As part of Ivey’s yearlong centennial celebrations, students were invited to participate in an exciting and dynamic essay competition. The competition highlighted five key questions related to Ivey’s Critical Issues: Sustainability, Evolution of Work, and Canada’s Place in the World. The Lawrence National Centre for Policy & Management, in collaboration with Ivey’s Research and Development Office, oversaw the track of the competition challenging students to think critically and creatively about the future of EVs: "In a world of existential environmental risks, emerging technologies, and hyper-national competition, can Canada lead in the development and adoption of EVs?"
To kick off this segment of the competition, students were invited to attend an Ivey Idea Forum in September that brought together an esteemed panel of industry experts, including Meena Bibra, Senior Policy Advisor at Clean Energy Canada; Colin Singh Dhillon, Chief Technical Officer at the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association; and Brian Kingston, President & CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers Association. Their insights illustrated the challenges and opportunities within the EV sector, sparking meaningful discussions and posing crucial questions about the future of electric vehicles. The Idea Forum provided students with critical foundational and contextual information, as well as the opportunity to speak directly with industry experts before starting to think about their innovative paper proposals.
Read more about the Idea Forum event
Seventeen teams, comprising a total of 49 students, enthusiastically accepted the challenge. The top 10 proposals were selected to proceed to the next stage, where they were directed to fully articulate their ideas, action plans and desired outcomes through a paper and short video presentation. All teams put forward thoughtful and innovative papers outlining their vision for an electric future. The top three teams were announced during a virtual live stream event, and the winners were invited to attend Ivey’s Future We See Symposium in Toronto on November 9th.
The Ivey Idea Forum and the 100th Symposium EV paper competition not only showcased the students' academic competency but also highlighted the enthusiasm and commitment of the next generation to shaping a sustainable future in the electric vehicle industry. The top three teams share their experiences and learnings from the exciting competition below.
Third Place: Team 12
Securing the third position, Team 12 comprised of Jing Duo Gao (HBA student), Gaurav Chahal (HBA student), and Rusiri Karunarathne (MSc student). Jing Duo's noteworthy journey involved receiving positive feedback and advancing to the final round, indicating that their ideas had successfully captured the judges' attention. He attributes his team's success to the strong trust among its members, creating a collaborative environment where constructive criticism was embraced. As the team looked forward to engaging with industry leaders, they viewed the event as an opportunity to expand their perspectives and potentially discover projects within the electric vehicle field. What’s more, Jing Duo is currently on the path to consulting with Deloitte's Public Sector Transformation team, and is confident that the connections made through the competition will open avenues for projects in the electric vehicle domain.
Second Place: Team 17, "EV EVangelists"
Team 17, comprising of MBA students Soumyarup Dasgupta, Giuliana Fonseca, and Prateek Bindal, found inspiration in the presentations of industry leaders during the Idea Forum. Discovering the APMA's zero-emission concept vehicle, Project Arrow, was a highlight that fueled their creative thinking. Brian Kingston's insights on improving the battery supply chain served as a guidepost for their competition strategy.
The team's journey was marked by a bold plan to reduce EV ownership costs through a "Drive EV for Free" program. Exploring sustainable funding models and studying case studies from other countries, they crafted a comprehensive approach to tackle the ambitious emission goals. Despite not being selected to participate in the symposium, the team remains enthusiastic about contributing to the EV landscape.
First Place: Team 6, “The Future of EVolution”
First place was triumphantly secured by MSc students Kashish Mittal, Kyle Edmonds, and Joseph Lau.
Reflecting on the exhilarating journey, Kyle Edmonds highlighted the team's diverse experiences and complementary skill sets, including expertise in design thinking, innovation, and international business, which played a pivotal role in their success. Despite the challenges, their "short but sweet" journey involved late-night dedication to crafting a paper and video submission that they are genuinely proud of.
Anticipating the upcoming Ivey 100 Symposium, Kyle expressed excitement about the invaluable opportunity to connect with industry leaders. He hopes to learn from their personal journeys and gain insights that will shape his future career path. Winning the competition has fueled Kyle's commitment to a sustainable focus, with aspirations to continue involvement in sustainability-related projects, conduct further research, and contribute to the electric vehicle industry.
Joseph Lau emphasized the success of their team, attributing it to their ability to merge a mutual passion for sustainability with their unique skills and backgrounds. The team's diverse composition, with members from the MSc Digital Management and MSc International Business streams, allowed for a comprehensive analysis of EV adoption, combining research and analysis with visual storytelling in their winning submission.
The collaborative approach of bridging passion with skills has left a lasting impression on Joseph, reinforcing the team's commitment to sustainability. He envisions continuing involvement in sustainable projects and contributing to the wide-ranging impact that sustainable practices, particularly in transportation, can have.