The event was well attended with approximately 25 registered alumni and guests. This event was one in a series of West End Toronto events we hope to hold this year in Mississauga. Our ongoing goal is to strengthen the local Ivey network west of Toronto by reaching out to alumni interested in helping organize and/or attend local events.

Held, appropriately enough, at the Ivey ING Direct Leadership Centre, the event featured the following speakers:

• • Ms. Amy Elmaleh, Co-Founder and Director of Advocacy of Colon Cancer Canada
• • Ms. Alayne Metrick, President of St. Michael’s Foundation
• • Ms. Debbie Young, COO of SickKids Foundation

The moderator, Prof. Charlice Hurst (Assistant Professor of Organizational Behaviour at Ivey), kicked off by sharing the surprising fact that Canada has one of the world’s largest not-for-profit sectors, and that it is larger than entire Canadian retail trade industry.

Ms. Elmaleh started by sharing the story of how she and her aunt started Colon Cancer Canada 15 years ago after she lost her mother and uncle to colon cancer.  In a moving account of personal determination and true entrepreneurial leadership, Amy described the challenges of growing the organization to its present size raising $1M a year to raise public awareness of colorectal cancer, increase access to screening, fund research initiatives and provide patient support. Along the way, Amy had to recruit leadership talent in her board of directors as well as advisory board, and was fortunate enough to enlist celebrity support (e.g. Anne Murray) to raise the profile of Colon Cancer Canada’s events.  Amy also shared how the organization has moved much of its fundraising online, as well as started making effective use of social media.

Ms. Metrick then provided an account of St. Michael’s hospital’s size and scope, and how she has been successful in scaling up the foundation’s fundraising.  In particular, Alayne elaborated on the leadership culture she has built in order to drive results, one in which collaboration skills are critical. Alayne also shared what she considers key attributes of inspired leadership, and how she recruits for these and helps develop her team.  Interestingly, Alayne commented on some particular recruiting challenges, such as dealing with the generational differences between Gen X’s and Gen Y’s, as well as the shortage of young men working in the not-for-profit sector.

Finally, Ms. Young presented a quick overview of the Hospital for Sick Children and the SickKids Foundation, and how the latter is now one of the largest foundations of its kind in the country. For Ivey alumni interested in volunteer leadership in the not-for-profit sector, in particular joining a board of directors, Debbie highlighted that one has to be prepared to give three things: time, talent, and treasure. To make it even clearer what this means, Debbie rephrased this as “commitment, competency, and cash,” which she elaborated upon. However, Debbie also pointed out the many benefits that come from engaging as a volunteer leader.

The audience then had the opportunity during the panel discussion to ask questions, as well as to mingle with the speakers after the formal program. As people left the venue, it was fitting that Ivey’s mission statement was displayed prominently above the entrance area: “To develop business leaders who think globally, act strategically and contribute to the societies within which they operate.”  Leadership in the not-for-profit sector is clearly an area to which more Ivey alumni should aspire.

In the midst of the April/May Canadian election campaign, the Ivey Alumni Associations in Hong Kong and Toronto hosted an ‘Ivey Debate’ on the motion:  Canada has Missed the Boat in Asia.

These two debates were novel from multiple perspectives:

1. 1. The concept of a ‘debate’ as an alumni event to promote intellectual discourse on social-economic questions is consistent with Ivey’s role as an institution of higher learning continually challenging its students, alumni, and broader business community.
2. 2. The co-ordination of the same event across two Ivey alumni chapters in Canada and Asia is consistent with Ivey’s role as a business school operating across a global stage.
3. 3. This topic was one which simultaneously influences the economic development of both Asia and Canada.

In total, approximately 40 and 80 persons participated in the Hong Kong and Toronto debates respectively.  The debating approaches across the two cities were similar. Those arguing for the motion provided a stronger macro-economic, statistical, comparative (with Australia), and historical basis for their arguments.  Those arguing against the motion emphasized individual examples of Canadian business success stories, Canada’s entrepreneurial spirit, and that the opportunity for Canadian businesses in Asia still exists, so there are still boats headed to Asia that Canada can board (or even super highways to traverse).   The participants in Hong Kong narrowly voted in favour of the motion while Toronto narrowly voted against the motion.  But the real winners were:

1. 1. Ivey Alumni – who enjoyed a spirited evening of intellectual discussion and social interaction in that uniquely Ivey learning environment all alumni retain found memories of.
2. 2. Canada – as a critical issue to Canada’s future economic prosperity was discussed in a public forum, hopefully, serving as a catalyst for ongoing discussion by media, business, and government.

Background on the Ivey Debate motion “Canada has Missed the Boat in Asia” can be obtained through the following links:

Ivey Business Journal:  Will Canada’s Business Leaders Discover Asia in Time?

Ivey Debate Video Proceedings – Hong Kong

Ivey Debate Proceedings – Toronto

Canada’s Business News Network interview with Co-President of IAA-HK

Asia Pacific Foundation’s National Conversation on Asia