Note from the Editor

Greetings Laurier MBAs - Welcome back for the summer term! Our fellow MBAs have been very busy making their mark on the local and global community. This edition of Xpress is dedicated to congratulating our classmates on conquering everything from running obstacle courses while covered in mud (they’re tough!) to those volunteering to build houses in El Salvador and everything in between. We have success stories ranging from intramural wins to an eventful fundraiser. Accomplishments abound, let’s make this summer a memorable one! Happy reading.

press

Issue 6, June 2013

In May, two teams of our MBAs participated in Tough Mudder – a 10-12 mile obstacle course designed to push you to your limits. If you’re up for the challenge this September, contact your VP of Athletics, Hudson Allison, for more information. Here are some of our Mudders!

Abridged Version of My Co-op Experience in South Africa By Thomas Krolak

For my first co-op term, I had the unique experience of working abroad in South Africa. The company I worked for

was a small boutique firm, a seven man operation called IRAS (Integrated Reporting and Assurance Services). It was run by my exuberant boss Michael (the only good way to describe him is as ‘The most interesting man in the world’ from the Dos Equis commercials). Although at times the job consisted of mundane desk work, I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to learn from, as he was truly an expert in the sustainability field, and seemed to know something about everything. Needless to say, I learnt a lot about sustainability, how proper reporting of sustainability data benefits companies and the importance of transparent information when disclosing this information to stakeholders.

Living abroad was a new experience for me, one that I took full advantage of by trying to do as many things as I could fit into my limited non-working hours. One of the most fulfilling parts of my trip was working with the kids who are a part of SMYLe, which is the charity my boss runs. The idea of the charity is to keep kids in school by providing them with the privilege of playing music, which the kids do not get this privilege anywhere else. Every weekend I went to Soweto (South West Township), one of the poorest areas of Johannesburg, and I would help these kids with their accounting, economics or math homework. It was truly a surreal experience to see how much hardship some of the kids lived with yet how content they were with life. After spending time with these kids, it has made me more self-aware and appreciative of the opportunities given to me.

Although, this is a very short synopsis of two of the major aspects of my trip to South Africa, I can tell you that it was a very eye-opening experience, and one that I will cherish for a long time to come. Highlights:

Learning how to drive a standard car while driving on the left hand side of the road. It was quite an adventure.

Trip to Cape Town; the coastal drives to Cape Point, and Cape Agulhas (the southern-most tip of the African Continent) were the most incredible and scenic drives I have ever went on, the penguins in Simon’s Town were phenomenal, amazing hiking

MBA international trip; it was nice to see some friendly faces, and go on some educational company site visits with everyone

Visiting the Johannesburg Stock Exchange for the release of a mining company’s year-end performance… and much, much more

A South African Work Term By Danielle Graham

Three months in Johannesburg, South Africa was a rare and exciting international work term opportunity offered by the Co-op MBA Program at Wilfrid Laurier. I was employed, along with a fellow MBA student Thomas Krolak, by Integrated Research & Assurance Services (IRAS) for the 2013 winter term. IRAS is a boutique consultancy specializing in assurance and advisory services with respect to sustainability reporting. As interns, our research included the provision of reporting and assurance services to a wide range of clients, including sustainability report gap analyses and participating in front line research for IRAS’s annual research report on GRI-based reporting.

The IRAS Team: Thembi, Lauren, Danielle, Jordan and Thomas

Early on, we participated in the development of the Sustainability Data Transparency Index (SDTI) framework to monitor and improve the data transparency and performance statistics of JSE-listed companies. In this way, we hoped to raise the effectiveness of sustainability reporting from the GRI, and demonstrate the way forward for companies to reconfigure their processes and thinking regarding sustainability.

Overall, my time in South Africa was rewarding and memorable. It surpassed my expectations of what a work term in this program would provide. The best part was meeting some incredible people and I would like to thank my direct supervisor Lauren Stirling, whose concern over every aspect of our time in South Africa allowed for an enriching experience.

EcoCAR2 Update

By Anthony Strong

This past May, the EcoCAR2 Team, composed of WLU and UW Students, travelled to the GM proving grounds in Yuma, Arizona to put our car to the test. This was the first time the car’s innovative electric 4 wheel drive system with 280hp, faced the dynamic challenges of national competition (not to mention the 40+ degree desert sun). The first major hurdle the team tackled was meeting the approval the GM safety techs that were pulled off working the 2015 Corvettes Z06 to help with the festivities. For a team of students (average age 21), who completely tore apart a 2013 Malibu only to refit it with a concept electric drive, passing the safe protocols was paramount and it resulted in a 5 day process. The car, nick named “Darren Shaper” (YouTube it), was then ready to attempt the gruelling 105 miles long Emissions and Energy Consumption test. The event examines each car’s total fuel consumption and the well-to-wheel Greenhouse gas emissions and is run only after the hours of 2am to sunrise due to the desert heat. The result is a test that makes and

breaks many of the cars that attempted it; our car did well, but could not complete the full 30 laps. The reason for the short finish was that a major component was late by 2 months in shipping for our car. The delay required the team to compromise and experience a 'real-world' situation in order to just compete in any events. One compromise was the charging system; another was the acceptance of a point penalty of 15% on all the events because the car was not “running as intended”. Despite all the challenges the team faced, they were still one of the top contenders in the other events in competitions, regardless of the resulting scores.

The Laurier Business and Communications team also placed high in the competition standings. With a difference of just a few points, the team finished 4th out of 15 teams. This is a proud accomplishment for the team considering that in September a prototype part cost doubled from the initial quote of $30,000 to $60,000 and instantly putting the team’s budget in the red. However, after skilled negotiations with all suppliers, doubling the local sponsorship cash donations, and quadrupling our in-kind donations, the hardworking Laurier team closed this year’s books in the black and to the astonishment of the competition organizers. The team is also proud to have won, for the 2nd year in a row, the sponsor video award and a “Women in Engineering” award.

With a strong base for the coming year, the EcoCAR2 team is set to refine their car and design for the final competition next May.

If anyone is interested in help us meet our goals, we always have positions to fill. For more information about the team and available positions, please visit UWAFT.com.

Habitat for Humanity – El Salvador

Two of our full-time MBAs, Stefan de Savigny and John Csoborko, went to El Salvador in May to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity.

“Travelling with Habitat for Humanity to help build a new home for a family in El Salvador was a very rewarding and eye-opening experience. I met a lot of great people (teammates as well as locals) and learned many interesting things about the country but was also exposed to some pretty shocking conditions. The family and workers were so appreciative of our involvement that it was hard to leave knowing the number of other families who would also benefit from our help. It is something that I will definitely do again at some point in my life.” John Csoborko "I now know why people go on many Habitat Trips. You become close friends with many on the team. You make a significant difference in people's lives, all while experiencing another culture and seeing new sights. I will always look back with fondness on those halcyon times." Stefan de Savigny

Southern Ontario Amazing Race – Thank You!

By Patricia Rebello

This summer, my elementary school friend and I will be taking part in the 10th Annual Southern Ontario Amazing Race (SOAR) along with 24 other teams. SOAR is a unique two-day adventure that will take place June 7-9, 2013. The race travels to various towns and cities across Southern Ontario, challenging participants’ both mentally and physically. Past challenges have included traversing a 40 foot high suspended ropes course, tubing the Elora Gorge and solving a giant Sudoku. In the last 9 years, the participants of this event have contributed approximately $476,000 to the Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington!

On May 24, we hosted a fundraising event at the Knights of Columbus in Waterloo for which we invited our friends, family, and their friends to come out for a night of music, food, games, and overall fun! This event, along with being our final push to reach our fundraising goal, was also our final "Thank-you" party, for our friends, family, and sponsors who have helped us reach our fundraising goal of $5000. A number of students from the Waterloo full and part-time program took the time to come out and support this fun event for an amazing cause! After all was said and done, we were able to net just over $1200. It was a great night in all and we are definitely looking forward to the race!

2013 Winter Co-ed Volleyball Champions – Porter’s 6 Forces

Last term, our very own Porter’s 6 Forces won the co-ed volley intramurals! Congratulations to Andrea Allen, Chad Sasko, David Blake, Ashley Vallesi, Dennis Tomory, Vi Linh Vu, Saw Tun, Romeo Biasi and William Cascone.

Calling all Laurier MBAs – If you or your classmates have been representing Laurier and getting involved or there’s something you want to share with the Laurier MBA community, contact us and let’s share your story in the next issue of Xpress. Until next time!

MBA Student Association

President – Stefan de Savigny

EVP – Thomas Kardaras VP Finance – Umar Ashraf

VP Academics – Patricia Rebello VP Marketing – Aleena Khan VP Athletics – Hudson Allison

VP Community Service – Melissa Lee VP MBA Games – Mallory McKewen

VP External Affairs – Will Uhl VP Social – Emily McCullough