Courage was the theme as 777 new HBA1 students stepped into RBC Place London for their opening gala on August 29, ready to begin a transformative journey.
It took courage to apply to the program, courage to believe they belonged in one of the country’s most competitive business schools, and courage to walk into a room full of strangers and claim their seat.
That same courage, said keynote speaker Fenton Jagdeo, HBA ’16, will carry them through the formative experience ahead. The HBA Opening Gala – a half-day event themed "Courage" – welcomed students with cheers from upper-year leaders, a recitation of the Ivey Pledge, and their first lessons in what it means to be an HBA.
Lessons in everyday courage
Jagdeo spoke candidly about his own Ivey path – entering with below-average grades, watching his parents remortgage their house to make his education possible, and battling self-doubt in classrooms full of high-achievers.
“I felt like someone who didn’t belong,” he said. “But in the fear of feeling anxious, in the fear of feeling like you’re not enough, let courage be the thing that guides you through this. Not the cinematic kind of courage, but the everyday courage – the courage to show up, to do what’s right when no one is looking, to lead without a title.”
That approach powered Jagdeo into a remarkable career and leader. Among other things, he has done IPO work, global consulting, and created a startup that was acquired by Estée Lauder in 2023. Today, Jagdeo teaches strategy and innovation at the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD University), runs a global consulting practice, invests in Canadian small businesses, and serves as the youngest-ever Commissioner of the Toronto Transit Commission.
His message was simple but important: Choose character over comfort. Anchor your career in purpose and position it toward impact. Ask not how others can serve you, but how you can serve them. To drive that point home, he challenged the students to make service part of their Ivey experience.
“This semester, I challenge you to do something that has zero ROI — volunteer at a soup kitchen, join the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Club. Do something that doesn’t add to your resumé or your future LinkedIn headline, and take at least one risk a month,” he said.
HBA Faculty Director Matt Sooy reminded the students that courage also requires gratitude.
“The way we honour our gift is by appreciating it,” he said. “Prepare, be present, participate ... Your courage brought you here, and it will carry you forward ... Adversity is part of the challenge, but it is also part of the learning. Life is not about avoiding negative emotions – it’s about good work, and there is great work here at Ivey.”
Leading with boldness
Ivey Dean Julian Birkinshaw challenged the students to see courage as boldness in the face of uncertainty.
“We want you to be bold. We want you to try out new ideas. We want you to be prepared to make some mistakes,” he said.
Quoting George Bernard Shaw, Birkinshaw reminded the class that “progress depends on the unreasonable person.”
“The world needs a few more unreasonable people – agents of positive change who persist in shaping the world to what it might be, rather than accepting it as it is,” he said.
Finding confidence in community
For HBA2 student Stefano Ruggieri, VP Student Events, courage defined his first year.
“No matter your fears or doubts, Ivey gives you opportunities to overcome them,” he said. “If you take those chances, you’ll find the courage to grow – and the rewards are lifelong.”
Head OWL (O-Week Leader) Sarah Jiang told the class that courage often starts with authenticity.
“What I’ve learned is that having the confidence to contribute in class doesn’t just show up one day – it grows with you every time you take a small risk,” she said. “The faces around you may feel like strangers now, but they will soon become part of your support system. It’s a chance to show up as yourselves and let others in.”
HBA Association President Simon Chou reminded the students that this isn't the end of the road, but the start of a new exciting chapter.
“Every day, you’ll be surrounded by brilliant, caring, and hardworking peers – the future CEOs, founders, and, most importantly, your best friends. My challenge to you is to seize every opportunity Ivey throws at you and to step out of your comfort zone," he said.
For Ivey’s Class of 2027, courage will guide the relationships they form and the experiences they pursue. With 777 students representing Canada and more than 50 countries worldwide – from Afghanistan to the U.K. – the class brings global and diverse perspectives to the HBA journey.
View more photos from the event on our Facebook album.
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