On May 14, the 17th annual Global Ivey Day (GID) brought together alumni, faculty, and students worldwide, uniting the community in a vibrant celebration of connection, shared experiences, and Ivey pride.
From SoCal to Singapore, 25 regional events across eight countries brought more than 1,000 alumni together, showcasing the breadth and energy of Ivey’s global community. In Sydney, Australia, an HBA student on exchange attended an evening event to connect with alumni, reflecting on how she could see herself living and working there in the future – a small but powerful example of the global network in action.
The celebrations began on Monday with an Alumni Community-led event, Things They Don’t Teach You at Business School. The conversation featured a candid conversation with Anton Rabie, HBA ’94, Co-Founder of Spin Master, moderated by Thompson Clarke, HBA ’18. Elevate Your Career also returned on Wednesday ahead of GID, with alumni sharing stories of building their careers.
Attendance was strong worldwide, with over 800 alumni joining regional events, and Toronto delivering standout engagement – from a sold-out Senior Alumni Breakfast and full-capacity Power Lunch, to the Donald K. Johnson Centre Celebration at First Canadian Place that welcomed over 300 attendees.
GID also featured a strong lineup of Alumni Community-led events on entrepreneurship, real estate, sustainability, and the not-for-profit sector. Corporate events at BMO, CIBC, RBC, and Info-Tech drew strong alumni attendance, while staple programming – including the Power Lunch, a purpose-driven governance webinar, and a virtual Pledge Ceremony – rounded out the celebrations.
“Seeing the level of pride and connection across the Ivey alumni community was incredibly meaningful, especially as an alumna myself,” said Aindrea Cramp, HBA ’98 and Director of Alumni Relations at Ivey. “Global Ivey Day is a great reminder that strong alumni communities don’t happen by accident. There’s so much time, care, and hard work from alumni, volunteers, faculty, and staff that goes into bringing people – it’s really special to see that reflected in moments like these.”
Highlights from the 17th annual Global Ivey Day
Donald K. Johnson Centre evening celebration
Alumni and members of the broader community also gathered at First Canadian Place in Toronto to celebrate the opening of the Donald K. Johnson Centre. The visionary space was made possible through a historic $30 million gift from Donald K. Johnson, O.C., MBA ’63, LLD ’07.
The 36,000-square-foot facility expands Ivey’s downtown Toronto presence while supporting growth in graduate programs, executive education, and corporate engagement.
Read more about the new DKJ Centre
Power Lunch honouring Ivey's Alumni Achievement Award recipients
This year’s Power Lunch recognized Ryan Grant Little, MBA ’06, Principal of RGL Strategic, and Nadia Ladak, HBA ’20, Co‑Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Marlow, the winners of this year’s Ivey Alumni Achievement Awards.
During the lunch, Acting Dean Nicole Haggerty, HBA ’89, PhD ’04, led a fireside chat with Little –joining via Zoom from Ukraine – and Ladak, exploring their careers and personal journeys.
Watch Ivey’s video honouring Ryan Grant Little and Nadia Ladak
Elevate your career panel for young alumni
Alumni gathered virtually and in person at Ivey’s BMO Auditorium for Elevate Your Career: Alumni Insights, Strategies, and Success Stories, an open panel discussion where accomplished Ivey graduates shared key lessons, challenges, and turning points from their professional journeys.
Thank you to Sunil Bansal, HBA ’10, MBA ’16, Co-founder, Strategy & Revenue, Themis Lending; Martina Scenna, HBA ’21, Manager, Philanthropy, SickKids Foundation; and Raj Patel, MSc ’23, Senior Private Banking Advisor, CIBC, for sharing their insights.
Livestream: Navigating Career Change
In Pivot Points: Navigating Career Change and Reinvention, Ivey alumni shared how they navigated bold pivots across industries and geographies. The livestream highlighted lessons, key risks, and practical advice for those considering their next move.
Special thanks to our alumni speakers for making the event so engaging and insightful:
• JP Cadeau, MBA 11, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
• Naomi Midanik, HBA ’05 Registered Psychotherapist & Founder, Bright Balance Psychotherapy
• Akash Rastogi, MBA ’05, Chief Capital Strategy Officer, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster
Webinar: Purpose-Driven Governance
A distinguished panel led by Eric Saarvala, EMBA ’17, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Raymond James Limited, explored how purpose can transform governance into a strategic advantage—driving performance, innovation, and sustainable value. The session also launched the Declaration of Purpose online marathon, connecting alumni across generations and career stages.
Panellists included:
• Mona Malone, HBA ’94, Chief Administrative Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of People, Culture & Brand, BMO Financial Group
• Coro Strandberg, Chair of the Canadian Purpose Economy Project
• Oana Branzei, Professor of Strategy & Sustainability, Ivey Business School
• Dusya Vera, PhD ’02, Professor of Strategy & Executive Director, Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership, Ivey Business School
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