September 2014

FOR AND BY BUSINESS STUDENTS

September 2014

SAY HELLO TO

LINDSAY

COX

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE:

WHAT DOES YOUR BACKPACK SAY ABOUT YOU? INTERVIEW WITH THE LEADER OF PwC EDMONTON

NEW BEGINNINGS

& ALL ABOUT 1st YEAR BUSINESS & Back to school

CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rachel Lee

September 2014

CREATIVE CONTENT EDITORS Kawthara Shire Lindsay Hofer WRITERS Elnur Kasumov Felicia Liang Garry Deng Ilhaam Jiwaji James Lo Kyra Cusveller Rebecca Okrainec Roshni Parhar Thomas Yonan Travis Garner Tsega MacDonald

PHOTOGRAPY COORDINATOR Galee Khau PHOTOGRAPHERS Arianna Biasini Carissa Tham Cassian Soltykevych Deanna Bains Michael Zhang

What’s Up

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THE SERVICES OF THE UNDERGRAD PROGRAM OFFICE for you?

9 THOUGHT VS. THOUGHT

LINDSAY COX Embracing opportunities with Lindsay Cox

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DAVID BRYAN Interview with the partner of PwC

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THE CLUBS OF BUSINESS Your options for extra-curriculars!

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YOUR NEW WORLD OF NETWORKING How to become a professional networker

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CASSIAN SOLTYKEVYCH The Indiana Jones of business

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WHAT’S IN YOUR BACKPACK? What does your backpack say about you?

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

CLUBS CORNER

MARKETING COORDINATOR Amy Yang EXTERNAL DIRECTOR Leslie Chiang SPONSHORSHIP COORDINATOR Kelsea Zalaski

NETWORKING SMARTS

PRODUCTION SPONSORED BY Priority Printing PwC Xerox Canada

LAZY CHAT

SPECIAL THANKS TO Diana Wyley

CONTACT US

THE HUDSONS DEBATE What’s the next place for our hang out?

12 STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Kevin Paul Espenido

Editor’s Note

COMMUNITY CENTRE

ART DIRECTOR Carol Wong DESIGNERS Bonnie Truong Christina Stefaniuk Deanna Bains Michael Baker Shannon Fidler Shirley Du

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FASHION TRENDS

E-MAIL uofalazyfaire @gmail.com WEBSITE www.lazyfaire.com

7 cover designed by CAROL WONG

MEET THE TEAM Introducing select LF executive members!

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BUSINESS 101 What is business about anyway?

SEPTEMBER EVENTS IN BUSINESS What the cool kids are up to

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MAKING THE BEST USE OF YOUR TIME How to manage your time in business

cover photographed by CASSIAN SOLTYKEVYCH

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EDITOR’S NOTE

designed by CAROL WONG photographed by ARIANNA BIASINI

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eptember marks a fresh new start for many of us. It’s a new chance to get it right this time, a new opportunity to avoid procrastination or too many nights at Dollar Drafts (which, unfortunately, won’t be happening again this year). Most importantly, it’s a new possibility that we will accomplish all our grand plans for the upcoming school year. This time, we’re going to do all the right things for all the right reasons. This time, we’re going to get it perfectly right and there will be no regrets come April 2015… right?

Let’s be upfront and address the elephant in the room– deep down, we all know that those grand plans aren’t going to happen this year, just like all the other failed attempts during our previous school years. It’s not that I’m being pessimistic about the new beginning. In fact, I’m just being truthful. We’re surrounding ourselves in delusional false hope if we believe that this semester will go exactly as we planned, right down to the T. So let’s be brave and face the truth: this year will never be exactly what we imagined it to be. We will fail to be as studious as we want to be, we will not get to attend all the events we are interested in, and we will inevitably miss out on some things. Things will never go according to plan

because such is life. But the more important thing is that this year can be better than what we planned it to be, if we let it.

Yes, we might miss some things but that also gives us a chance to try something new. Maybe you’ll sign up for that random extracurricular activity or networking event that wasn’t part of your original plan. Perhaps you‘ll change your major or go on an exchange that will completely change your outlook on life. Sure, you didn’t follow your grand plans to the minute detail, but in exchange you opened your horizons and surprised yourself on how much you could grow. Plans will change and unforeseen obstacles will come at your way, but you will always have a choice to make it better if you want it to be.

So there’s our silver lining. Are you ready for another rollercoaster ride?

Best wishes,

RACHEL LEE Editor-in-Chief

As a newly independent and formally established School of Business Magazine, the Lazy Faire team is grateful to receive such opportunities and love from everyone in the business community! Thank you to all of our returning (and new) readers who have supported Lazy Faire through your readership. We will continue to work hard to provide interesting quality articles throughout the year.

Sincerely, The Lazy Faire Team

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THIS SUMMER’S CO-OP BREAKDOWN: WHAT’S UP

38 students written by REBECCA OKRAINEC

80 students

designed by SHANNON FIDLER

THE FIVE MOST POPULAR MAJORS ARE:

first work term second work term

67 students third work term

Finance – 25.1% 1 student worked in Washington D.C. 3 students worked in Toronto 9 students worked in other locations in Alberta

Marketing – 9.9%

37 students worked in Calgary 135 students worked in the Edmonton region Business Economics & Law – 7.5% Accounting – 36.7%

Human Resource Management – 4.7%

“ I went to Germany, France, and Austria with the University for two weeks. I learned a lot about local family businesses as well as local beers during the trip. ” “ I was lucky enough to live and work in Toronto for BMO Capital Markets Technology this summer. But in my spare time, I got to meet Mayor Rob Ford, went to a game of every major sporting event like the NBA Raptors game seven against Brooklyn, and enjoyed festivals like Beer Fest. Good times! ”

Kurtis Young, Major in Accounting

Nish Makwana, Major in MIS

POP QUIZ! How well do you know the Faculty of Business?

“ Two awesome things I did this summer were join an Ultimate Frisbee Recreation League, and jog near the river valley with my dad. It’s tough dealing with mosquitoes, sunburns and an injured ankle, but it’s well worth it when summertime only lasts for so long! ” Joanne Bartolome, Major in Marketing

1. What is the full name of our Dean?

2. How many majors are offered at the School of Business?

3. What is the maximum number of course credits one can have towards their BComm degree upon entering the co-op program?

4. What year was the School of Business established in?

5. How many cohorts are there for first year business students?

6. Who is the Business Student Association’s President?

7. What is the minimum GPA needed to get accepted into the School of Business?

8. What first day of each month does the newest issue of Lazy Faire come out?

ANSWERS 1. Joseph Doucet 2. 16 3. 75 4. 1916 5. 7 6. Kate Farlinger 7. 2.3 8. Wednesday

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“ My dance crew represented Canada at the International Hip Hop Championship in Vegas this summer. There were 48 countries competing. We finished in the top ten! ” Natalia Binczyk, Faculty of Science

LF: What excites you the most about your role in Lazy Faire this year?

KS: I am looking forward to seeing the magazine grow; this year is special for LF as it is now an independent club. There’s this opportunity to get creative and really develop a unique voice and vision.

LINDSAY HOFER Content Editor MAJOR: International Business

LF: What advice would you give to first year

LF: What excites you the most about your role in Lazy Faire this year?

LH: I am really looking forward to pushing the creativity of Lazy Faire even further, and helping our writers put their best work forward.

LF: What is your favorite SoB event in September?

LH: Ignite! I know in the future when I look back at university I will laugh about Ignite and all the fun

business students?

KS: Be earnest and grab hold of the many opportunities that will be at your fingertips, because the first year flies by inexplicably fast. Be curious, the more you are, the more doors open for you. Finally be aware, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by how much information is coming your way, but if you utilize all the tools from the SoB, you won’t miss a thing!

KAWTHARA SHIRE Content Editor MAJOR: Human Resources

I had there. If you are looking to make friends quickly in Business, Ignite is the place to do it.

LF: What advice would you give to first year business students?

LH: One thing you will hear everyone saying is “Get Involved", but that doesn’t necessarily mean joining a club. My biggest advice is to put yourself out there, and go to as many events as possible, whether it is simply Dewey’s after your first midterm, or a case competition.

MEET (SOME OF THE) EXECUTIVE TEAM written by REBECCA OKRAINEC

LESLIE CHIANG External Director

designed by CAROL WONG

MAJOR: Finance

LF: What excites you the most about your role in Lazy Faire this year?

KE: I’m looking forward to propelling Lazy Faire into a main source for events, advice and good reads! I’m also looking forward to getting to know everyone on the Lazy Faire team better. We work year-round, and a close team is important in putting out a great end product.

LF: What is your favorite SoB event in September?

LF: What excites you the most about your role in Lazy Faire this year?

LC: I am really looking forward to changing up how we do things with our team at Lazy Faire LF: What is your favorite SoB event in

September?

LC: Clubs Fair! Free food and fun events, while getting to know some new faces.

KE: My favorite event in September would probably have to be UAMA’s Graffiti Night!

LF: What was your favorite moment over the summer?

KE: To be honest, I have been mostly working, so my favorite parts have been when I wasn’t.

Being out on a patio with friends after work, going to a festival, or a weekend road trip were the best parts of my summer.

KEVIN ESPENIDO Communications Director MAJOR: Marketing

LF: What was your favorite moment over the summer?

LC: Swimming in the ocean along the Côte d'Azur.

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COMMUNITY CENTRE

Welcome back to school, everyone! Although I’m sure not all of us are looking forward to the seemingly endless days of waking up early to hours of classes and homework, you can be rest assured knowing that there is someone up there looking out for us business students! Except

inquiries and needs related to the Bachelors of Commerce program, the Undergraduate different areas to help you achieve your academic goals. At the Undergraduate Program advisor sessions for any academic concerns. Students who wish to change their assistance in this process. Generally speaking, if it’s related to the Bachelors of problems we business students might have with our programs.

a.ca lbert e: Phon dbus@ua a l: ugr Emai : ion ours: Locat ng H i s i v Ad duled Sche

aspects of the Bachelor of Commerce experience as well. For example, Doug Leong, the Alberta School of Business’s Competitions Coordinator, can be contacted for information on past, present, and future business case competitions, while Donna McLellan, the Alberta School of Business’s International Student Advisor, is a valuable resource for information regarding courses taken abroad and credit transfer systems. Keep can often help you more than you might think.

All in all, students should never feel intimidated about approaching the Undergraduate solution to all your academic problems.

e h t f o s e c i v r e e t S a e u Th dergrad e c fi n f U O m a r g o r P

written by GARRY DENG designed by SHIRLEY DU

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ROSHNI What better way to ring in the new school year than to meet up with familiar faces at familiar places? Unfortunately, this year, we lost one of those familiar places – Hudsons on campus.

For many business students, Hudsons on Campus was a staple location for a guaranteed great time.

Not only was it the place to go after a big exam or the exhausting assignments of BUS 201, but it was also the place for the long-standing business tradition of Wing Wednesdays and Dollar Drafts Thursdays.

So what do we do now that Hudsons is gone?

There’s always its replacement – Devaney’s, but can it really compare? I think not.

It’s not quite as simple as just needing a lounge to relax in with a couple of drinks; if that were the case, we would all be going to Earls! No, what made Hudsons special was that it was the whole package. It had the amazing, truly Canadian food (maple bacon everything, anyone?), the casual atmosphere, and the lack of pressure of a formal lounge. It was somewhere that you could go for a couple of hours and feel great afterwards - a trustworthy, reliable good time. But now we don’t have that assurance. How do we know this new place will be any good – both in terms of food and atmosphere? How can it entice us to go there the same way that Hudsons did? I don’t think it can – at least not right away. Nights like Dollar Drafts, or Wing Wednesdays, where everyone had an unspoken agreement to attend, is what made Hudson’s so great.

Devaney’s will have to come up with some pretty amazing marketing schemes to create the same commitment from business students that Hudsons was so successful in achieving! The horrible reality right now is that Hudsons is gone, and because of that…this year just won’t be the same.

written by ROSHNI PARHAR & LINDSAY HOFER designed by MICHAEL BAKER & CAROL WONG

THOUGHT VS. THOUGHT

THE HUDSONS DEBATE There have been many questions raised about the recent closing of Hudsons on campus. Some say it is the end of an era; the end of the eternal Thursday evening tradition called Dollar Drafts.

To these Nigel Naysayers I ask: are you truly a business student?

As business students we have many reputations; some good… most bad, but the one that we take the most pride in is our ability to drink any other faculty under the table. Would a true business student mourn the end of dollar drafts- No! Will we go to this new place? Yes! Beer is Beer, and they have the space to hold our numbers. We will not be checking this place out to see if we like it, we will be there as fast as possible marking our territory! Think of this as an opportunity, we will approach this new bar as we do with everything else – calculating, cutthroat…and thirsty!

There are alternatives like K-Pop Thursday’s at RATT, but let me tell you that the experience you will have watching me dance to K-Pop will be nothing short of traumatic. So let’s stick to what we are good at people…and that is drinking beer in a basement.

LINDSAY

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September 3rd to September 5th: CLUBS FAIR Business and wondering how to make the most of your time here. Of course you want to focus on your studies and get good grades, but you’ve also heard that extracurricular activities are what really sets you apart in the job market. And what’s up with this new thing called ‘networking’ that’s supposed to really help see extensive portfolios of different clubs the School of Business has to offer. Discover upcoming speaker series and networking events, learn about the case competitions, meet the faces behind the clubs, and begin thinking about which clubs will enhance your experience. Stop by the Business Quad in front of the business building to see how you can add a little oomph to your degree.

September 8th to September 12th: BOOK SALE Tight budget? Afraid you’ll have to sell that old N64 to afford the bookstore’s lavish prices? Come check out the BSA Book Sale.

Organized by and for business students, this event brings buyers and sellers together to grant reasonable deals. With textbooks

September 12th to September 14th: IGNITE a comprehensive taste of the School of Business experience. most importantly, begin meeting other students. You’ll also hear presentations from many of the clubs and learn what they offer to improve your experience in Business.

September 19th: UAMA GRAFFITI NIGHT This annual bar night put on by the University of Alberta Marketing Association has been deemed one of the best parties of the year. There is nothing quite like white shirt clad business students drawing all over each other and sweating it out on the Hudson’s basement last year will be sure to tell you that it is a the school year.

for yourself.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS IN BUSINESS what the cool kids are up to written by TRAVIS GARNER designed by BONNIE TRUONG

September 21st: BSA GOLF TOURNAMENT The ‘Learn How To Golf Like A Pro’ tournament at Dragon's Head Par Three Golf Course is the perfect introduction into the casual side of the corporate world. Spend a day with friends and professionals from various industries while showing off your golf prowess. Afraid your lack of golf skills will jeopardize any hope of obtaining a career from these corporates? Don’t own any clubs? The BSA has you covered. Tickets include the chance to learn how to play from golf professionals and for $6, golf clubs are available for rental. Get the tips, learn the tricks, and build your network with corporate professionals while enjoying a fun day with your friends.

September 24th to September 28th: ALBERTA ENERGY CHALLENGE This oil and gas related competition starts this year’s case competition season off with a bang. It hosts a wide array of teams from across the world and brings in some major corporates from the oil and gas industry. If you want a chance to meet business students from places as far reaching as China and rub shoulders with a wide array of executives, apply to be a team ambassador or a volunteer.

September 26th: BSA HALL PARTY You’ve probably heard that business students know how to party. To put this event simply, it is a party…in a hall, but to make it all the more interesting, the BSA comes up with unique themes every year. With transportation provided to and from the hall, you can feel free to party and create memories so outrageous they’ll make your grandchildren jealous.

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BUSINESS 101 Congratulations! The day has finally come. You are now officially a student at the Alberta School of Business.

The constant struggle and daily grind of assignments and readings has finally paid off. You’ve made it! After all of that hard work, it’s time to kick back, switch into neutral and coast towards graduation…

Just kidding.

The work has only just begun. However, the next couple of years will be filled with the most challenging, yet rewarding experiences of your entire life. So sit back, buckle up, and pay attention, this article will serve as your first year survival guide to the Alberta School of Business.

Now this may seem obvious to you but for many students their education written by JAMES LO is the be-all-end-all. And if you designed by SHIRLEY DU are one of those students, I most certainly commend you. Hell, even as I round out my last semester at the Alberta School of Business, I will Now this phrase has become almost probably find myself studying more strictly ubiquitous for joining business than I ever have in my entire student clubs and student organizations. career. Now don’t get me wrong, However, I equate getting involved to studying is extremely important, just You’ll soon realize that networking is informing yourself about everything ask my low GPA over the last few nothing more than just a buzzword. the Alberta School of Business has to years. However, if you do not stop Trust me, you will hear it time and offer. While it is definitely worthwhile to smell the proverbial roses and time again, almost to the point that to involve yourself with a club or an lift your head up for air, you will be you will become physically ill at the organization on campus, you simply buried underneath the mounting pile sound of the word. However, what it may not find a cause that you are of endless assignments, readings, represents is something much more particularly vested in. And that’s and exams. It is important to maintain important. It’s an opportunity for fine. However, you will be doing a balance between your education you to meet new people, connect yourself a serious disservice if you and your social life. University is an with fellow business students, and fail to at least take advantage of experience meant to prepare you for forge relationships that will last you the myriad of opportunities offered life outside the walls of a classroom. a lifetime. Who knows, those key to us business students. From If you never leave the stale prison connections you make at the Alberta cohort events to conferences to the walls of the Winspear Library, how School of Business may just help Cooperative Education Program, can you expect to change once you land a job down the road. In there is something for each and every you transition into an office postyour first year, your most important business student. I challenge you to graduation? In other words, relax and resource for success will be your at least get your feet wet. For those do not hesitate to have a beer with cohort. So talk to your classmates, of you who are more adventurous, try your friends on a Tuesday afternoon. attend cohort events, and connect absolutely everything you can. You You may never find out what you with alumni. This network of current never know what will happen, what missed in class that day but you will and future business leaders will be you will discover about yourself or never forget the memories you’ll more valuable than you will ever where it will lead you! make with friends. know.

Have Fun

Get Involved

wNetworking

N

ow this isn’t by any means a comprehensive survival guide for business students. Hell, it may not even be the basics. But it’s a start. I am not going to lecture you about dressing professionally, practicing for presentations, or participating in case competitions. Such are things that every business student must experience for themselves. In other words, go forth and experience all that you can in the short period of time that you are here. Or ignore every word I have just said and do nothing. That’s the point. The choice is yours.

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eptember—a month of fresh new starts. There are new pencils, new classes, new friends, and above all else, new opportunities. No one has proved to be better at jumping head first into new opportunities than the golden girl herself, LINDSAY COX. Her first year in the School of Business was nothing short of amazing. She was the BSA representative for cohort 5, a member of the JDC West social team, and managed to build an impressive case competition resume, including one as far as Latvia. Now, entering her second year with a major in marketing, Lindsay continues her prodigious streak as VP Academic for JDC West, participant on JDC marketing team, and VP Internal for the University of Alberta Marketing Association. Lazy Faire was able to sit down with Lindsay to get her tips on how to handle your first year in business, and how she plans to make her second year an even bigger success.

What has been the most rewarding activity you have been involved with in the SOB? Last year I found my passion in case competitions. I competed in a number of competitions, and I found myself quite successful in many of them. It was awesome because they give you a different perspective on what business is. Each Business I thought I was already a great public speaker, but I was able to grow so much more through cases and by being forced to think on my toes.

Which case competitions were you involved in?

I did AICC here at the University of Alberta, Reveal in Vancouver, The Apprentice, Edge, RMBS, UAMA, and an Apprentice. I also participated in JDC West social, placing second overall, which was an incredible feeling after a long weekend of grueling challenges. Edge was also a great experience, although the outcome was not what we wanted.

The last case competition was in Latvia and that was an incredible experience. We placed 6th out of 19, missing the In what ways did your trip to Latvia inspire you?

I think it was just incredibly cool to see what people all around the world were learning. It was interesting to see that people learned the same debits and credits around the world, but presented them in a completely different style than what we’ve been taught. I don’t think many of the other schools focused as much on presentations or case competitions as we did in BUS 201; so when we were watching them, we noticed so many things they did differently.

We saw how people from across the world could take completely different approaches, but still come up with the same solution.

What has your involvement in the School of Business taught you? important to put yourself out there, especially in a faculty like Business where it’s so much about making connections and getting experience. I put myself out there at every single opportunity last year and I’m so glad that I did. The most it!

What’s the key to adjusting to Business quickly?

The key to adjusting quickly is to have an open mind and being able to take what’s thrown at you. You just have to push through even if there are some tough beginnings. Also, go to all the parties and have fun! Immerse yourself in all are a lot of opportunities, but it’s up to you to go for them.

What are your goals for this upcoming school year?

My goals for this year would be to do well in my role as VP Academic for JDC West. The goal of JDC is to take home in January. My other goal is to get involved as much as I can and to continue to bring energy and positivity into the School of Business community.

Describe yourself in one word.

That’s a hard one. I would say passionate—it can relate to a lot of different areas. I am an extremely energetic and passionate person, especially when it comes to my friends, family, and the things that I’m involved in. As a result, I always put in 110% effort into everything. I take pride in what I do.

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EMBRACING OPPORTUNITIES WITH

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

LINDSAY

COX written by BONNIE TRUONG designed by CAROL WONG

photographed by CASSIAN SOLTYKEVYCH

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EXTERNAL RELATIONS

“

The important thing to remember is that doing nothing will achieve nothing. You need to take ownership of your career, research the opportunities and be willing to put your hand up for the things you want. Push limits, take risks, just don’t sit and wait for something to fall on your lap, because chances are, it’s not going to be the path to success.

“

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DAVID BRYAN TURNING UNCERTAINTIES INTO POSSIBILITIES We all have uncertainties about life, our future, and our careers. David Bryan, the charismatic Managing Partner of PwC Edmonton and the Edmonton Deals Practice Leader, embraces these uncertainties to create opportunities. As an avid believer in actively putting yourself out there, David has led a dynamic career from the Faculty of Arts to PwC. Here is his story:

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I was born and raised in Edmonton, and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the U of A. After my undergraduate degree, I took two years off to try new things like working in construction, working as a ski patrol and travelling through Europe. Nine months into my Europe trip, I found myself picking bananas and I thought to myself ‘I’m not sure this is what I want to do with my life’. So I came back to the U of A to attend a special CA program for students with undergraduate degrees. After this program, I started working at PwC and have worked here since.

University students are often overwhelmed by a sense of uncertainty about their future. Have you had such experiences?

I come from a family of lawyers, and the pressure to follow the family path had always been there. After two years of exploration, when I realized that law might not be the right path for me, I considered going into the MBA program to further my studies.

However, at that time the MBA programs required some previous began looking into the CA route at PwC. I started working in our consulting and deals practice, and at that time I never considered the possibility of building a career as an accountant.

I was focused on getting enough experience to get into the MBA program until someone at PwC advised me not to discount the CA route as a possible option. That allowed me to step back and see that PwC wasn’t just all about audit and tax work. There are so many things that PwC is involved in, both globally and locally, is dynamic, with endless possibilities, and different opportunities that allowed me to travel, explore different businesses, and pursue my passions. That’s when I realized that it didn’t make sense to continue searching for something that was already here in front of me. Years later, candidates continue to seek out PwC for the diverse experience that they will gain, the opportunities they will receive and the friendships that they will build along the way.

It looks like you found your way into your career rather than mapping it all out ahead of time. Do you have any advice for students that are still searching for their path?

The important thing to remember is that doing nothing will The important thing to remember is that doing nothing will achieve nothing. You need to take ownership of your career, research the opportunities and be willing to put your hand up for the things you want. Push limits, take risks, just don’t sit and wait for something to fall on your lap, because chances are, it’s not going to be the path to success.

What are some of the challenges you face as a leader? confrontations so those were the moments that were most challenging for me. Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s best to be have to. I try to work on coaching, and reasonably laying out the

and decisions. The key is to listen to all the stakeholders and consider all options, but still make an executive decision and take responsibility for any consequences that may arise.

What is the PwC culture like?

Culture and experiences are the differentiating factors between employers. One of the things that PwC Edmonton tries to work on is how to make things fun. Of course, there are times when we need to work hard, but that doesn’t mean that coming to work also can’t be fun! Whether it’s fresh fruit and granola bars in the kitchens, watching Family Feud during the lunch hour in the lounge, after work drinks or lawn bowling, we want to have events and provide opportunities for our people to enjoy their time at PwC. A couple months ago, for instance, we held a tricycle and then donated the tricycles to the children staying at the women’s shelter.

We focus on building relationships, not only our clients but with each other. We emphasize the importance of communicating with each other and recognizing one another. We always strive to build human connections.

What is an important skill to have to succeed in business?

PwC in its simplest form is people. The biggest skill is realizing PwC, in its simplest form, is people. The most important thing is realizing that it’s not just one person that makes something Theory’ that really summarizes what we’re trying to achieve.

It compares an organization to a group of people in a canoe, paddling towards the same goal. Some might be stronger paddlers than others, but we’re all part of the same team and need to acknowledge that everyone has different strengths. You will inevitably come across people that don’t want to say in the canoe and we should stop to let those people out, but ultimately it’s the ability to work as a team that will drive the canoe to its destination. You need to be able to listen to what others say, let their opinions change your mind and learn to value others.

When people see PwC business cards, for instance, they don’t see working towards the same goal together in the canoe.

written by RACHEL LEE designed by CAROL WONG photographed by CASSIAN SOLTYKEVYCH

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CLUBS CORNER

THE CLUBS OF BUSINESS Your undergraduate business career is defined by more than just the lectures you attend - getting involved also makes up an integral part of your overall experience.

Joining a club not only allows you to contribute to the School of Business, but it also opens doors to a vast array of opportunities. You are able to develop both your personal and professional skills, meet and work with a spectacular team, watch your hard work turn into tangible results, and create invaluable connections. Considering the multitude of clubs offered by the School of Business, the Lazy Faire hopes to provide a brief overview on what each club has to offer so that you can find one that is the perfect fit for you!

written by FELICIA LIANG designed by CHRISTINA STEFANIUK & CAROL WONG

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As the faculty association of the School of Business, the BSA represents over 2,200 business students with the purpose of enhancing their undergraduate career. Throughout the to help students bring learning beyond the classroom. Not only does the BSA provide opportunities to develop your

Established in 1985, the BFA serves as a bridge between students about the various career paths available to them, the BFA also helps them build their peer networks.

Furthermore, they provide annual events such as the speaker sessions, a mock market simulation, investment career forum,

networking opportunities that you do not want to miss out on!

The BEA is the perfect club for those with an interest in traveling, learning about new cultures, internationalism, going on exchange, and the like. They are the main point of contact for incoming exchange students and also provide support for U of A business students going abroad! Joining this club is a great chance to meet students from all over the world while sharing a mutual passion.

UAAC has existed for over forty years and has acted as a liaison between the accounting industry and students looking sessions, volunteer and job opportunities, and host events such as the Accounting Dinner, Annual Tax Clinic, and more!

ANPCC has a noble goal of educating business students and well as understand their impact on the community by raising social awareness. This is facilitated through an annual case competition, the prize of which is donated to a NFP of the winning team’s choice.

UAMA strives to expose the student body to various aspects of marketing such as design, web development, advertising, and more. They provide hands-on opportunities for students to create connections and truly experience the excitement

UARC is dedicated to providing students with insight into the real estate industry, which plays a vital role in our lives, businesses, and communities. They also serve to provide a fundamental link between students and industry professionals.

RMBS is Canada’s longest-running and most prestigious student-run business conference held annually in the Canadian Rockies. RMBS takes education beyond the classroom and provides elaborate networking opportunities during a week-long conference consisting of seminar speakers, a mini-case competition, keynote speakers, spectacular evening events, and more!

alberta Jdc West Alberta JDC West is the largest student run business competition in all of Western Canada and seeks to assemble the most outstanding students to compete in all facets of

skills, while providing an invaluable chance to meet business students from numerous universities.

The annual four-day conference hosted by NEW stimulates thoughtful conversations on obstacles encountered and overcome by individuals (particularly women) in the workplace and beyond. Held at the luxurious Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, inspirational business leaders from across the country will gather to inspire delegates to empower themselves in their personal and professional lives.

aiesec AIESEC helps to develop students on a global scale and exchanges, internships, and volunteer opportunities. They strive to advance youth leadership development at both for-

UAHRMA is committed to building the Human Resources community while providing a link between students, faculty, events to help prepare HRM students for the workplace by providing mentorship opportunities and career information.

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YOUR NEW WORLD OF NETWORKING:

PROFESSIONALS AND CLASSMATES BEFORE THE END OF Business, you will most likely hate the word “networking.”

“Your net worth is your network” is something you will hear from every professor and over eager student in your cohort.

Now don’t panic, you too can conquer the daunting world of networking and professional relationship building. I prefer the term professional relationship building because networking has that awkward, forced, and often stressful connotation (to me anyways). Follow these “Professional Relationship Building” tips and you will soon become the Tom Haverford of network building.

BE GENUINE IF YOU have no interest in meeting anyone or are just attending a mixer for the free food – don’t go.

Why? Because you never know who you will run into in strangers were the head of your dream company. Being genuine also falls into the category of asking questions that you have a real interest in, don’t try and sound like an industry professional unless you have the knowledge to back it up. Ask thoughtful, open-ended questions.

Here are my tips for “Professional Relationship Building” 101:

DON’T EXPECT TO LEAVE with a job or a best friend. The point of “Networking” is to make long lasting professional relationships over time. That being said it will take time – it’s safe to assume that you will need to meet someone at least 3 times in a casual setting before the other individual not only knows of you but would feel comfortable approaching you instead of you the student approaching the professional. You are not doing anything wrong if you contact. It takes time.

DRESS FOR A SERIOUS CONVERSATION. That being said, be comfortable! It is always easy to identify the student that is extremely uncomfortable in the clothes they are wearing. Not all networking sessions require business formal attire, but ensure that your clothes advice is to wear clothes that support your personality.

The basic rules of networking attire are clean, coordinated, and tailored.

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PREPARE FOR ALL OPPORTUNITIES that you know about in advance. If you are going to a real estate, policy, or oil and gas session, do your research. If you want to make meaningful connections, show the professionals that you are invested in the industry. Research the attendees if you have access to a list, look up current industry trends and look into the big players. Doing your homework always “luck is where hard work meets preparation.”

NETWORKING SMARTS

FOLLOW UP. remember them or take the initiative to make contact. That is how so many “would be” professional relationships fail. After a conversation with an industry professional, ask for their business card. Once they walk away, write the memorable parts of the conversation on the back of the business card. . When you follow up with a note or email, you can use this information to show that the conversation was valuable and memorable to you.

Follow up email recipe: = no pressure professional email.

NOW THAT WE HAVE

and make friends in the faculty without any added pressure.

The most important tip is to be friendly; ask people about themselves. People LOVE talking about their own interests, this is a great way to break the ice. If you are genuinely interested in making friends with fellow business students be

One thing I feel I need to stress is that you will not like everybody. And you don’t have to like everybody! This is a with a variety of people, and enjoy the time you have as a student in the business faculty. Who knows you might just make a friend or two!

written by TSEGA MACDONALD designed by SHIRLEY DU & CAROL WONG

19

LAZY CHAT

Cassian THE INDIANA JONES OF BUSINESS This month we had the chance to speak with Cassian, a fourth year Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise about his experiences and discoveries from abroad. Prepare to feel the wanderlust!

SO wE HEAr THAT yOU’rE A BiT Of A glOBE TrOTTEr, AS wEll AS AN AviD pHOTOgrApHEr. wHAT gOT yOU STArTED? Traveling has been a part of my life from a very young age. My parents are both educators and as such the whole family always had the same vacation time growing up. Our trips included driving across the US to tons of national parks and unique monuments and cities. Since then it’s been a habit of mine to come home from the next destination.

The photography started about eight years ago when my family was at SeaWorld in Florida.

My dad kept trying to take a photo of Shamu (the killer whale) and his small point and shoot was always too slow. He got so frustrated he bought a DSLR when we came back and before I knew it, I was hooked. Ever since then I’ve been photographing everything from cars to weddings and photo booths. iN rETrOSpEcT, wHicH DESTiNATiONS HAvE BEEN yOUr fAvOUriTE? Japan really sticks out in my mind because it’s

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my parents (I was 17 at the time). Ukraine and were also quite special. A few others include Barcelona, Singapore, NYC, and Monaco.

DO yOU HAvE ANy TipS fOr NEwBiES wHO ArE THiNkiNg Of TrAvEliNg AlONE? join a tour, it will help you ease into traveling independently. You also get to meet great friends along the way. Also, don’t follow a guidebook everywhere you go. Just put your phone away, walk around for a few hours and see something none of your friends have ever seen before (but stay safe while doing it). wE wOUlD lOvE TO kNOw wHAT yOU DiD OvEr THE SUmmEr. ANyTHiNg ExciTiNg? Toronto with Ukrainian students from across Canada at the annual SUSK Congress. Then visiting one of my good friends on exchange in Marseille. Visited Nice and Monaco (it was did a summer school program in Jyväskylä, Finland for three weeks and visited Helsinki and Tampere as well. I then needed a break so back to Eastern Europe. I participated in the World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia as a piano accompanist, and also sang in a 900 person choir for the closing ceremonies. I also toured

through Estonia, Poland, and Austria before coming home for good.

EvEryONE HAS HEArD THErE iS A lOT TO gAiN frOm TrAvEliNg, BUT wHAT iS THE mOST pOwErfUl rEAlizATiON yOU HAvE gOTTEN OUT Of yOUr TrAvElS? The world is much smaller than people realize. travel is the closest thing to time travel”. Want to go party in Hong Kong? Next day you’re I’m from a family of 5 that, if you add up all the trips we’ve been on, has spent several years away from home. Your way of thinking, your views of the world, they all change when you go visit another country to see how people live and interact. You appreciate what you have more. You meet people who share views similar not the same and 11,785 km is how far away their house is from yours. Don’t be afraid to take a month off work or buy a one way ticket to a city you can’t pronounce, like Uzhhorod. It see where you end up.

written by THOMAS YONAN designed by CAROL WONG photographed by BONNIE TRUONG

MAKING THE BEST USE OF YOUR TIME (OR LACK THEREOF)

I

don’t know about you guys, but in a busy, jam-packed semester I need a little motivation to get through the days. Hence, my workspace is littered with quotes me ready to work when all I want to do change my surname to ‘Litt’). “Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today,” reads a cheery Benjamin Franklin on a ‘motivational’ poster plastered to a side wall of my desk. I used to love that one

Now? Bleh. After four years as an actively engaged university student both in and out of the classroom, I can honestly say that packing as much stuff as you can humanly handle in 16-20 or so hours of awake time start), is an absolutely controversial idea.

It’s different for everyone, and everyone has different habits and preferences.

You hear all about the numerous success stories out in the world that have resulted from working tirelessly day and night for the success they’ve rightfully achieved.

However, not every individual is the same and not all people function the same way.

For example, one of my best friends wakes up at the crack of dawn and is religiously asleep by 9pm every single day without fail. In my opinion he’s nuts, but he’s also one of the most successful people in my life. It’s easy to pack your schedule to the brim with the colorful array of clubs and opportunities our School of Business has to offer, but before you do so, check out a few of the following tips on how to choose and build yourself a reasonable schedule, manage your time, and curb unnecessary stress.

1. GO TO CLUBS FAIR. Check out the clubs fair held in business quad during the Week of Welcome. And no, by ‘check out’ I don’t mean go and join every club your friends join. There’s nothing wrong with that, but I’d suggest making your time worthwhile and speaking to all the club reps that are

there to answer your questions. Find out what events and opportunities the club you’re interested in offers. Ask the team members about previous years’ experience with the club – what they’ve learned, experienced, and who’ve they met. After gathering your thoughts, make sure you’re going to join because you want to, not because you think you should.

2. GOALS. Set some goals for yourself before the syllabus classes end and the semester really kicks off. Whether it be daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly, take relief in that you can always revisit your goals and adjust accordingly. However, remember that the most important part of goal setting is to stay true to yourself and your objectives. Make sure you try and review your accomplishments after every goal period to see how you’ve stacked up against your goals, and most importantly, what you want to build from those goals.

This is always easier said, but hardly done.

3. LET OFF SOME STEAM. Stress is an important part of being successful. Too much and you feel (and possibly look) like Sylvester Stallone at the end of each Rocky movie. Too little, and you’ll probably get nothing done. Stress is good in controllable amounts – it motivates, focuses, and propels you. Keyword here is ‘controllable’.

Know your limits and do all you can to release some steam when you feel stressed out or pushed to/over your limit.

4. “IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO BE BUSY...

SO ARE THE ANTS. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT ARE WE BUSY ABOUT?” This is a quote by Henry David Thoreau that I recently transformed into another poster and stuck up right beside the Benjamin Franklin. Busy is good, but make sure you’re busy doing the right things with the right people. Carefully evaluate your recurring commitments and make sure you’re getting something worthwhile out of each experience. If you’re out doing the wrong things, then it doesn’t matter how well you’ve scheduled yourself or your time – you’re getting nothing out of it.

written by LOUIS LIU designed by CAROL WONG

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R U O Y N I S ’ T A WH KPACK? BAC

FASHION TRENDS

in atile article us and vers o it u to iq b s u ack ost n our backp ck is the m s, we rely o the backpa ck s, ri ie what your b d f d o o o re d h e a d d n ffees an ever wo avy as a lo co e u f h o yo s s a e n d av o n h ti a al, . But LE excep le, function all our stuff E POSSIB . Fashionab urse, carry rm o co WITH TH f if o n , u d s n t’ a LRT, ity studen ace on the any univers up extra sp ke ta , re u st ruin our po u? ys about yo sa ck a p ck ba

absolutely!

YOU CARRY YOUR BACKPACK EVERYWHERE

START HERE

no way

filled to the brim YOUR BACKPACK IS...

yes! pretty empty

HAS YOUR BACKPACK LEFT THE COUNTRY?

nah coffee YOU USE THOSE SIDE POCKETS TO CARRY...

it’s pretty new protein shakes

HOW OLD IS YOUR BACKPACK?

it’s been put to good use

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THE SUPER STUDENT:

written by KYRA CUSVELLER

Those long library nights can be a bit lonely, but at least your backpack will always be by your side.

You own that 4.0!

designed by CAROL WONG

last year’s study notes THE BOTTOM OF YOUR BACKPACK IS LITTERED WITH...

THE NETWORKER:

old business cards

With enough pockets for your phone, suit, and approximately one billion business cards, your backpack has your back when it comes to making essential business connections.

THE JETSETTER:

passport

Whether your backpack is taking you to Finland or Finance, you know that everything you need is between those two straps.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN YOUR BACKPACK IS...

workout gear THE ATHLETE: Loading up on textbooks doesn’t always mean you’re cramming; you’ve realized a heavy backpack allows you to lift both in and out of the gym.

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