Anyone that has visited Spencer lately has probably noticed that the September class is looking a tad stressed and a bit sleep deprived. We are in the heart of Module 2a and waist deep in complex finance, accounting, and strategy cases. The learning curve in this module has definitely been very steep, especially for those of us who don’t have a background in Accounting and Finance like myself. While this module has been rather intense, we have learnt a lot of valuable information in the past six weeks. I now know how to value a company, calculate the cost of capital, and figure out the best strategy for launching a new line of romance novels (you will have to come here to figure that last one out :)), amongst other things.
Although the workload and pace of this module has seemed rather daunting at times, I feel like this module has really helped me develop valuable skills. I used to be the ultimate procrastinator, but I find myself organizing my time better, and using the time I have more effectively; and suddenly what seemed daunting at first, doesn’t seem so daunting anymore. One of the great things about this program is what you learn outside of the classroom!
On another note, in mid-November I had the opportunity, along with 14 other Ivey MBA Students, to attend Net Impact, the premier conference on Corporate Social Responsibility in North America. The conference was held at Cornell University over two days, and was truly an eye-opening experience. Some of the highlights included listening to a keynote speech by Jeff Immelt, and meeting Alex Counts, the president of the US branch of the Grameen Bank. Net Impact was a great way to learn about the different ways businesses can be socially responsible and give back the communities in which they operate. If you ever find yourself with the opportunity to attend this event, seize it!
Happy Holidays!
Shanti Suppiah graduated from the University of Guelph, with a Bachelor of Honors in economics. Prior to pursuing her MBA at Ivey, Shanti worked as an Investigator at the Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments. In her spare time, Shanti enjoys reading, travelling and dabbling in the culinary arts.