Beta Gamma Sigma Student Leadership Forum brings together student members from colleges and universities across Canada and the U.S. Bryan Dizon (BBA-Finance) and Allison Mcconnell (BAcc) were selected to represent Goodman. Allison attended the conference in Fall 2014 while Bryan attended in Winter 2015.
Both of you attended the BGS Student Leadership Forum for the first time. What was the experience like?
Allison: The BGS Student Leadership Forum was amazing. It was a great weekend of self-discovery, making new friends and making tough decisions about what you really want to get out of your career. I loved every minute of it! The sessions were so engaging and the people were incredible, truly the best from around the world were represented.
Bryan: Attending the Beta Gamma Sigma (BGS) Student Leadership Forum (SLF) was one of the best experiences of my university career that I will remember forever. That weekend in San Diego, California has changed my mentality on how I approach problems with my academics, my career, my personal relationships and life. The weekend was filled with workshops that focused on leadership training, guest speakers whose presentations focused on leadership and overcoming obstacles, and networking opportunities with other BGS members from around the world.
Despite the valuable workshops and guest speakers, the greatest benefit to me was the networking opportunities. I met many bright students from all over the world who have inspired me through their plans of achieving their dreams and through their stories of hardship and success. I developed a close bond with many of the other BGS members at the SLF.
What was the most important leadership lesson you learned at the Student Leadership Forum?
Bryan: Take risks. In order to be considered a great leader you have to be innovative. You should constantly challenge the status quo or what is considered “safe”. You should strive to do things that haven’t been done before in order to better the organization, your team, or any stakeholders.
Allison: The most important leadership lesson I learned is how we can use our personalities to shape our leadership style; we were arranged by our Myers-Briggs types and just talking with my fellow ENFPs I was able to really get a feel how, even though we were all technically the same type, we had such different ways of approaching leadership.
How do you transform your student leadership experience into being a leader at your co-op and summer jobs?
Bryan: As a student leader, I am constantly trying to work with other student leaders to provide new initiatives, process improvements, and more opportunities to benefit other students. This has directly translated to my co-op and summer jobs. Current and new initiatives or projects are discussed at team meetings and I always try to add value to the organization by discussing my thoughts on how to streamline certain tasks. I may not always be right, but it is a good learning experience to put your thoughts on the table and bounce it off other individuals within the organization. Many of the tasks have a daily, weekly, or monthly turnover, so I’m always looking to make process improvements to save the organization time and resources.
Allison: Being a leader is something that has always come very naturally to me. I have always been one to take initiative and to try and organize the group. Student leadership allows me a great chance to test my ability and try out different methods to accomplish tasks. Being in a student leadership position, I am interacting with so many different types of people that are motivated by so many different things, it is a much more diverse pool than people all in a company together. In a student role you see so many more perspectives that you can bring to your work place.
Who has been your strongest mentor and advocate at the Goodman School of Business?
Allison: There are so many amazing role models and mentors at Goodman; however, there are a few who have really stood out to me. Professor Hoover has really been a strong mentor and has really helped me. He is an inspiration to his students and truly cares about leading us on our right path. He leads by example as he came to Goodman even though it meant leaving a good job; he coaches us on the importance of finding out not only what we are good at and what makes us money but what we actually find a purpose in. Professor Hoover has been integral in shaping my opinions on leadership through action.
Bryan: Many of my professors that I have had classes with and even some that I have never had a class with have all been great mentors and advocates for me, but my strongest mentors would have to be the student leaders here at the Goodman School of Business. Through my involvement in extra-curricular activities I have met countless people that expand my knowledge on a daily basis. These bright individuals inspire me to continually develop myself personally and professionally. Whether I’m preparing for an interview, have an idea for a project, need information about a certain company or industry, debating about a certain topic, or need advice for my personal life, I always turn to my colleagues at the Goodman School of Business to get their thoughts on the subject. I am thankful to have the opportunity to pick their brain and I am privileged to call them my friends.
What is your favourite inspirational quote on leadership?
Allison: Very difficult, there are so many great ones! Probably I would say: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world” – Ghandi
Bryan: “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – President John Quincy Adams
This is my favourite inspirational quote on leadership because it explains the essence of a true leader, which is to inspire. You may be seen as a leader if you have people that you delegate tasks to, but unless these people are inspired by your actions to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are not a leader. It’s not my position to label myself as a true leader, but I am always making an effort to inspire other students to accomplish their goals. I have been discouraged by some and I was told that it was extremely unlikely that I would achieve my career goals. I didn’t listen to these people, I trusted myself, and I have achieved most of my goals. All of our hopes and dreams are within reach, if only we believe.
