April 2019

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS ™

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Alberta School of Business

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Aaron Hagen

April 19’ The Future of Business

T H O U G H T V S T H O U G H T >>

E X T E R N A L R E L AT I O N S >>

M I S C E L L A N E O U S >>

Stores & Retail: AI vs.

Human Workers.

An Interview with TEC Edmonton.

Letter to My First-Year Self.

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Represent a Fortune 500 Company Hiring new grads for sales executive positions in over 70 locations across Canada. Build your career with us.

CONTACT Diana.Wyley@xerox.com www.findyourxfactor.com www.xerox.ca

©2018 Xerox Corporation. All rights reserved. Xerox® and Xerox and Design® are trademarks of Xerox Corporation in the United States and/ or other countries.

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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Table of Contents

CONTENTS SOCIAL STUDIES Space Technology - Canadian Space Program Expansion

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GUEST ARTICLE Diana Wiley - Xerox

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LF REVIEWS Wetzel’s Pretzels - Worth the Wait?

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LAZY CHAT Brandon Wong (Wattpad writer): the Future of Writing Stories - Rise of Online Readers

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FASHION Wearable Technology FYI Courses to Take Advantage of in Your Undergrad THOUGHT VS. THOUGHT Stores/Retail: AI vs. Human Workers STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Aaron Hagen EXTERNAL RELATIONS TEC Edmonton CLUBS CORNER UAAC

BSA Wellness Initiative: Mental Health Initiatives/Personal Development Programs in the Workplace

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Letter to My First-Year Self

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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

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Editor’s Note

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ith the end of the semester just around the corner, we at Lazy Faire are welcoming new beginnings with our incoming team, and reflecting on the successes of this past year. As the graduation march plays and class schedules are being made, this issue goes out to who business students will be tomorrow, and what we all will accomplish years from now… The Future of Business. We know that the work of today builds for success tomorrow. In this issue, we look at national long-term projects, to the future of the literary industry, and everything in between. As the year comes to a close, we want to inspire you, our valued reader, to look for new opportunities, recognize your strengths, and work to make the future of business full of promise and ingenuity. Thanks for reading; we’ll see you in Fall 2019!

Rodvie Barnachea

RODVIE BARNACHEA Editor-in-Chief

Haya Masri

HAYA MASRI Editor-in-Chief

CONTRIBUTORS

VALERIE LEOW VP Editorial

DYLAN WEE Photographer

DENISE NGUYEN Writer

JOANNA FADDOUL VP Art & Design

KATIE FITZGERALD VP Editorial

AUSTIN YEE Photographer

TYLER KEFFER Writer

MELANIA ANTOSZKO Designer

ELIZABETH JUN VP Marketing

DIANE JEON Photographer & Writer

CLEO WILLIAMS Writer

LEIRE DOMENECH Designer

ERICA WEE Social Media Director

ERICA HU Photographer

RACHITA CHUGH Writer

ALYSSA RICIOPPO Designer

ALEX HO Suits LF Director & Photographer

WYATT LYNDS Writer

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

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DENISE NGUYEN Writer

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1. Describe yourself in five words. “I’m more than five words.”

2. What’s your favourite hobby?

Keeping up with celebrity drama!

3. Best study spot on campus?

Rutherford South library 4. What’s your favourite movie quote?

“You are alive, and you stand up and see the lights on the buildings and everything that makes you wonder.

And you’re listening to that song and that drive with the people you love most in this world. And in this moment I swear, we are infinite.”

5. Why did you join Lazy Faire?

I love writing an d storytelling! I’d love to get more involved with the Business Faculty by telling the stories of others. Plus, I already knew that the team would be amazing.

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VALERIE LEOW VP Editorial

1. Describe yourself in five words.

Passionate, imaginative, meticulous, persistent, and a dreamer.

2. What’s your favourite hobby?

Creating art and telling stories - writing, digital art, mixed media art, playing instruments, singing, acting.

3. Best study spot on campus?

Very much prefer studying at home, but if I had to pick a spot to study on campus, it’d be the Health Sciences Library.

4. What’s your favourite movie quote?

“Do or do not. There is no try.” Yoda; Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back 5. Why did you join Lazy Faire.

To expand my exposure to, and ability to write for, different genres and media types. And to share my love of writing with others.

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Meet the Team

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ALEX HO Suits LF Director & Photographer

1. Describe yourself in five words.

Wishing there’s 34 hours in a day (and “can’t count”) 2. What’s your favourite hobby?

I like to look at cars, clothes, and boots I can never afford. I guess I like taking pictures too.

3. Best study spot on campus?

Cameron Second is the best place on campus for a quiet, peaceful, two hour study session of Finance.

4. What’s your favourite movie quote?

“No, the journey doesn’t end here.

Death is just another path... One that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass... And then you see it. White shores... and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise.”

Gandalf, The Return of the King 5. Why did you join Lazy Faire?

Living by the idea that a rising tide would lift all boats, I joined Lazy Faire in an effort to promote a homogeneous student body within the Alberta School of Business. It is my earnest belief that by improving the social environment of ASoB, by giving the many unique individuals an opportunity to learn about one another, we can all move one step closer to a better, more connected world. So let the voices of the unheard can be heard and let no one be left behind.

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Social Studies

To Infinity and Beyond: The Lunar Gateway Canada is finally stepping up to its commitment to future space exploration. The Canadian Space Agency (CSA), while not as well-known as the traditional space exploration powerhouses – like the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), or the Russian Roscosmos State Corporation for Space Activities – still had impact on past space exploration initiatives.

In the summer of 2018, NASA announced its newest initiative: The Lunar Gateway. The plan is to construct a space station about one-fifth the size of the International Space Station by 2026 that will orbit the moon.

A science laboratory, a testing site for new space technology, and a mission control centre for both lunar and – one day – deep space exploration, this lunar outpost will facilitate regular back-and-forth trips to the moon, and bring that dream of missions to Mars ever closer within human reach. Two months ago, Canada declared itself as NASA’s first international partner for this new space venture. Europe, Russia, and Japan have also indicated possible interest in a partnership, but as of right now, Canada has been the only country to officially commit.

The centerpiece of Canada’s contributions to space exploration is the uncontested “Canadarm”, even appearing on the back of Canadian five-dollar bills. The “Canadarm” is a robotic system that consists of remote-controlled mechanical arms used to deploy, capture, and repair satellites, position astronauts, and move cargo. It was initially developed after Canada was invited by NASA in 1969 to participate in its Space Shuttle Program, which completed routine transportations or both crew and cargo from Earth to orbit from 1981 to 2011.

“Canadarm2”, its second iteration, was tasked with station assembly and maintenance, and was launched to the International Space Station in 2001. With Canada’s previous involvement in space projects in the role of upkeep, it’s upcoming contribution to the Lunar Gateway will be no different. With “Canadarm3”, Canada plans on expanding its maintenance and repair abilities with added artificial intelligence systems that will allow the computer to manage the Gateway, even when no humans are onboard.

The medical technology field is also enhanced by this venture. An important concern for deeper – and, therefore, longer – space missions is the health and well-being of crew members. To address this, the CSA has offered multiple contracts for the development of a medical system with sufficient artificial intelligence capabilities such that it can monitor and analyze crew members’ medical history and current health data (e.g. physical fitness, nutrition, sleep, etc.) in real-time, and correctly diagnose and treat any conditions that may arise.

Just last month, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated that Canada would commit a total of CAD$2.05 billion over a period of 24 years towards its space program initiatives. Of this amount, CAD$150 million, to be used over the next 5 years, has been specifically allocated towards its Lunar Gateway contributions. This investment capital should increase opportunities for small and medium-sized business to develop new technologies for lunar orbit use, especially in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, and health. Investment in space architecture is also expected to create hundreds of well-paying jobs, and contribute around CAD$100 million annually to Canada’s gross domestic product.

In return for providing the aforementioned technology, Canada will gain the right to send Canadian astronauts to visit, work, and conduct experiments on the deep space outpost, once it’s developed. Thus, it should increase the independence and autonomy of future national space exploration efforts. Just like the Space Shuttle Program and the International Space Station, the Lunar Gateway will come to represent a new era of ground-breaking space exploration achievements, achieved only through international co-operation.

Written by Valerie Leow

Designed by Alyssa Ricioppo

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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Wearable Tech

Imagine a future where we’re all walking around with google glasses, flying on hoverboards and talking to holograms through our iphone 32s.

If we slow global warming down enough to live past 2030, this future isn’t actually too far fetched.

As people become increasingly dependant on technology, it makes sense to integrate it into something we all use everyday: Clothes.

The idea that people would be walking around with bracelets that could track their health would most likely sound crazy to someone in the past and, similarly, it’s hard for us to imagine all the technology that will be coming out in the near future. But the way things are going, fitbits and other fitness bracelets may soon be ancient relics.

The company Pivot Yoga has created yoga pants that connect to their app and help the wearer throughout a session. While in different positions, the app will tell you how to move your body in order to get the best stretch, making getting a good workout a lot easier. Sneaker companies are also adding ease to workouts. Puma and Nike both have self-lacing training shoes. Additionally, Apple is rumoured to be creating gloves out of a “force sensing” fabric that is able to tell you your heart rate and blood pressure. All of these creations make being healthy a lot easier.

Written by Cleo Williams

Designed by Alyssa Ricioppo

Fashion

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Outside of fitness gear, companies are also developing wearable tech to revolutionize the way we work. The Microsoft Hololens 2 is an advanced mixed reality headset that creates high resolution holograms for the wearer. Once the headset is on, the screens it projects can be moved or changed with the wave of a finger. It basically allows you to pretend you’re Tony Stark. The headset can also take 1080p videos. It is set to release later in 2019 for the price of $3500. On a smaller scale, startup company, Padrone, has created a wireless mouse that is simply a ring. While on, the ring tracks the movement of the wearers index finger and uses this motion to work as a mouse. Coming in a sleek black style, it is water-resistant and easy to charge.

In relation to working smarter, there are also products that claim to up focus and enhance the brain when in use. FOCI is a focus enhancing wearable that easily clips to clothing and connects to an app that shows different colours for different levels of focus. Clip it on while working and the app will alert you when you start to get distracted. It tracks the wearer throughout the day and presents stats in a nice graph, making it easy for users to analyze their patterns. Another product that enhances the brain is the Muse Brain Sensing Headband. It guides the wearer through meditation to reach maximum relaxation and stress relief.

It might still seem weird to some to yell at Alexa to play our music or make us a coffee, but in the not so far future we might be yelling at our glasses.

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FYI

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Courses to Take Advantage of in Your Undergrad There are many courses that are offered here at the University of Alberta that can enhance your overall student experience. Taking a variety of electives not only gives you knowledge on a diverse array of topics, but it also provides you with the opportunity to discover different perspectives, which assists you in becoming a more well-rounded individual. A common misconception about university is that you have to stick to electives that are within your faculty, or only take courses that are related to your major or minor.

Post-secondary is a time to explore your passions and learn where your interests lie. Here are a list of courses that could possibly enhance your undergraduate university experience: Are you a self-motivated person who would rather sit in your pajamas and study your course material? Then taking an online course could be a great option for you: • DINO 101: The world’s first paleobiology Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). Register for it under “PALEO 200 - Dinosaurs in the Fossil Record” on BearTracks.

• Mountains 101: A 12-lesson Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on the geological origins and cultural significance of mountains, and the effects of climate change on them.

Sign up for it under “INT D 280” on BearTracks for credit.

Passionate about sports and keeping active? Then taking a PAC course as an elective could give you a great physical break in your class schedule: • PAC 110: Instruction of the Basics of Aquatics • PAC 111: Instruction of the Basics of Basketball • PAC 114: Instruction of the Basics of Hockey • PAC 156: Instruction of the Basics of Yoga

Have a passion for sciences that you want to explore while in university? Try out these: • HGP 100: Human Geography • EAS 202: Violent Weather • EAS 100: “Rocks for Jocks” • ASTRO 120: Astronomy of the Solar System Looking to expand your knowledge of Spanish culture? Try taking these courses to spice up your class schedule: • SPAN 499: Culture of Food • SPAN 425: Hispanic Filmmakers • SPAN 460: Self Portraits in Writing Fascinated with folklore and magic? Give these enchanting electives a shot: • C LIT 243: Fairy Tales and Folk Tales • RELIG 274: Witchcraft & the Occult Scandalized by Scandinavian studies? This course may be right up your alley: • SCAND 399: Madness, Myth, and Modernity Finally, want to gain credit for your Fortnite addiction? Well, have I got a course list for you: • HIST 191: Use of World History in Video Games • STS 350/351: Understanding Video Games • INTD 350: Game Design Principles and Practice University is a great time to try new experiences and push yourself out of your comfort zone.

Next time you have three credits to spare in your schedule — and are looking for an elective that won’t make you want to fall asleep in class — check out some of these courses!

Written by Katie Fitzgerald

Designed by Alyssa Ricioppo

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Thought vs. Thought

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Thought vs. thought AI vs...

Have you seen the movie Wall-E? Well if you haven’t, you’re missing out. If that cute robot wanted my job, he can have it. It looks like any robot will be taking jobs soon actually. If you’re worried about getting obese like the humans in the movie… hit the gym (or run outside, it’s free). You’ll literally have all the time in the world so no excuses.

From the consumer perspective, isn’t it more convenient to scan your one product yourself, instead of lining up in the 12 items or less isle where there’s a chance the cashier calls someone because there’s no price tag? Sometimes you don’t even feel like talking to someone and just want to get out of there as quick as possible. From the occupation perspective, maybe you just don’t feel like working.

Maybe you slept on your arm funny and it’s been bugging you all day. Robots won’t have the same feelings and are built for a purpose. If you’ve ever seen a How It’s Made episode and see how robots work, you’d probably think that it’d suck being a human and doing the same things. Even when you call 24/7 helplines, voice recognition picks up what you’re saying and goes through the process of giving you the right information. No more waiting for “a call agent on the other line” with an estimated wait time.

Of course this means “then how am I going to get paid?” For right now, human supervision is still needed. Artificial Intelligence may still be in its infancy in terms of occupations. You still need that one person at those self checkouts because the machine freaks out because the scale has something on it. I don’t see robots running after

Written by Rodvie Barnachea

Designed by Joanna Faddoul

people in case they stole something anytime soon.

On a smaller scale, you need cooks to taste the food. Even with Uber, there’s a reason why they keep increasing in revenue, and a big part of that is that self-driving cars are still basically in research and development. When all of these jobs are eventually taken, then maybe the government will have no choice but to increase money supply and ration it to everyone.

For me, the advances in technology gives us more time to do what we want. Even asking Alexa what’s the weather like saves you an extra few seconds of unlocking your phone. But hey that time builds up.

And as AI advances, that means there’s less room for human error. By itself, through research and development, error is reduced because of human error. Technology does what we want it to do. We only know something’s wrong because we told it to do something wrong. So using the car example, the moment in history when all cars are autonomous, means that literally all the bugs have been worked out.

Personally, if we had robots fully replace human labour during the time that I was growing up, that would’ve been amazing. Why? Not because it’s just “cool.” But it would’ve meant that my parents would have been home more. If robots took my job in the future, but then that would be the trade-off, then I’m doing that deal every single time. And that means more time to sleep!

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Thought vs. Thought

...human workers Artificial Intelligence, or AI for short, is basically the simulation of human intelligence in a machine. For example, a machine learning how to do something on its own, such as walking, is a simulation of human intelligence because it’s something humans learn to do.

If we dive deeper into learning how to walk, Google’s “DeepMind AI” actually taught itself how to walk all on its own. I wouldn’t say it’s the most pleasant way to walk and it took an extreme amount of trial and error for the machine to figure it out, but hey, give credit where credits due.

With regard to store and retail shopping, things get even more interesting. Should AI be replacing human workers? Or better yet, can AI replace them in such a way that is just as convenient, if not more convenient then to what we are currently accustomed? And is it actually appropriate to be replacing these workers?

Where will these workers end up going? These are tricky questions because, quite frankly, we don’t actually know yet. Amazon is currently the best example of this in a real-world situation. Amazon Go is Amazon’s version of store shopping on-the-go with no necessary need to speak to anyone and it has seen some success despite a few minor setbacks.

Currently, they have stores distributed across the US in Seattle, Chicago, and San Francisco.

The idea behind the store, if you’re not already aware, is that it is all about convenience. There are no lines, no checkouts, nothing. You quite literally walk in, grab what you need and walk on out. Surely, you think, there will be a security guard ready to chase you down the second you walk out the front door. Yet nobody comes chasing you, as if that was the first time that’s ever happened. On a more serious note,

Written by Tyler Keffer

with no lines to wait in, it doesn’t get much more convenient than that.

So how does something like this work? It requires a lot of cameras and relies on a lot of technology including, you guessed it, AI. The store itself tracks your every move (as if most retailers don’t already, but this is next level), so be prepared to give up some privacy the moment you walk in. It knows when you pick something up, which immediately gets added into your online cart. If you put it back, it removes the item from your cart. Seems pretty simple on the outside for consumer use.

Utilizing machine learning, along with various other incredible technologies, Amazon was able to create quite a convenient shopping experience… but at what cost?

The question we must now ask is, is the convenience of no checkouts and lines worth the potential job losses that this carries?

Realistically, this could have a substantial impact on the bottom-line lower income earners. Retailing giants like Walmart, Target and others employ hundreds of thousands of people, so it’s not as if they can all just get up and move onto something else should this technology become commonplace. While AI technology has very clear advantages for the everyday consumer, those that are already not as well off are now left in an even worse position. At this moment in time, because of the economical setbacks this could have on everyday working citizens, it may not be in our best interest to start replacing human workers just yet. Plus, there is nothing wrong with asking how someone else’s day might be going anyway.

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Aaron Hagen

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Student Spotlight

This month, LF had the opportunity to sit down with Aaron Hagen, a highly accomplished and charismatic figure at Alberta School of Business. Read further to hear Aaron’s views on where business’ future lies and what it means for new ASoB grads.

1.

Thank you for sitting down with us. Can you tell us a little bit more about yourself?

I’m Aaron, and I’m in my fourth year of undergrad and third year of business.

I work at ATB Financial on their Procurement team; I’ve worked at ATB for nearly two years now, and I really enjoy it as it allows me to balance being in class and working at the same time.

Very often – especially being an OM Major and working in Operations – I get to take things I’ve learnt in class and apply them at work.

I’m also a part of Alberta JDC West.

This is my third consecutive year with the team. Last year, I was the VP Academic, so I was handling all caserelated tasks. I joined JDC because it’s a great combination of doing something valuable and fun together. I started on the JDC Social team and later joined the Case team.

I wanted to get more involved in extracurriculars after I realized that I was going to class and then going home.

I have a lot of respect for people who get their degree and get out, but I’m not wired that way. I need to have a good balance of a variety of different things, so I prefer to have extra-curriculars mixed with school and work.

2.

As you know, this issue is centered around the “Future of Business.” When I say that, what comes to mind? Where do you think the future of business is headed?

I think the future of business really boils

Written by Rachita Chugh

down to the next influx of grads and where they take things. I see new grads as being the front-runners leading the change in business. Students at UoA can take a class on anything they want. From my experience, people who succeed are the ones who have a wide variety of skill sets that can be applied in the workforce.

RC: Do you think that the theoretical knowledge that you’ve acquired has been relevant to what’s demanded of you in the workforce?

I’m an OM major and an MIS minor, so my work and academic courses are more technical in nature. I do think that my education has been a great base line and has prepared me for the workforce. Things are quickly evolving and new demands are arising all the time; therefore, I think having that base is beneficial when trying to adapt to the environment.

3.

What do you think this means for new business grads?

One thing I’ve learned from my time at ATB is that employers need people that are willing to learn. They don’t necessarily need someone who already possesses all necessary hard skills; They would rather hire somebody with a good attitude and someone who’s willing to put a lot of work in and learn. Personally, a lot of my current work deals with contracts and contract knowledge. I knew nothing about contracts when I started. But I was willing to sit down and learn the basics – I took a few Grammar courses because all the writing was highly specific and I

Designed by Joanna Faddoul

Photograph by Alex Ho

wanted to understand it. I asked a ton of questions and had the ability to learn on the fly.

4.

How do you think this will impact ASoB in the future? Will ASoB have to change the way it teaches students?

I think ASoB will definitely have to adapt their courses. One of the OM classes offered at ASoB focuses on VBA (the code that works hand in hand with excel). At work, I learned that VBA isn’t very beneficial at all, and there’s four other coding languages that’re more applicable in the workforce.

This is why I’d say the courses need to evolve and adapt to the demands of the industry. And when it comes to students, the school should ensure that they have the opportunity to take a wide variety of courses to have a breadth of knowledge in different areas.

5.

Now, on a more personal note, what does your future look like?

I’m not one of those people that has their steps laid out from start to finish, but I do have a guideline. I worked on a Business Operations team at ATB for 1.5 years, and about a month ago I decided I want to explore more opportunities within ATB to broaden my horizon and skills. I just want to be exposed to as much as possible; I don’t want to get complacent with what I’m doing and where I’m at; I’m interested in constantly growing and learning.

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EXTERNAL RELATIONS

Darrell Petras TEC Edmonton

Writeen by Cleo Williams Photo Provided Designed by Joanna Faddoul

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

TEC Edmonton is a not-for-profit business accelerator that was created as a joint venture between the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation and the University of Alberta. They work to grow technology-based companies to their full potential and handle a lot of innovative new ideas. This month Lazy Faire sat down with Executive Vice-President of Business Development, Darrell Petras, to talk about the future of business.

For those who don’t know what TEC Edmonton is, could you explain the company and what you do?

TEC Edmonton is made up of a group of individuals that have different technical and business backgrounds but we’re all very much complimentary. Our services can be grouped into three primary areas. We have business experts who help early stage tech companies and innovation based companies move to the next stage of their development. These experts are, in fact, entrepreneurs themselves who have had success starting technology companies, developing them, and taking them to successful exits. They are a wonderful resource here in Edmonton and I would argue a repository of that type of talent in the region. The types of assistance they offer more specifically include high level activities such as market assessments but it can go into funding, launching a new product, providing work space and assisting with regulatory approval while helping these, typically early stage, technology companies at the C suite level. We have some of our team members go into these companies and help them on an interim basis to guide the company forward. We also have intellectual property experts.

These are folks who can work with tech companies, inventors from the university, or inventors from the private sector. They’ll help to develop an intellectual property strategy. That often focuses on patenting and developing an e-patent strategy. This group is the technology commercialization arm at the University of Alberta, so we are very much involved and a part of the University. We also have another group that focuses on individuals starting new business ventures. Often we see individuals starting new business ventures who do not have a lot of business experience. TEC helps these people focus on what skills they need to develop and they also provide a navigation service to the region. They can help entrepreneurs, inventors, innovators if you will, who are looking for services in the greater Edmonton region to find service providers or even a collaborator that may be interested in connecting with the client. We do work with entrepreneurs and with other service organizations as I said and we work with the government as well to help deliver programs.

What exciting industries is TEC Edmonton involved with right now?

When we talk about the future of business, and thinking specifically in the Edmonton region, it is a broad question. When I think about that, I think about it in the context of what’s being achieved in the Edmonton region right now. One of the things that comes to mind for sure is artificial intelligence. Your readers are probably familiar with the news regarding AI, which is lots of funding and lots of support. I just want to add what’s been done in the province and particularly in Edmonton and University. With great government support we have developed

External Relations

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a world-class research capacity at the University of Alberta and right now my understanding is we’re ranked number three in the world in terms of our capability when it comes to AI research. AI is applicable to many sectors. It is apart of agriculture, oil and gas, health care. I should mention that health care in terms of business opportunities is very strong in the Edmonton region and in Alberta overall. We have a number of initiatives in the province that are strongly promoting the opportunity for health related or life science related businesses. All of this has a very entrepreneurial feel to it, so when we talk business I think of business in the context of what’s out there for entrepreneurs.

With entrepreneurs and successful businesses comes jobs, investment back into the community, investment back into research and development, and research dollars flowing back into our academic institutions as well. I think we have a wonderful opportunity here in the Edmonton region. I think we’re getting good traction and there’s more to be done. I mentioned health care, I mentioned AI. That’s just a couple of many and there are other aspects of university activity that have huge potential including clean tech, agriculture, and oil and gas.

Since TEC Edmonton hires a lot of U of A grads, what qualities are you looking for in new hires?

When we’re hiring it depends on the team that the person is being hired into. I mentioned we have these business experts, if we’re looking for assistance in that group we’re typically looking at the university graduate level for people who have a keen interest in business, and applying research into business. So typically what we see at this level are students with a strong tech background and some appetite for working in the private sector in the context of business operations.

Some of them come to us with a degree in let’s say science as an example and a degree in business, so those are usually good fits. If it comes to the business experts themselves, we’re looking for experts who already have lots of experience in the industry. If we’re looking for folks who help focus on ensuring the new entrepreneurs have the right skill set to move their business opportunities forward, we’re typically looking at people who have the ability to facilitate and connect with existing programs and service providers who can help mentor those entrepreneurs forward. We also look for individuals who have strong backgrounds in marketing, sales, business planning or accounting, helping new entrepreneurs understand their business case and all the facets of running a business. For the experts in intellectual property, the majority of that activity is learned on the job, but it’s critical for people coming into that role to have a strong understanding of technology and research. What typically satisfies that is a technical degree, maybe it’s physics, maybe it’s engineering, but often at the graduate level so they can understand the inventions coming to us and often the opportunities coming from the university toward us are at the invention level without a lot of description around the business opportunity. As long as we understand the technology itself or could learn readily how to make sense of the technology and develop a patent strategy then we can start to work with others in the office on the business case. With that all being said, we’ve taken interns at the undergraduate level and they’ve stayed with the organization for a number of years.

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Clubs Corner

CLUBS CORNER

Jasneet Sangha President of UACC

Written by Wyatt Lynds | Designed by Joanna Faddoul

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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTSâ&#x201E;˘

Tell us about yourself?

My name is Jasneet and I am a fourth-year accounting student with a minor in finance and I have been on the accounting club for two years now. I am currently the President and was the VP Tax last year. I had a really good time organizing the tax clinic which is what made me want to stick around with the accounting club.

I am outgoing, enthusiastic, and a huge oilers fan which is quite unfortunate this year.

Why did you want to get involved with the UAAC? Two years ago, I volunteered for the tax clinic as a tax reporter and made a lot of connections not only with the executive team but made a lot of friends as well. My experience at the tax clinic really made me want to organize it for the next year which is why I applied for VP Tax last year and still here this year. The connections, the friends, and being around people that had similar interests played large factors as well.

What is the purpose of the UAAC? The purpose of the UAAC is to build a bridge between the students and the corporates. We want to connect as many accounting students as possible to corporates not only for future opportunities but for summer co-ops. We are lucky to have accounting firms who always want to sponsor, so events like the tax clinic will have an after party where accounting students are able to make those connections with the corporates and hopefully land them a position in the future.

In your opinion, how does accounting fit into the future of business?

The world is technologically advanced now and its crazy how fast everything is moving. However, I do not think the world will ever get rid of accountants completely because even though we do have technology, it only speeds up our process but at the end of the day people still need that personal connection which is why accountants will still exist and have jobs in the future.

What do you enjoy most about the UAAC? Having a team that is really involved so this year. The VP Exec and I tried to build a team that was integrated and involved. At the tax clinic, we have our whole team helping out every day as opposed to pressuring three individuals to do everything. The team really makes me enjoy my time here and knowing that I am giving back to the community with a positive impact.

What have you learned from your time at the UAAC? I learned not only through corporate connections but students as well that there is so much more to an undergrad degree than to be in class and studying all the time. It is one thing to learn from books but another to learn from the real world. I learned that being involved helps you see the other side of where your life is going to take you and what it will look like.

What does the UACC offer BCOM students/Ualberta students?

Clubs Corner

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The UAAC helps students connect with corporates and give them as many opportunities as we can. These opportunities could be posting an available job on Facebook or an office tour that a firm is offering.

We are trying to provide these opportunities so students can ease into the real life of their career.

How could a prospective student join the UAAC? Our turnover happens at the end of November which is odd compared to other clubs because we run on the calendar year. The President and VP Executive are elected by the outgoing team. All other VP and director positions are open in November for anyone who wants to apply. Following that, we hold an annual general meeting where we go over what the year was like and everyone speaks about what their position involved.

What are the roles and responsibilities of the president?

Mainly overseeing all the portfolios, making sure all the marketing for an event is done before it takes place. Additionally, having that vision to give back to the students and always ensuring deadlines are met.

How will your time with the UAAC help you in your future endeavours in terms of career?

I think I am taking away a lot of skills from being on a team and leading it which is important for my future career. Even if I start off as a student who wants to get my CPA, I do want to be in a leadership role one day. I think being a leader on a club is a start where I can lead a bunch of students and develop those leadership skills further to help me become the best leader I can be.

Could you sum up UAAC in one sentence?

UAAC is here to help you make your connection.

What are your future career aspirations?

I plan on working for a public firm to get my CPA designation starting in January and aspire to become a senior manager one day.

What does the UAAC Tax Clinic entail?

The tax clinic is a partnership with the CRA, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like a community clinic run by student volunteers and organized by three people on the accounting club. We have three different roles for volunteers.

We have client coordinators who are similar to receptionists at the front who determine the eligibility. We have tax reporters to file the taxes using the software provided by the CRA. We also have supervisors who check your return that the tax reporter completes before it is submitted to the CRA. In terms of involvement with the tax clinic, positions are open campus wide. We even have students from computer science and engineering volunteering. Applications for the tax clinic open end of January each year and the clinic runs for the first three weeks of March each year.

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About Segue Systems

ERIKA SCHNESYUK Bachelor of Commerce , Marketing Major School of Business University of Alberta

(Edmonton & Calgary Locations)

When you work for Segue Systems, you’ll experience the autonomy offered by an independent business and the support and resources of a respected, global leader. From a diverse range of products and solutions to sales training and support that is acknowledged throughout the world as ‘best in class’, you will find working for an independent Xerox Sales Agency will lay the foundations for your career success.

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Apply today at: http://www.findyourxfactor.ca

I like working at a Xerox agency because there is so much support, you never feel like you’re alone with any aspects of the job. There is a team mentality as well as the opportunity to work independently and meet personal as well as company goals. They push and challenge you to meet your goals and to succeed both within the job and personally. The best part is that you’re doing something new everyday, it isn’t just a routine job where you sit behind a desk. I get to interact with customers from many different industries and get to meet a lot of different people in different roles within companies and really build personal and business relationships with them.

AMY HAYWARD Bachelor of Kinesiology University of Alberta The team atmosphere really sets this job apart from all others I’ve had. Everyone wants everyone to succeed and is willing to help out in whatever way they can. And no two days are the same which keeps things fresh and exciting.

You get to be a part of every stage of a sale and can really figure out what you like and what’s crucial for your future.

MAKSYM PRYMA Bachelor of Commerce Human Resources Management MacEwan University Working in the Xerox agency program has been immense for the development of my business acumen post graduation. The variety of work in this role allowed me to leverage many concepts I learned during my undergraduate program and develop new skills and have unique experiences that are unavailable to many new graduates in the City of Edmonton. Overall, this role is ideal for anyone looking to sharpen their sales, marketing, finance and accounting skills that they developed in post secondary.

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Career Paths, Marketing, and Advice for Students: A Conversation with Diana Wyley from Xerox Designed by Leire Domenech

Written by Diane Jeon

Guest Article

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Photo Provided

DJ: “Twenty years! You must have seen a lot of change. Based on your experience, then, what does being ‘innovative’ mean to you?”

DW: “Innovation is being disruptive in a creative way. I heard that the ‘disrupters are the titans of today,’ and I believe it. Innovation is being confident to take on big, ambitious goals, and take risks — being able to adapt, be resourceful in unexpected situations, in the workplace, home, and in life. At Xerox, we are driving change through innovation; we are constantly shifting our paradigm; we learn, adapt, and then improve on it. [...] I think that today is the slowest rate of change we will see in our lives.”

DJ: “Building off of the idea of change, how do you think Xerox will adapt to upcoming business technology trends?”

DW: “Data is the new oil.

Consumers impact everything we do, [so] perhaps Xerox will head into IoT (Internet of Things), AI, and pervasive computing. We live in a world where we can choose where, when, and what we want — Skip the Dishes and Netflix, [for example]. So, if businesses intend to simplify and be frictionless, then we will be there [too].”

DJ: “Speaking of the future, what advice do you have for students entering the business world?”

DW: “If you know what you are looking for, it will be easier to find. Consider your interests and what part of business you really want to get into. Build your network — the more people you know, the better. Attend school and off-campus events, join a club. Volunteer. You can gain valuable experience that will look good on a resume and make you feel great at the same time. [...] [Most importantly,] own your path and know your strengths. When you engage in an activity you are truly good at, your excitement is visible. People come alive and are motivated when they are using their strengths. Know and [openly] share what makes you… you.”

At Xerox, Diana is known for her creative recruiting strategies and mentorship. Diana is also a member of the Sales and Marketing advisory board at NAIT, a contributor to our faculty’s beloved NEW and RMBS conferences, and an ambassador for Change Adventure Camp, a not for profit that focuses on outdoor play, food and fitness for children and families here in Edmonton. As an enabler for many students, businesses, and nonprofits, I was interested in Diana’s career journey thus far.

Diane Jeon: “What is your current position at Xerox?”

Diana Wyley: “I am the Senior Sourcing Specialist for Canada. My mission is to find top talent and uncover the ‘X-factor’ in our candidates.”

DJ: “Can you describe your journey in getting to this position?

What drew you to Xerox, your career growth — things like that.”

DW: “I was looking for a professional career within the tech industry that provided training, advancement opportunities, and a great earning potential, and I found Xerox. ‘Sales’ was not the job title I was looking for, but whether you call it an ‘account manager’, ‘business development’, ‘sales rep’, [or an] ‘agency executive’, [I found that a sales] role, in its simplest of terms, is [to be] a business problem solver, and that excited me. Every customer gives me the opportunity to participate in a real case study. One of my favorite things that a customer said to me was, ‘you changed the way we do business, forever.’

[When I was first hired,] I thought, ‘maybe I’ll work here for two years, gather experience, pack my resume with a Fortune 500 company, and start my own company.’ Well, my path changed — the leadership, travel, sales, brand management, [and] training opportunities [have] been so rewarding, and I am proud to say I am on my 20th year at Xerox.”

Contact Diana at diana.wyley@xerox.com.

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

LF Reviews

LF Reviews: Wetzel’s Pretzels LF’s Melania and Denise made a quick stop at the newest addition to HUB’s strip of fast food places — Wetzel’s Pretzels. After being delayed for over a semester, and even gleefully teased by The Gateway, Wetzel’s had students waiting impatiently for months.

Earlier, at the beginning of the month, the lineup had extended past Cookie’s by George next door, who usually takes the brunt of grumpy students in the morning in HUB. Yet, we found ourselves with just a single person ahead of us in line; it was a completely different scene from the long trail they first served just two weeks ago.

After what seemed like two hours of contemplation, we decided to get two of their flavoured pretzels: Sour Cream & Onion for Denise, and Jalapeno Cheese Melt for Melania. The pretzels came out relatively quickly.

On the Sour Cream & Onion: D: I don’t know. I’ve had this before, and it’s really nothing special.

M: Yeah, it doesn’t really taste like anything.

D: Yeah, you can see the cheese powder on top wasn’t really distributed that evenly. I think it also tastes kind of flavourless because I just had a steeped tea double-double right before this, and that was really sweet.

M: Yeah, you should note that.

D: I’d give it a five. It’s nothing special, and I’m not that hungry anymore.

On the Jalapeno Cheese Melt: M: This kind of looks like cheese bread from Safeway. Or just pizza.

D: Is that a good thing?

M: I don’t know. It’s… cheese bread.

D: Well, what would you rate it?

M: I’d eat it if I was sad and had studied at school all day. It’s a good snack.

D: So… that out of ten?

M: Maybe, like, a six?

D: Oh, I can smell the jalapeno. It’s pretty good though. I can really taste the cheese.

M: I like mine better.

Final Verdict: D: Was it even a good idea for you to eat that before going to the gym?

M: It’s fine. I’d give it a seven, now, actually. It’s basically pizza. I would get this again.

D: I think this would be a good snack. Something on-the-go. It’s not too filling. I also think they’re pretty fast when there isn’t a lineup.

M: I’m not really familiar with soft pretzels, so I’m not really sure if they’re that good.

D: I think fast food places are the only times I’ve ever had soft pretzels. But it’s not bad.

The conclusion? Definitely worth trying if you haven’t already at their other locations. But also, not worth the lineup, unless they’re the remix to Ignition — hot and fresh out the kitchen. Make sure not to drink double-doubles before trying!

Written by Denise Nguyen

Designed by Leire Domenech

20

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

BSA Wellness Initiative

21

Written by Kimberly Chan Designed by Melania Antoszko

Changing Business Processes & Employee Health Techniques Technology and business processes in the future are headed for change.

Change comes with an abundant of new innovations, jobs, and differences.

While the future of doing business progresses, so does society. With the new generation of workers, we see more and more people lessening the stigma of asking for mental health resources. This article will outline the changes in businesses with regards to addressing mental health, as well as what students can start doing now in order to prepare themselves for the workplace in the future.

Within the past ten years, we have seen a huge increase in additions of inclusive spaces for employees.

Employers today are trying to change the work environment into one that is more diversified to meet their employees’ individualized values and needs. For example, ATB, which is known for hiring many students, has a very different approach compared to how banks used to be run. From my peers who have worked briefly in the company, I have heard that ATB allocates specific days of the week for small “safety” meetings. In these meetings, students can talk about their projects and are allowed to give feedback without repercussions. This is a fantastic initiative to allow young students, who may feel undervalued, or feel that they cannot share or express their opinions due to lesser experience, give honest and valuable feedback to their employers.

ATB is just one of the many companies that has changed their workplace policies and environments to accommodate more.As change is implemented, I am sure that there will be countless renovations and edits made to constitutions advocating for more mental health resources.

For now, we will share some tips that students, or those entering their first industry jobs, may be able to utilize to help with the constantly changing business landscape.

Finally, negotiation is an incredible skill to be able to fully utilize. Whether you are negotiating for more days off to spend with loved ones or for a pay raise, this is an asset that will help students in their future careers.

- Identify your top priorities and needs, as well as the opposing side’s priorities and needs - Be cordial, but firm, in your approach - Use integrative bargaining techniques to aim for a win-win situation

Managing conflict is an incredible skill that can help any individual,regardless of their place in the company. Below are a couple of pointers that may contribute to a less stressful and more productive environment.

- Identifying the problem at its source - Always address issues as soon as they arise - Come up with solutions that are mutually beneficial to both parties

Not only is learning how to manage conflict important, but it is also important to take into account your stress levels, and how to mitigate stress. The following tips are easily applicable to many situations.

- Admit if you need help - Make a list of achievable daily goals that will increase confidence levels after achievement - Stay organized — use planners, journals, and online resources - Talk to people, such as therapists or close friends, and vent

There are so many other concepts and changes to be wary of in this changing landscape. However, I believe that knowing how to manage conflict, stress, and negotiate for your needs are three valuable skills that students should learn now. These are life long applicable assets that will make employees more valuable to their organizations. Being able to manage conflict and stress, as well as negotiate, can lead to an overall better worker who can practice and derive healthy solutions.

FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

LETTERS TO MY FIRST- YEAR SELF I know you’re eager to enter university and focus entirely on school. I know you think academics is paramount, and it is – but don’t forget to take advantage of the extra-curricular opportunities you have at your disposal. It will get harder, but just continue to have unflinching faith in yourself and your abilities. I promise you are growing and flourishing, and will continue to do so throughout university.

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You know how you got achy legs when you were growing up? How it meant you’re going to be maybe another inch taller? You’ll notice some different growing pains when you hit uni. In fact, you’ll hear a lot about growth – personal, professional growth, in networks, and in skillset – but they won’t tell you directly how you’ll have to push yourself when you’re taking a risk, and you’re riddled with self-doubt and low on motivation.

How failing sucks, but is necessary. How these growing pains are part of the process, and not the end. As you kept walking when your knees were weak in childhood, have patience and resilience as you keep pushing in your uni years. You’re not done growing yet.

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You’re going to be facing things you would’ve never dreamed of a little bit from now. But the only way to get to these things is if you learn to say “yes” to something that scares you. After that, you can say “no”, because you’ve “been there, done that”. Also, start using Google Calendar. It’s gonna save you a lot of trouble.

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There’s more than one way to do things right. Don’t stress out about which clubs to join or which classes to take – it’ll work out in the end.

Invest time to learn about all the opportunities, and don’t sit back and let yourself get comfortable. Learn to do cases, get comfortable with public speaking, and search out new experiences and different people.

Written by Lazy Faire

Designed by Melania Antoszko

Don’t waste your degree taking “GPA boosters” that you don’t care about. *cough* Soc 100 *cough*. Take classes because they’re interesting or are relevant to your degree.

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Make sure to join a club on campus, whether in Business, or on campus in general. You will learn many teamwork skills and meet amazing people.

If you find something you enjoy and excel at, pursue it wholeheartedly. If you aren’t sure where your strengths lie, try as many things as you can until you find out!

Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone, connect with new people and learn new things.

It’s okay to reach out and ask for help sometimes; it takes courage and strength to do so. In fact, not asking for help – especially when you need it most – is actually a weakness.

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Never be scared to be who you are. Stay true to being you.

It’s okay to reach out and ask for help sometimes; it takes courage and strength to do so. In fact, not asking for help – especially when you need it most – is actually a weakness.

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Be fearless in the pursuit of new opportunities and say yes to the ones that come your way. Diversify your skills and try to learn as much as you can, but always remember to put your physical and mental health first!

Things will work out and right now you are exactly where you are meant to be.

-

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FOR BUSINESS STUDENTS, BY BUSINESS STUDENTS™

Lazy Chat

23

BRANDON WONG and making it better. That process took over two years. I just finished the second draft around the end of 2018.

You’ve said before that you write every day. Are these personal projects, or do you have something coming up?

I’m always writing something. I have a short story that I just finished, and I have two other projects. One’s been ongoing since 2016, and the other one, I just started January of this year. I’m very excited to continue that one.

After graduation, are you going to stay on Wattpad, or are you going to dabble in other platforms?

I’m probably going to work towards something related to my degree, but I’m definitely going to keep honing what I do. I don’t see myself entering other platforms; Wattpad’s been great to me. They’ve given me a lot of resources and support. There’s a lot of growth, so I’m probably going to stay there and see how it pans out.

Brandon Wong — fourth year student, HR major, Marketing minor, AIBC exec, and a Wattpad superstar. Since making it big on Wattpad, Brandon has traveled to conferences and earned many writing opportunities. Brandon has also recently been featured on UofA’s Folio website and media outlet, CityTV. Lazy Faire and Brandon talk about the beginnings of his hit, Playing By The Rules, what he’s working on now, and what he’s looking forward to.

How did this all start?

I started writing [in] August 2015. I didn’t find a job that summer, so I stayed at home for the most part. I wanted to read, and stumbled upon Wattpad. The thing about Wattpad is that it’s all user-generated content. I was reading something I quite enjoyed, and I looked at the author’s profile, and went, ‘oh!’ The author was a seventeen-year old. I was eighteen at the time, and figured, ‘if she can write something like this, I may not be too bad either.’

The first draft was forty-four chapters, and that took about eight months. I finished it when I was done Year One [of university].

I just kept going, and by that time it had gained more traction.

By August, I hit about a million. I thought, ‘I could really do something with this.’ So I went back, and I started revising it, Written by Denise Nguyen

Designed by Melania Antoszko

Do you hear from readers a lot? You said you take feedback from readers often.

It’s really interesting to see where readers leave comments, like when they get worked up over a plot twist. Those numbers really help me see where readers are more engaged.

Analytics play a big part in how I structure my story. I do read all the comments, and if I’m busy, I’ll save them up for a week before I go through them. I’ve been called out a few times. The readers get mad at you for doing it — they’re not really mad, but they’re mad because they’re into the story, which is exactly what I want. I will take feedback positively.

About the online community — you have a group of fans, and I’m guessing you have a group of writers you get in touch with often?

Let me tell you all about my friends on Wattpad, and show some love for them on the feature. Definitely a great group of writers. I’ve met a lot of people since starting. From my initial reader group, those people have been good to me.

They’ve shaped the story into what it is today. Without their support, it definitely would have been harder to find success. The initial version was not that great. Along the way, I’ve met with a bunch of great writers. We’ve had the opportunity to meet at WattCon, so I got to meet them in Toronto and then New York.

Photograph by Dylan Wee

Last year across Canada we hired 100 new business grads. Find out why a Xerox Agency is the right next step after graduation.

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