Ivey aims to equip all its students with a critical understanding of the societal dimensions of business.
In the HBA Program, a key component of this learning is the Corporations & Society course, taken in the second year of the HBA Program. The ‘C&S’ course (as it is almost universally known) explores in depth the relationship between corporations and society. The course tackles some of the sustainability challenges and opportunities facing businesses operating in the real world. Social dimensions covered include, the social impacts of offshoring strategies to the trade-off between intellectual property rights and affordable access to pharmaceutical products.
Part of what makes C&S such an impactful learning experience for Ivey students is the inclusion of guest speakers in many of the classes, bringing real world case studies and insights to complement classroom learning.
In the current course being taught by Ivey Assistant Professor Wren Montgomery, guest speakers have included Dominique Anglade, the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party and Quebec’s official opposition, and John Viera, Global Director, Sustainability & Vehicle Environmental Matters. Forthcoming speakers include Olivia Nuamah, Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging, at ACTRA National, and Tim Faveri, Vice President, Sustainability & Shared Value at Maple Leaf Foods.
In a series of recent blog posts, students reflect on what they have learned thus far from these guest speakers. Whether it is the unique insights from Anglade’s diverse career across industry, not-for-profits and government, or Viera’s powerful experience of applying the expertise of Ford to address rural mobility challenges in developing countries, students are engaged and challenged by a diverse array of societal risks and opportunities facing modern leaders and mangers.
These blog post show the insights and thoughtfulness that Ivey students are taking with them as they move into their own professional journeys.
