Three Ivey leaders, including former Ivey dean Carol Stephenson, were among the 16 individuals awarded honorary degrees at Western University’s 307th Convocation.
Stephenson was honoured at Ivey’s HBA ceremony on June 21. Don McDougall, MBA ’61, Chair and CEO of Rambri Management Inc. and eJust Systems Inc., received an honorary degree at the King’s University College Convocation on June 14. Jon Love, HBA '76, Founder and Managing Partner of KingSett Capital Inc., was hooded at Ivey’s MBA, MSc, and EMBA Convocation ceremony on June 10.
In her citation at the ceremony, Stephenson shared how courage has helped in her career and in life. She encouraged the HBA Class of 2016 to be true to themselves and act on their beliefs. But to do, she said, takes courage.
“Courage is a muscle that is strengthened by practising it in both our professional and personal lives through our everyday actions, decisions, and choices. Courage can show up as persistence and resilience in the face of adversity. Courage is about not giving up on your dreams,” she said. "And this is important to me: courage can show up as kindness and compassion. Courage is reaching out when it would be easier to turn away or not get involved."
Stephenson was Ivey’s dean from 2003-2013 after a successful career in the Canadian telecom industry and she has already earned significant recognition for her community work and industry involvement.
Love said the secret to success is adherence to strong values, made up of four components: respect of others, humility of self, integrity, and building relationships. He encouraged the graduates at his ceremony to reflect upon their time at Ivey and those who made a difference.
“Think about what you can learn from your experience, as those that can learn can evolve to do great things,” he said.
In addition to founding KingSett Capital, Canada’s leading private equity real estate investment business, Love is on the Boards of Directors of the Business Council of Canada and the Chief Executives Organization. He is also on the Executive Committee of Ivey’s Advisory Board and chaired its New Building Task Force.
While President of Labatt Brewing company in the 1970s, McDougall provided the leadership that landed the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto and the Grand Prix du Canada in Montreal. He is currently Chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island.
