Ivey MBA students give back through Social Impact Day

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For one day, the Ivey MBA classroom extended beyond campus as students across the program came together to give back to the London community. Through Social Impact Day, 130 students volunteered at sites across the city and surrounding area, supporting organizations through activities ranging from river cleanups and tree planting to food hamper building and therapeutic riding.

Taylor Lee, an MBA ’27 candidate and Vice-President External of the Ivey MBA Association, was part of the team that organized the day. Speaking on behalf of the organizing team, he shares what it took to bring the event together, the lessons he took away from the experience, and why giving back matters to the Ivey MBA community.

Q&A with Taylor Lee 

What inspired you to take on the role of organizing Social Impact Day at Ivey?

I wanted to help create an experience that was meaningful beyond the classroom. Ivey gave us a strong platform, and I saw Social Impact Day as a way to connect our cohort with the broader London community in a hands-on way. For me, it was about turning the values and leadership principles we talk about in the classroom into action.

What goes into planning an event like Social Impact Day, and what were your priorities as organizers?

A lot went into it, from coordinating with community partners, matching volunteer opportunities to the cohort, managing logistics, and making sure everything runs smoothly on the day. Our biggest priorities were creating a positive impact for the organizations we supported, making the experience accessible and meaningful for students, and ensuring the day reflected Ivey's values.

How did you choose the organizations and causes the MBA cohort supported this year?

We wanted to support organizations that were aligned with real community needs and that could benefit from the energy and time of our cohort. This year that meant a river cleanup, food hamper building, planting on a sustainable farm, tree planting and maintenance, volunteering at a local youth centre, and working at an equestrian therapy stable. We looked for a mix of causes so students could engage with whatever inspired them most.

What was the biggest challenge you faced in organizing the event, and how did your team overcome it?

The biggest challenge was coordinating so many moving parts at once. We had seven different volunteer locations running simultaneously, each with its own logistics, timing, and needs. What made it manageable was the people around me: incredible leaders at each of our seven sites and 130 amazing classmates I could lean on to help make it happen. That support turned a genuinely complex day into one that ran smoothly.

Before the event, what did you hope your classmates would take away from the experience?

I hoped they would leave with a stronger sense of connection, both to each other and to the London community. I also wanted them to see that impact doesn't always have to be big or complicated; sometimes just showing up and working together can make a real difference.

Was there a moment during Social Impact Day that really stood out to you? What made it memorable?

What stood out most was the laughter. Throughout the day, I kept seeing genuine smiles from our volunteers at every site. Students who came in for a few hours of service left energized rather than drained. It was a great reminder that giving back isn't just good for the community; it brings real joy to the people doing it.

What did organizing Social Impact Day teach you about leadership, teamwork, or community engagement?

It reminded me that leadership is really about coordination, trust, and service. You can have a strong vision, but execution depends on bringing people together and making space for others to contribute. My time in the military instilled the idea of service before self, and it was meaningful for me to see that same value show up here in a completely different chapter of my life. It also reinforced that community engagement works best when you approach it with humility, consistency, and a willingness to listen.

How did seeing your classmates engage with the community shape your own experience of the day?

It made the experience even more rewarding. Seeing classmates bring enthusiasm, care, and professionalism to the volunteer sites reminded me why the effort behind the event mattered. It was inspiring to see the cohort come together in a way that felt authentic and impact-driven.

Why do you think Social Impact Day is an important part of the Ivey MBA experience?

Social Impact Day matters because it reminds us that business leadership isn't separate from community responsibility. It gives students a chance to step outside case discussions and engage directly with the people and organizations around us. That kind of experience helps shape more grounded, thoughtful, and socially aware leaders.

Looking back, what are you most proud of accomplishing as part of the organizing team?

I'm most proud that we created a day where people felt connected, useful, and proud to represent Ivey. One moment that stuck with me was speaking with one of the staff members at SARI who turned out to be an Ivey grad herself. It was a great reminder that these values have been carried forward for a long time, and that our cohort was adding to something bigger than just our own year. More than anything, I'm proud that we helped build an experience that classmates will remember as part of what makes Ivey special.