March 2014

MAR 2014

PHILANTHROPY BUSINESS ETHICS

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ISSUE

Interview with Darrell Pidner

Effects of philanthropy on your life More than just school and grades

Accounting and Theatre

First ever Interclub collaboration

LAURA McDONALD

STUDENT

from HR President to a community leader

SPOTLIGHT

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G N I T I U R C is RE

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APPLY BYth 9 MARCH 1

IRE@ A F Y Z A L UOFA OM GMAIL.C

Please Recycle Me! Lazy Faire is printed on Xerox forest certified paper.

Let’s contribute our efforts and do a little recycling of our own!

Pass this preloved Lazy Faire to someone else or return it to one of our news stands!

Much thanks & appreciation in advance.

C O N T R I B U TO R S Editor-in-Chief RACHEL LEE Executive Editor LOUIS LIU Manager Editor TAYLOR BANISTER Writers EILEEN LEE ELNUR KASUMOV FELICIA LIANG ILHAAM JIWAJI JAMES LO JEN ZHAO KAWTHARA SHIRE LINDSAY HOFER ROSHNI PARHAR THOMAS YONAN TSEGA MacDONALD

PHILANTHROPY & BUSINESS ETHICS 4

CALENDAR

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EDITOR’S NOTE

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WHAT’S UP

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HOW TO: LINKEDIN How to start your professional online presence

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EXPLORING WHYTE AVE Places to go, things to buy

Content Contributor TAMMY LEUNG FA S H I O N

DESIGN Art Director CAROL WONG TRENDS

Associate Art Director LINNEA LAPP Designers BONNIE TRUONG CHRISTINA STEFANIUK DAVID TON-LAI DEANNA BAINS EILEEN LEE JENNIFER TRUONG JENNY WANG MICHAEL BAKER SHANNON FIDLER SHIRLEY DU Photography Director CARISSA THAM Photographers ARIANNA BIASINI CASSIAN SOLTYKEVYCH ELLA LIN MICHAEL ZHANG

EXTERNAL

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THE BIG FOUR COLLABORATION First ever interclub event at the SoB

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LAURA McDONALD From HR President to a community leader

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DARRELL PIDNER Interview with an interesting auditor

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5 DAYS FOR THE HOMELESS Living the cause through mind and body

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DOES CSR DESTROY SHAREHOLDER VALUE? The relationship between shareholder and ethics

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A LAZY CONVERSATION WITH ALEX MANOLII From business superstar to law

R E L AT I O N S

COMMUNITY

ONLINE Technology Director WILSON HUANG Social Media Director KEVIN PAUL ESPENIDO

C E N T R E

EVENTS Production & Events LESLIE CHIANG Coordinators SHIRLEY DU A LAZY

P RO D U C T I O N Sponsored by XEROX CANADA CHAT

Special Thanks to DIANA WYLEY Contact us UOFALAZYFAIRE @gmail.com

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MEET THE TEAM A close-up of select contributors

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WHAT DOES "GET INVOLVED" EVEN MEAN? It’s more than just school and grades

5 TIPS FOR BETTER BODY LANGUAGE How to captivate your audience without words

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HOW PHILANTHROPY CAN LEAD TO A MORE PROSPEROUS LIFE How giving back is more than just giving back

cover photographed by CARISSA THAM

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M 3

T 4 BEYOND THE CLASSROOM SERIES

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MARCH W 5

ANTI BURNOUT (BSA) BUSINESS CLUBS RECRUITMENT DAY

TH 6

F 7

S/S 1/2

UAHRMA CASE COMPETITION

BFA BAR NIGHT

NGLC PROGRESSIVE DINNER

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8/9

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15/16

SMO NETWORKING EVENT

BEA INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER SERIES

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22/23

BSA WINTER CASE COMPETITION

SMO NETWORKING EVENT

BEA CURLAMENT

UAHRMA CONFERENCE (22nd)

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29/30

MISC DATABASE DEATHRACE

BSA FACULTY BREAKFAST BSA AGM

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31 UAHRMA MENTORSHIP WRAP-UP DINNER 4

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UAMA WINE AND CHEESE MIXER

BSA GRADUATION BANQUET (15th)

BSA HOCKEY TOURNAMENT (29 th)

EDITOR’S

N O T E

DEAR READER, It’s more than just money.

Over the course of history, we have witnessed a significant movement in the business world.

Businesses, the entities that once only concerned themselves with money and prosperity, are now dipping their fingers into ethics, community, and the society. Gone are the days of industrial revolution where pollution rotted the air and the exploitation of human labor was tolerated. Gone are the days when ‘anything’ was acceptable as

and globalized information, everyone in the world

long as money could be made. In the new era of

has become more aware of the long term effects

the 21 century, the focus has changed to social

of their actions. In the end, businesses are made

corporate responsibility, business ethics and

by the people, run by the people and ultimately

giving back to the community.

impact the people. In this sense, the ethical shift

st

was probably an inevitable result. People are There are many differing opinions about this shift in focus. Some deem this transition to be an inevitable result of instantaneous and global communication technology. Others consider this shift to be a false façade put on by corporations in order to appeal their brands to the changing

starting to realize that immediate gratification of money or short term profits will be just that – a short term band-aid cover up, not a long term solution. This sense of awareness has evolved such that CSR is no longer an option but rather a requirement, whether businesses like it or not.

consumer values. After all, no one wants to seem like the bad guy, especially when news travels

With the awareness of the people and the

around the world within seconds.

immediate

access

to

information

keeping

businesses in check, perhaps we are one step Personally, however, I believe in another popular opinion - consumers and businesses alike have

closer to finding the ever changing balance between profits and ethics.

become smarter and more aware over the years.

With increasing numbers of research findings

HAPPY READING, RACHEL LEE

Editor-in-Chief

designed by ASHLEY TRUONG photographed by ELLA LIN

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W H A T ’ S

STUDENT POLL: Philanthropy & Business Ethics

U P

HEARD AROUND The SoB

Businesses and ethics are usually thought to be at odds with one another. This month’s poll takes a closer look into the validity of that belief.

Sample size: 50 people

When does an important philanthropic cause truly spark your interest?

When someone you know is involved 48% When you see an inspiring story 26%

“In an age where news travels almost instantaneously and consumers are more informed than ever, I believe that it’s important for corporations to focus more on ethical practices than on just the bottom line.”

ANDY KIM 2nd year SoB Accounting Major

When you see it in the headlines 12% When it’s a local event 6% Other 8% Many people use social media outlets in the effort of bringing awareness to important causes to them. Others feel that social media such as Facebook should be strictly used for entertainment purposes.

We asked students if they used social media to bring attention to serious causes.

SOB LOGO HISTORY: The Alberta School of Business*

No 48% Occasionally 26% Yes 26% Students at the SoB are always encouraged to get involved in the community.

How often do SoB students volunteer per month?

Less than 2 times 48% 2 to 3 times 18% 4 to 5 times 12% More than 5 times 22%

Our stylized “A” was introduced in 2000 in conjunction with the School’s official name change from the University of Alberta Faculty of Business to the University of Alberta School of Business.

Companies can have very different stances on corporate social behaviour, and this affects how their products are made.

The triangular “A” was meant to convey the strength of learning and faculty and to suggest a peak, a pinnacle, a striving to the top, a higher business education.

Yes 46%

The design also features an abstract “S” and “B” and depicts the Alberta landscape of mountains flowing down into rivers, streams of knowledge and fields of dreams. *Courtesy of http://www.business.ualberta.ca/About/History.aspx

Are SoB students more likely to purchase ethically made products?

Occasionally 28% No 26% Taking an ethical approach to business often adds additional costs to operations.

Are we willing to pay more for a product made by a socially responsible corporation?

Occasionally 48%

written by JEN ZHAO designed by LINNEA LAPP

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Yes 34% No 18%

roshni parhar Writer

Jenny wang deSigner

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m currently a 4th year Accounting major and have been involved in Lazy Faire as a writer throughout this year.

What do you love most about being part of LF?

The thing I love most about Lazy Faire is that I get to meet so many amazing people. It isn’t just that I have made amazing new friends; I have had the opportunity to meet brilliant and motivated students and professionals alike that are doing a considerable amount to make a difference, and that really leaves an impact with me.

Keeping in line with the philanthropic theme this month, is there a particular cause or organization that you are passionate about?

One thing that I am very passionate about in terms of philanthropic endeavors is the work that is done at senior care centers. It is wonderful to see people giving their time and helping out senior citizens who often times can no longer take care of themselves. It’s a very heartening cause.

I’m a Designer at Lazy Faire. My major is Marketing and my minor is Business Economics and Law. What motivated you to join LF?

I was really interested in becoming involved in the business faculty and as a marketing major; Lazy Faire was a great opportunity to work on my design skills.

Keeping in line with the philanthropic theme this month, is there a particular cause or organization that you are passionate about?

The most interesting organization I have ever experienced was a thrift shop called “My Sister’s Closet” in Vancouver, BC. All of the stores items were donated, and besides any money required to keep the store running, all of the revenue went towards Battered Women’s Support Services.

Kevin espenido Social Media director

Kawthara shire Writer

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am in my third year of business, with a major in Human Resources Management and a minor in Accounting. I think life should be about moving from one growth juncture to the next, and now that I am gearing up toward my final year at university, I cannot wait to see what’s ahead.

What is something about you that would surprise most people?

What is something about you that would surprise most people?

I am the Social Media Director for Lazy Faire, responsible for managing our Facebook and Twitter pages. It’s my second year at the U of A and my first year in the SoB. Currently I’m a Marketing major, but not sure of my minor yet!

I was actually born in the Philippines and my family moved to Edmonton when I was 3. We rarely ever get the chance to go back. When I graduate, my goal is to take 6 months to a year off and just travel. I’ll make some stops in Asia (including the Philippines, of course), Europe, South America and the States! I should probably start saving…

Keeping in line with the philanthropic theme this month, is there a particular cause or organization that you are passionate about?

I’m actually a Marketing Director for a start-up not-for-profit organization called Multiplying Equality.Through merchandise sales and events that we put on, we commit a large part of our revenue to partner organizations with projects going on both locally and around the world.

written by JEN ZHAO designed by LINNEA LAPP photographed by CARISSA THAM

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Over the course of my life I’ve lived in 8 different countries, spanning North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. In fact, I went to three different high schools in three different countries.

It may seem extensive but travel is something very important to me and I hope I get to see more of the world in the future.

Keeping in line with the philanthropic theme this month, is there a particular cause or organization that you are passionate about?

Because I’ve been so lucky to travel, I’ve had the opportunity to gain a wide prospective and see how so many live in the world. I am very passionate about my community and giving back in some capacity. I am the co-founder and President for the Somali Student’s Association, which is a nonprofit student volunteer organization based at the University of Alberta. It is geared towards the betterment of Somali youth through the promotion and encouragement of education. One of our main causes is literacy, and this year we’ve started a literacy program for Somali immigrants who are new to the country.

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How To: LinkedIn 1 Profile Photo written by FELICIA LIANG designed by DEANNA BAINS

While most of us are familiar with the casual nature of Facebook and Twitter, LinkedIn offers a twist on the traditional social network by focusing primarily on building a professional network. As the world’s largest professional online networking platform, LinkedIn boasts a notable 277 million users from over 200 countries.

Furthermore, many employers conduct searches for potential candidates through LinkedIn. In fact, 90 of the Fortune 100 companies utilize LinkedIn’s talent solutions for finding and recruiting talented individuals!

In today’s competitive job market, it is vital for us to differentiate ourselves from other professionals.

LinkedIn provides us with just that by allowing us to showcase our skills, experience, and achievements. You can also build “connections”, through which you can discover a multitude of business opportunities through recommendations from people in your contact network.

It is imperative to build a strong profile in order to attract prospective employers and build your personal brand.

You may also include additional categories such as “Volunteering & Causes”, “Organizations”, “Skills & Endorsements”, “Certifications”, “Languages”, “Courses”, etc. While your profile is free for you to personalize, remember to keep it organized and easy to follow.

Once you have created a profile, you are ready to start networking! In order to add people to your contact network, you must send them an invitation. Once accepted, they become your “direct connection.” Your “direct connections’ connections” are referred to as your “second-degree connections”, and their connections are your “third-degree connections.” You are able to gain an introduction to your second and third-degree connections through a direct connection, and through this method, you are able to expand your professional network. More connections imply more opportunities, but keep in mind that quality is just as important as quantity; connect with people you know and have a meaningful business relationship with, not just anyone whose profile you happen to stumble upon!

The whole process may sound intricate and slightly daunting, but with a bit of practice, you will become a LinkedIn networking whiz in no time!

To get started, here are some fundamental components that every profile should encompass:

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This is a component that people often overlook.

However, profiles with photos are 50-70% more likely to be discovered! Make sure that you use a head shot, dress professionally, and avoid crazy and busy prints.

Also, use a recent and high-quality photo, ensure that background is devoid of distractions, and try to refrain from using a cropped photo where you can see the person next to you!

2 Professional Headline A 120 character headline to hook those conducting a LinkedIn search. Make this stand out – state what you do, rather than what you are.

3 Summary Keep this concise, the details can be left for the “Experience” section. Go over your greatest accomplishments, experiences, certifications, and academic credentials that will make you stand out in your sector.

4 Education List your highest levels of education, starting with the most recent. If you are currently in the process of obtaining a degree, list your college/university and indicate your anticipated graduation date. Don’t forget to include your field of study.

5 Experience This is one of the most important sections of your profile and should include professional positions and experiences such as jobs, volunteer work, board experience, sports, etc.

a Employment – Start with your most recent employment term and elaborate on the details of your job. However, don’t simply list your job responsibilities; go into depth about your achievements and the results of your actions and leadership. b Volunteer work– If you are an active volunteer in your campus or community, here is the section to showcase all your experiences! Include your contributions and achievements in various clubs/ associations.

6 Honours and Awards Now that you have showed everyone how diversified you are, let them in on the recognition you received for your efforts! It also adds credibility to your overall profile.

FA S H I O N

EXPLORING

Avenue

written by KAWTHARA SHIRE

TRENDS

Whyte

designed by LINNEA LAPP

Dressing for a job, an interview, an internship, a networking event, etc. is a source of anxiety for everyone at some point in their career.

Each company and event is different, so it can be nerve-racking to not know what the proper dress code is. You want to make the best impression, of course, and your clothes say a lot about you and who you are.

There’s also the question of what season it is, whether you walk to work or not, whether you’ll be sitting or standing most of the time, and of course, cost. Since thinking about how to be original and stylish on a student budget can be a huge task, this month we explore your options on Whyte!

104 STREET

105 STREET

N

WHYTE AVE (82 Ave)

1 COLOUR BLIND

2 LOFT 82

This store has great style, featuring brands like Ben Sherman, KensieGirl, and SixtyOne. They carry trendy clothes, from casual to dressy, and also sell accessories like Kangol hats, belts, shoes and handbags. Right now they have a lot of wool dress shirts for women. The prices vary depending on the item and brand, but the sales discounts are usually generous.

If you’re not usually a boutique shopper than this is a great place to start. Loft 82 carries both outside brands and in-house brands.

Loft 82’s style is like the East Village lovechild of BCBGeneration and Oak&Fort. Silky blouses, lacy dresses, brightly colored pants.

A variety of cute sweaters, dresses, tops and shoes with a gorgeous variety of unique jewelry.

The Men’s section is generally on the left side of the shop, while the Women’s’ is on the right. They are well known for carrying distinctive, well-fit clothing for men. This boutique offers a selection of trendy, nicely tailored, quality pieces that look classic, elegant but with a twist of uniqueness.

3 THE AVENUE CLOTHING COMAPNY Avenue Clothing features classy, work– appropriate clothing, while still providing for different styles and tastes. What should be noted is the quality of construction; plenty of reviews deem it very good. The prices are similar to stores like RW & Co (for example expect to pay about $130 for a dress, $60 for a button down shirt, etc). What’s great about Avenue Clothing Company is that they provide fashion for women of all ages. You can find your style here whether you’re in your 20’s or 50’s. The Avenue Clothing Company carries clothing, jewelry, and accessories for women. Most of their jewelry is pretty affordable, with a wide range in style, size, and price.

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Laura McDonald, president of UAHRMA HIGHLIGHT SO FAR: “I loved how we were able to work together and also the endless positive feedback from students attending.”

THE

BIG FOUR COLLABORATION written by ELNUR KASUMOV designed by CHRISTINA STEFANIUK & CAROL WONG photographed by CARISSA THAM

Megan Gauthier, president of CESA

For this month’s issue of Lazy Faire, we decided to meet with Megan Gauthier, Ontonio Karam, Andra Bob, and Laura McDonald, the Presidents of the four different clubs that brought together the new “Beyond the Classroom Series”.

These four clubs, the Cooperative Education Students’ Association, Strategic Management and Organization Club, University of Alberta Human Resources Management Association, and Next Generation Leadership Club, came together to create the first interclub joint event for the students at the SoB.

ABOUT THE SERIES The “Beyond the Classroom Series” stretches across two semesters and hopes to help each business student grow into their best future self. The goal is to allow students an opportunity to learn the soft skills that they might not get in class, skills that will help them become better employees and more accomplished professionals.

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HIGHLIGHT SO FAR: “The students are showing interest and we are confirming what we think is valuable.”

Furthermore, this event is unique since it aims to showcase the relevance of all four clubs through an effective and unifying joint collaboration.

The four keynotes were themed around the following topics: 1. How to create your own success story.

2. How to network and get powerful connections.

3. How to get the job.

4. How to keep the job.

From personal experience, I can attest that the series is enlightening and inspirational. Anyone can find something useful to take away from it. To quote the words of Megan Gauthier, “even if it doesn’t fit with your exact path, you can vibe off the ideas.”

Andra Bob, president of the SMO Club HIGHLIGHT SO FAR: “Seeing leaders such as Carolynn. Even though they have achieved so much, they are humble.They don’t forget where the came from.”

Ontonio Karam, president of NGLC HIGHLIGHT SO FAR: “Success! The fact that it happened. Making it happen, from words to actual events that people enjoyed. ”

ABOUT THE COLLABORATION According to its leaders, the pillars of success for this venture were communication, transparency and honesty. These ingredients were very potent even throughout the interview. All four communicated freely, quickly and productively, building on each other’s responses with great harmony and the vibe of a very effective team.

The Collaboration began with the presidents. The clubs felt like the less known underdogs, so to break the conventions, they decided to go big! The aim was to put on a large event over time, which will attract a large group of people and at the same time divide the strain among the four clubs. Ontonio mentioned that they “didn’t know how they were going to do it at the beginning; they just knew this was going to happen.”

The Presidents started coming up with possible ideas for events and speakers.

The process of elimination, they recall, was always open and honest. The best ideas were then presented to each of the four clubs for further filtering until they came up with the magic formula: bringing extremely successful SoB alumni as guest speakers. The idea was to make being successful a very tangible concept. Through organizing the series, all members of the clubs learned how to better communicate and collaborate. Andra elaborates that there was “a shift from lateral communication to horizontal communication” as they were uniting the clubs around the ideas.

Open communication channels helped bring all four clubs together; everyone felt a significant part of the process and contributed their share. Interclub committees naturally sprung together to optimize various components behind the scenes such as marketing and external relations. Each of the presidents took on a VP portfolio to oversee the committees into success.

Laura recalls: “to keep it going, the top had to be completely committed to the cause and to each other.” On this note, the presidents would like to take the opportunity to send a huge thank you to the VPs of all the clubs without whom this could not have happened.

ABOUT THE FUTURE In an effort to grow the series in the future years, the presidents are well on their way with succession planning. The next exec team to be elected will have detailed transition documents helping them incorporate the event series into their agendas. The next exec are now fortunate to have an established network of connections that stretches throughout the four clubs. The most important factors, the four agree, will be to start planning as early as possible and to bring the valuable interpersonal connections and strong relationships into the next generation. Even though the majority of the current presidents are graduating, they will make themselves available to their successors in an effort to pass the torch and improve the series.

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“

People think leadership only comes in powerful forms, like a CEO, but really you can be a great leader...by just getting involved with your community, by volunteering, being at different events, and being a visible face in the crowd.

“

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Laura

McDonald:

HR EXTRAORDINAIRE This month, Lazy Faire looks at the importance of giving back, and the role Human Resources plays in the work place. In light of this, the Lazy Faire decided to feature HR guru, Laura McDonald, in this issue’s Student Spotlight. Laura is in her final semester of her bilingual degree, majoring in Human Resources and minoring in Strategic Management and Organization. She has been the president of UAHRMA for the past two years, she once ran for BSA president, and she went abroad on the China Study Tour. When sitting down with Laura, she filled us in on the opportunities she has taken in the School of Business, her future plans, and even some HR tips on how to ace an interview!

What does your role of President of UAHRMA entail?

Do you personally do anything to give back to the community?

My role as president has transformed over time - at first it was focused on making sure the club was on track with certain things financially, but now I am more of a liaison between corporates and the club. As the head of the club, people come to you and ask you what the club is doing this semester and ask how they can get involved. It is my job then to introduce myself, and pass on that specific corporate or student to the executive that is most suited. I have had to learn to relinquish taking on everything myself, and trust my two wonderful executives that I’ve had for the past two years.

I do try to volunteer a lot. I will volunteer pretty much anywhere in the business community when there is an opportunity.

In the years before this one, I took part in open houses and orientation. This year I am a student ambassador, which has allowed me to meet a lot of really great people within the business community.

Outside of school I have done pumpkin patrol with Shaw around Halloween, food drives, and a couple things here and there, but my major volunteering is within the School of Business.

When it comes to interviews, is there something that you always tell yourself before going in?

Why do you think it is so important to give back, what inspires you to do so?

You are in your final semester in the SoB, what are your plans for after graduation?

It makes you a community leader!

People think leadership only comes in powerful forms, like a CEO, but really you can be a great leader, student leader and a community leader by just getting involved with your community, by volunteering, being at different events, and being a visible face in the crowd.

Well, so far, moving back to Calgary is a big plan. That’s where I am from. I am hoping to find a company that’s just the right fit. Culture is a really big deal to me. I’ve worked at many places where the culture wasn’t right, so finding the right fit and the right coworkers is really important. I do want to work in Human Resources. I just want to find the right company and just have a great time.

I always tell myself that I’m here for a reason. They aren’t just going to give me an interview because they want to interview everybody. If you get an interview, they’ve looked at your resume and said, “this person could be right; this person could be the best person for this job”. If you go in to the interview with that feeling, and confidence, it is going to bring out the best in you. Your skills are already on your resume so for the interview, you want to go in with the confidence to show your personality, to show who you are.

written by LINDSAY HOFER designed by CAROL WONG photographed by CARISSA THAM

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced in doing your degree, and what have you learned from them?

I think learning how to work with different personality types has been a challenge. The biggest thing I’ve learned is patience. I wasn’t patient in the beginning, I’ll be straight-up and honest.

I didn’t understand different personality types, and I didn’t understand that people didn’t think the way I thought.

But now I know to take a step back and look at the other perspective.

If there was one thing you could have told your first year business self, what would it be?

It’s all going to be ok! My first year business self was scared and really not too sure how to fit in. I’d tell my first year self to really focus on class and get to know your cohort friends, because they’re awesome! Everything is going to work out in the end- that is what I go with now. People ask me about not getting the BSA president position, and I just tell them that everything happens for a reason and that it all leads to bigger and greater things.

During our interview, Laura showed her excitement for the future as well as her passion for the School of Business and all the people in it. Laura was fantastic during the interview, and she showcased true passion and professionalism. We wish Laura the best of luck in the last couple months of her Undergraduate degree, and wish her all the success imaginable in her post university life.

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EXTERNAL

R E L AT I O N S

DAR written by RACHEL LEE designed by CAROL WONG photographed by ARIANNA BIASINI

“Doubt is something that we all live with…[but] you have to have some faith in yourself. [Letting] doubt cloud your judgement only restricts you rather than empowers you.”

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RRELL PIDNER DARRELL PIDNER, A LOVER OF theatre arts and an analytic auditor at the Law Society, quite possibly has one of the more diverse and interesting life stories to tell. As a University of Alberta graduate with a Bachelor of Arts, Darrell has spent 20 years in the theatre industry where he worked as an actor, director and a stage technician. Following this 20 year journey in the Edmonton theatre and festivals industry, Darrell made a daring and drastic life decision to go back to school for a MBA degree. Furthering his new career, Darrell became certified as a Fraud Examiner as well as a CMA, launching his new passion at the Office of the Auditor General. Today Darrell works closely with many lawyers at the Law Society, working to improve many of the systems lawyers use every day. For this month’s issue, we asked Darrell to share with us his values and opinions.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE EVERY DAY AS A LEADER? The challenges, for me, are focused on meeting the expectations of the people that you are working with. It’s about finding the fine line between letting someone grow and keeping that from sending everything off the rails.

It’s about keeping things on time, on budget and on an objective while still allowing people to be creative. When you have a really talented group of people working for you, they have lots of ideas and it’s your role as a leader to balance these two factors.

WHAT ARE YOUR SOURCES OF MOTIVATION AND DRIVE? I’m motivated first and foremost by the project and the people that are involved in the project. I want to believe that what I’m working on is somehow making a difference in the world. At the same time, I like ‘cradle to grave’ projects – I like the idea of trying new things, creating something new, and seeing things through until the end.

YOU MENTIONED THAT YOU LIKE TO TRY NEW THINGS AND CREATE NEW PATHS. CREATING NEW THINGS CAN BRING LOTS OF POSITIVE ASPECTS BUT AT THE SAME TIME ALSO BRING THE RISK OF FAILURE. HOW DO YOU FACE SUCH RISKS?

The biggest thing is to make sure that you don’t stick so close to the plan that everything crashes when things don’t go according to plan. You need to be nimble and flexible. You need to have a clear and a good sense of ethics - reasons and goals on why you are working on a given project. If you say that you want to get from point A to B, remember that your objective is still to get to point B. If you keep your sight on the original goal of the project, slight deviations from the plan won’t seem so bad anymore. In fact, they will present more opportunities for you.

Things generally go wrong because you probably lacked the foresight and understanding. Once you encounter a risk, however, you become that much more insightful and stronger. In the end, it helps you get to your end destination.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SCARED ABOUT PUTTING A STOP IN THEIR CAREERS, GOING BACK TO SCHOOL OR CHANGING THEIR CAREERS DRASTICALLY MIDWAY THROUGH THEIR LIVES. DID YOU HAVE SIMILAR FEARS WHEN YOU SWITCHED YOUR CAREER AND HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH IT? Life is all about change - you make decisions and commitments as you go.

It’s true that you need to manage the balance between family, career and life changing decisions, especially when

you have a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders. My advice to you when you are making a big decision such as changing your career is this: don’t make it all about work. The people that are around you and support you are critical to your life. If people that are central to your existence are not supporting your decision, listen to them and discuss with them. You can’t do things on your own, especially with a big life decision such as changing your career midway through your life.

So let people help you, listen to what they have to say and be smart and purposeful about it.

DID YOU HAVE UNCERTAINTIES ABOUT YOUR FUTURE THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE AND HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH THEM? Doubt is something that we all live with. When I look back at my university years, I was in Arts and I had my eyes on being a theatre director. As I went through school, that became challenging and competitive sometimes I didn’t get things that I wanted to get, sometimes I got disappointed and sometimes I became doubtful about my path. But going through it all, I realized one thing - you have to have some faith in yourself.

You didn’t get to where you are by accident. Trust your instincts and have faith in what you have accomplished so far. We all have regrets, mistakes and

failures. But letting that cloud your judgement only restricts you rather than empowers you. Besides, rarely is something what you thought it was going to be anyway! If you go in with the mindset that you will get to point B and that point B will look exactly as you envisioned it, you will probably be disappointed once you get there. Your dream career, whatever you imagine it to be, will probably be far from the truth. On the other hand, if you have a goal but still keep an open mindset, you might discover something that you didn’t see before. Look at me: when I was in theatre I never thought I would be an auditor but here I am.

If you continually apply yourself with a positive attitude and an open mind, you will learn something along the way and you will eventually find yourself on a path that is right for you.

WHAT IS A LEADER TO YOU? A leader is a person who understands where we are going, how we can get there, and holds the vision and purpose of what they are leading. A leader understands how to get respect from the people they are leading and how they can inspire people to action.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE MOTTO OR WISDOM? The more I think I know, the less I know and the more there is to learn. Life is a learning experience and I enjoy that.

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COMMUNITY

C E N T R E

5 Days For The Homeless written by ILHAAM JIWAJI designed by SHIRLEY DU photographs courtesy of 5 DAYS FOR THE HOMELESS

Five Days for the Homeless was founded at the University of Alberta School of Business in 2005. The founders began to recognize homelessness, especially amongst youth, as a growing issue. They decided they wanted to do something about it through a direct approach. While their ultimate objective was to give back to the community, they also kept in mind the goal to change the negative perceptions some have about business students. We all know the ‘business kid’ stereotype: arrogant, greedy, and selfish. They wanted to show others the positive impact business students could have on their community, and so 5 Days for the Homeless was created.

You may be wondering–what is 5 Days for the Homeless? Well the trio of founders decided they would give up the simple comforts and basic necessities for 5 days to raise money and awareness for the Youth Emergency and Support Services here in Edmonton. TFollowing the rules, they slept outside for 5 days with just a sleeping bag and a pillow. Furthermore, they had no access to electronic devices and only ate food that was donated. The success of this pilot attempt was astonishing. In 2008, after extensive work, the 5 Days for the Homeless national campaign was officially launched at ten universities across Canada. This tradition has been carried on throughout the years and last year’s team was set to raise a total of $43,941.63!

This year’s campaign will run from March 9th to 14th and I am honored to be a part of such an amazing initiative. The goals of the campaign have stayed true to their roots and are able to donate 100% of proceeds to YESS every year. Each year the campaign pushes new boundaries with the support of the Business community. Not only do they make monetary donations but they also donate their time and effort to help us execute a hectic week. Dean Joseph Doucet has promised to come out and brave the cold one night during the campaign again. The team I have been blessed to work with this year is one of a kind. Everyone brings something unique to contribute and support is available for everyone’s projects. Kyle Gough, this year’s Local Chair, has been amazing at directing and motivating us to reach our epic goal of $50,000.

With March 9th approaching, I am both nervous to live up to the high expectations of those who came before us, and excited to give back to my community while creating awareness for an important cause.

You can find us on Facebook at 5 Days for the Homeless. Also follow us on Twitter and Instagram @5D4H_Edmonton because we will continue to post frequently and keep you all updated throughout the month. On behalf of the team, I would like to say thank you, and we appreciate everyone’s support greatly!

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5 TIPS

for

Better Body Language written by JAMES LO designed by SHANNON FIDLER

For many students, participating in case ccompetitions such as JDC West or EDGE can be some of the most rewarding experiences of their undergraduate careers at the Alberta School of Business. For other students, however, presentations can be the single most daunting and frightening experience of their entire lives, and couldn’t imagine entering a case competition for fun and enjoyment!

Now, whether or not you fall into the latter or the former, presentations have become ubiquitous with working in the business world. At the very least, as a student, you will be required to present a handful number of times in front of your fellow classmates.

From Accounting to Marketing, any individual who can present their ideas clearly and concisely is a valuable asset to any company.

Whether or not you enjoy presenting is completely irrelevant.

Your future job may require you to do so, possibly more than once.

With that in mind, we all know that when we give a presentation, not only are our words important, but also the body language that accompanies them.

[ Insert obligatory BUS 201 horror story! ]

Here are 5 key tips to improve your body language:

1 2 3

4 5 17

Greater University Community Every September, students are greeted at clubs fair in Business Quad with hot dogs, chips, blaring music, and offers of half priced drinks with just the right spin of a wheel. Sorry to get your hopes up, but forget that.

Getting involved starts with understanding that the School of Business is a community.

Every person that you meet, have class with and run into while trying to open the oddly installed doors on the first floor foyer are all part of the same community.

This community only benefits when its members are working together and finding areas to improve with passion. The SoB is your community–create a lasting impact!

We have talked about the Business clubs, but what about clubs in the greater University community?

Did you know there are over 450 student groups on campus?

These groups range from: 1. Academic 2. Cultural 3. Recreational 4. Political The huge number of clubs and special interest groups means virtually everyone can channel their passion into our campus community.

However, if you still can’t find something to pique your interest, start your own group. Student Group Services is fully committed to the support and management of student groups on campus. With full time staff devoted to helping new student groups with registration, financing and legalities, the SGS staff is here to ensure your success.

WHAT DOES

“GET INVOLVED ” EVEN MEAN?

#1

Leadership Certificate Program

So you don’t want to be part of a SoB club. How about the Leadership Certificate program?

No other University offers a 2 year program that is devoted to introducing young leaders to such experiences, knowledge, professors, and opportunities. Now you might be thinking, “That’s the BSA fraternity program”. No, not at all, the Leadership Certificate Program is filled with faces that are not only a vital part of the University of Alberta community but also importantly the greater community of Edmonton. Students in the program have been critical components of the Lymphoma Society, Rotary International, International Aid for Haiti, have climbed portions of Mount Everest, the Ukrainian Society, the U of A Tennis team, and the Northern Alberta YMCA. That’s just the beginning of it! Every student in the program has a passion to learn from his or her colleagues, professors and business leaders in Edmonton. Most importantly, they understand that leadership is more than a buzzword, but more of a motivation to initiate change and positively impact our community. Does that sound like you?

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Other Opportunities Some of you may be reading this and thinking “I’m already involved, so this doesn’t apply to me.”

Wait.

The fact that you are already involved in a student group or

GETTING INVOLVED can be an

amazing

mine

come

recruitment

gold

internship

time.

Living a well-balanced life with philanthropic involvement shows employers

tangible

character.

Volunteering on or off campus

club should not keep you from exploring other opportunities.

will give you the edge on paper.

We should all be constantly asking ourselves where our passion

Your diverse experiences will give

truly is, and apply it wherever we can. Be adventurous, fearless

you opportunities to share stories

and open to new experiences during your university career.

about managing your time to

Another avenue for involvement is in the greater Edmonton

live a balanced life to a potential

community. This is where I personally found my first and

employer.

true connection to community engagement. I have been volunteering with the Northern Alberta YMCA for over 5 years and still love it.

So after all of that, get off your seat and GET INVOLVED. Find

My roles have varied from:

something that is connected to your

1. Swim club coach,

passion and run with it. Challenge

2. after school homework help,

yourself to always be open to new

3. Leaders in Training advisor,

possibilities and new roles within

4. and numerous others during my time...

existing organizations. Interact

I have been able to volunteer in areas that I wanted to expand

with your colleagues on campus

my knowledge in, as well as areas where I felt there was a real

and find new ways to complement

need to reach the community. There are an incredible number

their work, or start something

of organizations in Edmonton that NEED students just like

new. Look beyond the University

YOU! Some organizations include The United Way, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Kids Help Line, Hope Mission,

campus and get connected with

Edmonton Food Bank, and that’s just the beginning. All of

citywide organizations in need of

these organizations have varying time commitments from a

bright, enthusiastic, and capable

couple hours a month to a couple hours a week. Try it out with

individuals like yourself. Own

a group of friends if you can, or find someone that has worked

your university career; make it the

with the organization to ensure the fit is right for you. The best way to find out is to dive right in.

best it can be.

Go! written by TSEGA MACDONALD designed by CHRISTINA STEFANIUK

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Does Corporate Social Responsibility Destroy Shareholder Value? written by ILHAAM JIWAJI & ROSHNI PARHAR designed by MICHAEL BAKER

The idea of corporate social responsibility is a much-debated one in the world of business. Today’s corporates are increasingly recognizing the startling importance and effects of CSR on their company’s image – both in the eyes of consumers and international markets alike. With this being the case, there are many in the business world who remain opposed to the idea, the most notable of which being famed economist Milton Friedman. One of Friedman’s most criticized publications, “The Social Responsibility of Business is to Increase its Profits,” says it all.

CSR: A Public Scapegoat By: Ilhaam Jiwaji

When most people hear a company practices corporate social responsibility they automatically disregard every other aspect of a company and are assured of its do-gooder status. In the eye of the consumer, why not pursue the good of society with a triple bottom-line and make profits at the same time? However, what about those who have invested in the company for profits and not a triple bottom-line…what about the shareholders?

Is it justifiable for a company to neglect their responsibility to their shareholders to please all their stakeholders?

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Is the pursuit of strong corporate responsibility justifiable in the eyes of the shareholders for whom the business operates?

No, there is absolutely no excuse for putting others’ interests before your shareholders.

A company’s first and most important duty is to maximize profits for their shareholders. By pursuing corporate social responsibility, companies are wasting money on extra costs to maintain a certain image. Funneling money into charities and sustainable practices does not necessarily increase the value of a company and can translate into a loss of potential profits. Shareholders have invested time and money into the business and in return deserve

to be reciprocated with the company’s efforts to maximize their return.

The image of corporate social responsibility that companies promote may all be fluff when you take a closer look. Numerous companies who preach about giving back to the community are actually just overshadowing the real problems their company operations face.

If a company performs in a safe and efficient manner there is no need to invest on promoting a CSR image.

Economist Milton Friedman took a firm stance on this in his publication, “The Social Responsibility of Business

is to increase its Profits.”

He maintains the notion that social responsibility is a fundamentally subversive doctrine, and that the only social responsibility of business is to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits while not engaging in deception and fraud.

A company must only act within the law and should use whatever means they have within that law to increase profits.

Through corporate social responsibility, companies are neglecting their duties and objectives to pursue a fantasy image to please the public instead of their shareholders.

CSR’s Ever-Evolving Role in Modern Business By: Roshni Parhar

aware of the necessity of responsible corporate policies. We no longer live in a time where it is acceptable to simply look at making profits with disregard to society’s well-being.

With information readily available to all with the click of a button, aspects like human rights violations and the impact of global warming can be seen instantaneously, and their negative impact on society is profound. From this, it As Milton Friedman is no longer realistic or firmly believed, in the acceptable for corporations past, the sole purpose to maintain an attitude that of management was to does not develop socially increase company profits responsible techniques. for shareholders by almost any means necessary. There Consumers, shareholders and other stakeholders was no consideration to alike are aware of the any other stakeholders’ negative light shone upon interests, including unethical behaviors and do employees, customers and the environment. However, not wish to be associated with these practices any as education about the effects of corporate business longer. Stakeholders have the opportunity to vest their processes on society interests elsewhere, towards became more prevalent, a company that has a goal, the world became more In this day and age, where competition and innovation runs abound, corporations can make or break it in an instant. With an everincreasing emphasis on societal benefits, civil rights and environmental changes, companies are finding that to keep up with the competition and stay ahead, they have to develop and sustain a strong corporate social responsibility.

IMAGE SOURCES: http://cdn6.triplepundit.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/levis-Logo1-650x318.png http://topaz.nersc.no/Knut/IceForecast/Barents/logo/logo_TOTAL.jpg

one that common people can relate to and associate value with, as opposed to corporations that appear to be greedy and money hungry. Consumers have the ability to look at more than just prices to decide where they want their money to go. The power lies within individuals who have the rational choice of choosing between a socially responsible, forward looking company and those who do not welcome change. Therefore, CSR is the next step towards the profits that shareholders are entitled to, because that is where people want to put their money. It is therefore the responsibility of the company, in its duty owed to shareholders, to have a vision and values that stakeholders can relate to and believe in. The company should work towards creating lifelong, lasting relationships and a strong brand reputation that will

provide the company with sustainability and long term profits.

Corporate social responsibility is something that must be required of all corporations to satisfy not only shareholders, but all stakeholders as well. It is necessary for corporations to take responsibility for their actions and their effects, and develop relatable values and missions that are transparent. People want what they can see and believe in. They want to know that their products are produced ethically and to a standard to which consumers can agree with.

If not, the chance will go to a new competitor knocking on the door of the market, waiting for their chance to give more value to society and earn those additional profits by adhering to strong social codes that stakeholders now demand.

https://www.thefreshconnection.biz/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/coca-cola.jpg http://www.andlil.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/logo-Starbucks.png http://www.hcpress.com/img/GE-Aviation-logo.jpg

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A LAZY

CHAT

A Lazy Conversation with Alex Manolii

Lazy Faire Content Editor Emeritus Alex Manolii talks to us about life after his BCom (2013), what it’s like at the U of A Faculty of Law, and why giving back is so important in life.

Hi Alex! Going back to your time in the SoB, did you always know what you wanted to do after getting your BCom? Yes and no. I think it’s always good in life to have an idea of where you want to end up and what you want to do – a general direction, if you will. With that being said, I also think you need to be spontaneous and react to the opportunities in front of you. When I started my time in business two years ago, I could not have predicted the things I ended up being involved with or the opportunities that I encountered. Even my involvement with Lazy Faire was not something I envisioned for myself, but it was easily one of my favourite experiences. I also didn’t plan on doing as many business competitions as I did, but that was likewise something I enjoyed.

My point is that sometimes, it’s ok to not know exactly what you will be doing. That will allow you to react to things as they come up – you will end up loving something you didn’t even consider before!

Can you tell me about your involvement with Student Legal Services?

Sure! Student Legal Services is a studentmanaged, nonprofit society that helps low-income individuals and all University of Alberta students with their legal problems.

In total there are around 250 students that volunteer their time with four different projects: Civil and Family Law, Criminal Law, Legal Education and Reform as well as Pro Bono Students Canada (the local 22

chapter of this Canada-wide student group). I am currently volunteering with the first three projects. Personally, I have been involved with 6 different files so far – each different from the others – and I was happy to use whatever skills I had to benefit the individuals I was assisting.

Can you tell me what your idea of an ethical organization is?

To me, an ethical organization will go beyond what it is legally required to do and try to improve the lives of others in society. The problem with defining ethics – quite frankly – is that ethics vary across cultures and even individuals. Moreover, there are different ways to add value to society – some more obvious than others. When Julia Rudolf and I worked on our ethics business competitions, one model we kept referring back to is Carroll’s Model of Social Responsibility. According to that model, the highest level of ethical behaviour for companies is going beyond legal obligations and striving to add value to the community in one way or another. Increasingly, individuals want to do business with ethical companies that stand for values they believe in, so being ethical might even pay off for some in the longrun – giving another reason for companies to act ethically.

Getting involved is very important, not just for what it looks like on paper but for how it shapes our perspectives as human beings. Tell me about what you’ve learned over the years from giving back?

From a very young age, I was always taught that there is more happiness in giving than receiving. I still hold this principle to be true and do my best to apply it in my life. Quite frankly, the relationships and friendships that you can foster in such situations are very rewarding and are truly long-lasting. You also learn more about yourself, you learn how to practice compassion, and you’d be very surprised how much you can learn from the people you’re helping as well.

written by KAWTHARA SHIRE designed by JENNY WANG

written by THOMAS YONAN designed by DAVID TON-LAI & CAROL WONG

Giving Back in a Modern Era For many young adults, volunteering is seen for the most part as a means to an end: from high school projects to applying to med school.

But the question remains: Why volunteer? Why give back to the community?

It may seem absurd to question the intrinsic value of good-will, but without the pressure of an obligation, we can easily forget its worth.

For most people who volunteer, their reasons are a combination of intrinsic (ex. self-betterment) and extrinsic (ex. finding a new job) motivations. Here we explore some of the reasons why individuals and businesses are putting a spotlight on charitable giving and contribution.

How philanthropy and volunteering can lead to a more prosperous life

Invest in Your Social Network

Volunteering or joining a philanthropic organization can be a great way of meeting people who care about the same things you do while building your character. By engaging in an activity together, friendships and business connections can be created.

Especially for individuals who are in between jobs or haven't yet found employment, volunteering can be a way of learning about new job opportunities. It can also be a way of trying out nonprofit work. Some firms such as the Bank of Montreal hold organized "volunteer days" where employees volunteer in the community together in order to promote team bonding and a good social image for the bank.2 Businesses are under growing pressure to maintain high standards of business ethics, making volunteering and charitable giving a powerful social tool to reinforce a company's public image.

Increase Sense of Self and Well-Being Studies have shown that people who engage in volunteer efforts experience better overall physical and mental health, while finding greater purpose.3 For example, The Institute for the Study of Labour in Germany found that on average, those that volunteered on a regular basis reported greater life satisfaction than those who did not.4 The act of giving your time to your community is not only a way to enrich your own life, but it also makes possible the services that are designed to help those in need. Simply put, time is money, and it really shows that you are committed to a higher level of living when you give up your own personal resources in order to give back to the world.

Image: http://philanthropicintelligence.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/tree-coins-high-resolution.jpg 1 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S0001879110000023 2 http://www.bmo.com/home/about/banking/ corporate-responsibility/communityvolunteer-day 3 Peggy A. Thoits and Lyndi N. Hewitt, Journal of Health and Social Behavior, Vol. 42, No. 2 (June 2001), pp. 115-131 4 http://ftp.iza.org/dp1045.pdf

Not Just a GPA In these modern times, employers are paying careful attention to potential hires' activities outside of work in an effort to find the best fit for their company culture. When the values of employees match that of the organization, productivity is increased and employees are more likely to stay with the company longer.1 It used to be that having a high GPA was all you needed in order to land high paying positions in the business world, but more and more companies are realizing the value behind depth of personality and interpersonal skills.

Volunteering can be an excellent way of demonstrating to employers that you possess those valuable intangible skills and that you are hardworking and interested in giving back to the world around you.

“Excellence is an art won by training and habituation.

We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.”

– Aristotle

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