“Stuck in Tokyo, be in NYC at 11 PM… see you then”, a text message that I receive while frantically working with a fellow Ivey student at the Detroit airport. As we board the plane to the Big Apple, I get a phone call from Toronto indicating that another team member’s flight got delayed! Time is short and the presentation at the United Nation’s 53rd Commission of ECOSOC is only 37 hours away. Two teams of 5 students each from Ivey – the first Canadian school ever, is presenting the role of Canada in fighting HIV/AIDS in the context of gender mainstreaming.
Finally we see the NYC skyline, adrenalin gushing, as the plane spears down through the clouds! At La Guardia we board a limousine to head to our Times Square apartment, where sleepless team mates are debating policy making at the UN. Seeing classmates in a city that never sleeps, the anxiety levels drop and the spirit of team work kicks right back in. After a quick bite at 1 AM and talking about our flight experiences, my team huddles together in the living room of the apartment. We project the slide deck on a wall and start hashing out details slide-by-slide. The suggestions, the frustrations, the laughter, the hysteria are all fond memories and reinforced stronger bonds among team members!
The clock is ticking away and it is nearly 5 AM. After catching some zees, we greedily make use of the much missed sunshine and walk towards the Hudson river; towards the glass building fenced by world flags! Excitement levels escalate as we enter the main lobby to get our badges to access the main United Nations grounds, where I have eagerly wanted to present since I was 16 (when I experienced the Model UN at the Hague)! After grabbing a bite at the UN cafeteria we headed to the souvenir store to pick up some memorabilia and UN postcards, which can be mailed using UN postage and only from the UN post office! Seeing people from several countries in their national dresses and speaking in their language creates a sense of diplomatic urgency. We are reminded of our agenda as we leave the building and walk back towards our apartment. Back “home” we go over the slides and minutia for the last time, while another team member hurriedly assures that all logistics are catered to. Just then we realize the need to make photocopies! The next morning two team members head to the New York Public Library, while the remaining three rush to the presentation room. The presentation is about half hour away and the two team members are still missing. As we set up the projector and the audience starts settling down at their seats, the missing members arrive… “phew”, I whispered!
The presentation begins, with each Ivey member proudly and confidently speaking about Canada in the world’s largest international forum. Two hours of presentation and fielding sensitive questions from the audience, brought our MBA leadership on the frontline. With Ivey and Western Law students on the team, we made a strong impression of our knowledge of Canada and HIV/AIDS, although I must admit that the Q&A period was challenging – since we were confronted by experts in HIV/AIDS and related global policies. Fielding those questions was definitely challenging and rewarding. After wrapping up we head back to the United Nations caucuses to witness live policy making, something that I had been curious about since the Model UN at The Hague. Seeing another live session in one of the general assembly auditoriums was an exciting experience. That afternoon I get a call from Ivey Press, who wants to release an article on our presentation. We head back to London the next morning to share our experiences with the press, faculty and classmates.
In hindsight, I have discovered that if you have a passion for something, chase it. Ivey will support your initiative. United Nations was a passion for me. Seeing my father as a diplomat, I was always allured by opportunities in international development. I saw MBA as a necessary tool to acquire leadership skills. Working for the United Nations is my long-term goal and after the National Council for Women Canada presented an opportunity five months ago, the onus was on me to make this presentation at the UN a reality; thus establishing a stepping-stone to achieve my long-term goal. Am I there yet? Probably not! Having gone to the UN as a presenter, I truly believe that I am closer to reaching my ambitions. I have come to believe that Ivey is not just an MBA, it’s a gateway to your ambitions; Ivey provides us with opportunities to leave behind a legacy …