Expanding student experience

When Bri Thompson was in her first year in the Alberta School of Business, she signed up as a cohort representative with the Business Students’ Association (BSA). 

She didn’t know it at the time, but that experience was the best decision she could have made and set in motion the trajectory of her undergraduate student experience. 

“Everyone’s probably heard it a million times, but being involved in the faculty makes your experience,” said Thompson, fourth-year strategy, entrepreneurship and management student and current president of the BSA.

“My cohort became my community; they were a group of people that would always applaud and hype me up.”

The BSA represents students’ needs and advocates for those needs by creating a strong community with services ranging from wellness and mental health to academic services and mentorship. 

The leadership opportunities she gained as a cohort representative gave Thompson the chance to know students and their experiences, and learn from and build relationships with older students in the faculty. 

It also showed her things she wanted to change or do differently within the faculty, including creating more possibilities for students in the Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) space.

To support the school’s commitment to EDI, as president, Thompson said she’ll hold faculty accountable as community leaders and role models and mandate anti-racism and anti-bias training for club executives. (Thompson was involved in implementing the training for the first time last year.)

She’ll also ensure club executives sign a contract before getting funding from the BSA to make sure there’s no participation in derogatory behaviour that could be harmful to the community in any way.

“I always knew that I wanted to be president because I’m really passionate about advocating for grassroots (in this case, grassroots being the students) and leading and creating a team that I would want to be a part of,” said Thompson. 

Indigenous Business Students' Association

As the newest club in the Alberta School of Business, Madeleine Durocher and Bianca Dumonceaux, co-chairs and co-founders of the Indigenous Business Students' Association (IBSA) know what they want to accomplish this year.

At the forefront of that list? Building a safe and supportive community for Indigenous students and raising awareness about Indigenous representation within the business industry.

“We want to raise awareness that business is an added post-secondary option for Indigenous youth to consider and want to encourage more Indigenous youth to apply, and in turn, increase representation,” said Dumonceaux.

Durocher and Dumonceaux, who identify as Métis and Cree respectively, were approached last year by Michelle Inness, the assistant dean of equity, diversity and inclusivity, on ways to address issues of representation amongst Indigenous students within the school. 

“The Indigenous communities are quite marginalized and it would be really great to bridge that gap and create a decolonization approach where Indigenous peoples are able to share their ways of doing business,” said Durocher.

The association isn’t exclusive to Indigenous students — it’s also valuable for the broader business community to learn from Indigenous business leaders and think critically about other people’s perspectives and experiences. 

“This initiative is a great chance to bring more education to the business faculty as a whole,” said Dumonceaux.

Though current health restrictions don’t permit large in-person gatherings, Dumonceaux said there will be lots of exciting networking and learning opportunities like events, workshops and speaker series. 

“Being a part of something that I think will make and bring about so much change in the future is really exciting,” said Durocher. 

Though the landscape of the student club experience will look a bit different as we navigate the current public health crisis, there are still many ways to get involved. Take a look at some of the other undergraduate student organizations in the Alberta School of Business:

Network of Empowered Women

Maria Skotheim, director of public relations

Tell me about your club?

Network of Empowered Women stands at the forefront of female empowerment. We strive to connect undergraduate students with industry professionals and provide an opportunity for them to grow and break barriers!

Why should students get involved with your club?

Network of Empowered Women is a very inclusive and welcoming space! Any undergraduate student is encouraged to apply for our 2022 conference at the Chateau Fairmont, Lake Louise happening March 17-20, 2022. We will be joined by inspiring speakers and industry professionals who will provide valuable lessons and insights to delegates to help them break barriers and achieve their goals!

Alberta International Business Competition

Yegor Muzechka, co-chair

Tell me about your club?

The Alberta International Business Competition strives to promote international business through case competitions along with a multitude of networking opportunities. 

Why should students get involved with your club?

In order to gain exposure to the concepts of consulting and International Business. 

Business Finance Association

Evan Saunders, vice president, academic

Tell me about your club?

The Business Finance Association (BFA) contributes to the professional development of U of A students interested in corporate finance, banking, investment management, and other fields. We support this mission by connecting students with the professional world (through speakers, events, networking, competitions, etc), by representing students to the faculty and staff of the Department of Finance, and through academic support (review sessions, tutoring). 

Why should students get involved with your club?

The BFA runs a lot of exciting events for students and has valuable connections to industry. Whether students participate through an executive role, directorship, as a general member, or just want to attend our events, we aim to let them explore the world of finance and take steps towards working in finance! This year, as we return to hosting in-person events (where permitted), we hope to provide both academic and career value in a fun atmosphere. 

University of Alberta Real Estate Club

Nicholas Cryans, president 

Tell me about your club?

A student group dedicated to providing insight into the critical role of the real estate industry in life, business and the community. 

Why should students get involved with your club?

A great opportunity to meet students with similar interests while gaining exposure to the real estate industry. 

Cooperative Education Students' Association 

Red Enorme, president 

Tell me about your club?

The Cooperative Education Students' Association (CESA) provides support to students and aims to enhance the cooperative education experience through our events and services. As an organized student liaison between business students, the Alberta School of Business, and employers, CESA acts as a forum for discussion and networking opportunities ― bringing students, faculty, and the business community together.

Why should students get involved with your club?

Students should be involved in our club because it is a great opportunity to not only learn more about the co-op program but also connect with other students and business professionals. Professional development is something we really value at CESA, and we are here to support students at every step of the way!

University of Alberta Human Resource Management Association

Jadon To, vice president of marketing 

Tell me about your club?

The University of Alberta Human Resource Management Association connects students with the people side of business. 

Why should students get involved with your club?

We provide resources for those students looking to explore careers where they can drive culture and strategy, and have a transformational impact on businesses and individuals alike.

Alberta Not-For-Profit Association

Jasmine Luong, co-chair

Tell me about your club?

Alberta Not-For-Profit Association (ANPA) aims to increase awareness and connect students with different opportunities in the local not-for-profit sector through our various initiatives such as speaker sessions, networking events, and volunteering opportunities. Additionally, we host Canada's only live not-for-profit case competition where delegates from 12-16 universities participate!

Why should students get involved with your club?

Especially in the business faculty, students are presented with many opportunities in the for-profit sector, but not many are able to learn more about the not-for-profit sector. By being involved with ANPA, whether as an executive member, general member, or event attendee, students will be able to enhance their knowledge of the sector, or simply learn about ways to be involved with different not-for-profits in the local community.

Management and Business Strategy Club

Avneet Dhillon, vice president of marketing

Our club focuses on providing engaging and impactful events based on various management and business strategy topics. This is done through hosting competitions and events based on different categories from the strategy, entrepreneurship and management department which aim to provide students with academic resources and opportunities for practical application of classroom skills.

Why should students get involved with your club?

Students should become involved with our club if they have an interest in management and strategy and are looking for an opportunity to apply the skills they have been learning in class to real-world scenarios!  

University of Alberta Marketing Association

Anjika Sabhani, vice president, communications

Tell me about your club?

The University of Alberta Marketing Association is a bold-minded student group working to provide business students with creative and interactive marketing events.

Why should students get involved with your club?

If students choose to be a part of our club they can expect lots of opportunities to connect with professionals in the marketing industry, broaden their skillset and have fun along the way.

Rocky Mountain Business Seminar

Ashley Clark, vice president, public relations 

Tell me about your club?

For the last 57 years, students, faculty and the business community are invited to the beautiful Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge to experience a week of learning, networking, and exploration. Over 100 student delegates from across North America have the opportunity to connect with peers as well as leaders in the business industry. 

Why should students get involved with your club?

Coming to the Rocky Mountain Business Seminar is an unforgettable week filled with memories. Students have the chance to meet other students from across Canada, network with 30+ corporates, learn at keynotes, breakout sessions, and workshops, participate in a case competition, and take part in nightly entertainment!

Business Technology Management Club 

Tayshana Beeharry, co-president 

Tell me about your club?

We promote business technology management (BTM) as a major and learn all about career prospects. 

Why should students get involved with your club?

If they want to know more about BTM or have a BTM major/minor.

University of Alberta Accounting Club

Ophelia Lam, vice president executive 

Tell me about your club?

University of Alberta Accounting Club’s goal is to form the bridge between accounting students and firms to foster an appreciation for the accounting profession in the business world. With the generous support of our sponsors, we are devoted to bringing our members a unique and unforgettable experience during their undergraduate program.

Why should students get involved with your club?

As students, you can either choose to be involved as a general member or as part of the executive team. Both opportunities aim to provide students with the chance to demonstrate their accounting coursework knowledge and their skill sets while meeting professionals in both public firms and industry. As general members, you will be given the opportunity to participate in our events and future opportunities and will be notified firsthand through email regarding the events and opportunities. For students who are looking to be involved as an executive member, you will be largely involved in events planning while having the chance to work with professionals within the accounting field! UAAC hopes to bring the best experience for both our general members and executive members!

Enactus UAB

Kanika Vashist, co-president

Tell me about your club?

We love that Enactus is an interdisciplinary club where students can use their practical skills to create a difference in the world. Enactus is unique in that it provides entrepreneurial individuals with a platform to start social ventures. Whether their skill set includes research, public speaking or graphic design, there is a way for them to leverage this and create social change.

Why should students get involved with your club?

Enactus is for any student! We are interdisciplinary and encourage diversity. Anybody looking for practical/meaningful volunteering experience should check out our projects postings! Overall, being a part of Enactus has been a huge part of both of our undergrad experiences so far. It has helped us to grow our network, make new friends, and gain lots of valuable experience.