IMPACT
Interviewing 101 ADVICE FOR 2257
INTERN PANEL WITH INTERVIEWS FROM CEOS, PHILANTHROPISTS, IVEY GRADS, ENTREPRENEURS & MORE.
Featuring THE HUMAN SIDE OF BUSINESS
Table of contents Executive Note Meet The Team Q&A: Peter Aceto, CEO Tangerine Bank (former)
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Interviewing for Dummies
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The Art of Networking
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Peter is a globally recognized and respected business leader and change agent for leadership. Nail that interview with these simple tips and tricks gathered from people who have been on both ends of the interview! Connections are everything, but how do you effectively and genuinely make them? Read our curated advice from hiring managers and seasoned networkers.
Q&A: Cassandra Lee-Chiang, UN HIV/AIDS Consultant How to Make the Most of Your Summer Internship
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The Intern Panel
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Q&A: Carl Oxholm, Partner at PwC Q&A: Rhiannon Traill, CEO of Economic Club of Canada
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Master of LinkedIn
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Q&A: Andrew Storey, VP of Decision Sciences at Scotiabank
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Landing an internship is just half the work! Learn about how to make an impact and get the most out of your internship this summer.
Four interns answer your questions, from how to land an internship to what it’s like to intern for startups, Big 5 Banks, and more!
Rhiannon has been named to “Canada’s Most Powerful Women: Top 100” in both 2013 and 2015, and “Top 38 Change Agents in Canada” in 2016. Spice up your LinkedIn with these tips and tricks that will woo potential employers.
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Intro to First Year 1000
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Advice for Biz 2257
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A Day in the Life of an HBA1 w/ Noah Djurfeldt
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Q&A: Melanie Rodriguez, Executive Director of Alma Harshith’s Declassified Tech Survival Guide
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First year will be one of the most memorable but overwhelming experiences of your life. Learn how to make it count! We’ve curated advice from both 2257 teachers and current students, from those who struggle to those who find the class a breeze. Find out what a typical day at Ivey is like, and advice for your first 2 years at Western.
Cheap and useful apps and tools for the tech-savvy student!
Q&A: Elke Rubach, Founder & Principal at Rubach Wealth, Founding Co-Chair at Fashion Heals LookBook
Stunning photography taken on Western campus from the lens of talented student photographers.
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Disclaimer: The sole responsibility of the content of this publication lies with the authors. Its contents do not reflect the opinions of the University Students’ Council at the University of Western Ontario (“USC”). The USC assumes no responsibility or liability for any error, innaccuracy, omission or comment contained in this publication or for any use that may be made of such information by the reader.
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Katherine Tang
PBSN Vice President of Student Affairs I have wanted to pursue a career in business since high school, but the networking aspect always intimidated me. Maybe it’s the freshly ironed blazers that make people appear incredibly intelligent and well-spoken, or perhaps it’s people speaking of their successes in ways that seem unimaginable for me to reach. In this year’s IMPACT Magazine, we open a window into the lives, ideas, and thoughts of amazing individuals. Be it an experienced executive or a minted grad just beginning their career, all of them have made an impact in their corner of the world. And the thing is - they are just like you and me, with big dreams and some failures. With the right opportunities, mentorship, and mindset, they worked hard and did extraordinary things. We hope that through our conversations, we have encouraged you to be fearless. All you have to do is go out there and make your impact.
Eliza Chiang & Muktaa Badami PBSN IMPACT Magazine Co-Directors
When we sat down with Katherine for the first time to discuss IMPACT, we knew we wanted to do something different. We realised that so many of us have a predefined idea of what “success” can mean in the business industry - a nice suit, a corporate career, and of course, money - and we wanted to change that. So, we created two main goals for IMPACT: to redefine success and to feature The Human Side of Business. But what is “The Human Side of Business”? To us, this is the understanding that organizations come down to people and that to achieve success, we must understand how we interact. We hope to redefine success in the student bubble by featuring a diverse range of inspirational powerhouses for this year’s People Profiles. From CEOs to Philanthropists, all our profiles are devoted to making an impact in their community in different ways. The IMPACT team created articles that we hope will be valuable to your career development, from how to nail an interview to how to make the most of your internship. We are so grateful to have worked with such a passionate and humble team, and to have come out with one big family. We hope that you will finish reading this magazine feeling inspired, more driven, and more impactful.
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Meet the team Katherine Tang
VP of Student Affairs Psychology 2nd year
Kathy Hu
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Editor Political Science & High Performance Computing 1st year
Eliza Chiang
Co-Director Applied Statistics & BMOS 2nd year
Zehra J-C Editor MIT 2nd year
Muktaa Badami Co-Director BMOS 1st year
Amanda McDougall
Writer & Graphic Designer MIT 2nd year
Ambika Aggarwal Photographer & Graphic Designer Psychology 1st year
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Matthew Lou
Margot Ghersin
Writer Psychology 1st year
Writer Political Science 1st year
Harshith Sridharan
Michael Nnjali
Joy Zheng
Nicholas Goli
Photographer Economics 2nd year
Graphic Designer Fine Arts 1st year
Writer BMOS 1st year
Photographer Medical Sciences 1st year
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Q&A
How did you decide to pursue this career? Was there a pivotal moment?
PETER ACETO Former President & CEO at Tangerine Bank | Author of Weology | Western BA Psychology, Western LLB
I decided to go to law school after my undergraduate degree in psychology. I worked in law for a couple years, but I didn’t feel completely fulfilled. My career in banking was not a calculated choice. One weekend, I was with my father and we were getting an oil change by a mechanic. A man there named Arkadi Kuhlmann (who turned out to be the founding CEO of ING Direct here in Canada) was telling a story in the waiting room about starting a new bank that helps Canadians get rewarded for their great saving habits and how he was going to use technology to do things that had never been done before. I was stunned and in awe. Not able to get him out of my head, I found his home phone number, called him and asked him out for coffee. He agreed for some reason, and there, I told him that I wanted to work for him and that I’d do any job he wanted me to do. My entry into this particular niche of banking came from me being inspired by someone with vision and passion, and who was willing to give me a chance that my resume probably didn’t support. Thus, I found a company that really aligns with my personal values and has a real purpose.
Where is the creativity in banking?
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Gather as many experiences as you possibly can inside and outside of your organization
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Peter Aceto is a globally recognized and re-
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spected business leader, and a change agent for leadership. He blogs regularly on Forward Thinking on a variety of topics from leadership and innovation to corporate culture and customer experience.
There is a ton of creativity in banking, although consumers in this country may not see it all the time. The first is around innovation. Banking, for good reason, is a regulated industry, as it needs to be safe and sound and provide a platform of trust and rules for the financial system. The way that creativity comes in is in how you can understand the spirit of the rules and laws, and do things that are innovative that have never been thought of before. There is a tremendous amount of creativity in trying to find your way to be innovative in a regulated industry. Next, the client experience. How do we make banking simpler for Canadians? How do we help Canadians live healthy financial lives? There is much creativity in the experience that someone like Tangerine provides for its customers. Our creativity and focus on client experience are the primary reasons for our success.
Actually, I just drove my daughter to school! Family is really important to me. When I have the opportunity to speak in front of audiences, I try to make it clear that I’m balancing work and my family life and it’s important to me that people understand that balance. That sense of balance gives me a lot of energy. Things are in balance when I’m working hard and I’m getting time with my wife and three kids. Here at Tangerine, we have the ability to be flexible with how and when we work; I can go to the majority of my kids’ activities and the work can get done early or late. The people I admire most in the world are the people that have been able to balance their work careers with their family careers.
Can you tell us about a career disappointment and how you rebounded from that experience? They are plentiful, I’ll start with that. One of my team’s promises to one another is around being bold, and if you’re bold and aggressive you’re absolutely going to make mistakes. The key learning point for me is that you take time after a mistake to reflect as an individual and a team. Assess what you could have done better, what went wrong and the learnings from it. Most of the biggest mistakes I have made have been around people decisions. For example, hiring someone who was tremendously skilled but who was not a very good cultural fit, or someone who was very skilled technically but was missing some key leadership attributes. My mistakes have mainly stemmed from giving people opportunities (like I was given) without giving them the proper support. After things don’t work out, you must reflect, learn, be open and honest about it and make the commitment to learn and not make the same error in the future.
What is Tangerine’s Weology movement? Weology is the catchy name of my book. Essentially, Weology is about the underlying principle that everyone wins when “we” comes before “me.” You must focus on the team and what is in its best interests. It is when you build a culture in an organization that is focused on the team winn-
ing -individuals win when the team wins. It’s a cultural philosophy that we’ve had here at Tangerine for 20 years. Tangerine realized that the only way to be a challenger is through being different on the inside. The foundation of our culture comes down to promises, and we have four: We Share, We Dare, We Care, We Deliver. Weology breeds a different type of culture than our competitors and ultimately leads to success.
What is your advice for aspiring leaders? Of course, there’s lots of different advice I could give but here’s the one I’d like to pass along from my own personal experience, and it’s not theoretical or philosophical. There is a chapter in Weology called “Raise your Hand.” When you think of becoming a good leader, you hear words like wise and experienced, words that you shake your head to and ignore. What it means to me is going out into the world and gathering experience as a leader. Leadership is difficult, it’s a skill that’s never ending, and because the world is changing all the time, you will never truly achieve it.
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Raise your hand Wherever there’s an opportunity to gather experience
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What has the role of family played in your success?
Raise your hand. Wherever there’s an opportunity to gather experience: get on a project, a team, a rotation, in addition to your job, volunteer to work on a project. If someone leaves your organization, raise your hand, and say “I’d be more than happy to do their job on an interim basis.” For the amount of times in my career where I raised my hand and volunteered to do something, 90% of the time I was told no, 10% of time I was told yes. Gather as many experiences as you possibly can inside and outside of your organization! Interviewed by Margot Ghersin
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INTERVIEWING FOR
DUMMIES By Margot Ghersin
Palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy. This phrase explains how most of us feel
before a job interview. We often get overwhelmed with nervous energy which impedes on our ability to shine. Interviewing, although scary, is the best way to sell yourself to an employer. There are some key steps you can take throughout the entire interview process that will bring your personality off the page.
Be Prepared
Interviewing is a process that requires preparation long before the actual meeting. Research the company’s practices and what the department does beforehand. Get acquainted with the company culture either through coffee chats or by looking at their online resources. Once at your interview, talk honestly about what resonates with you about the company - this goes a long way, and shows that you are particularly interested and involved in their mission.
“ talk honestly about
what resonates with you about the company
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In addition, know their dress code. Overdressing can make you seem too stiff for a start-up, while underdressing can make you appear lackadaisical. A good idea is to take a look at their website to see samples of what people wear day-to-day.
Pitch Yourself
Knowing your brand is a key factor in having a successful interview. The interview is essentially a sale pitch for you to market yourself to them. What makes you unique? Figure this out in one sentence. Whether you are “creative and analytical” or “a passionate activist,” make sure that your short and concise responses revolve around these ideas and that your extra-curricular activities are referenced to strengthen your brand. Use every opportunity to tie in why you are a good fit for the organization through your involvement in clubs, showing that you are eager to learn and that you have the soft skills required for succeeding in the business world.
TIP! Be genuine about your inter-
ests, skills, and intentions - it can be more powerful than exaggerating. In fact, showing humility actually makes you more confident in front of your employers.
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Look excited for the opportunity, and friendly and approachable, anD SMILE
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Also, mention specific impacts like the results of a fundraiser or turnout to an event. If you are having trouble coming up with an answer to a question on the spot, don’t be afraid to ask for a minute to reflect. It’s better to take your time in coming up with a thoughtful response than rambling without a clear message.
At the end of the day, employers are looking for someone that they want to work with on a daily baBody Language sis and that will be an enjoyable fit for the team Perhaps the most important part of acing an balance your approachability with your capacity to interview is body language - some say that it forms obtain results and you’re set! 80% of communication. Looking your interviewer in the eye shows confidence and reliability. Don’t fidget with objects or papers - keep your hands on your lap and use them only sparingly for gestures.
Tip! Consider sending a follow up email within 24 hours after the interview. This will show the employer your eagerness and gratitude for the opportunity, regardless of the outcome.
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THE
ArtOF
By Harshith Sridharan
NETWORKING 11
Making an impression isn’t always easy, especially when it involves network-
ing. The idea that even the smallest of details can determine what someone thinks of your character can be terrifying. There are some simple tricks to help ensure that your interactions are not only memorable, but help jumpstart your success in the world of business.
The Handshake
They say first impressions go a long way, and that couldn’t be more true in the realm of networking. An appropriate greeting starts with the handshake. A simple handshake can tell you a lot about a person, for example, a firm handshake can portray confidence and a willingness to listen and learn. Ensure that your hands are not too dry, but not too moist either, and make sure you hold the handshake for an appropriate length of time. You don’t want to pull away too quickly! Additionally, eye contact is important to form a personal connection.
The Intro
the room. Your stance is also important. Remember that crossing your arms and leaning forward show signs of disengagement. Keep your arms free and hold an inviting stance. If you feel awkward, put your hands on your pockets. Also, good posture never hurts, so keep that back straight! The most important cue, however, is your face. Be sure to mirror their emotions. Without saying a word, your body language can say a lot about yourself to the other person, so never underestimate it.
The Conversation
The goal of networking is to meet inspirational people and maybe even earn a second meeting. When interacting with someone that you want something from, keep the conversation about them. Ask them questions about things they are interested in or experiences they have, and later, tie those back into the experiences you share or the interests you want to learn more about. Once that connection is made, ask them if you can connect via LinkedIn or reach out for coffee to hear more about something they do -this should be something you’re actually interested in, don’t lie!
This is your first opportunity to plant a valuable piece of information about yourself in their mind, so what better than your name? Keep it simple. Instead of “My name is John…,” keep it short and introduce yourself firmly (but still warm) saying “John,” which is much easier to remember for the other person and demonstrates your confidence. Simplicity extends beyond your name as well. Keep your statements concise, especially when talking about your place of occupation or specializations. For example, “I’ve been in marketing most of my career – consumer products, luxury and now retail – specializing in The Intention Some approach networking as a means of social media.” This will help others follow your words and perceive that you know yourself and finding a job and hope that whomever they are talking to will help them achieve this goal. Unforyour work well. tunately, a short conversation isn’t enough. Your intentions from networking should be learn from Body Language During the conversation, make sure you others and to discuss your career. Remember that show interest in the discussion with physical part of being confident is remaining humble. Uncues. As mentioned before, ensure that you keep derstand The Human Side of Business through constant eye contact with the other person. This being genuine in your intentions and mindful assures that the person you’re conversing with of the other person. No matter your credentials, feels as if they are the most important person in nothing is as important as being humble.
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Lee-Chiang
Former Nutrition & HIV Consultant at the United Nations World Food Programme | Associate at A.T. Kearney | Advisory Board Member for Ivey’s The LEADER Project
The objective of WFP is to eradicate hunger and support food security. As the food aid arm of the United Nations system, we deliver food to save lives and use other mechanisms like social protection programs to help promote food security. One of our major strengths is logistics: when emergencies around the world occur, we are one of the first responders. We have boots and trucks on the ground. For example, after Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, we shipped in food for people who had lost their homes and livelihoods.
what you do, “evenIf youwhencanit’slikehard, you know
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Q&A Cassandra
What is the mission of World Food Programme?
you’re in the right line of work What do you do at WFP?
WFP is a co-sponsor of UNAIDS, which is a joint program that works to coordinate the UN system’s response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Member states provide funds to UNAIDS as donors in order to facilitate coordination of the response, which includes providing treatment or testing and eliminating stigma and discrimination. In 2016, there was a funding crisis and the board asked my team to assess the impact of the budgetary shortfall on our ability to reach our goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030. So, my work was focused on drawing together this analysis in collaboration with representatives from 11 other UN entities and packaging our findings for the Board to make the case for additional resources.
Cassandra Lee-Chiang is a Management Con- How are WFP and UNAIDS related? sultant at A.T. Kearney. She recently took a leave of absence from the firm to lend her skills to the United Nations World Food Programme, where she worked as a Nutrition and HIV Consultant. She is an HBA 2013 and continues to contribute to the Ivey community in her capacity as Advisory Board Member of The LEADER Project.
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The United Nations recently introduced their new 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the world, including eliminating hunger, reducing poverty, ensuring good health and achieving gender equality, etc. These SDGs are all interconnected. When you look at the drivers of new HIV infections or lack of adherence to treatment, insufficient food plays a role. People
who are food insecure are more likely to engage in risky behaviours (e.g., transactional sex) that may lead to the transmission of HIV. People living with HIV who are food insecure tend to stop taking their medications to avoid the side effects of taking the drugs on an empty stomach. So, the work of WFP helps at various stages of the treatment cascade.
solution. You have to ask yourself “what is the issue and how am I going to solve it?” Finally, you really have to enjoy what you’re doing, particularly when it’s challenging. If you can like what you do even when it’s hard, you know you’re in the right line of work.
What do you think is something that students would not expect from the field of consulting?
What was your biggest takeaway from working at I’ve learned how to work just about anywhere –on the plane, in cabs or even in the food the UN? My biggest takeaway from working at the UN sounds very simple: it’s that organizations are made up of people. I have found that there is a perception that the UN is this entity that has a life of its own, but I’ve come to realize that the direction in which it goes is really based on the leadership in place and their priorities. At some point in my time at the UN, I took a step back and examined the backgrounds, agendas and influences of the people in key positions. It then made more sense to me why our work was taking a certain direction. Overall, I learned the importance of relationships, people, and the soft skills that we sometimes take for granted.
court of a mall. I developed this ability to serve the needs of my clients, but it’s this same ability that has given me quite a bit of flexibility in my work life. At A.T. Kearney, we have a Monday-Thursday travel model, which means that on Fridays you can either return to your home office or work remotely. Oftentimes, I would fly on Thursday to meet fellow consultants in another city. Together, we’d work from our Airbnb on Friday and then spend the rest of the weekend exploring gorgeous canyons and taking sunset hikes. Consulting is a give and take. Most people expect to give – but if you learn to give and then take, you can create a more sustainable career in consulting.
What is The LEADER Project and how does it change What is your advice for HBA graduates who your perspective in the business field? The LEADER Project, established in 1991, want to enter consulting? is a student-driven economic development program, run by HBA, MBA, MSc and PhD students. These volunteer student instructors travel overseas to work with entrepreneurs (“LEADERites”) in emerging regions and teach them foundational business administration skills through the case-based method. Most of the LEADERites who participate have a business idea or have aspirations to start a venture and we sit with them, asking probing questions to help them improve their business. The experience allowed me to see many industries quickly – from the arts to construction to food manufacturing – and to learn from every LEADERite. How has it changed my perspective on the business field? Well, I learned that you need to focus on the problem, not the
It’s crucial to take the right steps for you to see if consulting is what you want – if you really understand that it is what you want and why, it’ll be a much easier process for you to develop that story and make that case to firms you’re recruiting with. When I first started, the advice I was given was to “be a sponge.” Listen to others, observe how they operate; you’ll see that people have different styles, and there’s not one single way to be successful in consulting. Pick the path that seems most comfortable to you. Leverage relationships you have with others, find mentors, and learn from them to see what you can take away. Finally, be genuine with others, but more importantly with yourself.
Interviewed by Margot Ghersin
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INTERN
SHIPS
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making the most
of your
summer internship So you’ve handed in your last final for the year, but your work is far from over. You will likely be doing an incredible amount of learning over the next few months if you have managed to score a summer internship. But just because you’re an intern does not mean you have to be invisible.
Be Prepared Show up prepared and ready for wherever the day could take you. Depending on the field and company you intern for, your work could take you all over the place (literally and figuratively). Prep yourself by doing some more in-depth knowledge about the company and its clients, as this can come in handy when you are sitting in on meetings and calls. Not only will you have a much clearer perspective, you might also be able to offer some insight if the company culture encourages your input in meetings. Feel out the tone of the room and if it seems appropriate to speak then politely offer to share. Respectfully voicing your opinions can show your curiosity and eagerness to learn.
Ask Questions Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification or help on tasks if you’re stuck. If possible, ask the majority of your questions when presented with the task, then provide updates to gain your manager’s confidence. You can even ask for feedback or performance reviews every month. By laying it out, you are giving a more well-rounded and accurate depiction of your accomplishments in your time at the company, for present or future reference. You’re also showing your willingness to take criticism and self-reflect.
By Amanda McDougall
Be Social An incredibly important aspect of interning is the social interactions and connections you make while at the company. It will be beneficial to seek out a mentor whose position, accomplishments, and work ethic you find to be inspirational. However, remember that mentorships grow organically and shouldn’t be forced. Try to branch out and get to know people from all aspects of your workplace. A simple greeting in the elevator could lead to great opportunities in the future, so strike up a conversation whenever you can. Look for traits or qualities that these people possess, and how you can embody them to align with your own personal and career goals. “Meet the other summer students if you can! A lot of bigger companies have summer student socials and other events to help you meet other like minded individuals, many from other universities that you might have never met.” - Eliza Chiang, former International Banking Analyst and incoming Digital Factory Intern at Scotiabank “Don’t be afraid to ask to learn/do things outside of your job description - people know that you are an intern, someone who’s here to learn, so offer to do more work or shadow someone whose role you find interesting!” - Katherine Tang, former Marketing Coordinator at Sun Life Financial and incoming Intern at Wealth Simple Give Thank You cards to the people you Tip! worked closely with and consider giving them a small gift. Something as simple as a coffee mug can be a great reminder of the amazing summer student they had in the summer!
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The INTERN Trevor Sookraj
Scotiabank, Wealth Management Associate 2nd Year, Political Science
Shopify, Sales Intern 2nd Year, Globalization Studies & Political Science
I was lucky enough to get my internship through the PBSN Interview Competition. I started prepping a few days before the competition itself and this helped me do well in the multiple interview rounds.
I reached out to a Shopify salesperson via LinkedIn. A few days after chatting with him, I met a recruiter from Shopify at TechFest in London. I then started the interview process and signed shortly after.
Q2. What was your role and What did it entail?
I was able to move around to multiple advisory teams and help manage the investment capital of their clients. My work included evaluating US and Canadian equities, working with mutual fund companies, meeting with clients, and developing Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
I made the lives of their salespeople easier by making resources like slide decks for upcoming demos, researching leads, and taking some inbound calls. More challenging work involved analyzing their sales cycle and processes to find inefficiencies, along with investigating new sources for lead generation.
Q3. What was the best part and What did you least expect from working there?
Being able to personally explain the stock choices, allocations, and overall goal of portfolios to clients was the highlight of my summer. I also competed in the Future Leaders Challenge, an internal case competition for the summer students that my team and I were lucky enough to win. This opened up a number of doors, including the opportunity to meet with several C-suite Scotiabank executives and pitch them our case solution.
The best part about working for Shopify was definitely the culture. The motto of Shopify is “Get Shit Done,” making for a very results-oriented environment with little bureaucracy. If there was a problem, you didn’t need approval to approach it. I came into the role as an intern expecting a lot of training/supervision, but I was treated like a full-time employee.
If you can do well in bank sponsored competitions, network with the firm’s representatives at the event, and then maintain that relationship beyond the competition, you can definitely turn that relationship into a potential offer. However, you should never purely “use” a relationship to get a job. Show genuine interest in learning more about the firm and that representative’s experience.
First, figure out what you excel at, and what you can bring to the team. Whether that’s technical know-how or media skills, having a firm grasp of this will show recruiters exactly how you fit in. Second, show a real passion for what the company does. Dig deep into the product, understand it, and find the problems that the team is continuously looking for.
Q1. How did you land your internship?
Q4. what is your advice to students want an internshipwith this company?
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Victor Lal
panel Katie Chen
Shoelace, Operations 2nd year, Psychology
Sara Raza The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships , Research Analyst 2nd Year, History
I came across Shoelace on AngelList. By sheer serendipity, one of the co-founders was speaking at PBSN Connect that year, and I got to meet him in person. I then went through two interview rounds and was offered a position.
I met one of my mentors at a conference who recommended that I apply to the internship. She then recommended me for the position which helped me get the interview. From there, I was on my own and had to perform well during the interview.
I worked in a bunch of different roles from data analytics to product management to digital marketing to customer success. One day, I’d be designing tree diagrams to map out our user experience, and the next I’ll be writing a blog post to publish on a partner website. The business is growing so fast and things are changing so quickly that you’re expected to take on the unexpected.
My work involved daily industry research using different tools to track updates, and unique sources such as academic papers and news articles. I also tracked live updates on infrastructure projects Canada wide, looking for details like value for money, timeline, and project specific stakeholders.
Startup culture is very unique since most companies are small enough that everyone works within talking distance of each other. Our space was decked out with breakfast, bean bags, and pingpong tables. The thing I least expected was the amount of responsibility I had. There’s not enough people within a startup for anyone to micro-manage or oversee every decision you make, so even as an intern I was given free reign the projects and could essentially lead any initiative I wanted to take on.
The best part about working here was the company culture and small team environment. There was a lot of opportunities to learn from my coworkers as mentors and create a tangible impact during my time.
“Done is better than perfect.” Shoelace taught me to focus on the bigger picture of what my project was meant to accomplish, as opposed to the nitty-gritty specifics. My biggest piece of advice is to proactively reach out to the co-founders and constantly have a mindset of being ready to learn. It’s not game over if you don’t have years of experience; you just need a track record of adapting quickly and being proactive.
I refined my writing skills because I became an expert in pulling relevant and key information from academic articles longer than 100 pages. There is a key opportunity to develop and refine your Excel skills through ongoing projects. My advice for interested applicants is to show curiosity for the infrastructure industry and develop a higher-level understanding of the Public-Private Partnership model in Canada through your own research.
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Q&A Carl oXholm Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | PwC National Partner Coaching Leader | Founding member of PwC Charitable Foundation and Women in Leadership
Tell me about tax accounting and your career journey. How did you decide to pursue this career? Was there a pivotal moment?
I started out thinking I was going to go into medicine because I knew that I loved helping people. My family always supported me in my philosophy of “it’s not about what you do so much as how you approach what you do that will make the greatest difference.” So I felt liberated about the road ahead and free to explore any number of possible career paths. I ultimately chose the CPA route thinking that no matter what I ended up doing (e.g. public practice, industry, entertainment, my own business, etc.), the business acumen would serve me well (and prepare me to serve others well) and the accreditation would certainly open doors.
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Being an expert in this space has allowed me to profoundly assist, and add value to people in ways that are transformational
years and was recognized as the first ever recipient of the Award of Distinction from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario (now CPA Ontario). Carl is passionate about leadership, coaching, and emotional intelligence – as evidenced throughout his various roles, from consulting with PwC’s Human Capital Leadership team and providing workshops on the “biology of leadership” both within and outside of PwC.
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Carl Oxholm has been with PwC for over 24
For example, I observed early on in my career that most people (even other professionals) tended to shy away from the tax side of things – often saying it was too complex, confusing, and ever-changing. So as I continued to grow and learn more about the tax, my ability to help others continued to expand. I enjoyed the fact that every time I learned something new, there was an opportunity to immediately have a practical value added application in service of others. From a big picture point of view my children would often ask, “So Dad, what exactly do you do?” and I would respond, “think of me as a financial doctor.” As a CPA, I can go into a company and help assess how healthy it is. Being an expert in this space has allowed me to profoundly assist and add value to people in ways that are transformational - for them personally and professionally. Interestingly, many people may actually care more about their finances than they do their own health, leaving the door open for fun-filled and meaningful action.
As for inspiration, you will be inspired if the com Tax accounting lends itself to continuous pany you keep provides you with one of these creativity because of the pace and consistency of three sources: change. It’s rare to have a profession where the rulebook and its underpinning legislation chang- Source of Joy: High-energy individuals who are es literally every year – and across multiple lev- not devoid of problems, but who see them as opportunities to be creative. els of government.
Where is there creativity in tax accounting?
what types of people do you surround yourself with as sources for coaching and mentorship? My sources are all around me, all of the time – that has been a constant. We are always surrounded by others with more experience who are often happy to help and share what they know for your benefit. It’s also important to be open to receiving effective coaching and mentorship. Start with an understanding that there is always more to learn and don’t be afraid to admit when you need some help. Two of the greatest traits I observe in the most effective leaders involve a willingness to admit to mistakes and an acknowledgement when they don’t know something. It is also so important to surround yourself with people who not only appreciate you for who you are, but who also insist upon you being you.
“surround yourself
with people who not only appreciate you for who you are, but who also insist upon you being you
Source of Insight: Individuals who are interested in sharing, who are not dismissive, and who recognize that they have a voice and so do you – and both matter. Source of Contentment: Spend time with individuals who like you for you. Enjoy being a student of your own experience and employing what you learn to benefit others. I have always enjoyed focusing on listening and watching to see who it is that has the greatest level of impact on the people around them. Less about right and wrong or good and bad, and more about their degree of effectiveness. Who among us leads in a way that makes others want to follow? How do you nurture and develop resonant relationships? How do you behave? How do you approach things? As you learn from your own experience and the experience of others, stay focused on how you can take your unique voice/perspective and make someone’s day just a little better.
Can you tell us about a failure and how you rebounded from that experience? I was preparing to write the Uniform Final Exam (UFE), the qualification exam for the CPA designation. I felt like I had the weight of the world on my shoulders - everybody expected me to be successful. En route to the very first day of the UFE, somebody hit my car from behind. I got to the exam late, and I did not do well. Over the next three days, I did very well, but unfortunately, my scores from the first day were not enough to be successful in my first attempt at the UFE. This was shocking for a lot of the people around me because they had come to expect that I would pass.
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If you invest the time and energy but don’t at first succeed, how do you respond? “Woe is me” or “alright, let’s stay focused, creative, and appreciative of the opportunity to take another step”? When I went through the exam process the second time, I was that much more prepared, practiced, and competent. I took what some people would view to have been a waste of time (i.e. having to write more than once) and turned it into an opportunity to be a higher performing professional. I was more confident coming out, which lent itself nicely to the rest of my career. When, despite your initially perceived “setbacks”, you make a practice out of gratitude, you’ll be amazed at the opportunities that find you. “Gratitude for what”, you may ask? Gratitude for the opportunity to learn from the past, to stay excited about the possibility of the future and for the current moment that perpetually allows you to keep going and enjoy the experience of you.
Your uniqueness “offers your great-
est gifts: your voice, point of view, and perspective. THINGS we are far too inclined to mute
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What is one mistake you witness leaders making?
I think of mistakes more as “missed opportunities.” I often see leaders confuse their formal authority with a responsibility to tell everybody what to do. In reality, you’ll never maximize the performance level of your team if your members are constantly waiting for permission
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from the powers that be. The most effective leaders are the ones who are very clear about the vision, the values, and the team’s reason for being. Good to great leaders keep everyone aligned, energized, empowered, and equipped to get to where they’re going.
Students are often put in new and stressful situations such as interviews, networking, and public speaking. What is your advice for handling stress from a psychological perspective? You have two choices: you can either show up as yourself or you can pretend to be someone you’re not. Many students may often choose the latter because they are nervous - they want to land an opportunity and yet are often conditioned to think that there are only so many positions available and they only have one time to make a good first impression. This scarcity mindset breeds fear and can often lead to one pretending to be something they’re not or saying what they think others want to hear. There is an alternative. You can instead recognize that you are a unique amalgam of experiences, there never has been and never will be another you. Your uniqueness offers your greatest gifts – your voice, point of view, and perspective – something we are far too inclined to mute. A preoccupation of saying what we think others want to hear is a poor substitute for sharing from your authentic self. Have fun, value this life experience and see if you can practice being open to everything and attached to nothing…watch what happens. I’m not suggesting that we don’t set goals, rather just pointing out that whether or not you accomplish a particular goal has absolutely no bearing on who you are. No matter how long we may get to live, it’s short….enjoy the trip!
Interviewed by Amanda McDougall
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Q&A Rhiannon
TRaill
President of Economic Club of Canada | Founder of Jr. Economic Club of Canada
What do you believe to be the most beneficial experience in your career that has led you to where you are now? I was 15 years old when I failed my entire school year. I was kicked out of school and in a really bad place in my life. I grew up in a single-parent household and a lot of my family didn’t have an education. That summer I had a wake-up call. I took a pen and a piece of paper and wrote down a few goals. Fast forward to my last year in high school, I was on the honour roll and voted most dedicated student. Once I realized that if I set a goal, worked hard and made the hard changes, I could reap the rewards. I decided I was going to be the best I could possibly be and not anything else. That failure has taught me to push my hardest at everything and to always be honest with myself.
Early in your career, how did you measure success and how has your measure of success changed since then? I always liked to ask myself if I’m really present in what I’m doing. Am I living in the moment or am I consumed by it? When I’m not thinking about anything other than that particular project, that’s when I know I’m doing something successful because my heart and my passion are in it. I also like to ask myself the impact that my action is having on other people. That, to me, is the true measure of success.
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to climb. Don’t give up
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Each year, more than 160 key global policy makers and business leaders seek out The Economic Club of Canada to make major keynote addresses. Under Rhiannon Traill’s leadership the club has successfully expanded operations across Canada, making it the only National Public Policy Platform in Canada.
are going “toTherebe mountains
What inspired you to form Jr. EC and what is your goal for Jr. EC?
Have you made any sacrifices in your journey? I became President of the Economic Club of Canada two weeks before I had my first child. I had to go straight back to running the company afterwards. Because of that, I sacrificed my first year with my baby to step into the role as President. In the end, it was worth it but I can promise that it was not easy. I am teaching my children something about going after your dream.
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My end goal is to create a movement where young people feel empowered
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What was the greatest challenge you have experienced in this role, and what have you done to overcome that difficulty? The most difficult thing for me when I entered a room was people underestimating me because of my gender and age. I’ve dealt with comments treating me in a disrespectful manner or being written off as someone who doesn’t count or even people thinking I was there to serve tea. If it is so strange to see somebody like me in my role, then it’s my job to prove that I deserve to be there. By doing that, I’m paving the way for others just like me to be in similar roles.
“If it is so strange to
see somebody like me in my role, then it is my job to prove I deserve to be there
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I started the Jr. EC to give young people the opportunity to have a voice now and to see how their ideas can create meaningful change. I want others to not think of finance as something that is boring but as something that actually matters. My end goal is to create a movement where young people feel empowered and inspired to use their voice to change the world and to go after their passions and desires.
Do you have any advice for young people with big dreams that sometimes may seem impossible?
Be blindly optimistic to faults. If we start getting caught up in all the reasons why our dreams are not possible, then we never end up achieving our goals. When people tell you all the reasons why it won’t work, ignore them. There are going to be mountains to climb. Don’t give up. Go after it with every single piece of your being and watch what unfolds when you truly and honestly commit 100 percent. interviewed by matthew Lou
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Master of Update your headshot
Having a professional profile picture gives appeal to those viewing your profile. Ensure the photo is a headshot with a clear focus on your face. Dress in attire suited for your industry. Great headshots portray a confident yet friendly and humble business person. You can do this by smiling with your teeth, keeping a straight posture, and being relaxed.
Expand on your experiences
Your experiences illustrate your career journey up until this point. Ensure your viewer is aware of what you have achieved. Describe the experience, your role in the experience and, most importantly, the impact you made. Be specific with the results by listing quantitative successes (e.g. achieved a 6.5% increase in sales growth) to demonstrate that you understand your objectives and that you are able to meet those objectives. List your most impactful experience (the one you want viewers to see first) at the top to ensure that the viewer is aware of your experience. While you may have little experience at this point in your career, try to not include entry-level jobs such as waitressing, being a cashier or babysitting. Instead, focus on your extracurricular involvements that highlight your passions and willingness to learn and work in teams.
“Link in� with your news feed
Your LinkedIn home offers major pages and trending topics that allow you to stay updated with the business world and find new ideas that can spruce up your lifestyle, knowledge and network. Though you may not personally know these individuals, following influencers (ex. Bill Gates, Jeff Weiner to name a few) that offer new ideas can open new doors in your networking and help you build your brand. Sharing articles, following pages, and interacting with the LinkedIn world will increase your presence in
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By Matthew Lou
Polish your headline
Your name, profile picture, and headline are the areas of your profile that can be viewed without needing to click onto your profile. Ensure your headline states who you are (position or occupation) and what you do. Try your best to differentiate yourself from the crowd by using a position title other than “Student at Western University”, as this can be very vague to viewers in terms of measuring your skills and experience.
Tighten your summary
Straightforward and clear statements regarding yourself, your experiences, and your skills are simple and effective in communicating your brand to viewers. State your best traits upfront so that viewers and potential employers are intrigued. Prove why you have those skills and traits in your experiences below.
Give recommendations, receive recommendations
It’s common to seem conceited when you are flaunting about your own skills and successes to others. However, having something good to say about a partner or colleague offers a third-party opinion that can give merit to their profile without the worry of being egocentric. Ask for recommendations from people that you worked with and that you know were impressed by you. Additionally, recommend your colleagues! A user is more likely to reciprocate a nice gesture if they are given one in return.
Planning on editing your account now? Here’s a pro-tip: uncheck the box called “Notify Your Network?” as a courtesy to others who don’t want to be bombarded by updates as you edit your info.
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Q&A Andrew StoRey
Vice President, Decision Sciences at Scotiabank
what are deCIsion sciences? A good example of what we do is automated decision making based on data analytics. What price to set a product at? Which products are costomers interested in? What bank products/ services should show up on web pages? Essentially, we are trying to make quantitatively based decisions in an automated fashion. We do this with techniques like statistics, machine learning, numerical programming, optimization, and data programming to gather as much information as we can that is relevant about a set of decisions. We then automate that decision to find optimal solutions.
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Analytics unlocks the power of data
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Why do you think data analytics can be a valuable career skill? Andrew Storey has been with Scotiabank
since 2000. Andrew leads Decision Sciences at the bank and has previous experience with Global Risk Management and Retail Credit Risk.
What is your role in Decision Sciences at Scotiabank? Decision Sciences team provides analytical support services to various areas in and across the bank. This is performed on a global scale through the different functions of the bank. The team supports diverse areas such as marketing, product development, risk, fraud and other back office functions.
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Data is growing like crazy and there are many new ways that companies and governments are capturing data. Analytics unlocks the power of that data. Without analytics, you just have a lot of data and people who do not know what to do with it.
What are some skills that make a good data analyst? Analysts should offer strong programming skills to manipulate data. They should also have quantitative skills, preferably with a STEM background – something like science, engineering, math or economics. On top of that, we value domain knowledge from the specific fields of data analytics which can be acquired through
Where do you think data analytics is going in the future? One is a further adoption of non-traditional statistical models in terms of the artificial intelligence and machine learning. It exists currently, but I think it will be more broadly applied to different areas. Layered on top of that is the adoption of automated decision systems which make predictions or recommendations about something coming out of a quantitative system. There are always new tools that are popping up and new methodologies and techniques that will continue to accelerate. Due to this, people need to be multilingual in terms of the analytical tools and methodologies that they are able to use. From an infrastructure perspective, I expect further migration into cloud-based infrastructure. The future will be in scaling for massive sizes of data and leading a migration into the cloud.
What is your advice for students who want to pursue a career in data analytics? For data analytics, people should be incredibly good at the foundational skills I mentioned. Do something with passion and become amazing at it. You cannot get the skill and then move on. It is the people who take something on with passion and do it because they love it - in essence, it becomes their hobby. We are looking for the kind of person who is specialized in the data analytics, instead of being general.
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Advice from other Scotiabankers In Analytics I think of analytics as the way to ingeniously organize data into insightful and actionable information. - Gala Chan, Vice President, Structural Cost Transformation Analytics is such a broad term that encompasses all industries. So whatever field you’re in, you can generate value. It is the intersection of science and art. As cliché as it may sound, someone in my master’s program won a case competition recently by doing an analytics project on Art Sales. If you are curious, creative, and run towards technology instead of shy away from it, then this may be a journey worth exploring. -HC Zhang, Senior Manager, Global Risk Management My experience at Western, in particular the completion of an undergraduate thesis in my fourth year, equipped me with a great mix of hands-on analytics experience and consumer research knowledge that has allowed me to work in both the Canadian & International Banking areas of Scotiabank, with a focus on customer targeting and direct marketing campaigns. The increasing focus on customer data and the importance of uncovering more creative ways to contact customers across the industry provides great new opportunities for students interested in this field!
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experience which can be acquired through experience on the job. Analysts also need to have an incredible amount of curiosity and passion for what they are doing. To be good at data analytics, you must be amazing at the fundamental and foundational skills of programming and quantitative analysis. A great data analyst is passionate through always trying to learn new things and advance their skills and capabilities in the field.
- Victoria Volk, Senior Manager, Structural Cost Transformation
Interviewed by Harshith Sridharan
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Intro to first year 1000 By Amanda McDougall
First Day Your first day of classes are a sharp slap of reality coming off of a week of fun
events. You’re probably sitting there looking at your schedule and the campus map they provided you with thinking, “I am going to get so lost” (and you probably will). Simply download WesternU Mobile, an app designed just for you to find a campus app and virtual tours of campus. Make sure you give yourself more than enough time to get in between classes and find a meal to eat!
Grades You might be shocked or disappointed when you receive back some of your first marks
or papers. This is normal, expected, and somewhat necessary. Take the criticism and evaluate your studying habits. Usually this will result in a small but mighty grade boost from the previous one.
Roommates Some people find their soulmate and best friend, others can’t wait to get out of
their prison cell after what feels like a life sentence. What I’ve learned is that the 8 months goes by so quickly it hardly matters. You will find your people, be it floormates, people from other floors, or members on the same club as you. Iff it doesn’t happen in first year, you still have three more years!
Floor MeetingS Fifteen minutes every other week won’t kill your studying and you can stay in your pyjamas the whole time. Get out of your room, see the people on your floor, and hear about what’s going on.
Comparing Yourself Don’t freak out and compare yourself to what everyone else is doing. Outline your goals and do what makes you happy.
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ADVICE FOR BIZ 2257
-ent scenarios that are covered during the in-class cases. Chances are you will see ALL of them on the test.”
advice from teachers
“Make sure to stay on top of cases and clear up questions as soon as you can. Don’t get too caught up on grades and focus on learning. Remember that in the end you are more than just a number on your transcript!” -Jimmy Wang, 2016-2017 Teacher 1. Stay up to date with the work! Business 2257 is more of an application-based course than a theoretical course. When you do the assigned cases, you are applying the theories and concepts that we have discussed to real-life situations. If you don’t regularly do this, you will struggle on the case-based exams. 2. Speak up! In my experience, students who actively contribute in class also perform better on the written exams. Why? When you participate in the class discussion, you are engaged in the learning process. Even if you have said something that may not be correct, you are going to learn more from being actively engaged in the class environment than you would by only copying notes down … or looking at your phone! - Iann Dunn, 2016-2017 Teacher & Co-Director of Ivey Pre-Business Program
advice from students
“The exams are always longer and more difficult than anything you do in class. Anticipate this and focus on all the differ-
“1. Bring your name tag to every class. Some lecturers won’t pick you if you don’t have a name tag. 2. When it comes time to the accounting exams, take time to build a proper cheat sheet. However, make sure you don’t rely on it for every transaction because there isn’t time on exams to continuously be looking at the cheat sheet. It should only be a reference just in case you forgot the name of an account or something small like that.” “I found it really useful to teach others the content. Book a media room in Taylor with a white board and hash it out. This is a great way to strengthen what you already know and challenge what you don’t.” “2257 in the first semester is actually pretty different from 1220. It was a lot more procedural, since you just had to follow accounting rules without much out-ofthe-box thinking. Practice a lot more than you did for 1220 and know how to do every procedure thoroughly so you save time on the exam.” “If you aren’t confident speaking in class but need to raise your participation; write some questions or comments in the margins of your case answers. Make sure your notes include formulas and other things that may be asked (like our role in the case or goals outlined in the task).”
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A Day in the Life of an HBA1 w/
Noah djurfeldt 6:30 am Check news sites such as the Globe & Mail, New York Times and Bloomberg to stay updated with current events. This is not something I did routinely before Ivey, but I’ve found it to be really beneficial and applicable in our class case discussions.
7:40 am Get to Ivey and have breakfast at the Ivey cafĂŠ.
8:00 am - 1:00 pm We have three 80 minute classes a day on a rotating schedule with 20 minute breaks between classes. Our section stays in the same room while our teachers come to us.
1:00 - 2:30 pm Go to the recreation center to clear my head before starting home-
2:30 - 7:00 pm Do cases, attend any information/recruiting sessions or club meetings.
7:00 - 11:30 pm Relax for a bit and finish up cases.
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What is your advice for students hoping to pursue Ivey? I was in MOS in my first two years at Western, and I took classes that would maximize my chances of getting an 80%. As soon as I got into Ivey, my biggest regret was not doing something that interested me. Yes, your goal might be to get into Ivey, but do not let that goal be to the detriment of your overall university experience. Take classes and extracurriculars that you enjoy, and make sure that you are having fun. In essence, make sure that you are still experiencing university. When you are in Ivey, you will not remember the times you were at the library grinding away for that extra 1%.
What are you involved with in and outside of class? I am involved with the Ivey Consulting Club and the Ivey Tech Club. I am interested in a career in consulting, such as product management consulting. Outside of Ivey, I am on the Young Leaders Board for the Alma Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to youth education empowerment in Peru and Bolivia. I am also starting to get into the Toronto Blockchain community, which is a community of startups and young professional entrepreneurs that are trying to apply the technology of Blockchain to the real world. Blockchain is going to be the next big tech revolution because it allows people do so manymore things with technology.
What is the best advice that you’ve ever received? I was at a panel in my first year listening to an HBA2 talk about a coffee chat session that he had with an HBA1. The HBA1 had been telling HBA2s different career goals. Pretending that you are interested in everything just to impress someone or get a job comes across as disingenuous. Be true to yourself. Know what you wanna do and try not to get bogged down in the herd.
This summer, Noah will be going to Kenya through the Africa Service Learning Program to teach the Ivey case-based method to students and help build a start-up inCUbator.
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Q&A
Melanie
Rodriguez
Executive Director of Alma Children’s Education Foundation | HBA 14
different projects in Peru and Bolivia right now, all in remote communities (anywhere between 4-5 hours to the closest city). We have some reaching the Cuzco region in the mountains, and in the Peruvian and Bolivian jungle. Our projects are small, with our communities being around twenty children. This is our advantage as a small NGO - big NGOs cannot travel that far, just for a few children, since the cost per child is so high. The advantage of microphilanthropy is that we can impact the children significantly more.
How did you know that a career in philanthropy is what you wanted to pursue? In 2012, I volunteered outside of Cuzco, Peru, at a children’s home called El Arca. I fell in love with the children the second I got to know them and I knew then that I wanted to dedicate my life to them. My perspective of how to make change has changed over the years and I finally realized that I wanted to make this cause my full time commitment. So, I switched careers into the nonprofit sector.
What is your advice for students looking to pursue a career in philanthropy? Experienced in nonprofit and program consulting, Melanie Rodriguez has completed nine consulting projects in five different countries. Previously, Melanie has worked as a Communications Specialist for Ivey’s Building Sustainable Value Research Centre and as a Sustainability Lecturer for The Western university’ Ontario’s Continuing Studies program. Most recently, Melanie worked in Nicaragua with the non-profit Global Brigades.
Tell us about Alma Foundation and Micro philanthropy. Alma is a children’s charity that focuses on improving education in Latin America. We deal with projects that reinforce critical thinking, reading comprehension and creativity. Our projects all focus on improving the way children think as opposed to a specific subject. We have 29
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If you are going to start getting into the industry you always need experience, and it is impossible to have experience until you have started working. The best way to break that chain is volunteering. I get a lot of questions about what it is like to work in philanthropy. What I would say to people is that it is obviously really hard but it is also one of the most rewarding careers you can have. You are not going to get paid a lot and you are going to put in a lot of hours. Figure out what you are passionate about or what your niche is, then, no matter how hard your job is, it is always going to be worth it. To be honest, the workload going from banking to nonprofit is probably the same, but that the latter is just so much more rewarding. I would highly recommend anyone who is thinking about nonprofit to just talk to people in the sector. People are really eager to help others who wants to join.
interviewed by amanda mcdougall & zehra camilleri
Apps:
Duolingo Price: Free Duolingo is a language-learning platform that focuses on the gamification of language to promote quick and accurate learning. The app includes skill trees, vocabulary sections, experience points, progress quizzes, and timed quizzes. These interactive learning features promote easy learning of difficult languages. Learning different languages is an important trait, especially in business, as it not only shows dedication in the learning process, but can be extremely useful in seeking career opportunities abroad. Consider learning Spanish or Mandarin! Boomerang Free This app will send scheduled emails to companies or professors the next morning while you lay in bed catching up on your sleep. Simply write the email, save as a draft, and set the time for Boomerang to work its magic.
Desk Essentials:
Logitech M560 Price: $25 This mouse contains multiple customizable buttons for crunching those numbers on Excel. Audio-Technica ATH-M20x $25 These over-the-ear headphones deliver supreme audio quality for a competitive price. It’s noise-cancelling, and they come from a reputable brand with a sturdy build for both study and jam sessions. Logitech Solar Keyboard K750 $50 It seems like we all live at our desks. So, adding functional and aesthetically pleasing technology to our setup can encourage us to be more productive. The Logitech Solar Keyboard K750 is a solar powered keyboard that will serve all your productivity needs. The keyboard eliminates the need for batteries, uses natural light to provide power, and limits our environmental footprint.
Harshith’s Tech Survival Guide ED
SIFI S A L C E D
Pro Tip! Amazon.ca offers students 6-months of a free Amazon Prime Student account that gives you access to millions of products, anywhere from tech to stationary, with free one or two day shipping!
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Q&A
Elke RubacH
What is Fashion Heals for SickKids? Fashion Heals is a unique and special evening event with the purpose of raising awareness and funds for paediatric cancer research conducted at SickKids. The third edition will be hosted at the Mercedes-Benz Downtown dealership and will feature Canadian fashion designers through fashion show curated by La Closette.
Founding Partner & Co-Chair of Fashion Heals for SickKids | Founder & Principal at Rubach Wealth The level of care that patients receive and the standard of research that goes on at SickKids Hospital is world class. Our fashion show models are not your typical models -they are all connected to the cause such as alumni, patients, doctors, survivors, researchers and nurses.
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Philanthropy is simply the right and human thing to do
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Why do you think philanthropy is important to a career?
Elke Rubach is a corporate lawyer and wealth
strategist who has dedicated her career to helping people brighten their financial futures. Elke is also the Chair of the Finance Committee on the Toronto Parking Authority (Green P), a Director at the Canadian Breast Cancer Society, a Director at the Lycée Francais de Toronto, a member of the Advisory Board at Access Employment Entrepreneurs Connections, and sits on the Advisory Board of Daughters for Life.
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Philanthropy is simply the right and human thing to do. It has been proven that the benefit and sense of “feel good” you get from giving is unparalleled. With that being said, being in philanthrophy can also help you with networking. If you approach someone with “Can I have a job?”, they will likely look at you and say “excuse me?!” Instead, if you begin with “I have this project where you can support kids, would you like to hear about it?”, then they will be much more willing to give you ten minutes out of their day.
Once you hit a certain level of fundraising, the Canadian Caner Society gives you the status of Innovation Grant, and you are able to choose the research project it goes to. We have decided to go for Paediatric Oncology. Cancer is the single most common cause of disease-related death in children and adolescents in Canada. The Fashion Heals Innovation Grant provides established scientists and doctors at the Garron Family Cancer Centre with much needed seed funding to develop solutions and turn cutting-edge ideas in the field of paediatric cancer into reality.
Let’s shift to your work with founding rubach wealth. How did you know entrepreneurship was right for you? I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I get bored very quickly and I am a very results-oriented people person. I also recognized a problem: people buy financial insurance, investments, etc. in isolation but I did not see anyone do it collectively. There was a table and it was missing legs. My goal was to make sure the table had 4 legs and that those legs were solid.
How has being a lawyer assisted you in your career? I have the analytical eye that law school gives you, as well as the credibility. I have seen things go wrong many times and I want to help people to ensure that things never go wrong again.
Is there any other advice you would like to give to young entrepreneurs? Find a mentor, someone you really admire and respect. See how they can help you grow and who they can connect you to. One of my mentors
always said, “today you are the result of the people you hung out with ten years ago.” Find someone who will always tell you the truth! A mentor can really shorten your learning time. Know when to cut your losses and be very cautious with your time: spend it with the right people. Finally, never, ever stop learning. Be curious and be daring!
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be curious and be daring
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By the numbers:
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What is the Innovation Grant?
~30 new cancer diagnoses at SickKids per month.
1,400 children are diagnosed cancer in Canada 25% with each year.
of these kids are treated at the SickKids Garron Family Cancer Centre. Active clinical cancer trials taking place this year. is the current survival rate for children diagnosed with cancer in Canada.
88+
82%
Lookbook
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Thank you
for reading IMPACT “IMPACT has given me the opportunity to exercise my creativity and meet new friends. This experience has been about leaving my own mark and not just floating along with the flow.” - Matthew Lou, Writer “Working with the IMPACT team has surrounded me with talented and passionate people. Watching them work has taught me the importance of loving what you do and giving it your all. I’m extremely proud of the magazine and everything we’ve done to achieve it!” - Kathy Hu, Editor “Being on IMPACT was a great opportunity for me to broaden my horizon with design and allowed me to push my creative ability further!” - Joy Zheng, Graphic Designer “Working on IMPACT gave me the chance to speak to accomplished Western alumni that greatly inspired me for my future, whose words taught me much about the business world and allowed me reflect on my goals and aspirations.” - Margot Ghersin, Writer
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“IMPACT allowed me to work with talented individuals who are dedicated to what they do. It taught me to work hard and explore facets of business I was unfamiliar with.” - Harshith Sridharan, Writer “IMPACT gave me the rare opportunity to improve my skills in two different creative facets: graphic design and photography. I am grateful for this one of a kind experience that pushed me to broaden my skillset and introduced me to so many fun and talented people! - Ambika Aggarwal, Photographer & Graphic Designer I am so grateful to have worked on IMPACT, this year not only for the creative outlet it gave me, but also for the team I had the pleasure of working with. - Amanda McDougall, Writer & Graphic Designer “They say opposites attract. As a student in MedSci, it’s a little strange being so involved with business students, but IMPACT really is a good fit for me. Science is really about discovery and exploration, and that’s what I feel I had to opportunity to do with IMPACT. Joining helped me learn more about myself and my interests in a new field. If my time at impact could be used to prove a point, it would be to try new things; you’ll never really know what impact it could have!” -Nicholas Goli, Photographer
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