September 2015

FOR AND BY BUSINESS STUDENTS

SEPTEMBER 2015

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE

SETTING GOALS & DREAMING BIG

YOUR GUIDES TO: SEPTEMBER RECRUITMENT DATES

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CLUB PORTFOLIOS AND POSITIONS

BUS 201

BOSS

JOSH TANG AMBITIOUS PROJECTS AND FUTURE PLANS

DEAR FIRST YEAR ME

ADVICE FROM THE LAZY FAIRE TEAM 1

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CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Kevin Espenido

SEPTEMBER 2015

CREATIVE CONTENT EDITORS WRITERS

Kyra Cusveller Carey Poon Tsega MacDonald Marina Bryan Nicole Hammond Kara Hauca Thomas Yonan Robyn Paches Rahique um Maktoom Handoo Monika Sharma

ART DIRECTOR

Anna Lee

ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

Mimi Ngo

DESIGNERS

Ashley Truong Christina Stefaniuk Maggie Lam Krismina La Deanna Bains Nichole Chen Patrick Li

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Editor’s Note What’s Up

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CIBC Run for the Cure 5 facts about breast cancer

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Business Attire on a Budget A millionaire wardrobe with student spending

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Worst Networking Experience Worse than an awkward conversation

COMMUNITY CENTRE

FASHION TRENDS

NETWORKING SMARTS

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Is “Ice District” a Good Name?

Timeless branding strategy or unoriginal money pit?

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Josh Tang Setting goals and dreaming big with the BUS 201 Course Coordinator

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Shawn Kanungo The Deloitte consultant on staying hungry for passion and creativity

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Club Executives & Portfolios What do they really do?

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Luke Melenberg The marketer’s big plans for the upcoming year

Xerox Canada Priority Printing

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Pivot or Persevere When life doesn’t unfold the way you want

Diana Wyley Jobpostings.ca

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CONTACT US

Dear First Year Me An open letter of advice from the Lazy Faire team

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Navigating a Career Fair Tips to take on career fair season

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Which Clubs Are For You? A quick look at some of the clubs in the SoB

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On the Irony of Mindfulness A philosophical take on “What I Learned this Summer”

PHOTOGRAPHER

Nicole Wee

THOUGHT VS. THOUGHT

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR EVENTS COORDINATORS MARKETING COORDINATOR

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Zhayate Meng Steven Co Kristi Wong Paulina Brittner

EXTERNAL DIRECTOR

Kelsea Zalaski

SPONSORSHIP COORDINATOR

Matthew Ryan

PRODUCTION SPONSORED BY SPECIAL THANKS TO

E-MAIL WEBSITE

EXTERNAL RELATIONS

CLUBS CORNER

LAZY CHAT

uofalazyfaire@gmail.com www.lazyfaire.com

cover designed by ANNA LEE 4 cover photographed by NICOLE WEE

EDITOR'S NOTE

September is one of my favourite months at the School of Business. We can feed off of people’s ambition and motivation by simply talking to them. Whether or not they’ve done so consciously, our peers have set goals for themselves. Our friends have been energized by their personal aspirations and the plans they have for the upcoming year.

The theme for this issue is Settings Goals & Dreaming Big. It’s full of different perspectives about goal-setting and ambition.

You’ll also find tips and stories about the physical steps we might take to reach our goals (networking events, career fairs, getting involved in clubs, all-nighters, etc.). Let this issue be a tool for you. September is a hectic month and even the most seasoned Business student could always use a hand.

My take on this month’s theme? Be voracious in your appetite for success. Picture yourself in your corner office (mine has floor-to-ceiling windows and white marble floors) and

FROM THE TEAM

This month, I asked the Lazy Faire team what their #1 goal was for this upcoming year. Here’s what some of them answered:

let that image motivate you. Dream up the reputation you want and imagine the profound impact you want to have. Once you’ve got your end goal in mind, take every opportunity to better yourself and push forward. Be as relentless in the pursuit of your goals as you are in picturing them, if not more so. Let every achievement and failure be a learning experience.

So let’s start September off with a massive, ambitious, confident, morning-after-Grafitti-Night, foot forward. I can tell this year might be one for the books. Let’s aim high, dream big, and enjoy the ride.

KEVIN ESPENIDO Editor-in-Chief

CANDACE CHU, PHOTOGRAPHER Be featured in Lazy Faire Magazine! Or impact someone’s life and inspire them through being a part of the Leadership Certificate Program.

NICOLE HAMMOND, WRITER

ROBYN PACHES, WRITER

STEVEN CO, EVENTS COORDINATOR

My #1 goal this year: to be able to take a ski jump without giving myself a black eye! Also, to ski down Stairway to Heaven at Kicking Horse without batting an eye.

Make my last year of university the most fun of all!

My #1 goal this year is to step out of my shell a little more, and be more friendly!

INSTAGRAM: @cestnicolette WEBSITE: www.pinkpencilskirt.com

INSTAGRAM: @_stevenco

THOMAS YONAN, WRITER B+ AGAIN?!!?

KYRA CUSVELLER, CONTENT EDITOR I’d really like to own a smartphone by the time I graduate in April.

INSTAGRAM: @kyracusveller

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WHAT’S UP

September Recruitment Guide

written by MARINA BRYAN designed by ANNA LEE

September in the School of Business passes by faster than you can say “networking.” We’ve all seen interesting clubs and organizations at Clubs Fair during Welcome Week, only to check back - in what feels like no time at all - to realize we missed the recruitment deadline. At Lazy Faire, we’re all about promoting opportunities, not squandering them, so we’ve prepared the following recruitment guide so you never have to miss a deadline again.

Alberta Energy Challenge (AEC)

Alberta Not-for-Profit Association (ANPA)

AIESEC facilitates global exchanges and internships, while also welcoming incoming international students. AIESEC will be in the Main Quad for Week of Welcome, August 31 - September 4, and the first recruitment information sessions will be at 5:30 on September 8 and 9.

A case competition focusing on the energy sector. AEC 2015 will take place from September 23-27, and applications for University of Alberta teams will be open the first two weeks of September. Volunteer and team ambassador applications will be accepted throughout September.

An annual case competition that partners with a local Not for Profit organizations, ANPA helps students apply their creativity, intelligence, and empathy to real-life issues in the NFP sector. Applications for directors open September 14 and the deadline is on the 23rd.

Business Exchange Association (BEA)

Business Students Association (BSA)

Enactus

The BEA promotes and prepares students for international exchanges within the School of Business, and helps international students adjust to life as a Canadian business student. BEA’s welcome week will run from September 8-11, and the BEA director applications will be released from September 21-30.

The governing body for students in the School of Business hosts events to enrich student life outside of classes.

To kick off this year, the BSA Welcome Week will take place over the first week of classes. The annual retreat for first year students, Ignite, will be on September 11-13, the 5K Charity Run on September 20, and the Energize Conference on September 27.

Enactus supports the development of entrepreneurship among students, especially as a way to approach social issues including environmental, social, and economic. The first information session will be September 16 at 5:30.

Operations Management (OM) Club

U of A Human Resource Management Association (UAHRMA)

The OM Club provides operations management students with various resources including tutoring, course packs, and events to meet professionals in the field. The club will host an Excel Speed-Up Session on September 14, in B24/28 at 6:30.

UAHRMA promotes the human resources community and holds events to network and develop mentorship roles between students, faculty and staff. The Annual General Meeting “UAHRMA Meet and Greet” is on September 10, with director recruitment from September 7 to 18.

AIESEC

JDC West Team Alberta JDC West is the largest student run business competition in Western Canada. The three-day event includes academic, athletic, debate, and social challenges. To be a part of JDC West Team Alberta 2016, make sure to attend the Social tryouts on September 16, and Athletics tryouts September 15 and 17.

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With so many incredible clubs and groups, we had to move some of our content online! Check out lazyfaire.com for a full guide.

CIBC run for the cure 5 Facts About Breast Cancer

(AKA Why You Should Do The Run For The Cure)

COMMUNITY CENTRE

The CIBC Run for the Cure is an annual 5km run or 1k walk to raise money for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Held across Canada, it takes place this year Sunday, October 4, starting at 9:00AM in Churchill Square. Go to their website cibcrunforthecure.supportcbcf.com to sign up as a team or as an individual. The fee to participate is $40, but you can option to fund-raise $150 instead. So what are you waiting for? Get some friends together, get registered, and get ready to support this incredible cause!

1. Outside of non-melanoma skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among Canadian women.

4. 82% of new breast cancers and 91% of breast cancer deaths in Canada occur in women over 50 years of age.

2. Breast cancer will affect 1 in 9 women in Canada during their lifetime. To give you a visual: Out of everyone in your Accounting 311 lecture, assuming half are women, 28 will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

5. 220 Canadian men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and 60 men will die from it. That's 30%. The reason this is higher than the mortality rate for women is because male breast cancer is less understood, often misdiagnosed, or diagnosed too late.

3. An estimated 25,000 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer just in 2015 alone. Of these 25,000 women, 5,000 will die from the disease.

written by KARA HAUCA designed by KRISMINA LA

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Business wear is a staple for every business student, but let’s face it, all those blazers, dresses, suits and shoes really add up. So how do you pick and choose what to buy without breaking the bank? Here are some essentials for those students looking to save on business attire – we guarantee you’ll look like a million bucks for far, far less.

FASHION TRENDS

Blazer

ESSENTIALS FOR WOMEN

A blazer is crucial for a student dressing to impress at a job interview or big presentation. It can instantly elevate your look to appear more professional. Fit is key, and a well-fitting blazer can help you achieve better posture and look slimmer and more put-together, so make sure you try before buying. Purchase in a neutral color, such as black, navy, or grey for easy pairings.

TIP Buy a blazer in a lightweight, crease-resistant material.

Little Black Dress (LBD)

A Little Black Dress is one of the most versatile items a business student can have in their closet. An LBD with a high neckline paired with a blazer and heels will have you looking like the consummate professional. For winter, pair with booties and tights for the long treks across campus. Dress down your LBD with a scarf, cardigan or crop sweater for a more casual office look. Pair with statement necklaces or accessories in bold colors to let your personality shine through!

There’s a high chance you’ll be wearing this blazer during times where you are stressed and sweating, such as your BUS 201 presentation or a job interview, so the lighter the material, the better.

TIP Find a dress for under $25 and pair it with more expensive accessories such as jewelry, shoes, and purses; nobody will even know you bought it cheap!

> Find at: RW & Co., Dynamite, Zara, Aritzia

> Find at: H&M, Forever 21

e r i t t A s s e n i s Bu

written by KARA HAUCA designed by MAGGIE LAM

on a Budget

Tie

ESSENTIALS FOR MEN

A classic tie can pull your whole suit together. Having a few good-quality ties is far more important than having a closet full of cheaply made ties, so don’t be afraid to splurge a bit. Look for smoothness and flexibility as an indicator of material quality. Start building your collection with solid neutral colors or subtle patterns that go with everything and work your way up to bolder designs for some personal flair!

TIP If you get a tie with diagonal stripes, make sure the stripes are sloped upwards. This gives off the vibe that you are a positive and open person. (If you look at Barack Obama’s ties, they are always sloped upwards.) When a tie is diagonally sloped downwards, it gives the impression that you are closed-off and unavailable. > Find at: Simons, Zara 8

Dress Shoes

A good pair of dress shoes finishes off the look of your suit and can last you for years. They are crucial for a business student’s post-secondary career, since the last thing you’d want is to show up for an important presentation in runners. Quality dress shoes don’t come cheap, but think of them as an investment piece; look for shoes made of leather rather than synthetic materials, and instead of having to buy new shoes every few years, just give them a quick polish and they’ll look good-as-new for years to come.

Black shoes go with nearly everything, but other neutral colours such as light or dark browns can make you look extra stylish.

TIP The toe of your dress shoes shouldn’t be extremely square or extremely round. Go for the middle ground and your shoes will stay in style much longer.

> Find at: Aldo, Hudson’s Bay

T S R O W

G N I K R O W NET E C N E I R E P EX

NETWORKING SMARTS

written by ROBYN PACHES designed by ANNA LEE

Ah, networking, everyone’s favourite buzzword. Whether you’re just getting into business school, or you’re entering your 5th

year victory lap, you’ve probably heard this word more than enough times. While you shouldn’t underestimate the potential of networking, sometimes it can go horribly wrong. This usually doesn’t get any worse than an awkward conversation here, or a floppy hand shake there, but I’m here to share with you some more extreme cases to make you feel a little bit better the next time you forget a corporate’s name.

Epic gym sesh right before the networking sesh: Don’t do it. Ever. A solid hour-long workout that ran a lit-

tle overtime coupled with having to make the walk from Van Vliet to the Business building in 10 minutes flat equals uncomfortably high body temperature. We all know how this ends: the deadly dress shirt sweats. Nothing makes meeting new people more awkward than fighting to cover pit stains and worrying about how flushed your face looks. While undershirts can be your best friend, I doubt even they would have helped me in my situation. Pro tip: Hit the gym post-networking to celebrate/let out frustrations.

The passive aggressive rejection: This is a unique

one that happened to a friend of mine. I’m sure we’ve all heard of someone getting or giving out a fake number at the bar. It’s an easy way to say no, without really saying no! However, I had never heard of this happening at a networking event... until now.

My friend was speaking to a corporate and everything seemed to be going well; small talk was conquered in favor of interesting conversation on mutual interests, which evolved into a discussion on the corporate’s current projects that my friend showed interest in. They were able to land the corporate’s contact info with hopes of advice/ultimately a job in the future. No dice. Once they called the number a few days later, an individual of the opposite gender with an accent nothing like the corporate’s picked up the phone.

The wrong name: Have you ever forgotten your own name at a party? A networking event? Me neither. That’s ridiculous. However, I’ve actually heard of something similar happening before. A friend of mine was attending a recruitment event.

There were booths and slightly pushy recruiters from different firms everywhere. They spotted the company they were interested in and made the trek across the event, masterfully avoiding eye contact and fake-texting. Once they got to their target booth (let’s say, Awesome Inc.), they cut right to the chase and asked about job opportunities. The Awesome Inc. recruiter told them that they had to fill out an online application form and gave my friend their name to place on the form, as that was needed. Later that night, while filling out the form, my friend could not go ahead in the application because the recruiter’s name was coming up as invalid. After multiple days of trying to track down this guy and missing the application deadline, my friend found out that between atrocious handwriting and misspelling their own name, their search for this recruiter was doomed from the start. Moral of the story: Get the damn business card.

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matter how weird the setting, or how much you feel you butchered the conversation, just be thankful you were saved from any of these bad networking experiences. Learn from the mistakes of my friends and I, and hopefully you’ll have networking experiences that take your business career to the next level!

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IS

"Ice District" a good name?

FOR TSEGA MACDONALD

What’s in a name? Well, a name is supposed to give an audience an idea of what to anticipate. Edmonton’s new arena district aptly titled “Ice District” does just that. Moreover the name serves to protect the 25 acre area from a dreaded corporate name and celebrates the biggest season in Edmonton: Winter.

Ward 6 Councillor Scott McKeen perfectly stated “We don’t have to apologize for being a winter city. Why run away from something that is so truly Edmontonian?” We pride ourselves in being able to carry out everyday routine in spite of -30 degrees and laugh at our southern neighbours when they can’t handle a snowfall or temperatures below zero. Did you know Edmonton is the most northerly metropolis in North America? This is more than just a fun fact but a potential branding opportunity for the city. This branding opportunity can take the form of architecture, northern urban planning, hospitality, entertainment, and sports. All of which Ice District encapsulates. How exciting will it be when we have architecture that highlights the natural beauty of Edmonton and art that celebrates the vibrancy that can be found year round in our city? Not to mention I think the City will have to finally construct the downtown sidewalk skating rink that has been teased about for the past few years. Where else would a sidewalk skating rink fit in other than the Ice District? Now, I know there will be those that say that the name should have gone through the Edmonton Naming Committee first and gotten approval from Edmontonians, but are they forgetting how badly the City of Edmonton has already handled the new arena? There are dozens of fiscal decisions that the city has screwed up. The biggest one in my mind is the fact that the city receives no profit from the Rogers Arena naming rights. How did our city council let that slip by their hands? How did a tax-funded arena receive no profit from the only pre-opening revenue stream? Now that’s a naming issue for all Edmontonians to actively get behind.

The name more importantly allows our city to be saved from a corporate name or even worse, a year after year corporate name change. The problem doesn’t lie in giving the naming rights to a company, but to the organization that owns the leasing rights. Naming rights have become the newest form of fast cash in the business of sport and when leases end, most franchises hold an open bid to sell the next 5 years of naming rights. Lets take a look at the names that Miami Dolphin fans have had to endure: Dolphins Stadium, Joe Robbie Stadium, Pro Player, Pro Player Park, Dolphins Stadium, Dolphin Stadium, Land Shark Stadium, and currently Sun Life Stadium. Now it’s easy to say this is exclusive to the NFL, however a business is a business. More than anything, the MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL are businesses. The name “Ice District” provides an enduring level of local humbleness with an eye for the future and the potential Edmonton possesses. It also saves us from yet another horribly constructed Rogers Arena naming fiasco.

To be honest the biggest silver lining is that the new arena district isn’t named Connor McDavidland. With the arena district name announcement coming off the heels of the almighty savior being drafted to the Edmonton Oilers, I will admit I had a fear we would immortalize the draft with “McDavidland” and am happy to accept Ice District as a welcome alternative.

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THOUGHT VS. THOUGHT

Photo courtesy of the City of Edmonton

If you’ve heard about the new arena’s quarter being named “Ice District”, you’ve most likely heard the uproar over the name. All over social media Edmontonians are angry and are mocking the new name. The pushback is understandable, considering $2.5 billion is going into the entertainment area and people have been told the area will revitalize downtown Edmonton. Choosing an uncreative and banal name doesn’t give Edmontonians confidence that this district will be all that’s been promised.

What do those involved really know about Edmonton and the culture in the city? For example, yes, Edmonton is known to be really cold in the winters, but it’s also known to be boiling hot in the summers. Is “Ice District” really going to resonate with tourists who plan on staying in the area or locals looking for a good time when it’s 30+ outside?

KARA HAUCA

Part of the confusion over the name is that if we were going for simple and unoriginal names, wouldn’t the “Arena District” make more sense? Will “Ice District” actually stick? Many have pointed out that nobody is going to call it the official name, particularly because in all of the City’s literature so far, it’s been called the arena district. The City of Edmonton has nothing to do with the renaming and “Ice District” didn’t go through the Edmonton Naming Committee, a City appointed group composed of 6 citizens and a member representative from the Edmonton Historical Board. Most of the district will be owned privately, but there are still City owned elements like the new LRT station by MacEwan University, a community rink for public skating and a civic office tower that will be under the name “Ice District”. The City has stated that they have no involvement in the naming process, so how is it fair that city owned properties will fall under that title? The name should have gone through the Edmonton Naming Committee first and gotten approval from the citizens who will be using and spending money in the area.

When a project name is announced and the overwhelming reaction is laughter and mocking, a mistake has been made. Regardless of whether “Ice District” is actually a good name, the negative reaction of Edmontonians has the power to hamper the success of the district.

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written by TSEGA MACDONALD & KARA HAUCA designed by MAGGIE LAM

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SETTING GOALS STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

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DREAMING BIG You’ve probably seen a lot of Josh Tang on the second floor of the Business building. It’s hard to miss a guy who’s been Internal Director and Vice President Academic for the Business Students Association (BSA) for the last two years, respectively. Add to that a JDC West Alberta Team member for Human Resources and Business Strategy. His JDC involvement means that you’ll often spot Josh at case competitions like EDGE and the Alberta Not-for-Profit Case Competition. We met up for lunch on a sunny Friday at Three Bananas Café in Churchill Square, with Josh sporting shades and a green polo with jeans. “I love jeans Friday, suits feel so weird to me,” was the first thing Josh said. As someone who has pretty much only ever seen Josh clad in his suit, it was nice to sit down (on the patio, of course) and get to know the guy behind the impressive resume.

After a hectic year competing in JDC West, serving on the BSA, and competing in case competitions, Josh began an internship as a Business Strategy Summer Student for the City of Edmonton. For most people, a summer internship is plenty to keep occupied with, but when I asked Josh how he’s been keeping busy this summer, he had a rap sheet of projects on the go.

“I took on the role of the Business 201 Course Coordinator, so that’ll really occupy the whole of my time as I finish up

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my degree. It’s something I’m really excited for. Also, Dan Park [another senior business student and friend of Josh’s] and I are putting in a bid on behalf of the School of Business to host the JDC West Competition here at the U of A in 2017.”

You could say that Josh is the kind of guy that doesn’t need a lot of rest. “Being busy is something I strive to be, not in essence just to be busy, but I need to be passionate about something and have a purpose,” Josh explains. When I ask him if he’s had time to relax this summer, Josh tells me he took a weeklong trip to Vancouver with some close friends from high school before starting his summer internship. Even though much of Josh’s time is split between BUS 201, the JDC bid, and his internship, he still makes time to “chill with friends and get drinks – on a patio, obviously” at OJs or Brown’s Social House.

As Josh enters the last semester of his degree, it’s clear that he has found his element. For those that are unsure of which major to choose, Josh is living proof that the Alberta School of Business is a place to try different things. Josh jokes around about how many times he’s changed his major, but explains, “My whole degree was about self-discovery.

I started in the School thinking marketing was something I was passionate

about. Later in my degree I did my first year at JDC West and I was put on the HR team. It wasn’t my first choice at the time, but I was lucky enough to be chosen so I took anything I could get. That, and doing cases every weekend, gave me my passion for case analysis and made me passionate about strategic HR.” So what’s next for Josh after graduation?

“It’s been really clear to me in the last year that something I really want to be involved in as a career is management consulting. My ultimate goal is to feel fulfilled in my career. Propelling an organization forward through strategy is something that I became interested in through my studies. If you look at what the core of an organization is, it’s the people. That’s specifically why I chose [to major in] HR and beyond that, management consulting - specifically, human capital strategy.”

With a busy semester ahead of him, there’s no doubt that Josh Tang is making the most of his final stretch at the Alberta School of Business. Josh jokes about his sleeping habits, admitting that “I’m known infamously at the school as a sleeper; sometimes you put in late nights and it’s just great to sleep - I like to call it ‘efficient time management’.” His ultrajam-packed schedule means he may be sighted catching some more z’s than usual, but I’m sure we will cut him some slack.

J O S H T A N G

written by NICOLE HAMMOND designed by ANNA LEE photographed by NICOLE WEE

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EXTERNAL RELATIONS

SHAWN KANUNGO Shawn Kanungo graduated from the University of Alberta School of Business with his Bachelor of Commerce, and has his CA designation. On top of working with Deloitte, Shawn is also active in the technology space, and has built a number of interactive mobile apps, which have been featured in The Guardian, CBC and CTV. Lazy Faire sat down with Shawn to talk about his success.

written by ZHAYATE MENG designed by ANNA LEE

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Thanks for sitting down with us, Shawn! Let’s start with you telling us a little bit about yourself.

It’s about finding what you’re good at. I think we have to flip that “I need to find a job” mindset in university.

I dropped the ball in university; I didn’t know what to do. Nobody came to my classes and told me what to do. I regret not getting involved more in school. So if I had the ability to go back in time, I would love to get more involved.

The best thing to help you figure out what you want to do and what you’re good at is getting involved. It might hurt your GPA, but remember GPA isn’t everything. If you want a job in Accounting or Finance, it may be a little bit more important, but your priority should be figuring out what you want. The biggest things that will differentiate you from others is the relationship you will have with other students, your network and how you’ve expanded your horizon. I understand that some people don’t have the personality to do that, but that is something you need to work on. You need to push yourself.

However, there were a few things that I did get involved in: > Co-op was really beneficial. It allowed me to go to Singapore and do an internship there. Afterwards, I started working for Deloitte for my second Co-op term. > Business cases are great because you work with talented people and express your ideas. Those business cases will get your name out there and they help bring out your passion. They show that you’re involved and take initiative. > RMBS was the premier event. It was an amazing experience and I met a lot of great people during that event. I encourage students to go to that event if they have the chance.

Currently, I’m a Senior Manager for Strategy and Operations practice at Deloitte. I’ve been with Deloitte for nine years now, and I primarily play out in the public sector and strategic planning. I’m also part of the Deloitte National Innovation team, and part of their Digital team.

What are you like outside of work?

Outside of work, I’m a creative animal and an avid learner. My friends and I co-founded a creative film group a number of years ago. Our goal is to really push out products that are engaging and to test the market.

On the education side, I’m always learning about digital innovation and creativity. I listen to many audio books and attend lectures. We live in an amazing world where we’re always pumped with content. I consume everything, so I get really engaged in the digital world.

What qualities should a leader have?

With my leadership style, I empower people that work with me. I give them the ability to work on their own and come up with their own ideas.

When I work for somebody, I want the guidance from the leader but at the same time, I want the ability to express my own ideas. Imagination comes from the freedom and creativity around certain projects. When you are creative and passionate about an idea, that’s when you get the best work. If you can put passion into your own teammates, then that’s when your projects will excel. It doesn’t matter what area you come from. You can come up with brilliant ideas. Especially from the U of A, we have some brilliant and ambitious people. There is no shortage of creativity.

How do you encourage students to become leaders?

You don’t have to be the President or the VP to be a leader. It’s not all about that; it’s not about the title. It’s about inspiring people around you to be better. If I were a student again, I would focus valuing people’s creativity and respecting other individuals’ ideas. Become open teammates.

What are you most proud of in your personal life?

Many business students think that going to university and getting good grades is enough, and often only strive for high GPA. What’s your take on that?

What I am very happy about is the people that I inspire or have encouraged to lead their own path. There are so many people who didn’t know anything about consulting until I showed them how much I love my work. Beyond my personal achievements, being able to inspire individuals is something I am very proud and happy about. I love being creative and being able to fulfill my creativity is a huge achievement for me.

I think there a number of different aspects related to getting a job. I don’t think finding a job while in university should be your main goal.

Part of going to university is figuring out what you like and don’t like.

I don’t think I’ve achieved everything I want to yet. I feel like I’ve just started. I’ve been with Deloitte for 9 years now, and I’ve started the first act of my life.

Want more from our conversation with Shawn? Catch the full extended interview on lazyfaire.com!

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CLUB EXECUTIVES & PORTFOLIOS: What Do They Really Do?

PRESIDENT

A.K.A. COMMANDER IN CHIEF

many of you indulge in the numerous opportunities to get Ayousinvolved with Alberta School of Business clubs, sometimes get thrown into a position and realize too late that it was not what you bargained for. Enter: our handy guide to the typical exec positions of School of Business clubs - so you’ll never have those “What did I just sign up for?” moments again!

A.K.A. THE TYCOON

VP FINANCE

(Please keep in mind that one size doesn’t fit all, so this guide is just an overview of some of the most common club structures - different clubs may vary based on their own specific needs.)

This individual oversees the performance of all the portfolios and determines the overall direction of the organization. It is helpful to have experience being involved with the group before taking on this role to understand the obstacles that they have encountered in the past and the reasoning behind protocols and procedures in place. The president’s responsibility is to provide guidance to the rest of the team, while ensuring that they are adhering to timelines, budgets and strategic goals. It is up to the President to decide which specific duties each executive member will handle, which contributes to bringing their big-picture vision for the group to life.

$

This role involves strategically forecasting expenses and funding, which requires being aligned with the overall vision of the group. Key components in this job description include formulating a comprehensive budget, applying for grants, handling reimbursements, tracking all expenses and maintaining accurate spreadsheets. Additionally, some VPs of Finance like to make good use of their accounting skills by developing a set of formal financial documents at the end of their term to demonstrate the group’s annual financial performance. Certain groups may opt to utilize accounting software if they are managing a large sum of money. If not, Microsoft Excel can suffice. To perform this role adequately, it’s crucial to be transparent, precise and accountable.

VP INTERNAL

A.K.A. THE DIPLOMAT

written by MONIKA SHARMA designed by CHRISTINA STEFANIUK & ANNA LEE

This VP ensures internal cohesion by solidifying intra-group communication. They do this by recording meeting minutes and creating contact lists. They communicate with the Faculty Advisor to uphold the connection to the faculty and discuss the progress of the group. They also have the responsibility of recruiting and managing the activities of internal volunteers, maintaining their support and relationship with the group over the year.

The purpose of this position is to embody the mission of the student group and present that message to other business students. This individual, along with others in this portfolio, is responsible for brainstorming marketing campaigns and generating brand awareness for their organization, consistently seeking new ways to capture students’ attention and evoke excitement. Responsibilities include updating social media accounts and generating newsletters to act as a liaison between the group and the public. This communication is usually oriented around promoting an event, raising awareness for a cause or recruiting new members. Often times, this role can involve developing promotional material such as posters and pamphlets, unless there is another member in the group who is specifically designated to design.

VP ACADEMIC

A.K.A. THE SCHOLAR

This individual promotes the academic enrichment that the student group can bring to the School of Business. The events and activities that this VP oversees provide educational experiences to business students. These events include case competitions, speaker series and conferences. The execution of a case competition always includes crafting a challenging case that provokes an application of the delegates’ business acumen. Academic conferences are excellent opportunities to learn about a discipline or industry outside the traditional classroom setting, while expanding networks. The execution of a successful conference requires event planning expertise and strong communication skills.

VP EVENTS

A.K.A. THE PARTY PLANNER

This VP handles the planning and coordination of the group’s events. Events provide a platform for students to develop meaningful connections and enjoy their experience being involved with student groups. Student group events within the Business faculty include networking sessions, social events, athletic competitions, charity events, and other activities. This role demands a keen attention to detail and level-headedness through stressful periods.

Some specific tasks included acting as a point of contact for vendors and venues, developing schedules for event attendees and coordinating other logistics. This role demands creativity to imagine and bring together innovative themes, food and décor in order to provide the best possible experience.

CLUBS CORNER A.K.A. THE SCHMOOZER

VP EXTERNAL

VP MARKETING

A.K.A. THE PUBLICIST

Simply put, the VP External’s job is to secure corporate sponsorship for the student group. This process involves cold calling, developing a sponsorship package, negotiating a deal and maintaining these relationships over time. This VP becomes a representative for the group to external parties, addressing what the organization needs and what they can offer. It’s important to present a clear value proposition to the stakeholders, to ensure both the student group and sponsor benefit from the partnership. A strong relationship with sponsors is vital to the success of the group, as many groups are dependent upon these resources. These corporate sponsors can become quite involved with the organization’s operations by networking with students and speaking at the group’s events.

What is a director?

Directors can be employed by any of the portfolios depending on what the group requires to operate. Directors occupy a more specific role, guided by the direction of a VP. There are often many components to each portfolio – maybe several events to plan or multiple different avenues of communication to manage.

To reduce the workload of the VP, the director fulfills a niche in the portfolio, focusing their efforts on a more precise goal.

Learning the ability to work with a team in such close capacity is one of the greatest rewards of being involved with a student group. Its important to acknowledge that despite occupying a very specific role, each member is usually expected to assist all other portfolios to ensure the overall success of the organization. The specific tasks for each portfolio may vary as each group performs a different function and provides a different form of value to the Alberta School of Business.

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“Failing made me question where I wanted to go in life.”

pivot or persevere when life doesn’t unfold the way you want

While articling at Ernst & Young, I went straight through the CASB program in a year and wrote the UFE. I hated articling, so my goal was to finish studying as fast as possible. I passed all six modules on the first attempt and even got Distinction on Module 5.

Then I failed the UFE. This article isn’t about how to pass an exam, though; it’s about why we need uncertainty in life to achieve our goals.

I don’t know why I failed, but I do know that everything happens for a reason.

Failing tested my self-esteem, ability to persevere and made me question where I wanted to go in life; continue course or pivot?

This is true for organizations just as it is for people.

guest article written by DEEPA MAISURIA, CA, CBV designed by ANNA LEE

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Sometimes you need to persevere and continue course if you believe in your pursuit. James Dyson made 5,127 prototype designs of a bagless vacuum cleaner before any company would listen to him.

On the other hand, if Odeo (a personal podcasting service), Burbn (a point-earning check-in app) or Tune In Hook Up (a video dating site) didn’t pivot after learning from their failed attempts, we wouldn’t have Twitter, Instagram or YouTube.

It doesn’t matter whether you decide to persevere or pivot. It’s about what you

learned throughout your journey that is important.

Goals help you focus on the end game, but if you try to dictate exactly how you’re going to get there, it probably won’t happen.

You have to trust that life is providing you with learning opportunities along the way to help you achieve your goal, or move you towards an even greater future. So when life isn’t unfolding as you hoped, you have three choices: 1. Be indifferent (which is a waste of a learning opportunity); 2. Act like a victim (which isn’t helping anyone); or 3. Believe you can learn from the situation and move forward.

You may not understand why a situation may be happening, but as Steve Jobs said “you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.”

As for me, when I found out I failed the UFE, I immediately signed up for Densmore’s Experienced Writers course in Toronto the following July. Toronto also just happens to be where my sister lives, and fortunately, on the last day of the course, my sister gave birth to her first child whom I got to meet hours after his birth. Oh yeah, I also passed the UFE that year!

Dear

written by THE LAZY FAIRE TEAM designed by DEANNA BAINS

First Year Me,

This year, our friends at the BSA decided to recreate an old orientation video called “Dear First Year Me” to welcome new students to the School of Business. Both videos are full of useful and humorous pieces of advice to help guide students looking to find their footing in Business. We at Lazy Faire wanted to join in the fun and put our two-cents in. If we had the chance to give advice to our first year selves, what would we say?

DISCLAIMER: The views of our indiviual team members DO NOT necessarily reflect the views of our entire group. Take their advice with a grain of salt. Your time at the School of Business is what you make of it. We’re here to lend you a hand and a laugh along the way.

DEAR FIRST YEAR ME, Always pack food because you are like literally always hungry. I don’t even know.

THOMAS YONAN | WRITER

DEAR FIRST YEAR ME, Take a chance and make sure to join in on all the activities during the first month of school. They’re a wonderful way of making new friends and meeting people.

KRISMINA LA| DESIGNER

DEAR FIRST YEAR ME, Don’t be in a rush to just study what all of your friends are studying just so you can graduate as soon as possible. Be brave and take classes you wouldn’t normally take - even if you do it alone - because you never know what you might end up building a passion for. Who would’ve thought that you’d go to Business School? You were a science geek and look where you are now. Always take your time and find the right path for yourself, regardless of what everyone else around you is doing!

STEVEN CO | EVENTS COORDINATOR INSTAGRAM: @_STEVENCO

DEAR FIRST YEAR ME, Can’t decide what to do? Ask yourself, what will I remember in five years?

ROBYN PACHES | WRITER FACEBOOK: ALBERTA ENERGY CHALLENGE, U OF A SKI CLUB

DEAR FIRST YEAR ME, Start building your business wardrobe. Now. NICOLE HAMMOND| WRITER INSTAGRAM: @CESTNICOLETTE WEBSITE: WWW.PINKPENCILSKIRT.COM

DEAR FIRST YEAR ME, Yes, BUS 201 will be as bad as you think, worse actually.

There’s nothing you can do about it thanks to the group project, so do well in your other classes to make up for the brutal blow your GPA. KARA HAUCA | WRITER

DEAR FIRST YEAR ME, Everyone is going to tell you to network and get involved. That’s great advice, but it will do you absolutely no good when your laptop crashes at 5:30pm the night before your business plan is due.

Make friends, have fun, but please, please learn how to back up your computer.

KYRA CUSVELLER | CONTENT EDITOR INSTAGRAM: @KYRACUSVELLER

DEAR FIRST YEAR ME, Ensure you keep an open mind about everything! Don’t forget to appreciate the little things in life. Plan to spend a semester abroad - I assure you it’s worth it.

MAGGIE LAM | DESIGNER

Sincerely,

THE TEAM

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NAVIGATING A CAREER FAIR With summer coming to an end and a fresh year of school ahead, career fair season is almost upon us!

Throughout the fall, recruiters travel the country promoting their employment brand to students. It’s important for all university students—from first-year and onwards—to attend career fairs to practice networking skills. Although you may be years away from actually looking for full-time work, it’s a great chance to perfect networking skills, make contacts, get a firm grip on the job market, and potentially even land an internship or summer job.

While most people know to dress sharply, have a firm handshake, and bring their resumé, most students struggle with what to actually say to recruiters and what questions to ask. Networking is generally uncomfortable at first for most people, which is why a career fair is a great place to practice!

Before you go to the career fair, do your research and map out what companies you’re interested in and what they actually do; (most career fairs post what companies are attending online). Nothing makes you look more unprepared than walking up to a booth and telling the recruiter you want to work there and having no idea what they actually do. Recruitment fairs are certainly an opportunity to ask questions but they should also be taken as an opportunity to have a quick pre-interview with the organization.

THE

PRE-INTERVIEW GUIDE The introduction Introduce yourself with a firm handshake, a friendly smile, and a sentence or two on your major and year of enrolment in university. Then give the recruiter a one-liner on what the company does to show that you’ve done your research. The introduction should be brief and to the point.

The elevator pitch The concept of the elevator pitch is that you have 60 seconds in an elevator to pitch your idea to an executive. At a career fair, you have one minute (or less) to explain how your skills would be a fit for the company or, even better, how you could solve a problem they have if you’ve really done your research. This pitch should be exciting and demonstrate your passion for their company and what they do!

The closer

This article was written by Heidi Murphy of Jobpostings.ca, Canada’s largest student job network helping post-secondary students find their internships, co-ops and entry-level jobs to launch their careers. Follow them@Jobpostingsca

To finish, you should create a call-to-action or an opportunity to follow up. This really depends on what stage of your university career you’re in. If you are graduating, ask how to submit a resumé, (in-person or online). If you’re in the midst of your university career, inquire about the process for internships, placements or summer jobs. If you are just collecting information for future use, just be up-front about that and tell them when you’re closer to graduation, you’ll be in touch. In any situation, always request a business card with contact information.

designed by ANNA LEE

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Quiz:

Which Clubs Are For You?

September can be a hectic time for any student. We try our best to balance experiencing as many clubs as possible with our academics. So with so many options, and not enough time to possibly attend all of those meetings AND still pass your classes, which club is right for you? Lazy Faire is here to help you with this difficult decision by way of a handy, user-friendly quiz:

1.

What are you most looking forward to this year in the School of Business? a. Spending time studying in the library with brand new textbooks b. Meeting new people and networking c. Rock and roll every day and party every night

2.

What is your favourite way to spend your time outside of school? a. Travelling and meeting people from other places b. Spending time with friends c. Having new experiences and making crazy plans

3.

What do you want to gain out of school this year? a. Focus on class work and the material for those exams that aren’t that far away b. Improve your presentation and public speaking skills c. Learn how to think on your feet and deal with unexpected challenges

4.

What is the most important issue for businesses to try and combat ? a. Profit is always the most important business issue b. Social issues and corporate responsibility c. Finding creative solutions to new problems

5.

Most importantly, how much do you like drinking beer? a. Never to once in a while b. On the weekend after a long week or when going out with friends c. Favourite activity: you practically live at Dewey’s during the school year

written by MARINA BRYAN designed by NICHOLE CHEN

Mostly A’s:

Mostly B’s:

Mostly C’s:

Accounting Club, Business Finance Association, PRIME

5 Days for the Homeless, AIESEC, Business Exchange Association

Rocky Mountain Business Seminar, Business Students Association, U of A Marketing Association

You want to meet new and interesting people from different backgrounds and make a difference in the world. Clubs are a great way to expand your circle of friends and gain a new perspective, especially with people from other faculties or countries. It’s also important to focus on things other than school and learn what’s happening in the rest of the world.

You like to have a good time and wake up the next morning with a story to tell. It’s also important to you to make sure that everyone else is enjoying themselves as well!. Join a club that helps you develop your event planning and leadership skills, but also gives you the chance to hang out with your friends and make the most of your creativity.

Clubs that represent the different areas of study in the School of Business are great for meeting people with the same passions and interests, as well as those who are in the same program as you. A lot of these clubs provide support for students in their respective disciplines, such as tutoring services and exam prep sessions. Of course, they are there to help you have a good time as well, and many hold events to hang out with other business students in a more social environment.

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written by THOMAS YONAN designed by ASHLEY TRUONG

You’re sitting here reading the “Welcome Back” edition of Lazy Faire, which must mean summer is over. While you may be bemoaning your bad fortune and the return of the all-nighters and desperate coffee runs, LF writer Thomas takes a philosophical twist on the obligatory back-to-school essay question, “What did you learn this summer?” Hopefully you turn the page feeling a little more inspired for the year to come!

Part I:

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” Everyone is talking about it. The Harvard Business Review, the Economist, the New York Times; all claim ‘mindfulness’ to be the ultimate key for success in business. Yet, as with most so-called ‘keys,’ the true meaning of the term is far more figurative than any short definition or how-to article might suggest. It might be said that, without internalizing a concept for oneself, any success derived remains with its author.

Part II:

“Thoughts without content are empty; intuitions without concepts are blind” — Immanuel Kant ’Mindfulness’ is a symbol, and it cannot be fully grasped until it is understood as such. On the surface, it appears to be no more than a pretentious synonym for empathy.

However, it is rather a word that alludes to an abstract concept which, when internalized through belief, serves as the basis for understanding others in a genuinely empathetic way. Thus, to understand mindfulness is to understand it in its abstract sense.

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Part III:

“Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel”— Socrates I recently had a conversation with an individual who seemed quite convinced that the philosophers of old contributed nothing to society; it was a shame for them to have wasted their lives ‘studying,’ never to commit any of their dogmas to practice. Despite my suspicion that he did not actually intend to receive an answer, I suggested that perhaps there were two sorts of people: those who find satisfaction enough in working towards their own purposeful goals, and those who only feel satisfaction as long as the fulfilment of their goals contributes to a higher, more universal purpose. “That’s quite stupid,” he had responded, “if purpose were defined individually then that would make purpose rather purposeless, now wouldn’t it?” Needless to say, he was uninterested in my “mindless platitudes.”

Part IV:

“He who is brave is free” — Seneca the Younger Equipped with reason, humanity has always grasped for the truth; we call this philosophy. Of course we can also turn a blind eye to truth; that is called free will. This dichotomy between the will and the truth marks the difference between the arbitrary and the rational; the individual and the citizen. As it so happens, to be con-

sidered a citizen, we must give up our absolute freedom as individuals to the state so as to receive its protection in return; that is called the law. As citizens, actions are rational insofar as they are made with respect to the constraints of the law; the law ideally representing the collective will of the state.Thus, a person who acts from reason acts as a part of the state, and thus for themselves and for all; they live the truth. n the other hand, a person who acts arbitrarily acts alone and for no-one.

Part V:

“The world can be possessed only by its possessing me, and this in turn is the way it possesses the person who has won the world” — Søren Kierkegaard The irony of mindfulness is this: If we adopt mindfulness for the sake of better business, we have missed the point. Mindfulness is simply the realization of a true sense of empathy, of which can only develop through a belief in some external principle that connects us to others. For some, that principle is God. Others believe in mutual respect as a rational imperative of its own.

Either way, we are all in fact united as citizens under the law. So if the question is about why anyone ought to care, really care, about other people, the answer is simple: We must, for it is the only rational thing to do.

written by RAHIQUE UM MAKTOOM HANDOO designed by ANNA LEE photographed by KYRA CUSVELLER

LAZY CHAT

LAZY CHAT WITH

L U K E MELENBERG You probably know Luke Melenberg. At the very least, you know of him. Entering his second year of a Marketing degree, this School of Business superstar can be found doing any number of wide-ranging activities, all with a huge grin on his face. Taking a break from his busy schedule, Luke sat down with Lazy Faire to chat about goals, time management, and the craziest thing he’s done on ice.

You were with the JDC West Social Team, UAMA, and a cohort representative with the Business Students Association this past year. Was there ever a point where you were overwhelmed trying to manage your first year of Business with all these other commitments?

For me, managing my life in Business was all about planning ahead. If I started working and finishing projects a week or two ahead of time, I found that I rarely ran into a situation where I needed a late night to get everything done. However, when a late night is needed, there is nothing more helpful than a couple friends to work through it with you.

The JDC West Social team gets to participate in the fun and games aspect of the competition. Can you share your craziest memory from the experience?

Without a doubt it was our figure skating challenge from the competition. We were transported to an indoor rink at 3AM in Victoria, where our team had 22 minutes to organize and perform a team figure skating routine with certain key moves that needed to be included in the challenge. Our team was dressed in banana costumes and the other teams were dressed as everything ranging from Lucky Charms to unicorns. It was hilarious. What each team came up with was just so crazy you almost couldn’t believe your eyes for most of the performances.

How has the past year at the Alberta School of Business shaped you?

This past year in the ASoB has taught me a lot about what it means to be really driven and to find your passion and then pursue it fervidly. Honestly, it just comes as a byproduct from being surrounded by people who are extremely driven themselves. When I came into the ASoB at the beginning of last year, probably the biggest shock was that there were no longer people in my classes who were just playing around with their time in University. People were there for a reason, had goals, and were going to achieve them. When you are surrounded by people like that, all you have to do is figure out what you want to do yourself.

Being involved is a big part of life as a business student.

What advice do you have for anyone trying to get involved but can’t seem to find the right way to do so?

I have 2 big pieces of advice: a. Attend events. By getting involved with the many events that are thrown by the School of Business, you get yourself out there and get to know a lot of other people who are involved in the business community. b. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t get a position on a certain club. There are a ton of other opportunities out there for you and it doesn’t make sense to stop pursuing them because you did not succeed with another one.

What do you hope to have achieved at the end of the the upcoming year?

There are a couple things that I would like to achieve in the coming year. Probably some of the biggest ones are to place in the JDC West competition for the marketing team and to land a great position in my field for next summer.

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