ComSoc’s full slate of November events
Posted on November 29, 2012
Nov. 29 – Kingston Every year, once mid-terms are out of the way, ComSoc reps are in high gear, getting ready to present six conferences and competitions in November. These events attract business students from across Canada and around the world. They also provide invaluable leadership experience for undergraduate students responsible for all aspects of these major events, including marketing, financial management, securing sponsorships, communications and logistics.
Judging from the attendance numbers and enthusiasm of the participants, each of the following events were highly successful.
• QBET—Queen’s Conference on the Business Environment Today was held Nov. 1-4. Highlights included presentations from John Stackhouse, BCom’85, Editor-in-Chief of The Globe and Mail, Shane Skillen, President of Hotspex, and Karen Stinz, Toronto Transit Commission Chair. A business forecasting simulation sponsored by Potentia demonstrated the pitfalls that arise when trying to make forecasts in an unpredictable business environment. A ‘Merger Mystery’ provided a simulation of mergers and acquisitions in the mining industry in Africa and was sponsored by IAMGOLD.
• QBFFI—Queen’s Business Forum on the Fashion Industry (Nov. 1-3) operated under the theme “Business Translated: Walking the World’s Runway.” Speakers included Harry Taylor, COO at Mark’s Work Wearhouse; Laura deCarufel, ELLE Canada’s Executive Editor; and Jillian Lookwood, BCom’10, of Faulhaber PR.
• QLEAD—Queen’s Leadership, Excellence and Development Conference ran from Nov. 10 – 13 when ComSoc organizers welcomed 120 high school students from across Canada who were interested in developing their leadership potential under this year’s theme “Aspire to Inspire.” Keynote presenters included Anthony Lacavera, Chairman and CEO of Globalive Communications and Wind Mobile, and Ken Wong, Distinguished Professor of Marketing at QSB, among others.
• QWIL—Queen’s Women in Leadership Conference offered the theme, “Flaunt Ambition” at its 16th annual conference from Nov. 8 – 11. With 85 delegates from across Canada, this year’s event attracted the conference’s highest turnout ever. Speakers included Catherine Murray, co-host of BNN’s Market Sense; Marilyn Monk, EVP, Clinical, at the Hospital for Sick Children; Sherri Brillon, CFO of Encana; Lauren Friese, Founder of TalentEgg; and Sue Thomson, VP of Marketing at Moxie’s restaurants.
• QFAC—Queen’s Finance Association Conference took place Nov. 15 – 18 at Toronto’s Royal York Hotel. Canada’s first student-run conference focused on finance and capital markets offered a full complement of activities. Speakers included Scott Lawrence, VP Head of Relationships Investments at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board; Peter Dowse, a Partner at Ironbridge Equity Partners, and Evan Siddall, from the Bank of Canada. The inaugural QFAC Stock Pitch Competition enabled participants to showcase their equity research and stock-picking skills. Four QFAC finalists were flown to New York where Michael Karp, Comm’15, captured first place.
• DECA Queen’s Invitational Conference—More than 150 students from business schools across Canada descended on Goodes Hall from Nov. 16 – 18 for two days of business simulations and case competitions. Keynote speakers were Bobby Umar, President of Raeallan, and Ray Zahab, Founder of impossible2Possible.