On August 13, Ivey MBA students stepped beyond the classroom to roll up their sleeves – planting trees, packing backpacks, and showing that business leaders can spark change not only through innovation, but by strengthening the communities they serve.
It was all part of Social Impact Day, an annual event dedicated to service, connection, and firsthand learning about social, environmental, and economic issues. The students partnered with seven local organizations – ReForest London, Urban Roots, City of London Adopt-A-Park, Yu Ranch, Habitat for Humanity, LifeSpin, and 519 Pursuit – contributing their time and energy to causes ranging from environmental stewardship to housing support.
The day also reflected Ivey’s purpose — Inspiring leaders for a sustainable and prosperous world — by encouraging students to apply their skills and values to create positive change beyond campus.
Inspiring leadership beyond the MBA bubble
During an opening ceremony to kick off the event, Martha Maznevski, PhD ’94, MBA Faculty Director, encouraged the students to see beyond the “MBA bubble.”
“When we're in the MBA program, it's kind of a bubble, an Ivey bubble. Every day is structured, and it's easy to forget that we're connected. This bubble is nested inside a community that's connected to a society and the whole world. Today is about reminding us of that,” she said. “One of the most important places for getting joy is in giving – giving things to other people and seeing them appreciate it without any expectation of return, brings us deep joy. I hope today you experience that joy.”
She also shared a personal lesson from a mentor: pass it on.
“This was somebody who got me through my MBA in graduate studies and really gave me so much. I asked, ‘How could I possibly say thank you? ' and he said something to me that has never left me, ‘Simply, pass it on.’ Not pay it forward, not pay it back … Pass it on whenever you're in a position to do something for somebody else,” she said. “You've received a lot of things from other people, a lot of support. Today is just the day to pass that on. So laugh, experience joy, and pass it on.”
Taking action in the community
Following the morning send-off, the students fanned out across the city, taking part in activities such as weeding and mulching young trees, harvesting organic produce, assembling care packages, and preparing school backpacks for children in need. Each project offered a chance to connect with community members, learn about local challenges, and contribute to meaningful change, all while putting Ivey’s values into action.
Watch the video above to see how our students learned, engaged, and created positive change in the community.
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