Their destinations may differ, but they all began at the same place. A look at alumni stories of success that started at Ivey.
My name is Jaclyn Hiebert, and I am from Calgary, Alberta. I completed the MSc in International Business with the CEMS MIM program at the Ivey Business School in 2019, after obtaining a Combined Degree in International Business (BComm) and Spanish (BA) from the University of Calgary in 2017. I’m currently in the U.K. pursuing a PhD in Management at the University of Exeter.
In 2022, I had the pleasure of being a Canada Mexico Youth Lab delegate, where I collaborated with peers across Canada and Mexico to draft policy recommendations to present at the Canada Mexico Partnership. This experience was fundamental in cultivating an interest in youth advocacy and spurred me to apply to the Young Diplomats of Canada’s Y7 delegation. The Y7 is the official youth engagement group of the G7, and I had the honour of representing Canadian youth as part of the Economy and Supply Chain track. Given that topics such as tariffs have become topical in the news and impactful for young people, a lot of time and hard work went into formulating our recommendations for the final communique based on stakeholder meetings, multilateral debates, and forming our own Canada-wide survey. I also held the role of Communications Coordinator for the Canadian delegation, and was involved in the creation of videos, social media posts, and podcasts that told the story of our group. I am incredibly proud of the work we put into the final communique, and we are looking forward to following the G7 news coming out of my home province to see our recommendations put into action.
What led you to your career and how has it evolved over time?
While I am currently pursuing a path in academia, this is the result of being open-minded and flexible to new professional opportunities.
After completing the MSc with additional consulting experience under my belt, a CEMS MIM alum reached out to me about a marketing internship in Tokyo. While I had limited marketing experience at the time, I was eager to return to Japan after having spent a semester abroad there. Although this internship was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I realized that I truly enjoyed marketing projects! It was a creative outlet that I didn’t know I needed, and a lot of my consulting skills were transferable to marketing roles. Since 2020, I have dedicated time to learning more marketing hard skills, and held roles in a variety of organizations, ranging from nonprofits, startups, and private businesses.
It’s been a longstanding goal of mine to earn my doctorate, so when the world started opening up again, I figured carpe diem! In my current program, I am now using the insights gained from my past academic and professional experiences as the foundation for my research. I’m looking forward to seeing where my research will take me next.
Who inspired you?
My family has been a constant source of inspiration, and I am beyond grateful to my parents for their ongoing support and the incredible examples they set. I’ve also been lucky to have had several extraordinary teachers to look up to while growing up. Notably, my high school Spanish teacher was the one who fostered my curiosity and love for learning languages, and my high school English Language teacher gave me the creative freedom and confidence to find and write in my own voice.
How did Ivey play a role?
Ivey was instrumental in both my education and work experiences. Getting to practice the case method in class under the tutelage of Ivey professors set all students up for success in our global internship experiences, which, in my case, was with a Nicaraguan coffee company. I also put my case study skills to the test again in a business project with McKinsey & Co. while studying abroad in Denmark. Overall, this program provided me with a diversity of experiences that took me around the world, allowing me to hone my skills as a business graduate.
Why did you choose the MSc program specifically?
I’ve always had a passion for international business. As I was reaching the end of my undergraduate studies, I realized that I was eager to learn more about key business topics that shape our world. Also, having studied abroad in Spain, the U.K., and Korea during that program, I relished the opportunity to continue learning abroad. The best way to learn about a new business culture is to immerse yourself in it! The Ivey MSc would allow me to do both.
What personal or professional accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am most proud of being recently accepted into the PhD in Management program at the University of Exeter. Completing a doctorate program has been a dream of mine for a long time, and I feel so fortunate that I have the opportunity to conduct research on topics that I’m passionate about.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
I love learning new languages. Learning a second (or third!) language not only opens doors to new professional opportunities, but it also connects people and serves as a gateway to learning about different cultures. Right now, I’m currently learning Japanese, which I’m hoping to use the next time I’m in Tokyo ordering tempura.
Otherwise, I enjoy exploring local art museums, gardens, and restaurants in my downtime. I still have the travel bug, so finding hidden gems with friends and family is a lot of fun!
What might someone be surprised to know about you?
People might be surprised to learn that I am fluent in Spanish. I achieved the C1 (Advanced) DELE certification after completing my undergraduate studies. Having studied Spanish since the fifth grade, tutored Spanish for four years, and spent two semesters abroad in Spain while attending the University of Calgary, this was an incredibly rewarding achievement. It was also a true joy to be able to share my love of Spanish as the founder and president of the MSc Spanish Club while at Ivey.
What is your favourite memory from your time at Ivey?
Definitely my semester abroad in Japan! It was truly a transformative experience that has left a long-standing impact on my personal development and professional goals. For example, we had a project where we had to create and host a study abroad event for local students in one week. It was a lot of hard work, but that experience brought us closer together as a CEMS cohort and forged lifetime friendships. I’m so glad that I was able to share this experience alongside fellow CEMS MIM students from around the world.
What is the most important takeaway from your Ivey experience?
One of the most important takeaways for me is that you never stop learning, even after you graduate. Be open to learning new skills while on the job and new ways of thinking when talking with your peers. Stay curious, stay flexible, and stay patient with yourself while you do so. It’s about the journey, not the destination.
Are you still connected to the School in any way?
Absolutely! It’s been a pleasure staying in touch with Ivey professors as I continue my graduate studies overseas, and I always seem to bump into fellow Ivey alumni while I’m abroad or at home in Canada. Most recently, it’s been through the Young Diplomats of Canada where I’ve met current Ivey students completing the same MSc program I did. I’m also an avid fan of Ivey’s Impact Live sessions to stay up to date with business news.
