This year, Ivey students secured summer internships across unique industries, from global EdTech to conservation management. These experiences were opportunities to apply course insights, tackle complex business problems, and grow as future leaders.
Learn about their unique experiences and advice for navigating the world of business as Ivey students.
Ibrahim Behiri, HBA '26 candidate
This summer, Ibrahim Behiri, joined Hadley Family Capital as an Investment Analyst. The firm is founded by Ivey alum, River Ewing, HBA ’18, and focuses on supporting and investing in small businesses.
Behiri was interested in the role when it was posted on the Ivey job portal. He strengthened his application by asking his former manager at a search fund to introduce him to the firm – ultimately securing an interview and the position.
Engaging in a variety of tasks has enabled Behiri to develop his judgment for making successful business decisions. Interviewing searchers, analyzing new investment opportunities, and supporting current portfolio companies were part of the wide range of responsibilities he fulfilled.
A memorable moment for Behiri was attending a facility unveiling for New School Foods, one of the family office’s investments. He was able to witness the production process and sample the company’s delicious plant-based creations with his team.
From his experience at Hadley Family Capital, Behiri has learned the importance of networking to build long-term professional relationships, and the difference a strong leader can make in the performance and growth of a small business.
Working at an alum-founded company was testimony to Ivey’s focus on strengthening students’ leadership – and enhanced Behiri’s work experience.
“River has shown me how strong and supportive the Ivey Alumni Network truly is,” he said. “His mentorship and willingness to invest in my development reflects the generosity and professionalism that define the Ivey alumni community.”
Behiri shared some advice for fellow students navigating new career opportunities.
“It may sound cliché, but networking is essential,” he said. “Building genuine relationships not only helps to land opportunities but also accelerates your learning and career development. Be proactive, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice.”
Ryanna Luo, HBA '26 candidate
Ryanna Luo spent the summer in Singapore as a Product Manager Intern at Cialfo, an AI-powered workflow platform for secondary school counselling services. With a background in computer science and a passion for education, Luo says the experience affirmed her interest for product management in the EdTech industry – an industry where she sees the most potential to make an impact.
“There’s so much innovation happening within this overlap between education and technology and being part of a global team tackling those challenges was exactly the kind of experience I was looking for,” said Luo.
Travelling abroad was unexpected for Luo. While considering potential roles in Canada, she explored the EdTech startup scene in Singapore and cold-messaged a senior manager at Cialfo to eventually land a custom position.
Over the course of her four-month internship, Luo said every day was different – which has been her favourite part of the experience. She worked across the product lifecycle, from user research and data analysis to collaborating with designers and engineers on new feature launches. Reflecting on how Ivey prepared her for the role, she said the HBA program’s structure enabled her to diversify her education.
“I have both the technical skills from studying computer science [before I entered the HBA program] and the business and leadership skills from Ivey,” said Luo. “[This combination] is rare and has been especially valuable in product work. I can speak the engineers’ language while also understanding the strategic and user-facing side of what we are building.”
A highlight of Luo's summer was attending the company’s Growth Week Summit. The days were filled with intense workshops and company decisions happening in real time, balanced by memorable moments of laughter, going out for dinners, and even spontaneous karaoke.
Luo's experience at Ciaflo developed her confidence to explore new opportunities and persevere through feelings of uncertainty.
“Take the leap on things that scare you a little. Go for the unconventional path or the idea that feels a little too bold. It almost always works out in ways you could never imagine,” she said.
Vince Pham, HBA '26 candidate
The Get REAL movement is a Toronto-based nonprofit organization working towards equity and anti-discrimination within schools and workplaces by providing educational programming, youth allyship, and community networks.
Vince Pham worked as Get REAL's Marketing Coordinator this summer. His alignment with the position compelled the executive director to offer Pham the role on the same day of his interview.
“This role spoke to me purely based on values, goals, and beliefs,” said Pham. “Because of my work in this space at Western and Ivey, through SpectrumUWO, PrideUSC, and HBAA, this position was an opportunity to continue my advocacy work on a grander, larger scale – from my school community to the entire country.”
Pham’s responsibilities included event planning, research, and outreach. Joining the Get REAL team ahead of Pride month was a busy time of year for Pham to learn as much as possible in his role. He said the opportunity to coordinate competing tasks for multiple events was incredibly rewarding.
“I helped Get REAL plan their first Youth Pride Prom, having previous experience planning a similar event for a student club,” he said. “I was able to have a say in how the occasion was facilitated, and I got to see the direct impact of the event.”
Some of Pham's most memorable moments were from participating in Toronto’s Pride celebrations, such as Pride on a Boat and being invited to Warner Music’s Track 4 Track song writing camp.
Ivey’s extracurricular opportunities and discussion-based classes developed Pham’s leadership skills and prepared him to succeed as Marketing Coordinator.
“Being placed into program sections with individuals of diverse experiences and backgrounds, really enhanced my ability to understand multiple perspectives and see how other people may approach the same problem,” said Pham.
Pham's advice to students is to stay true to personal values when considering work opportunities.
"You’ll not only be doing work that you’re proud of, but you’ll become someone you’re proud of, as well,” said Pham.
Lauren Meikle, HBA '25
Lauren Meikle spent the summer working with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA), a non-profit in London, Ontario, dedicated to conserving nature and protecting land to enhance climate change resiliency.
“I was primarily interested in working for a non-profit in the environmental sector,” said Meikle. “The UTRCA’s mission and its emphasis on interconnected ecosystems really intrigued me.”
The Community Internship role combined hands-on fieldwork with business analysis. From May to mid-June, school field trips made up most of Meikle’s schedule, while the later months were dedicated to analysis and strategic projects. Responsibilities included competitor analysis, strategic planning for UTRCA’s long-term vision, and data analysis.
One notable accomplishment involved analyzing campground occupancy across UTRCA sites. Using data-driven insights, Meikle identified electricity as a key driver for campers and proposed infrastructure upgrades projected to generate more than $100,000 in additional annual revenue.
“This was never a formal assignment – but I noticed the trend and dug into the data to understand why occupancy was declining,” she said.
Reflecting on the experience, Ivey’s training in strategy, finance, and operations played a crucial role in enabling Meikle to make meaningful contributions, even as the most junior person in the room.
The summer also reinforced the importance of perseverance, and Meikle’s advice to students is to focus on the impact of individual actions to address global issues.
“Planting 1,000 trees won’t solve climate change, but it’s a step in the right direction. Retain that long-term goal-orientation through adversity,” she said.
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