New Ways to Make Memories

A message from Larissa Chaikowsky, MBA ’04, Chair, Ivey Alumni Network

Powerful memories have stayed with me from my first Global Ivey Day as Alumni Chair.

Two colleagues at the Senior Alumni Breakfast who hadn’t seen each other in more than 30 years, trading stories about family and career and making plans to get together as if no time had passed. Ryan Grant Little, MBA ’06, and Nadia Ladak, HBA ’20, receiving their Ivey Alumni Achievement Awards. I heard many times how people were “blown away” by the sophistication, technology, and beauty of the new Donald K. Johnson Centre when they saw it for the first time.

Those were just a few of the memorable moments shared across 25 regional events in eight countries that brought together more than 1,000 alumni. The Ivey bond is truly something special.

Strengthening that bond is why we went out with the Voice of Alumni survey, connecting with alumni at every stage of their careers. One thing was clear: there is no single solution that fits everyone. Yet one message stood out above all others. No matter where you are in your career or life journey, meaningful human connection matters.

Whether it is larger events that help expand your network early in your career or more curated learning and networking opportunities later, we are exploring new ways to better meet your needs.

Removing the geographic barriers that stand in the way of making new memories was also critical learning from the survey. By creating more opportunities both online and in person, we can help remove geographic barriers and bring our alumni community even closer together.

At the same time, we are refreshing our strategy to ensure we are focused on the right priorities and delivering even greater value to our alumni community. I look forward to sharing more about that and other exciting opportunities in my next message.

One final memory from Global Ivey Day: An HBA student attending the Sydney, Australia, event while on exchange shared that she could see herself working there one day. Imagine how a single connection can shape a career, influence an industry, and even change a future.

If you are having a milestone year, I hope Homecoming 2026 creates memorable moments like these for you, and I look forward to hearing your stories.