team dynamic. Whether you are the Workaholic or the Big Talker, communication is key. What kind of group member do you think you are? What kind of group member does your team think you are?

written by CARISSA THAM designed by SHIRLEY DU

The Workaholic

http://www.stockfreeimages.com/

Having a workaholic in the group has its pros and cons. Sometimes, the workaholic is also a perfectionist. Be extra careful when this happens, because even though this person may appear more than happy to take on more work than other group members, it is easy for this person to be overloaded with work and give out from extreme stress. Make sure to have open communication in the group and ensure that everyone has a roughly equal workload.

The Free Rider This may be just about every group member’s nightmare, but the reality is that such a group member commonly exists. While every free rider situation is unique, there are some tips to help ease this ‘free rider problem.’ Communication is critical. As soon as one or more members sense that such a “free rider problem” exists in the group, it may be a great idea to gather everyone in the group for some discussions. First, discuss without the person in question to ensure that everyone feels the same about the situation at hand, and then discuss the situation with the person in question to work out what’s best for the group. Clearly assigning responsibilities and outlining specific deadlines can also help. With clearly defined tasks, it’s hard to be a ‘Free Rider’ without explicitly exposing oneself as an irresponsible non-contributor. It is crucial to have everyone communicate openly.

The Mediator This group member is the equivalent to a gift sent from heaven. Simply put, this person understands people and how to work with different personality types. While being the group mediator might not clearly determine which part of the presentation he or she is best at, rest assured that having this group member will help move things along quite smoothly.

The Big Talker Loquacious and garrulous, this person is the atmosphere-maker during group presentations. This person will be great with group introductions and conclusions during presentations. While this person may impress the audience with little effort, his or her group members may be less than pleased with this all-talk-but-no-action personality type. Dealing with such a group member will be tricky. Communication is key. Make group goals and rules exceptionally clear, especially to this member. Should you detect any difficulty with getting this member to co-operate, nip the problem in the bud from early on with clear communication.

The Perfectionist This may be a make-or-break personality type to have in a group. With an exceptional eye for detail, this person will be the ideal candidate to perform the final check-through of your group’s work. This person will do his or her utmost to make sure the quality of your group’s work is top-notch, but several relationships may be soured in the process. As usual, communication is key. If you are a perfectionist yourself, it may be helpful to learn to give and take. Work within reasonable limits. Be careful to share the workload equally, as a perfectionist may prefer to take on most of the workload by him or herself, which may have unfavorable results in the end.

The Fence-sitter This person seems to have little or no opinion of his or her own –or at least, this person does not voice them. Other group members can help this group member out by making sure to always encourage him or her during group discussions and to never leave him or her out while making decisions. While there may be many reasons why this person is a fence-sitter and prefers to stick to the status quo, make sure that no members are left out from the group decision.

THOUGHT

VS THOUGHT

GROUP PROJECTS

A Valuable Learning Experience or An Incomplete Representation of the Real World?

The Proposition

Kawthara

Do you ever wonder if the group work you do for school projects and the problems you run into during group collaboration are actually representative of the real world?

Group work is an inevitable and inte-

addition, when students with different

in your best interest to ensure that all

gral part of every business students’

backgrounds bring their special knowl-

members do their job. Being able to

experience. In fact, one of the most im-

edge, experience, or skills to a project,

deal with any and all obstacles for the

portant courses each and every student

it allows for the team as a whole to

greater good of the group is a skill,

must complete is BUS201. A major

benefit. However, group work can be

in and of itself. Sure it’s challenging,

component of the course involves

tricky - not every group has the luxury

but to say it’s unfair is counterintui-

projects in which you are put into ran-

of cohesion. Some members may not

tive. Once the individual members of

dom teams and are assessed as a team,

pull their weight and that is not all that

a group relinquish any idea of being

making group work unavoidable.

uncommon in group settings. With the

singular and work toward cohesion,

group being assessed as a whole, how

the assessment will reflect the group’s

can individual performance possibly be

work fairly. The skills acquired from

allocated fairly?

successfully managed group work will

Ever encountered a less-than-desirable project grade because, in your opinion, a group member dragged you down?

This month, LF’s very own writers go head to head and duke it out over whether or not group projects and the experiences that follow are actually correct representations of real world business. Disclaimer: Showing your prof this article will NOT get you a higher grade.

Affirmative

Working successfully in groups assists in the development of transferable skills sought by most employers. These

be of great use to academic and future

include skills such as goal-setting,

Part of the reason group work is so

assigning tasks, collaboration, and

essential in business school is because

especially effective communica-

it’s a testament to how an individual

tion. It forces students to collaborate

deals with being forced to work with

and collaborative learning means

others– much like the real world where

active learning. When students get

you have no idea how you would get

actively involved in the material they

along with your peers at work. Your

written by K. SHIRE & R. PARHAR

are studying, this usually results in

individual performance is indicative

deeper learning and understanding. In

of how the group performs. Thus, it’s

Roshni

careers. It is essential to manage your group work effectively, plan for different stages of the group activity and use individual strengths for the best possible assessment.

Negative

In the world of business, working well

group projects form the basis of the

effort was not being emphasized in

with others is often the key to a suc-

course, and combined are worth half

the grading of the course before. With

cessful project.

of the overall grade. Students work

the new curriculum, the final grade

together for months and receive the

will take more consideration of the

same grades, even if they did varying

individual efforts.

Getting business’ future workforce to cooperate early is a prominent aspect of a BComm education. However, unlike being a working professional, a University group effort does not generally illustrate the personal performance and effort of an individual and often leads to a poor assessment.

levels of work. Mistakes by one member reflect on the grades of another. This consequence is troublesome, because future employment prospects generally rely on academic standing. If an individual, who spends hours studying and working hard receives a

In principle, the reason students are

poor grade because of someone else in

expected to work in groups is simple.

the group, his GPA reflects this for life.

Once we become employed, we es-

Because the professors are not moni-

sentially have to work with strangers.

toring the progress of each student

Although we must collaborate with

individually, this student’s personal

colleagues of differing opinions,

efforts have essentially gone to waste.

in the business world, individual performance within the group can be monitored and recognized by senior workers throughout the project. In school, however, our professors do not monitor our progress along the way, and therefore cannot determine which members of the group are excelling and which members are not pulling their weight. For example, in BUS 201, two major

Working in a group is meant to be beneficial in terms of learning to work well with others and preparing for the future. Even though group projects teach responsibility and teamwork, they should not be so prevalent in school, as they do not accurately represent individual effort or performance– often culminating in poor grades which affect future prosperity.

This is not reflective of how professional projects work. Even if a project goes wrong, a supervisor can see the efforts put in by each individual in the team, which is a factor that is clearly lacking in the School of Business. The new Bus 201 curriculum seems to have accounted for this issue, as the course now includes three additional individual assignments. This change illustrates that enough of the individual

Fight Club. 2013. Graphic. img baseWeb. 11 Sep 2013. <http://www.imgbase.info/images/safe-wallpapers/tv_movies/fight_club/25155_fight_club.jpg>.

COMMUNIT Y

C E N T R E

Go for the Plunge:

JDC West Chillin’ 4 Charity written by JAMES LO designed by SHIRLEY DU & LINNEA LAPP photograph courtesy of the BSA

Imagine diving into an ice-cold pool in the middle of campus with as little as your bathing suit in the heart of winter. Now picture yourself, surrounded by a hoard of gawking professors, students and media alike, as you brave the sub-zero temperatures. It’s enough to send shivers down the spine of even the hardiest of challengers. And yet, every year, students from across campus clamour to take the icy plunge. We are, of course, talking about Alberta JDC West’s annual Chillin’ 4 Charity fundraiser! For those of you who haven’t heard of this legendary event, the Chillin’ 4 Charity campaign is held annually by the Alberta JDC West team to raise funds in support of the United Way. Essentially, students are asked to register in groups, raise donations in support of the cause, and then take the icy leap of faith into a pool situated in the middle of the University’s Main Quad. The majority of groups take the plunge extremely seriously; dressing in elaborate costumes and plunging multiple times into the arctic abyss. But don’t fret, after each group has enjoyed their frigid moment of glory, a bevy of hot tubs are also provided to aid in the defrosting process!

In its 7th year of operation, the Chillin’ 4 Charity event has grown leaps and bounds over the past couple of years (no pun intended). From local media to corporate sponsors, the event has expanded to include students from a wide variety of faculties. Last year’s event raised over $11,000, well exceeding the organizer’s original goal of $5,000. This year, organizers believe they can top the historic mark set last year. They are even expecting Dean Joseph Doucet to finally take the plunge alongside Alberta JDC West’s Executive Team!

Last year’s event raised over $11,000, well exceeding the organizer’s original goal of $5,000. For myself, having personally taken the plunge at last year’s event, I can (bitterly) say that Alberta JDC West’s Chillin’ 4 Charity is unlike any other event offered at the University of Alberta. Believe me when I say that envisioning what it feels like is nothing in comparison to the actual reality of plunging into the icy depths. After the initial shock of diving into the ice-cold waters, I clearly remember resurfacing and feeling absolutely and completely disoriented. The bone-chilling temperatures had impeded my ability to even think and act rationally as I literally remained frozen in the pool; unable to move. However, after a couple of moments, I was able to

collect myself and rush towards the steamy salvation of the hot tubs. Oddly enough, after my initial jump, I was strangely compelled to jump again! While the dive itself is incredibly challenging, it’s also a ridiculous amount of fun! Without a doubt, Chillin’ 4 Charity is one of the most memorable experiences you’ll ever have at the Alberta School of Business! I strongly encourage everyone to participate– whether it’s actually taking the plunge or donating towards the United Way or simply cheering on your fellow participants, every little bit counts! Interested in challenging yourself to leap beyond your comfort zone and take the plunge in the frigid winter temperatures? Join the few courageous souls willing to brave the icy depths for a great cause! 2013 Chillin’ 4 Charity Event: › October 29th, 11:00am Main Quad The Ice Breaker Shaker (the After Party:) › November 9th, 9:00 pm @ Pint on Whyte

For more information on how you can get involved with Chillin’ 4 Charity, please visit www.albertajdcwest.com or visit the Alberta JDC West Office on the 2nd Floor of the Business Building. Best of luck to Alberta JDC West and the courageous partners at this year’s event!

Give Back

to the Campus Food Bank written by JENNY WANG designed by JENNY TRUONG

Did you know

In 1991, there was an increase in school tuition for international students. To help out, the Graduate Students’ Association, and the Student’s Union worked together to create the Campus Food Bank. Initially, the Food Bank was created to hold a one day event, trying to curb hunger or those international students in need. However, it soon became clear that there were people in need all across campus, which led to the development of the Food Bank, all culminating to what it has become today.

The key items that the Campus Food Bank is looking for are oats, rice, pasta, canned vegetables and canned fruits –items that can provide nutritious meals. Cash donations are also greatly appreciated, and new volunteers are always welcome! Visit their website at www.campusfoodbank.com.

As we speak here now in October 2013, the Food Bank’s main purpose is to help people in need who are connected to the University of Alberta. These people could be your fellow students, professors, or even alumni from the past 5 years. During this school year, there will be three main events put on by the Food Bank. New volunteers are always welcome to help out and give back to the university community.

UPCOMING EVENTS 1

Trick or Eat Date: October 31st, 2013 Get a group of your friends together, and go trick or treating for non-perishable food items. Nationally, the Meal Exchange is responsible for this event; locally, the Campus Food Bank has taken on this role.

The Fast and the Studious

Mac and Cheese Affair

Date: End of November

Date: End of February

This unique event is a 24 hour fasting and fundraising event, in partnership Aramark, the U of A’s food services provider. The goal of this event is to show how difficult it is to go through a given day on an empty stomach.

This last and final event is a formal fundraising occasion, specifically, an evening gala. There will be tickets available for purchase later in the year, with the gala consisting of a lovely dinner and dance.

Although there isn’t a specific event for Thanksgiving, you can still drop off food items at the Food Bank’s office, located on the main floor of the Students Union Building, room 1-81. Their office hours are Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. If you ever need to reach the Food Bank by phone, the number to dial is 780.492.8677. Every year, the Campus Food Bank has received over $20,000 in donations, so we students should aspire to make this year even more successful than the last. The food bank is grateful for any donations received during this Thanksgiving season.

NETWORK

Appropriate Attire written by ROSHNI PARHAR designed by ASHLEY TRUONG

S M A R T S

photographed by ELLA LIN

Dressing appropriately and professionally is an essential key to being a successful networker in the business community. Dressing to impress not only gives you an excellent first impression, but also shows people how you like to represent yourself, and the total image you are trying to portray. In light of this, Lazy Faire has decided to look at fashionable dress wear for both men and women this issue, covering all the basics you need to know for that important networking event!

You could go for a blazer and pants if the occasion is a little less formal, but a suit is always good for presenting, and meeting those really important people.

Wear a tie! It’s classy, professional and stylish. Ties are

Always wear a blouse or a button down,

great when meeting new

and make sure you are tucked in so you

people and when making a

don’t look messy. When presenting, go

big presentation.

with a suit jacket or blazer since it looks much more professional. If you decide

Button down, full

to go with a dress, a jacket is key for net-

sleeved dress shirts

working events–no jacket, no dress.

Jewelry is nice,

Colors are good,

since a few

but keep it to

complementary

accents; you do

pieces can really

not want it taking

add some person-

away from your

ality. Having said

presentation, or

this though, do

your personality

are a must.

Make sure your colours complement each other, and more importantly, wear clothes that fit your body well. People will take note of your

not go overboard,

appearance, and

as it can leave a

will develop a good

bad impression.

impression of the way

Pants or skirts are inter-

you present yourself.

changeable, and are both If your legs

good for presentation –in

are showing,

the modern business

make sure

world; it’s all a matter of

you always

personal preference.

Dress shoes. The importance of dress shoes cannot be understated in the business world.

wear nylons,

People can read a lot from

this is a must.

a man’s shoes, so if you’re

Heels are generally a must ,

aiming to impress, sport a

but ladies, leave those sky-high stilettos

slick, fashionable pair!

at home. You never know how much standing you will have to do! pictured models: Katrina Colbert and Marko Laschuk

Keep your business cards out of sight, either on the inside

In group presentations, make sure to match with

Lastly, leave your

or outside pocket of your jacket. Keeping them upright is

the rest of your team. Keeping this in mind will en-

phones out of

important, so that when you take them out and give them

hance the perception of solidarity in the group and

sight, silent, and

to someone, they are in the correct orientation.

will make you look thoughtful and organized.

out of your mind!

10 Questions with Kirsten LePage Lazy Faire Editor-in-Chief emeritus Kirsten LePage talks to us about school, Lazy Faire, and why balance is so important in life. written by TAYLOR BANISTER designed by ASHLEY TRUONG

before our actual presentation we had a practise

we’d done was very rewarding. Being part of the

run. It was probably the worst presentation that

magazine also gave me the opportunity to meet a

either of us had done in our entire lives. We both

lot of really interesting people, whether they were

couldn’t remember anything we were supposed to

inside or outside the SoB.

say, there were slides in the PowerPoint that we didn’t even recognize; that’s how bad it was.

What was it like for you personally during the lead up to the end of the year last year with the

This sounds like my business plan for BUS 201!

magazine, and eventually moving on from your

How did the real presentation go?

long time with LF?

As soon as we finished the practise presentation, How was your summer?

I would say that I went through a couple emotional

the competition volunteers in the room were trying

My summer was great thanks! I worked in Calgary

phases. At first I couldn’t be more excited to be done,

to be really supportive— I think they knew how badly

as an analyst for a firm called Hugessen Consulting.

because so much time had gone in to the magazine,

it went. And then they walked us straight to the

and there had been so many stressful situations, as

photographed by DAVID HE

That sounds very interesting, was this summer job the first real exposure you’ve had to working in the world of Finance? Yes, definitely. Although it was a consulting position, it was based on executive and director compensation

presentation room— and we nailed it. I don’t

well as sacrifices I had to make. So from that

think I’ve ever done a better presentation. We

perspective, I was excited to finish. But

were so proud of what we had done, and we surprised ourselves with how well we could improvise!

advisory services, so there was a lot more finance to

Wow that is quite the story. What key

it than would meet the eye. The experience was very

strategies or “modes” were required to

eye opening for me, as I definitely got to see how

deliver such a good performance in the

what you learn in school can translate into the “real

heat of the moment?

world” (as career counselors often like to refer to it).

I love presenting, but I always get pretty

Now that the summer is over, how has your 3rd Year in the SoB been going? It’s been going really well, thanks! One of my goals for this year is to have more of a balanced lifestyle. I do enjoy being a busy person, but at the same time, I do think that as a matter of being a healthy, well rounded individual, it’s important to take time for yourself and the people you care about. Take me back to your first year in the SoB. When did you decide to get so involved? When I was entering the SoB, I wanted to be as involved as I possibly could. I didn’t want to miss out on any opportunities at the start of the year. On top of numerous other extra-curricular activities, I know that you made the Top 10 for the Canada’s Next Top Ad Exec competition with your partner, Alex Manolii (former LF Content Editor). What was it like as two first year SoB students competing in this national competition?

nervous before hand. However, during presentations, as Alex Manolii likes to say, I go into “Business

then, leading into the transition period, I definitely gave more reflection into everything that had happened in my time with the magazine, and realized that it truly was an amazing experience. As we sit here now, I am definitely pretty nostalgic about it! Ah, those crazy Lazy Faire days!

Kirsten” mode! When I’m in this mode, I pretend I’m acting— I like to go on stage and deliver my lines, be confident in myself and what I’m saying, and be passionate about my presentation. After completing the CNTAE competition, you decided to apply to be Editor-in-Chief of LF. How would you describe the experience that you had being with the magazine as a writer,

Both Alex and I were a good team, as Alex has this

and eventually the EIC?

creative side, and I have the technical side to things,

It was an exciting time.

so I think together it worked really well.

I liked being associated with the magazine because

What was it like presenting in Toronto, being in

it was something that I

the Top 10 and trying to win the competition?

was proud of. A lot of

It was so stressful! We were still finishing our

time and effort went

PowerPoint until probably 6 am the morning of.

into LF, so to hear that

We were super tired, and we still hadn’t really

people liked it and

memorized what we were going to say. Right

appreciated the work

The one thing that never changes is our values. We succeed through satisﬁed customers. We value our employees. We deliver quality and excellence in all we do. We require premium return on assets. We use technology to develop market leadership. We behave responsibly as a corporate citizen. –Joseph C. Wilson, Xerox Founder, 1961

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