Ivey’s MBA students made an impact in London on March 28 by volunteering in various activities throughout the community for their inaugural Ivey Impact Day.
Around 150 students, grouped in teams of 15, participated in activities ranging from business consulting to spring cleaning.
A key part of the day was a partnership with the Argyle Business Improvement Association (BIA), whereby students offered free consulting to local businesses with Argyle BIA and brainstormed on everything from branding to strategy.
“We spend a year working on different parts of the Ivey mission, thinking strategically and globally. We wanted to finish off the year contributing to the society that we’re in right now – London – and give back,” said MBA student Jonathan del Rosario, who was one of the organizers of Ivey Impact Day, and spent the day doing yard work for Ronald McDonald House of Southwestern Ontario. “It’s just about helping them out and seeing the smiles on their faces and the enthusiasm – that’s what I’m really after.”
Brock Merrifeld, General Manager of the Dundas and Clark Road STAPLES Canada Inc., where the consulting sessions were held, said feedback from the local businesses was positive.
“(The students) did an amazing job of getting these owners/operators to stop and think about what they can do differently in today’s competitive marketplace,” he said.
Ivey MBA student Ken Mathias, who participated in the Argyle BIA consulting project, said he hopes Ivey Impact Day will continue in future years.
Photo above: Ivey MBA student Jonathan del Rosario, Photo by Western FIMS student Molly McCracken
Photo below: Ivey’s MBA students participating in the consulting project with the Argyle Business Improvement Association, Photo by Ken Mathias, MBA 2012
Photo above: Ivey’s MBA students helping with the Alzheimer Society London and Middlesex’s Food For Thought Program, a social recreation program for people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s Disease, Photo courtesy of Alzheimer Society London and Middlesex
