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Gabrielle Foss

Where are you from? What high school did you attend?

Toronto, ON - Northern Secondary School

What was your Program of Study for Years 1 and 2?

Health Studies Program in the Faculty of Health Sciences

List your Extra-curricular involvement in the first two years of university.

Co-Founder, North in Focus (non-profit that promotes mental health in the Canadian Arctic), Western Triathlon Club, Western Climbing Club, Photographer, Pre-Business Students' Network Lifestyle Magazine

Why did you choose Ivey’s HBA program?

My primary interests have always revolved around population and environmental health promotion. I knew I could learn the theory around these topics in the Health Studies program, but craved tangible skills for decision-making and action-taking in order to apply my learnings in the real world. After taking Introduction to Business in first year, I was sold on Ivey.

Describe one highlight of your Ivey Experience thus far.

A major highlight of my time at Ivey was participating in the Leadership Under Fire program at the end of HBA1. This army-inspired, multi-day leadership course was the greatest experiential learning opportunity I've ever had. Our cohort was pushed to act as both effective leaders and followers, while facing tasks designed to challenge our bodies, minds, and values.

What advice do you have for incoming HBA students?

Join clubs as soon as you can! I found people I could relate to, with similar career interests and personal passions, through the Sustainability Club during HBA1. This club has since been amalgamated into the Ivey Social Impact Club, which I had the great pleasure of co-leading this past year alongside some of my closest friends at Ivey.

How has Ivey’s Career Management set you up for success?

One of the Social Impact Club's missions this year was to make the Ivey population more aware of career opportunities within the social and environmental impact space. Career Management was very willing to collaborate with us to achieve this, and kindly put a list of impact-related job sites on their platform this year.

What kind of support did you find the most helpful with the intense curriculum in HBA1?

Support from friends and classmates was crucial for surviving/thriving in HBA1. They are the best tutors because they were exposed to the same material, but likely processed it differently depending on their academic background or personal interests. Often friends are also happy to help because teaching someone else the information further solidifies their own understanding.

What has been the most challenging part of the program for you?

The most challenging part of the program has been balancing competing academic and extracurricular priorities, while maintaining my own physical and mental wellness. I've found it personally beneficial to ensure I get my daily run or climb in, because I'm always more focussed on my coursework after I've put myself first.

What are your plans for after graduation?

I'll be working in the Sustainability department of a forestry company in Laos this summer, and then returning to Toronto to seek full-time employment in the Fall.

HBA '19

Ivey Business School

Gabrielle Foss

Gabrielle Foss

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