Schulich Alumni Navigate Change at CONNECT ‘24
The Schulich community gathered recently for an engaging alumni forum – CONNECT ‘2024: Navigating in a Dynamic World. The full day event included interactive panel discussions, professional development workshops and networking opportunities.
“CONNECT ’24 was a highly successful alumni engagement event that provided numerous networking opportunities and brought together 280 participants from the Schulich community,” said Dean Detlev Zwick. “The alumni forum explored some of the big issues and challenges confronting business today, while also looking at some of the exciting new opportunities that are emerging in a dynamic world of change.”
The event kicked off with a fireside chat featuring Dean Zwick and Eva and Allen Lau, founders of Wattpad, one of Canada’s most successful tech companies. Now entrepreneurial investors, co-leading Two Small Fish, the Laus shared perspectives on technology innovation, funding, and the challenges and opportunities facing Canadian entrepreneurs.
Throughout the day, attendees were able to participate in the Coach’s Corner where nine coaches offered 1:1 professional coaching sessions. New this year, Facilitated Networking sessions were held in the Marketplace for attendees that wanted to meet with like-minded individuals to discuss Finance, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Real Estate, Consulting and Management as well as one general networking session.
A special closing fireside chat that provided an economic outlook featured Aaron Bennett, Chief Investment Officer, University Pension Plan (UPP) and was moderated by Joseph Ogilvie, Director, Real Assets Leadership Institute.
Schulich thanks Pam Laycock (MBA ’89) and Roshni Wijayasinha (MBA ’09), this year’s Co-Chairs as well as the 44 speakers/moderators, most of whom were Schulich alumni.
“Building on this momentum, CONNECT ’24 reaffirmed our commitment to creating a more vibrant and engaged global alumni community,” said Christina Niederwanger, Executive Director, Advancement and Alumni Engagement. “The widespread participation of alumni, including their attendance at pre-event Reunions, highlighted the Schulich Annual Alumni Forum’s role as a key platform for networking, reconnecting with the School, and exploring alumni benefits.”