We’ve got a lot in common With accountants. We Work off our assets too!

Do you want to hone in on your writing skills for the case analysis? How about practice design-ing for your business plan? We at Lazy Faire are looking for enthusiastic writers and designers to join our team! By joining LF, you’ll gain valuable skills for your coursework and have some impressive samples to add to your portfolio. And we don’t discriminate; Business students of any year or major can apply!

If you are interested in joining our dynamic team, email your intent to lazyfaire@live.ca.

LazyFAIRE

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Here is the Edmonton CGA Student Ambassador team, we are looking to add to it – check it out!www.limitlesspossibilities.ca

eDitors noteHello First Year Business student!

Congratulations on receiving your first copy of Lazy Faire! Provided to you by the Business Students’ Association (BSA), Lazy Faire is a magazine written BY business students, FOR business students. Every month, we provide informational and entertaining articles that keep business students up to date with everything happening at the school and in the business community. For each issue, we also select one exemplary student to be the Student Spotlight that we feature on the cover of our magazine. For this special “Welcome!” edition of Lazy Faire, we’ve selected Hassaan Qadri, the Business 201 Course Coordinator. In an exclusive interview, he’ll give you a breakdown of how BUS201 works and provide you with great advice on how to succeed! In another regular feature, the Clubs’ Corner, you’ll also meet the BSA president, Jessa Aco, who will tell you all

about the BSA’s services and about some exciting upcoming events. As you flip through the other pages this month, you will learn what to wear to a networking event or to a class presentation from some of our best dressed students, how to get involved with clubs and competitions, how to make the most out of your first few weeks of school, and valuable tips and tricks to have a successful and enjoyable time during your first year in business and onward.

Overall, this year will be jam-packed with networking opportunities, competitions, study sessions, presentations, and exciting events and conferences - and Lazy Faire will be your tool to stay on top of it all! So, without further adieu, we and the rest of the LF team welcome you to the Alberta School of Business!

- The Editors

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August 2012

e D i t o r - i n - c h i e fKirsten LePage

c o n t e n t e D i t o rAlex Manolii

D e s i g n e D i t o rJulian Ng

s e n i o r c o n t r i B u t o r sGarry Deng Kristine GuSherin Kayat Braden LauerEileen Lee

D e s i g n t e a mColleen Do Eileen LeeBonnie TruongJenny Truong

P h o t o g r a P h e rJosh Le

P r i n t i n g t h a n k s t oXerox Canada

P u B l i s h e D B YBusiness Students’ Association (BSA)

t h a n k s t oAlberta School of BusinessUniversity of Alberta

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Monthly Calendar

What to Look Forward to In September

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Clubs’ Corner - Featuring the Business Students’ Association

School of Business Glossary

Tips & Tricks

Business Dress 101

Student Spotlight -Hassaan Qadri

Competitions! Competitions!Competitions!

Getting Involved

Cohort Captain Applications

Cohorts - Behind the Scenes

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Featuring the c l u B s’ c o r n e r

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T he Alberta School of Business has many student clubs, all trying to achieve various goals and ideals – with approaches

that are sometimes just as different. Still, what they all have in common is their shared amount of dedication to whichever causes they’ve chosen to address. For this reason, every issue of this year’s Lazy Faire will have a Clubs’ Corner article where a more in-depth look at one of the faculty’s many clubs will be featured. The purpose is two-fold:

With that being said, what better club to highlight than the Business Students Association (BSA) and its current president – Jessa Aco? The BSA is the largest business student group on campus; in fact, if you are a business student, you are automatically a member of the BSA. Not only does the BSA serve as an umbrella organization for all other business groups, it actually plans, organizes and carries out many of the events, sales and conferences. With a budget of over $80,000 for this upcoming year, there are sure to be some events that will appeal to you. For example, Orientation, the Ignite retreat, the Energize Conference, and the BSA Booksale are all provided by the BSA. Moreover, the BSA offers all business students (including First-Years) access to the BSA Conference Fund, which serves to reimburse conference related expenses for students. This is really an opportunity that everyone should try to take advantage of since the application process is very straight forward and the benefits are significant.

We had a chance to sit down with Jessa Aco and ask her several questions about her personal involvement with the BSA, as well as exciting BSA events for this upcoming year. While this interview is far from being the “end all and be all” on all things BSA, it will be useful to better acquaint you with Jessa, the BSA and, really, the School of Business.

By Alex ManoliiContent Editor & Sr. Contributor

To raise awareness about the many School of Business student clubs and their activities.

To promote student participation within these clubs and the Faculty.

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Don’t be afraid to push yourself in uncomfortable situations, to meet new people, to ask questions in class, to register for a conference or a competition.

Tell us a little about yourself in terms of the School of Business.

I’m a 4th year student with a major in Accounting and a minor in Finance. I’m hoping to pursue both a CA designation and an MBA in Strategic Management. My passions include student engagement and women in leadership.

How did you get involved with the BSA?

I started off as a Cohort Captain and worked my way to be a director in the External Relations portfolio. My involvement in the BSA expanded because I truly admire the opportunities it presents its members (YOU) and its Council. Being in charge of the TASTE program last year, it was such a great feeling to be able to connect students to some C-suite professionals in the industry! As for myself, I met more people than I ever thought I would in University and I was positioned to acquire leadership skills invaluable in the world of business.

How would you describe the BSA to someone that is new to the SoB?

The BSA is the Business faculty association and it organizes a diverse pool of programs and events that helps its members optimize their BComm degree. Business is vastly different from where most of us came from, say Arts or Sciences. There are certain expectations and cultures in the business community. The BSA provides you with the opportunities to learn about these things and develop skills that allow you to become the best at what you do. From career planning, case competitions, to the art of networking, we have something for everyone!

What main BSA events should they look out for and why?

I urge incoming first year Business students to attend Ignite (previously known as “Frosh”), the Energize Conference and to be active in the cohort system we have in place. This is where lasting friendships begin and where leadership skills are honed. For the student body in general, the first ever Annual General Meeting (AGM) is in October and we are bringing Winter Gala back this year. I am so excited to see everyone there!

At the end of the year, what has to happen for the BSA to consider this year a success?

My Executive is determined to better the “feel” of the Business faculty. We are doing some new creative things this year! But in terms of tangible measures, I would like each of our events to have an average rating of 80% or higher when we collect our feedback forms. I’d like a good number of people at our first ever Annual General Meeting (AGM). And at the end of the year, I’d like BSA Elections to have only a few, or even no uncontested spots.

What advice do you have for current first-years?

Be bold. I don’t mean to steal BlackBerry’s tag line but really, that’s what it takes to be in this competitive environment. Don’t be afraid to push yourself in uncomfortable situations, to meet new people, to ask questions in class, to register for a conference or a competition. And most of all, be bold enough to admit that sometimes we don’t know what we’re doing, that we make mistakes and that we need the help of other people to reach success. You cannot survive in Business alone.

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Jessa Aco, BSA President

Page Design by Julian Ng

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What to look forward to? Events in September

OrientationSeptember 4th is the orientation for 1st year Business students. It’s a great opportunity for you to become better acquainted with the School of Business and to discover what a BCom degree can do for you. Along with learning about the various resources available to you, you’ll also have a chance to meet some of your fellow peers!

Clubs FairClubs fair will be held in the Business Quad on September 5th-7th. Each School of Business student club will have a booth where you can learn more about what they do, have a chance to chat with members, and sign up if interested. It’s a great way to explore which clubs are a good fit for your needs and is a great step in becoming more involved with the School of Business.

Anti-BurnoutSeptember 12th is the first Anti-Burnout of the year. Come by the second floor of the Business Building to enjoy some free food and drinks, as well as - most importantly - to pick up the latest issue of Lazy Faire! The BSA holds this event on the first Wednesday of every month. It’s a great way for us to take a break from our busy schedules and to catch up with current events in the BSA. Ignite Retreat

September 15th-16th is the Ignite Retreat. It is one event you cannot miss as a first year student! You’ll have the op-portunity to meet some amazing people while doing fun activities for an entire weekend. Sign up fast since spots are limited and are on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Energize ConferenceSeptember 22nd is the Energize Conference. It is one of the biggest conferences organized by the BSA. You will enjoy a day filled with guest speakers from almost every discipline in Business. It’s a great chance to learn about how these business professionals have gotten to where they are from the same place you are at today!

BSA BooksaleThe BSA Booksale is held during the first week of the term. It is specifically organized for Business students and is held in the atrium between the Business Building and Tory Building. Students bring in their old textbooks and the BSA helps to sell them. At the booksale you’ll find used textbooks and notes packaged for almost all your business courses at the most reasonable prices on campus.

BSA

Ignite Retreat

By Eileen LeeSr. Contributor & Design Director

Page Design by Eileen Lee

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What to look forward to? Events in September

Y ou’ve registered for a cohort and the assigned class pattern, but now what? With a brand new school

year just around the corner, you’ll discover that there is more to a cohort than what meets the eye. The program brings together a group of new business students who are just like you. Look forward to what lies ahead: excit-ing opportunities, thrilling competitions, and fun-packed events and activities. Most importantly, this is a time for you to develop meaningful academic relationships and to grow as a leader, team member, and communicator.

As a vital member of your cohort, you’re an integral player in the year-long competition for the highly acclaimed Co-hort Cup. Throughout the year, there will be a variety of events where your participation will help your cohort gain points for the championship. Kicking off the year to a hot start is the Cohort Olympics where cohorts will battle it out in a series of outdoor events. Help your peers gain even more points by attending an outing like Ignite, which is a weekend away to welcome new students. The orga-nizers provide important information on clubs and up-coming events, and throw you into vigorous competitions and rather nauseating eating contests (in a good way).

If you’re looking for a good night out in town, your Cohort Captains will keep you in the loop for any fundraisers or theme nights. Who knew you could gain points, meet great new people, and share a drink or two all in one go? The perks of being in a cohort are endless, and from casual events to class projects, you won’t be left in the dark. Check out the Cohort Captain application on the

next page for an exciting and unique opportunity to help organize great events like Chillin’ for Charity, 5 Days for the Homeless, Business Week, BSA Apprentice, and more. This is your chance to lead your cohort to victory!

So this year, don’t let the thoughts and worries of whether or not you’ll know someone or if you’ll have a seat in class bog you down. Take advantage of the cohort program and pick any spot to sit at, turn to your left or right and simply introduce yourself. This will be your first friend of many from your cohort. Walk into your first lecture with the confidence and knowledge that you will meet amaz-ing people and have the opportunity to develop long last-ing relationships through group projects, events, contests, and more. As former cohort students ourselves (the Lazy Faire team), we can confirm that the friendships and re-lationships that start within your cohorts will last well be-yond those first two semesters and, in some cases, even past your time at the School of Business. With all that was already mentioned, we will simply say:

First-Year Business Student, Welcome to the Cohort Program!

Cohorts,By Kristine Gu

Sr. Contributor

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Behind the Scenes

Page Design by Jenny Truong

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Position Details:Entry level position with a minimum (insert age here) years of in-field experience required.$0/hr including tips.Hours are flexible (but we’ll still own you).No advancement opportunities. Want to know more?Make sure to drop by the BSA booth at the Clubs Fair in BusQuad September 5-7 to find out how you can be a part of the magic. And don’t forget to go to Cohort Olympics on September 13 to get your cohort a head start in the race!

the Bsa Wants You

Be awesome. Spread awesome. Apply to be a Cohort Captain for the chance to lead your fellow cohort students to victory as you compete for the Cohort Cup.

C O H O R T C A P T A I N S

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Position Details:Entry level position with a minimum (insert age here) years of in-field experience required.$0/hr including tips.Hours are flexible (but we’ll still own you).No advancement opportunities. Want to know more?Make sure to drop by the BSA booth at the Clubs Fair in BusQuad September 5-7 to find out how you can be a part of the magic. And don’t forget to go to Cohort Olympics on September 13 to get your cohort a head start in the race!

Getting InvolvedAre you someone who is itching to do something new in his or her life? Or are you just bored with doing homework, studying, and going to class every single day? Well, we have great news! Both problems can be solved by getting involved with a student club. Still wondering why else should you do it and if it is really worth it?

Here’s what three of our senior students had to say about getting involved with their clubs in particular:

By Bonnie TruongSr. Contributor

Giselle General Toastmasters/CESA

G etting involved in many of the clubs, events and opportunities will help

you gain skills that will help you in many as-pects of your life, in Business and beyond. You should get involved in the Business and Beyond Toastmasters club because: z Public speaking is the number one fear of most adults. It is crucial to learn how to manage that anxiety so that you can share your brilliant speech, idea or presentation and that the audience can receive it well. x In Business, academics and real life, communicating both in a public setting and in an impromptu setting is inevitable. Think about classroom presentations, chairing a meeting, being put on the spot by your professor or manager, being a T.A. or your job interviews where you have to speak up and make sure you are prepared and confident to deliver. c Practice makes perfect. Our club runs every Monday night all year to help you gain public speaking and communications skills that you will use for life. More information can be found at: www.bbtc.ca

Curtis Chow MIS Club

O ne of the most valuable pieces of advice I can give to students is to get involved with

some form of organized club, activity, or compe-tition as early as possible. Many of these organi-zations can provide you with opportunities and experiences you won’t find elsewhere. I was for-tunate enough to be able to contribute as a VP in both the MIS Club and SIFE, as well as partici-pate in a variety of competitions and conferences (EDGE, JDC West).

Some of the main reasons I originally wanted to join these organizations was to discover more about different areas of study (including MIS), as well as have the chance to contribute to the stu-dent body and the community in general. Being a part of the MIS Club was a big turning point for me; I now have more industry contacts and even a summer job which I really enjoy because of my involvement.

A huge advantage of involvement is the opportunity to use the skills you learn in school, as well as the ones you don’t, in a practical setting. It may be a bit daunting at first, but you have to be willing to put yourself out there in order to take advantage of all the benefits clubs and competitions have to offer. Organizing events, making presentations, entering competitions, taking part in the tax clinic, and doing things like PRIME will all add to your experience making you a well-rounded, successful person.

Nicole Huygen JDC West/ 5 Days for the Homeless

Y ou’re told repeatedly when you enter the School of Business that involve-

ment is what will make your Undergrad stud-ies worthwhile. You’re told that the opportu-nities that arise from the conferences and student clubs can make a difference to you personally and academically. These are truly golden messages.

I first got involved by being selected for the JDC West Social Team. This team is great for first years to be able to get involved without the academic pressure and to learn to take risks. I’m pleased to announce that through my presence on the team last year I was able to gain the title of VP Internal for this upcoming year, and have played a part in implementing changes to help transition our first years on the team to the world of case presentations!

In addition to JDC West, I partook in the “5 Days for the Homeless” campaign. Last year eight of us participated in the campaign, sleeping outside and being “homeless” for 5 days with the success of raising over $28,000 for YESS! Being a part of these clubs will make you more comfortable within this faculty, more excited to come to school, will open up so many doors, and provide you with memo-ries that could be missed if you decide to just keep your nose in the books.

Join a club and see for yourself the opportunities available! More information can be found on the second floor of Business.

Page Design by Jenny Truong

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Alberta School of Business has a strong focus as students compete in over 25 case competitions on a yearly basis. The basic idea is quite simple: students are given a case presenting them with a problem for which they must find the best solution. The length of each competition varies and can last from anywhere between a few hours to a few months. Normally competing in teams, students will then brainstorm ideas and finally present their solution to a panel of industry professionals. At the end of each presentation, the judges are given a Q&A period where they challenge the competitors to think on their feet while keeping their composure intact and their confidence resolute. An important factor to consider is that the winners are not always those who find the best solution. In other words, it all comes down to one defining factor: the ability to confidently sell your idea.

“Sometimes people will have the same solution, but it’s the one who can sell it the best [that wins]. These case competitions aren’t always about the best answer, it’s

A s first year students begin their journey at the Alberta School of Business, a common misconception exists that good academics is the

only variable needed in the formula for success. First year students beware: being an active member of the Business community is just as important as your GPA. Thankfully, for students who cannot oblige to a weekly commitment with a student club (or for those who wish to extend their involvement beyond student clubs), business competitions are a viable option. With an average of 500 students per year competing in some form or another of business competitions, students are eager to challenge and develop their analytical skills in all disciplines of business.

In fact, business competitions can be subdivided into two domains: business plan competitions and case competitions. The former consists of students developing an entrepreneurial idea into a business plan and (if successful) being invited to compete as a finalist at the host University. However, it is with the latter that the

By Sherin KayatSr. Contributor

Competitions!c o m P e t i t i o n s ! c o m P e t i o n s !

JDC West Alberta Team 2012

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about who can sell their answer the best,” says Doug Leong, Competitions Coordinator at the Alberta School of Business.

Regardless of the competition itself, the cases generated present students with realistic problems that companies face on an everyday basis. The ability to find the best solution in a high pressure situation is an invaluable skill that can only be learned (or improved upon for those lucky enough to naturally possess this ability) through real life experience. In the long run, students can also benefit by enhancing their resume and gaining unique networking opportunities; the latter being the corner stone of a business student’s ultimate success.

Eventually, fourth (even sometimes third) year students are given the opportunity to represent the Alberta School of Business on the international stage. The more competitions in which students compete in, the more experience they gain. With these opportunities, competition experience becomes a defining factor that will distinguish a successful candidate from an unsuccessful one. Basically, if the idea of utilizing your intellectual creativity and classroom knowledge to tackle a problem and find a solution which is then presented to a panel of industry professionals is something of interest, then start competing early on.

“Get started early if you really want to do this; don’t wait until your fourth year. This will really help build your resume because employers are looking for that person who does more than just school,” explains Leong.

It is understandable to find the idea of competing in a business competition slightly daunting; however, it is truly not as frightening as one might imagine. With time and practice comes experience, and with experience it really does get much easier. Competitions such as the junior division of Alberta Internal Case Competition (AICC), the LIVE Conference and the BSA Elevator Pitch Competition

are all excellent competitions that are structured specifically for first year students. The important thing to remember is that these competitions are a safe place to make mistakes and to learn.

“To go [compete] in your first year and make a mistake is actually a good thing because I feel [that] when you make a mistake is when you learn. When you make mistakes you get feedback and you tend to make the change right away because you don’t want to make that mistake again. I don’t think you can make a mistake if you participate,” says Leong.

With over 10 disciplines of business competitions (Accounting, Finance, Business Strategy, etc…), students can challenge their analytical thinking as well as increase their general knowledge in almost all fields of business. The wide range of skills that is developed through any competition is invaluable in the eyes of future employers. By taking the time to invest in developing a refined skillset that includes critical thinking and teamwork, the benefits that can be obtained will go well beyond any immediate reward. So get out there and compete: who knows, the School of Business` next great competitor might just have finished reading this sentence!

Sometimes people will have the same solution, but it’s the one who can sell it the best [that wins].

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Doug LeongCompetitions CoordinatorAlberta School of Business

Page Design by Jenny Truong

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W ith Business 201 being a popular topic among first year students, Lazy Faire sought out the facts from this month’s

Student Spotlight, Hassaan Qadri. Now a fifth year finance major, Hassaan has gone through the course as a first year student, a seminar manager and will now take on the course once more as this year’s course coordinator. In this exclusive interview, the cur-rent VP Finance of the BSA sets the record straight while provid-ing valuable insights into how you can achieve success in the fall semester.

In a nutshell, what is BUS201?

BUS201 is the first experience that Business students coming into the school really go through. It’s a multi-sectioned course; there’s a lecture component that is taught by the Dean and the Associate Dean, and a seminar component which is lead by senior business students. The lecture component ties in current events as well as all of the different fields, so it really gives you a whole look at the business world. It’s really valuable in that sense. When you look at the seminar component, it’s all about presentation and writing skills. People might come into business school and they’ve never heard of a case analysis, but the foundation of the business world rests on cases. Essentially, they are a business problem and teams of business students are tasked to find a solution. We go through everything that comprises a case and students ultimately have to partner with people they don’t know to finish it. The second half is a business plan where students are encouraged to find unique ideas. You are essentially in the driver’s seat. You get to come up with a really cool idea and with how exactly you are going to make it happen if you were given a certain amount of money and pitch-ing it to investors. Students coming out of the course not only have a foundation for the rest of the courses and cases they’ll run into at the School, but cases are also used in job interviews. For me, it was the tread stone to my university career and I hope it is for other students as well.

What else do students gain from completing this course?

Well, during this course they will probably feel like it is the worst thing that has ever happened to them, and that’s a very common complaint. I remember saying that myself (laughs). It’s a lot of hours and probably the hardest course you are going to do in the SoB. But what you gain is a unique ability that is not really emphasized in other classes, and that’s REAL teamwork. You might be thinking that that is overused, but you are being tossed into a group of three or four other individuals that you don’t know, whose style you don’t necessarily agree with, and you are forced to complete a massive project with them. When you overcome those challenges, that’s something that is going to benefit you for the rest of your life. That’s the ability to critically think when you are given a case problem and come up with innovative solutions. That’s what is giving you the foundations needed to succeed in other courses as well. I have had countless students come back to me after the class telling me how valuable of an experience it was, and how they ended up making a lot of really good friends as well.

What makes the course so challenging?

Specifically the most challenging part is how time escapes you. There is a fairly solid timeline for the course. Within the first 6 weeks is when the case presentations are. Students will get the case in the second week, and it’s hard to coordinate schedules with four or five people. Right before you know it, there is a week left and you have to present a 20-minute presentation on something that you don’t know too much about. Then everyone really tries to scramble. The most difficult part really is time management.

What is the Dean’s Competition?

The Dean’s Competition may be the most exciting part about the course. It’s the chance for students to actually make money for

Interviewing hassaan QaDri

s t u D e n t s P o t l i g h t

By Kirsten LePageEditor-in-Chief & Sr. Contributor

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their hard work. It comprises of the top four or five teams cho-sen from their business plans. In the final lecture of BUS201, the students who show the most creativity, unique ideas and most feasible business plans are placed in a competition where indus-try professionals as well as the Dean will judge these plans. The prizes are probably the most important part. First place last year got $4,000, second place got $2,000, third place $1,000 and fourth place got $500. So that’s money you otherwise wouldn’t have right before Christmas. So it’s very convenient in that regard (laughs). The even cooler part of the Dean’s competition is that one of the team’s last year was actually picked up by one of the venture capi-talists that was attending the presentation and they were asked to start their idea. They were given $10,000 to actually make their idea happen. That’s one thing this course offers that nothing else will. It adds a real-world benefit to your work.

What are the common mistakes made by students?

People over think simple things, and they don’t emphasize the things that matter. Going through a case presentation, you’ll learn that there is a step-by-step process to do. People often get lost in the first couple steps and they ignore the rest. So really, following the process that’s taught and putting equal emphasis on each section is the most important part. If you always start stressing about whether your introduction is good enough, you’re going to eat up too much of your time. Fifteen minutes is not a long time for a presentation and you really have to make the time count on the sections that matter. Most students also find teamwork as one of the most challenging parts of the course. Often differences in groups can be very trivial and they can be easily resolved by getting to know the other person. Trusting your teammates and working with them is really the most effective way to get an A in the course.

Do you have any other tips for success?

I have a couple. I have to emphasize that you have to go in with a good attitude. What you put into the course is what you take out. You’ll get students who try to coast, and it doesn’t work. There is so much work required for the case and business plan, that if everyone doesn’t put in their fair share, you’re not going to succeed. People that put their heart and soul into the course always end up coming back to me with these amazing stories about how they love case competitions, or it has motivated them to explore business ideas and become entrepreneurs. So really invest in it, and you won’t regret that. My other piece of advice revolves around the fact that Bus201 rests on the foundations that you are not going to stop after that. These are the basic tools and there is really not enough time in the seminars to teach all the different techniques and all the different ways to do a case. What we’re teaching is the basic framework. And we really encourage students to think outside the box. Go explore other techniques. Look online to figure out really cool ways to do presentations. There are so many possibilities and opportunities to be a unique group. Students don’t often take advantage of that. So put in the effort, and think outside the box! Those will be your two keys to success in the BUS201 course.

Obviously, this course takes up a fair amount of a first year’s first semester in Business. Who can these students look to for help and guidance?

There are actually a lot of resources to support BUS201 students. First and foremost, reach out to your seminar managers. As the number one piece of advice I can give to students in the course, come to office hours early. We have them every week and I guarantee you, in the first two weeks, not one student will come. Then hundreds come to us the week before the case presenta-tion and at that point we can’t help them. It’s really about com-ing to us early and working with us to find what’s best for your group. In terms of other resources, Kathy west is the librarian of the Winspear Library. She is more than willing to help you make your business plan a reality. We are lucky enough to have one of the best stocked libraries with business publications. Please, use those! Outside of that, for anything that seminar managers can’t resolve, the Dean and the Associate Dean are always work-ing with the seminar managers to help the students.

What you gain is a unique ability that is not reallyemphasized in other classes, and that’s REAL teamwork.

B

Hassaan QadriBUS201 Course Coordinator

Want to know more about Hassaan’s experiences and how to pick a great business plan idea? Check out lazyfairemagazine.blogspot.ca for an extended interview!

Page Design by Jenny Truong

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Summer, sweet summer!

‘T is the season to wear every piece of clothing you can’t usually wear thanks to our city’s unofficial policy of be-ing a winter wonderland during all but a smidgen of the

year. But with the autumnal equinox slowly approaching, does that mean we’ll soon have to say goodbye to the summer clothing we’ve all come to cherish and love? The answer to that would be… yes, but fret not! As the autumn season draws near, coming with it are all the students who will be joining the University of Alberta’s School of Business for the first time ever! And you know what that means to them: permission to dress in sleek, refined business professional apparel all day, every day. Well, not really. But for those first year business students wondering what to expect in good-looking busi-ness professional wear or are looking for a tip or two to improve their current wardrobe, we’ve invited five fellow students from the University of Alberta’s School of Business who would be more than willing to share their business fashion wisdom with you. From tips on what to wear for casual business meetings, to your BUS 201 pre-sentations, and all the way to networking events and beyond, these stylish students know it all!

Business Dress 101

By Garry DengSr. Contributor

1. What are some fashion tips you can give to first year Business students?Taryn Klymyk: My biggest tip is to wear things that you are confident in! When you feel great in what you're wearing it comes across in your whole appearance. Layering is also a great look, whether it's a cardi-gan, scarf, suit jacket, or blazer. Having an accent piece in your outfit will also bring focus to your look, whether it’s a pair of bright colored heels, a scarf, a necklace, or for guys a tie.

Michelle Ngo: Some of the tips that I could give to others is that you don’t need to dress too conservative; be conservative, but don’t be too conservative. You can still have fun and show your personality. Bring in some color in your wardrobe! You can always have fun with color, but try and stick to one so that you don’t go overboard and you don’t have too many going on. The main thing is to be confident. When you’re confident, you speak better, you represent yourself better, and you feel better.

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2. What are you wearing?Joey Zapernick: I’m wearing some Sperry loafers, some pants from J.Crew as well as the jacket, and the shoes are also from J.Crew. I got this pocket square, a navy one, from Seattle in a vintage store and some parasol glasses. So I like to kind of mix the looks up, I’m a big fan of the whole blazer and colored chinos but it’s always good to play around with the look, throw a vest in there if you can. Pocket squares are a great way, if you have a very basic kind of outfit, to inject some kind of personality or flair into it.

Josh Le: I am wearing a white, pinpoint oxford dress shirt vwith French cuffs from Indochino and the cufflinks are from an online vintage col-lector. My navy pants are from my favourite go-to suit that I got made from an artisan suit maker in Vietnam. I’m wearing my timeless black captoe oxfords from the Canadian heritage shoe brand, Dack’s. Those three pieces are staples for the wardrobe. For accessories, I’ve got a matching black belt for my shoes and a natural tan bracelet with the ac-ronym PUSH written on it. I’m not sure if this count, but I’m also sport-ing my beard – don’t be afraid to grow one.

3. Where did you get your clothes?Taryn Klymyk: I got the dress and jacket from Zara, the heels from Steve Madden, the rings from Six, and the pearls from the Pearl Market in Beijing.

Michelle Ngo: For myself, I like to shop at a good deal, so I never buy anything full price. I got my shirt from Winners which has a great selec-tion of different items you can buy. My pants are from Dynamite and I got my shoes from Pravda; you can find that store at Southgate and City Centre.

4. What are some business professional essentials every busi-nessman and businesswoman should have?Joey Zapernick: Always try to get yourself a white dress shirt and a powdered blue dress shirt because no matter what suit you wear it with, it’s extremely versatile. You can wear it with a suit jacket, jeans, dress shoes, and no matter what direction you go in, those shirts are going to be anchors to all your suits. Gray suits and navy suits are both extremely versatile and are super easy to match up with other colors of shirts and other patterns. Having a black tie and black shoes is kind of the staple, nothing too crazy or fancy. Once you start finding the areas you feel comfortable in, the essentials kind of follow suit. So keep it basic, and once you got the basics then you can start adding the flair in.

Josh Le: Find a good trustworthy tailor. It can change a $50 shirt into a $200 shirt or a $200 suit into a $1,000 suit. Conversely, if your $1000 suit isn’t tailored properly, it will look like a $200 suit. It’s all in the de-tails. Read Alan Flusser’s book: Dressing The Man: Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion. The name is pretty self-explanatory. This book is the definitive guide to what men need to know in order to dress well and look stylish without becoming fashion victims. It will educate you on the essentials of menswear and what is most flattering for you based on your physique, complexion and so on. An easily overlooked piece: the shoe tree. Shoe trees maintain the integrity and extend the life of your shoe by absorbing moisture, controlling odour, and pre-serving their shape. These are essential to protecting the black captoe oxfords (or any other shoe) you invested in.

5. What is a business professional wear faux-pas?Taryn Klymyk: Wearing anything you would wear to a bar or club! Chances are it’s not appropriate for a business setting (unless you are Barney Stinson of course). Also, fishnets are NOT the same as panty-hose, and wearing something that doesn't fit you properly will just make you look sloppy.

Joey Zapernick: If you’re going to be wearing a suit or dress pants, don’t wear sneakers. No one wants to see a guy roll up to his BUS 201 case competition wearing sneakers. It just doesn’t look professional, throws off the whole look, and leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. Another one is don’t have your suit too baggy; make sure your suit fits. The biggest thing that exudes confidence is if you have a suit that fits properly; you’re going to feel good in it and then you’re going to pres-ent better. Even shoes, make sure they’re polished. Always keep care of what you wear and take pride in it.

6. Is there a particular person in the business world, well-known or not, who you get your inspiration from in terms of dress? If not, would you be able to recommend one?Joey Zapernick: Nick Wooster is his name. The way he has reinvented how to bring in pieces of outfits that are so much different but still so presentable is what I try to emulate. He injects camouflage into his out-fits, but he does it so strategically that it works well and it’s that kind of creativity and confidence that he exudes that I really like. What he brings to the table is that he balances his outfits well.

Idel Riemer: I don’t really follow anyone in the business world in terms of fashion, but there are people whose fashion style I appreciate. One person is Kate Middleton because in today’s world we have all these celebrities who are wearing completely outrageous things just to stand out and I think that, especially for business, that is not the way to go. Whereas you have someone like Kate Middleton, who has to look good all the time, and her style is so classic and simple and timeless that it can go in any situation and look good.

7. During what events or situations might it be a good time to dress in business professional or business casual?Michelle Ngo: Depending on the type of job you have, some jobs re-quire you to dress business professional and some other jobs allow you to dress a little more casual. When you’re doing presentations at school like your BUS 201 presentations or when you’re at networking events, I wouldn’t go business casual during those presentations, I’d go business professional. Go business casual if you were to go out for cof-fee with someone or some business professional you meet.

Idel Riemer: I think anytime you’re going out and your purpose is to try to make a good impression on someone, it’s probably best to play it safe and go with business professional. If you’re going to a networking event or if you’re doing a presentation, it’s best to make sure that the person you’re talking to or presenting to knows you’re serious about what you’re doing and that you want something good to come out of it. Business casual can be for anytime you’re going out and you’re in a situation where you don’t need to necessarily need to make a good impression but you still want to look good.

Page Design by Colleen Do

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What are some places to get coffee? Whether you want to grab a quick fix before your toughest class, you need a new place to study for midterms, or you just want to be more like all of those real-life-grown-up business people, knowing the coffee places around campus is valuable knowledge. Cookies by George, Starbucks, Tim Hortons, and Second Cup, are the obvious and closest options. Dewey’s is a great choice when you are sticking close to campus; it is just a few steps from CAB and has quiet areas and lots of space. If you decide to venture a bit further, try out the Good Earth Café which boasts many environmentally friendly practices, or Remedy Café and Transcend which are down on 109th street.

Other Tips

z Get involved: This piece of advice is thrown around so much in your first year of business that you may not take it

seriously. Do it. Not only will you meet a lot of people and create a network, getting involved starts to build your own personal brand that you sell to future employers.

x Get to know older students. These people have lived through exactly what you are and have way more advice and

knowledge than you could even imagine.

c THE BATHROOMS ON THE SECOND FLOOR ARE NOT ORGANIZED THE SAME WAY AS THE BATHROOMS ON THE

MAIN FLOOR! The men’s washroom on the second floor is where the women’s washroom is on the main floor. Nobody deserves to endure that awkward moment when you realize you are in the wrong washroom, and have to sneak away in shame.

T here are some questions that almost every business student asks themselves over the first few months of school: Where

do I go to study? What can I do to get involved? Why didn’t anybody tell me accounting was this hard? The Lazy Faire team is here to give you some tips and tricks that will make it easier to ease into the school year. How should I tackle my classes?Succeeding in the School of Business and beyond takes a different set of skills then most university students are used to. Take advantage of the cohort system to create some connections early on. This is a great way to begin to feel comfortable with people who will potentially be in your study group, case study, business plan, and will be there to pick you up after that first accounting midterm. Use the resources that UofA has to offer: Go to EVERY seminar, go to tutorials if you need extra help, and use the study spaces to actually get an efficient study session where you actually do all of the practice problems and read assigned readings. The best thing you can do with any course load is try anything to keep it interesting and relevant to yourself and just stay positive.

What are the best places to study? The answer to this question can be quite varied from one student to the next, however the business school and the university has a lot of options. The first place to check out is The Winspear Library. You can find the library if you turn right as soon as you enter the business building from outside. The library seems to go unnoticed by some of the newer students, though it has plenty of desks, cubicles, and computer stations to study at in peace. There are many resources in the Winspear that will help you through your career as a BCom as well. The rooms that can be booked out in the Winspear Library or the Cameron Library will be extremely valuable tools as you start to tackle more group meetings and projects. Conversely, the Law Library or the Rutherford Library are excellent places to go when you want some great individual and quiet study time.

s c h o o l o f B u s i n e s s

Tips & TricksBy Braden LauerSr. Contributor

Page Design by Eileen Lee18

glossary

You’re engaged in a conversation with your fellow peers, and the person to your left is looking a little confused with

all the business jargon flying back and forth. Luckily, you recall reading this little glossary before your first day at the SoB.

Bang for your buck: Your return on invested money.

Case study: An extensive investigation of an organization that requires the application of a variety of business skills. The analysis is usually followed by a recommendation, a plan to implement these suggestions, and risk mitigation. See Business 201 Seminar.

Core competencies: A company’s most successful skills and/or activities. Also, a term used WAY more than necessary by most business students.

Elevator pitch: A short and concise summary of a product, service, or organization, and its value proposition. A successful elevator pitch is unique, exciting, and succinct –the idea being to complete

the pitch within the time span of an elevator ride. See Business 201 Seminar.

Smart art: Your new best friend for any presentation. See Business 201 Seminar.

Stakeholder: Often a source of discussion in the SoB. Generally refers to a person, organization, group, or member who is affected or can potentially be affected by the decisions and actions of an organization.

SWAT analysis: We’ll let BUS 201 take this one as well. It’s a good one. You will then proceed to use it many, many times over your degree.

Synergy: Multiple people, organizations, company subsidiaries, etc. cooperating in order to achieve an enhanced affect. Sometimes used vaguely in sentences (e.g. “I’m all about synergy…”).

Some terms you might hear at the School of Business B

By Kristine GuSr. Contributor

Page Design by Colleen Do

Where can you read extended versions of our interviews, answer our monthly student polls to win prizes, or simply

access Lazy Faire on the go?

LazyFAIRE

www.lazyfairemagazine.blogspot.ca!

Please pass this copy on to a friend or to a table in Winspear to optimize its use.G

Scan the QR code on the cover to access

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BWhen I graduated from the School of Business in 2008, I had never considered a career in Sales; it just wasn’t something I thought I would enjoy or be successful at. I took a risk and decided to pursue Sales at Segue Systems.

I worked there for two years now and I am so happy I decided to take this route. I have learned many valuable skills that are useful in any field, met amazing people and have taken advantage of all the contests, prizes and trips. Now, I work directly at Xerox as a sales consultant for large accounts which is just a testament to where your career can take you.

Natasha Genoud, Xerox Account Executive B.Comm, University of Alberta, 2008

A career with advancement and development opportunities. I started at Xerox as an Account Manager, then Product Specialist, GM and then Marketing Director. In my current position as Director of Sales for Western Canada I am responsible for managing and supporting a team that assists customers in achieving their business objectives. I truly enjoy the challenge of solving business problems and driving revenue growth strategies.

Chris BudraDirector of Sales Western CanadaU of A – Faculty of BusinessCommerce Degree - 1993Marketing and Finance

Come visit us at www.findyourxfactor.com to find out the challenging and rewarding opportunities that are now available!

Diana Wyley Sourcing Specialist Talent Management Diana.Wyley@xerox.com