Lang Grad Conference Program 2024

Welcome to the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph.

Join us this year as we explore themes surrounding Authentic and Inclusive Workspaces.

Welcome from the Associate Dean

I have the pleasure of serving as Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Studies in the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics. I am excited to welcome you to the 2024 Lang Grad Conference, which brings together current Lang graduate students from a number of different programs, as well as alumni and members of the Guelph business community to participate in workshops, lectures, keynotes, and networking events.

The Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics is a globally ranked business school with the bold mission of using business as a force for good. The conference –which focuses on ‘Authentic and Inclusive Workspaces’ – showcases some of Lang’s faculty, whose research and teaching supports our mission of developing leaders with a social conscience, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a commitment to their communities. I am excited to join our students, alumni, faculty, scholars, researchers, and industry partners at this year’s conference; all committed to building a better world through business, developing leaders with a deep sense of purpose, and generating ideas that yield positive change.

I look forward to seeing you in May!

Dr. Sean Lyons Associate Dean, Research and Graduate Studies

Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics University of Guelph

Schedule – Sunday, May 5th

A map of all conference locations is available on Page 17 of this program

All Attendees

3:30pm –

5:00pm

5:00pm –

6:00pm

6:00pm –

8:00pm

Check In at University of Guelph East Town House Residences

Exclusive Event for 2024 Cohorts: MBA, MA Leadership and Master of Project Management students – Meet Your Peers

University Centre – Peter Clark Hall

All Attendees – Welcome Reception and Dinner

University Centre – Peter Clark Hall

Schedule – Monday, May 6th

Finding my Place: Creating Authentic Engagement with Inclusive Leadership by Thomas Sasso

Steering Through the Storms: Strategies for Leaders to Deliver Tough Messages by Nita Chhinzer ROZ 101 5:00pm –7:00pm Dinner Summerlee Science Complex 7:00pm –8:00pm

Keynote Address

Human-Centred Design: How to Bring People into the Centre of Transformational Change by Zahra Ebrahim ROZ 104

*Location to be sent directly via email

Schedule – Tuesday, May 7th

*The facilitators for this workshop require all participants to be masked (masks will be provided upon entry). For attendees who wish to remain unmasked, the session will be live streamed in ROZ 104

**Location to be sent directly via email

Schedule – Wednesday, May 8th

*Location to be sent directly via email

Keynote Speakers

Zahra Ebrahim

Human-Centred Design: How to Bring People into the Centre of Transformational Change

Zahra is the CEO and Co-Founder of Monumental. Recently named Next City’s Vanguard “40 under 40 Civic Leader”; she is a public interest designer and strategist, focused on deep, community-led approaches to policy, infrastructure, and service design. She is an established bridge builder across grassroots and institutional spaces and is a leading practitioner in reforming institutions to be more human-centered and equitable. Zahra also led one of Canada’s first social design studios, working with communities to co-design towards better social outcomes and leading some of Canada’s most ambitious participatory infrastructure and policy programs. She has taught at OCADU, MoMA, and is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto’s School of Geography and Planning.

Over the last decade, human-centred design has been central in discussions about innovation and transformational change. The talk will explore how and why more people-centred, participatory methods have become central to the success of institutions and organizations across all sectors.

Jesse Lipscombe

#MAKEITAWKWARD: The Road to Inclusivity

Alberta-born, Jesse entered the spotlight at 14, starring alongside legendary actor Sidney Poitier in Children of the Dust. At 18, he shifted to athletic stardom after accepting a full athletic scholarship at the prestigious Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he became a breakout track star. Following college, Jesse continued his acting career and has since produced many critically acclaimed films and television series (It’s Not My Fault, I Don’t Care Anyway, Tiny Plastic Men). Most recently, he starred in the Netflix hit show Black Summer. Jesse is a passionate activist, investor, and entrepreneur outside the arts. He runs a consultancy inspired by the #MakeItAwkward campaign he launched in 2016 to combat racism, misogyny, homophobia and hatred. He works with organizations and leaders to help them understand and address racism.

An awkward moment on a film set led to a powerful movement –#makeitawkward. Jesse provides audiences with the necessary tools to turn your team into ambassadors of change. With his unique style of fluid storytelling, Lipscombe will connect and relate how to incorporate the #MakeItAwkward mantra into your life. Change is never easy and being a part of it will often feel uncomfortable. Lipscombe will drive home how important the little things are. You will discover how small micro-aggressions have created a dangerous and unsafe landscape for many marginalized individuals. In addition, you will leave empowered to know that YOU are the change-maker we have all been waiting for.

Presentations

Lead Less, Manage More

Mike Palanski (he/him) – Professor of Management, Saunders College of Business at Rochester Institute of Technology

Mike Palanski, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, coach, and professor who collaborates with motivated leaders to develop keen insights and create meaningful change. His research and teachings focus in the areas of leadership development, business ethics, and cultural intelligence.

This session encourages audience members to grow as leaders by moving beyond acquiring leadership skills and knowledge, and instead focusing on oneself first. Real-life examples plus the science of leader development equals a method for development that always works - and we start putting it into practice during the talk.

Finding my Place: Creating Authentic Engagement with Inclusive Leadership

Thomas Sasso (they/them/he/him) – Assistant Professor, Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at University of Guelph

Thomas Sasso’s expertise spans the areas of EDI, allyship, the work-life interface, and undervalued/dirty work. His contributions in the EDI space include span various positions and projects such as co-founder of the Sexual and Gender Diversity Research Lab in 2014.

With this session, attendees will be introduced to the five common motivations that leaders have for engaging with equity, diversity, and inclusion work within their organizations and teams. Through small and large group activities, attendees will explore the strengths and limitations of each motivation, reflect upon where they see themselves (and their teams/organizations) in these motivations, and discuss how to effectively leverage this knowledge to create authentic and meaningful change.

Presentations

Steering Through the Storms: Strategies for Leaders to Deliver Tough Messages

Nita Chhinzer (she/her) – Associate Professor, Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at University of Guelph

Nita Chhinzer is one of Canada’s leading HR strategy experts. She authors Canada’s best-selling Intro to HR textbook (since 2013) and is a professor in human resource management and business consulting. She received an excellence award as the HR Woman of Distinction nominee in Canada (2023) and was recognized as one of the top Women Leaders by the World Leaders Forum (2022).

With an evolving workforce that increasingly values transparency, fairness, and personal development, communicating undesirable news in the workplace is notably complex with companies facing unprecedented challenges in delivering tough messages to their teams. This session will introduce attendees to the tools needed to communicate tough messages effectively and ensure that it is received as intended while minimizing negative repercussions and fostering an environment of trust and resilience while also maintaining positive organizational culture.

Ethical Decision Making!

Kathleen Rodenburg (she/her) – Associate Professor and a University Teaching Leadership Fellow in Workplace Ethics, Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at University of Guelph

Kathleen Rodenburg holds a PhD in economics with an emphasis on decision theory and experimental economics, an MBA with emphasis on sustainability and an MA in economics with emphasis on governance. Her research uses economic modeling and strong business acumen to gain more intuition and understanding surrounding ethical issues and best business practices.

The talk leverages extensive research findings to empower participants in understanding, practicing, and overcoming obstacles in the realm of ethical decision-making. It will enhance comprehension of personal and contextual factors influencing decision-making when confronted with ethical dilemmas. Provide a hands-on opportunity to refine skills in ethical decisions. Facilitate discussions to aide in identifying both personal and organizational traits that obstruct action.

Presentations

Negotiation and Conflict Management

Sandeep Mishra (he/him) – Associate Professor, Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at University of Guelph

Sandeep Mishra is Director of the Adaptive Ventures Lab. His research has been published in dozens of journals, has been cited thousands of times, and he has given invited presentations around the world based on his expertise in judgment and decision-making under risk and uncertainty.

In this session, participants will be offered key principles of negotiation that allow "getting to yes" turning conflicts into pathways for mutual benefit. In this session, you'll unlock the keys to fostering collaboration and reaching agreements that allow for win-win emergent value.

Coaching Teams: How Leaders can Intervene in Teams to Make Them Better

Davar Rezania (he/him) – Associate Professor and Chair (Department of Management), Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at University of Guelph

Davar Rezania completed his MSc. in Computer Science from Utrecht University in the Netherlands and his PhD in Management at ESADE Business School in Spain. Davar’s research focus has been on the study of leadership coaching, management control, and accountability in projects.

Coaching individuals has generated lots of research, theories, and how-to books to fill several bookstores. But project teams grow, work, and experience problems as a team and require a new approach to coaching. This session outlines a simple, grounded approach to developing stronger, more effective project teams. We will discuss how team leaders can help their teams become better and build their confidence.

Presentations

Leading with Accountability and Compassion

Rudayna Bahubeshi (she/her) – Principal Consultant, Evenings & Weekends Consulting

Rudayna has over ten years of experience in leadership roles, nonprofits, foundations, grassroots organizations, and government with a focus on advancing equity and justice. Recently, she completed a Masters of Public Policy at McGill University, focusing her research on policy solutions to address anti-Black racism in Canada’s rental market.

Grounded in fostering anti-oppressive, equitable, and collaborative environments, this presentation explores and unpacks accountability, particularly in leadership. It outlines principles of accountable leadership, including how we center community and create channels to be held to account, with the recognition of who has been historically excluded; how we prioritize the well-being and voices of our teams; and how we build accountability to one another in work environments. The presentation also explores how we deal with mistakes, which are inevitable, and respond with integrity, clarity, responsibility, and action.

Leadership Lessons from Ted Lasso

Ann Pegoraro (she/her) – Professor and Lang Chair in Sport Management, Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics and Director of the International Institute for Sport Business and Leadership at University of Guelph

A holder of BA, MBA, and PhD degrees, Ann is an active researcher, who has presented at international conferences and published in the areas of management, gender equity, marketing, communications, and digital media. Ann is sought out as by industry and media alike to provide insight and on emerging issues in sport.

This interactive session will delve into the popular Apple TV series Ted Lasso to illuminate the leadership lesson found within its characters and storylines. Combining Ted Lasso and the context of sport, the learnings presented will be situated in research and the session will focus on practical applications in the workplace. Participants need not watch the series before the session – but are welcome to do so.

Workshops

Teaming with Joy – Conference Kick-Off

Jay Reid (he/him) and Hayley Kellett (she/they) – Facilitators, The Making Box

The Making-Box offers teams tools to foster adaptability, creativity, and joy at work and in the classroom. Over the last eight years, they have served a wide spectrum of clients including Shopify, Google, RBC, McMaster University, and even a forensics firm.

This program will move participants through a series of highly interactive networking activities inspired by positive psychology, cognitive science, and applied improvisation. The aim is to unlock a level of joy and human connection most don’t think possible at a business conference.

Getting Ready for Change

Laurie Barclay (she/her) – Professor and Lang Chair in Leadership, Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics

Mike Palanski (he/him) – Professor of Management, Saunders College of Business at Rochester Institute of Technology

Dr. Laurie Barclay is the Lang Chair in Leadership, recipient of the University of Guelph Research Leader Award, and the faculty graduate program coordinator for the MA Leadership program. Dr. Barclay's research explores how to create, maintain, and enhance healthy workplaces through fairness, leadership, and EDI. She is also deeply committed to developing leaders and helping people step into their best selves, with multiple awards for mentoring and teaching excellence.

Mike Palanski’s biography available on Page 9.

Whether you are starting a graduate program, looking to make a personal change, or leading change in your organization, change can be difficult. In this session, we explore how to prepare oneself and others for change, including how to manage anxiety and resistance, leverage your strengths, and create the intended impact.

Workshops

Engaging on Gender Diversity

Daniel Sarah Karasik (they/them) and Kain Nathaniel (they/them) – Consultants, Evenings & Weekends Consulting

Daniel Sarah is a published author of six books and the founding managing editor of Midnight Sun, a magazine that seeks to be a forum for strategic thinking about how to build sustainable social change movements, networks, and organizations. They're keenly interested in the intersections of art and activism, poetry, and political change work, and excited to dream towards social transformation with you.

Kain is an Afro-Indo Caribbean genderqueer consultant, public speaker, and facilitator who hosts co-learning spaces for development, support, and expression. Their work prioritizes 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and adults, disability justice principles, and developing inclusive practices within community and corporate spaces.

In this workshop, Kain and Daniel Sarah speak about their own trans experiences and encourage people to relate those experiences to their own lives and community regardless of gender identity or sexuality. They specialize in giving people tools to create inclusive spaces in their homes, schools and workplaces by not just telling them a list of “what not to do”, but how they can positively make changes to their language and environment.

Connecting with your Cohort

The Lang Grad Conference is the perfect opportunity to get to know your peers and connect with your cohort. During our scheduled conference activities this year we are hosting a Networking Night for students to meet with others in their program and mingle in a casual, non-academic setting. You will also have a chance to speak with visiting Alumni about their experiences in the program.

The flexibility of this year’s schedule also allows folks to choose how to spend their final day of the conference once the closing keynote wraps. For those who choose to spend their evening in Guelph and on campus, this is the perfect time to independently plan an evening, outside the conference schedule, with those new (or old) friendships formed throughout the conference.

Check out these spots on campus:

• The Bullring (Café)

• The Arboretum

• The Bookstore

• The Athletics Centre (Gym accessible daily with Student Card)

Want to head off campus and explore the City of Guelph instead? Here are some options:

Experiences:

• Victoria Park East Golf Club

• The Round Table

• Play with Clay

Restaurants:

• Bardo

• Miijidaa Café + Bistro

• The Boathouse

• Kenzo Ramen

• The Cornerstone

• Exit Us Escape Rooms

• Ctrl V Reality Arcade

• Splitsville Bowling

• Beertown

• Buon Gusto

• Piatto Pizzeria + Enoteca

• La Reina

• Borealis Grille & Bar

Note: Experiences and Restaurants off-campus may require additional reservations during busy periods

Student Resources

Wellness

The Department of Student Wellness is comprised of 7 different units, all of which provide health and wellbeing support and services to students and to the campus community.

• Counselling

• Student Health Services

• Health & Performance Centre (HPC)

• Student Support Network (SSN)

• Wellness Education & Promotion Centre

• Student Accessibility Services (SAS)

• Sexual and Gender Based Violence Support & Education

John F. Wood Centre for Business and Student Enterprise

Do you have an idea for a new business? Lang's John F. Wood Centre for Business and Student Enterprise offers funding, mentorship and resources for U of G students and alumni that want to scale up their business idea to the next level. The Wood Centre has helped launch hundreds of startups, all of which provide sustainable solutions to economic, social and environmental problems.

Business Career Development Centre (BCDC)

As you cultivate a lifelong career, it grows and changes as you do. Its not a fixed destination, so you are welcome to look for opportunities that challenge and motivate you. Have you ever asked yourself questions such as i.e. What jobs would I find interesting? Where would my experience and knowledge be valued? What industry do I see myself growing in? Asking yourself these questions is a great place to start!

To assist with this, it is essential to set your goals and how you visualize yourself progressing in your career. By doing some research into your preferred field or role, you can identify the requirements for your ideal position. Some ways to strategically navigate a job search include researching market trends, current literature, new industry developments, and identifying industry experts in your field. These tools will help you to target specific employers that can support you in your career progression.

If you are ready to take that next step, we encourage you to explore Devant Devant is a career development platform for University of Guelph students that has a diverse range of resources from AI Resume scanners to LinkedIn mini courses: LinkedIn is a great way to maintain relationships with professionals within your industry. A tool to successfully develop your connections resulting in a mutually beneficial relationship. To learn more about how to maximize your LinkedIn presence, take the LinkedIn mini course on Devant and earn certificates to strengthen your employability. Devant also comes fully equipped with professional development videos.

To learn more about Devant and other Career Services, stop by the BCDC booth at the Morning Break on Tuesday, May 7th.

For the full interactive map, visit uoguelph.ca/maps/ Campus Map