Issue No. 1
Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Insider Media Seasonal Newsletter! In this issue, we delve into the highlights of IMG’s first event of the year, Club Week, and Frosh Week. We then look ahead to the Fall IMG events still to come. Read on to explore prevailing issues and trends in the business world, and get some creative ideas from our list of refreshing activities to unwind during this autumn season.
Written by Sarah Di Iorio and Vincent Ngo
RECENT EVENTS RUNDOWN:
IMG’s Brand Yourself Workshop, Club Week, and Frosh Week
If you missed out on some key events that took place since school was back in session, we’ve got you covered! Catch up on Insider Media’s first event of the year—the Brand Yourself Workshop—Club Week, and Frosh Week.
Brand Yourself Workshop
On October 5th, we kicked off the year here at IMG with our first event: The Brand Yourself and LinkedIn Workshop. Guiding us through a Resume session was Shayan Mesbahi, a Schulich alumni and the founder of Shayan’s Games, an innovative video game distribution company aimed towards searching for the best deals and reselling at market prices.
Shayan’s workshop was a masterclass in perfecting your resume, highlighting the essential DO’s and DONT’s. Following this insightful workshop, attendees had the opportunity to listen to the expertise of Divanshi Khurana, an associate marketing manager at LinkedIn. Divanshi emphasized 10 crucial steps to follow in order to unlock the secret to a captivating LinkedIn profile.
The event concluded with a dynamic networking session, providing attendees with the opportunity to ask our guest speakers personalized questions. This concluded our first event of the 2023-2024 school year, setting the tone for an exciting journey ahead!
Didn’t get a chance to make the workshop? No worries, we’ve got your back! Here are 5 key lessons we took away from the workshop:
Content is King: Shayan emphasized the importance of maintaining a visually clean and concise resume. Prioritize content to carry you professionally rather than relying on flashy visuals.
Employ the CAR Method: When crafting your resume, you should follow the CAR method: Explain the challenge or situation you found yourself in during an experience, detail the action you took, and quantify your results. This approach is sure to effectively showcase your abilities to future recruiters.
LinkedIn is Social Media for Professionals: The workshop helped transform our perception of LinkedIn. LinkedIn has a mystique to it which can intimidate many new users. However, instead look at LinkedIn like a professioanl social media tool. This shift in perspective makes navigating LinkedIn less daunting for new users.
Harness LinkedIn’s Features: LinkedIn provides a plethora of features that help you highlight your achievements and skills. Leverage user endorsements, craft catchy headlines, and effectively summarize your positions. If you want to captivate your recruiters, use all the features available.
Network Actively: LinkedIn affords users a significant opportunity to discuss and connect with professionals in the industry that interests them. Divanshi emphasizes taking advantage of this! Be sure to send out a personalized message to those users you would like to chat with about why you are interested in speaking with them.
Schulich Club Week
Schulich’s club week warmly welcomed students back to school. Throughout the week, a diverse set of clubs provided students with an opportunity to discover a community that resonated both their academic pursuits and personal interests. Each club did an exceptional job with their booth, embodying their club’s unique flair with goodies and fun activities that complimented the experience.
If you didn’t get a chance to swing by our booth or just want to be reminded of the awesome opportunities our club offers, heres a brief recap:
“Insider is the only media-based club here at Schulich, created to educate and showcase the power of media in business. Insider will connect you with established individuals in the media industry, host amazing events and podcasts, and give you tips and tricks on how to excel in the business world!”
Frosh Week
We can’t forget about the event that started it all, Frosh! For many incoming students, the transition to university can be nerve-wracking. It’s an entirely new environment, often without familiar faces and with a heightened level of responsibility. Frosh, the "calm before the storm,” welcomed new students with fun team building activities like building a boat, athletic showdowns, and intense rounds of dodgeball. Those who participated experienced a vibrant introduction to University life and were provided with a platform for interacting and developing relationships with students of all majors.
ON THE HORIZON:
Upcoming Fall Events
Looking for more events? You’re in luck! Here are IMG’s two upcoming fall events, and an exciting event from the Business Law Association!
Evolution of AI in the Corporate World
Date: Thursday October 26th 2023, 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM EST
Location: Schulich School of Business
IMG’s next event delves into the topic of the evolution of AI in the corporate world. Are you worried that AI will take over your future job and are looking for ways to prevent this dilemma? Or do you just want to learn more about AI in the corporate space? Tune in to this event to learn more about this growing reality!
Media Conversations Panel
Date: November (Exact Date To be Announced)
After that we have a media conversations panel which will include IMG’s first case competition of this school year. This workshop tackles the importance of preserving media over the years to create and grow a catalog of knowledge for future generations. If you need to scratch that competitive itch, this event is a must-see.
BLA’s Debate Competition
Date: Friday November 24th 2023, 12 PM – 5 PM EST
Location: Bennett Jones Law Firm, Bay Street
Let's dive into a thrilling debate competition that's all about nurturing the art of persuasive communication!
In this debate competition, s
tudents will be forming teams of three, where they will prepare to embrace the role of passionate advocates for their assigned positions. The debate topics are no joke – they're intense and challenging, pushing young minds to think on their feet and articulate their arguments with poise, even in the midst of high-pressure situations.
But here's the twist that adds to the excitement: participants don't get to pick their side. They'll be thrust into either the affirmative or opposition, which means they have to be versatile and adaptable, no matter what's thrown their way.
Even more interestingly, your arguments won't be left hanging in the air. A panel of judges, who are experts in the art of eloquence and reason, will be watching closely. Every word, every gesture, and every twist of logic will be carefully evaluated to determine who emerges victorious.
This isn't your run-of-the-mill debate competition. It's a dynamic stage where persuasive skills are refined, and the leaders of tomorrow are showcased. Welcome to a world where intellect shines, and the future looks brighter than ever.
THE BUSINESS LANDSCAPE:
Current Trends and New Developments
The business world is ever changing and often difficult to keep up with. But highlighted below are three pivotal developments reshaping the business landscape. These key insights delve into transformative trends and strategic shifts that are shaping the future of commerce.
Grab and Go: Welcome to the Future of Shopping
Amazon is redefining the shopping experience within major food and drink venues such as Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena and Calgary’s Scotiabank Saddledome. Through this new experience, arena-goers can effortlessly tap their credit or debit cards, take the items they desire from shelves or refrigerators, and walk right out. It’s as straightforward as that! Ziad Mehio, Vice President of Information Technology with Calgary Sports and Entertainment, emphasizes that arenas are ideal for introducing this latest technology (Patel 2023).
Notorious for their lengthy lines, obtaining food and beverages can be frustrating for arena-goers who do not want to miss a second of the action. With this new system, customers can grab what they need and return to their seats in no time. Might this indicate a development towards seamless shopping experiences worldwide?
Picture: Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary
Recession on the Horizon?
While there are optimistic signs for the future economy, such as increased GDP and job numbers, we have seen a surge in interest rates coupled with warning signals from the bond market in recent months. According to David Rosenberg, U.S. treasuries with a maturity period of 10 years or greater have seen a 46% value decline since 2020. He also forecasts that real disposable incomes will fall by 1.7% this year (Armstrong 2023). In saying this, economist Tu Nguyen suggests that there is still hope, raising the possibility of a “soft landing.” She explains that a “soft landing” occurs when gross domestic product and job growth slow just enough to manage inflation, thereby curbing an economic recession (Armstrong 2023). Overall, economists concur that signals from both the 'real economy' and financial markets present a mixed picture. Only time will reveal the economy’s trajectory.
Shifting Gears: Government Investment in the Electric Vehicle Industry
In recent years, the federal government has committed substantial financial resources to bolster the electric vehicle manufacturing sector. Most recently, the government invested $2.7 billion into a manufacturing facility in Montreal, spanning an area equivalent to over 300 football fields (Shingler 2023). Investment efforts are a response to the need for governments to participate in a growing green economy. Policy analyst Meena Bibra emphasized that Canada must invest heavily to remain competitive in the “race to electrification,” or they risk falling behind (Shingler 2023). The demand for electric vehicles has experienced a striking surge, with a 240% increase in electric car sales worldwide since 2021. Industry experts emphasize that for Canada to lead the most significant transition in the automotive industry in 100 years, substantial investments are necessary.
STUDY PAUSE:
5 Activities to Embark on This Fall
Feeling the burnout this semester? We’ve got you covered! To wrap up our first seasonal newsletter, we provide you with five fall activities that will help you feel refreshed, recharged, and ready for the busy times ahead!
1) Take an Autumn Stroll
Step into the vibrant nature that autumn brings. Take a walk through a local trail, breathe in the crisp fall air, and take in the beautiful fall colors. Whether you’re listening to music, catching up with a friend, or just looking to soak in the fall ambience, walking is the perfect simple activity to help you hit the refresh button during busy study seasons!
2) Visit a Local Pumpkin Patch or Apple Orchard
Dive into some classic fall activities by visiting a local farm. Whether it’s Downey’s Farm Market, Dixie Orchards, or Applewood Farm, Toronto and its surrounding neighbourhoods boast a wide array of locations for your choosing! Explore the rows of vibrant orange pumpkins, enjoy hayrides in the sun, and handpick the freshest apples.
Picture: Downey’s Farm, Caledon
3) Have a Halloween Themed Movie Night
Feel like staying in? Then embrace the cozy fall season by indulging in your go-to snacks and watching your favourite fall movie. Treat yourself to some Hocus Pocus magic, Halloweentown charm, or Scream thrills. Whether you’re a horror movie lover or prefer to steer clear of the spooky, there is a fall film lineup waiting for you!
4) Show off Your Art Skills with Pottery Painting
Looking to release your inner artist? Pottery painting is the perfect opportunity for some artistic expression! Pick your pottery, gather your colors, design your piece, and develop your personalized masterpiece! No matter your skill level, pottery painting is guaranteed to keep you stress-free.
Picture: Via @crockadoodleunionville
5) Explore a Haunted House
Need something a little more thrilling? Explore some of the most popular haunted houses this Halloween season. From Legends of Horror, Screemers, Halloween Haunt, Fear Forest, and Fort York After Dark, these haunted houses are sure to get you into the Halloween Spirit.
Picture: Legends of Horror, Casa Loma, Toronto
Sources:
Patel, N. (2023, October 11). Goodbye cashiers: Amazon tech lets shoppers skip the checkout. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/goodbye-cashiers-amazon-tech-lets-shoppers-skip-the-checkout-1.6992085
Armstrong, P. (2023, October 7). Alarm bells are ringing: What markets are trying to warn us about the economy. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/bonds-markets-recession-economy-armstrong-1.6989733
Shingler, B. (2023, September 30). Canada is pouring billions of dollars into the electric vehicle industry. Will it pay off? CBC News.https://www.cbc.ca/news/climate/canada-quebec-ev-battery-1.6982613