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Fall Term Events 2024 Recap

With the winter term of 2025 approaching, we want to take a moment to reflect on the many successful academic and professional events hosted by the Innovative Business Association (IBA) during the 2024 fall term. This past semester was packed with opportunities for growth, networking, and community-building, and we are excited to share some of the highlights with you.


Opening Ceremony

The Innovative Business Association kicked off the year with an exciting collaborative opening ceremony, sharing the stage with UTM Capital, UTM ACE, and the Financial Careers Club (FCC). Each club introduced their mission and values to eager 1st and 2nd-year students pursuing the Commerce and Management programs, interested in joining clubs to refine their skills and meet like-minded individuals such as themselves. The Kaneff Rotunda was packed with attendees, making it one of the largest opening ceremonies in recent years. This milestone event not only highlighted the strength of UTM's business-centric clubs but also sets a new standard for future events. It was an inspiring start to a semester full of new opportunities for students.


A successful opening ceremony and kickoff to the 2024-2025 academic school year.
A successful opening ceremony and kickoff to the 2024-2025 academic school year.

BizMentorship

A returning favourite, BizMentorship provided 1st and 2nd-year Commerce and Management students with a unique chance to connect with their own upper-year classmates. These seasoned students shared their experiences navigating various programs and specializations, including Accounting, Finance, Marketing, and Management at UTM. The professional development event fostered engaging conversations and meaningful connections that extended beyond the program itself. From tips on course selection to advice on career planning, BizMentorship was a valuable stepping stone for many students as they ventured into the beginnings of their academic and professional pathways. A special thank you to all of the mentors who made the time to come out to the event and to the Professional Development team for organizing and hosting an amazing kickoff event!


1st and 2nd-year students engage in valuable discussions with upper-year peers at BizMentorship.
1st and 2nd-year students engage in valuable discussions with upper-year peers at BizMentorship.

Accounting Expo

One of IBA's flagship events, the Accounting Expo kicked off a series of industry expos with an incredible student turnout. Students had the opportunity to meet esteemed professionals from various branches of the industry, including presentations from the Master's of Management & Professional Accounting (MMPA) program at UTM and CPA Ontario's Post Secondary Ambassador Program (PSAP), gaining invaluable insights into the world of accounting. The event featured a dynamic networking session where attendees learned about the diverse roles accountants play across different industries. A special thank you to all the professionals who shared their time and expertise—whose contributions made this event an unforgettable experience for students aspiring to enter the accounting world, as well as a big thank you to the External team for running a successful expo event.


Inspiring insights and networking opportunities at Accounting Expo 2024: Preparing students for success in the world of accounting.
Inspiring insights and networking opportunities at Accounting Expo 2024: Preparing students for success in the world of accounting.

Fireside Chat: Susan Allen

New to this year, the Fireside Chat series offers students the chance to interact with industry leaders in a smaller and more intimate setting. The inaugural Fireside Chat session featured Susan Allen, a former audit partner at PwC and a trailblazer in corporate leadership. Susan shared her inspiring journey of navigating a challenging corporate landscape, and her journey to becoming the first woman elected to PwC’s Global Board. Her insights on perseverance, adaptability, and breaking barriers deeply resonated with attendees, leaving them motivated to pursue their own ambitious goals, and that with the right determination, can unlock doors of opportunities no matter the path they are interested in pursuing. Thank you to Susan Allen and all the IBA members of the Student Engagement team who worked tirelessly to make this event a reality.


The first of IBA's Fireside Chat series with corporate trailblazer, Susan Allen.
The first of IBA's Fireside Chat series with corporate trailblazer, Susan Allen.

Banking Expo

The second expo event, hosted in collaboration with the Financial Careers Club (FCC), provided an in-depth look into the dynamic world of banking and finance. Industry professionals and recruiters shared insights into investment banking, corporate finance, global markets, and investment management allowing students to gain further insights for those interested in pursuing careers in finance. Students were able to engage in meaningful conversations, gaining a clearer understanding of career opportunities in the banking sector. IBA extends its gratitude to RBC Capital Markets for sponsoring the event and to all the representatives who took the time to come out to talk to and inspire UTM students. A thank you as well to the members of the External team for putting on an amazing expo event.


Moments from Banking Expo 2024: Networking, insights, and opportunities for aspiring professionals in finance.
Moments from Banking Expo 2024: Networking, insights, and opportunities for aspiring professionals in finance.

Ready Set Market 2024

The final event wrapping up the fall semester was IBA's annual Ready Set Market (RSM) case competition. The event was an exciting day filled with everything marketing, this year where students were challenged to create a marketing plan to revive the historical Canadian brand, Le Chateau. Teams presented their innovative solutions to a panel of marketing experts, with the top finishers advancing to a thrilling final round. Special congratulations go out to the top three teams: Meinu (3rd place), Visionary Marketing (2nd place), and the 2024 champions, 4 Marketeers, who presented their strategic marketing campaigns in the finals! The competition showcased remarkable creativity and strategic thinking, leaving both judges and participants inspired. A heartfelt thank you to all the students who came out and participated in RSM 2024 and to the IBA Case Competition team and everyone involved for organizing such an impactful event.


Highlights from the Ready Set Market 2024 case competition, celebrating top talent in all things marketing.
Highlights from the Ready Set Market 2024 case competition, celebrating top talent in all things marketing.

And for those who missed out, don’t worry—IBA has plenty more case competitions coming up in the winter 2025 term. Stay tuned for updates!

See you in 2025 This fall term was a testament to the Innovative Business Association’s commitment to fostering academic excellence, professional growth, and community engagement. We look forward to an equally successful winter term and can’t wait to see everyone come out to more developmental and professional events throughout the year!


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