Issue No. 2
Welcome to the second edition of the Insider Media Seasonal Newsletter! In this issue, we discuss the highlights of two of our major fall events. We also welcome our First Year Representatives to the IMG Team! From there, we discuss some prevailing issues and trends in the business world. Finally, we help you gear up for the busy exam season ahead by giving you some study tips to utilize.
Written by Sarah Di Iorio and Vincent Ngo
RECENT EVENTS RUNDOWN:
AI in the Corporate World, MCP 7.0, and Welcoming our First Year Reps
It’s been a busy couple of weeks for IMG! We hosted our AI in the Corporate World Panel in October, followed by our 7th Annual MCP Case Competition and Workshop in November. Amidst the buzz of our two events, we also welcomed our new First Year Representatives to the IMG team. Read on for a rundown of these events!
AI in the Corporate World
Thursday October 26th, 2023
The AI in the Corporate World Panel was an exciting and informative event that taught our attendees all about the practical applications of AI within the workplace.
Kicking off the event was our panel session, where our speakers engaged in discussions about the trajectory of AI, the prevailing challenges in the field, and the integration of AI across industries. Their insights empowered our attendees with knowledge about how they can leverage AI tools to their advantage.
A special thank you to our three panelists, Junid Ebadi, Suwaid Khan, and Nicholas Lo, for contributing diverse perspectives about AI and its implications.
Here are some of the panelists thoughts on various topics:
How can business students work to leverage AI as they prepare to enter the corporate world?
Our panelists stated that it is important to understand the process of what it takes to develop or bring in AI solutions. If you wish to bring AI solutions into your future company, it is important to tell your boss or manager what AI will do for them, how you will help manage the process along the way, what vendors will need to be worked with to implement the solution, and so forth.
Something a lot of companies don’t have is managers who are familiar with AI. That's where you as a business student with a familiarity with AI can come in.
What are some ways you can get more familiar or comfortable with using AI Technology?
The panelists believe that a great way to gain familiarity with AI is to experiment with AI for yourself. Follow LinkedIn influencers, watch YouTube videos about AI, and learn about AI in a way that interests you. For example, if you enjoy sports, look to develop your familiarity with AI by researching AI for sports.
What do you think the future of AI looks like?
The panelists concurred that we are going to see a lot more startups offering AI solutions to companies. There will also be a lot more job opportunities arising because of AI, and these jobs have the potential to be high paying.
The Media Conversations Workshop and Case Competition
Friday November 17th, 2023
IMG also hosted the 7th Annual Media Conversations Panel and Case Competition. It was a jam-packed and fun filled event! For a full recap of the event check out our most recent blog post through this link.
The Case Competition Winners:
FIRST PLACE
N&K Dynamix
Nashia Hussain and Katelyn Chen
SECOND PLACE
Mission: Possible
Sarah Inot, Julienne Dong and Iris Locsin
THIRD PLACE
Media Mavericks
Diya Sharma, Arshia Rayramesh, and Rhea Lanba
Welcoming our First Year Representatives
This past month, IMG had the pleasure of welcoming Tenzing Tselha and Rebekha Lee, the 2023-2024 First Year Representatives. We are very excited to see what's in store for them, and are confident they will be fantastic additions to our team!
Here’s what they had to say about their new roles as First Year Reps:
Tenzing Tselha
I'm incredibly excited about stepping into my new position as the First Year Rep at IMG, especially because of the vibrant community I'm now able to be a part of. Meeting the members of the executive team has been an absolute pleasure as they've been incredibly kind and genuine. This aspect has amplified my enthusiasm for this opportunity, making it an exciting and enjoyable journey to embark upon.
I strongly believe that my creative talents and unwavering honesty will be invaluable assets to the team. Creativity, in all its artistic forms, is a true passion of mine. Whether it's designing posters, crafting engaging social media content, or producing entertaining videos. I thoroughly enjoy using platforms like Canva, Instagram, and Tiktok to bring my ideas to life. I also value honesty. You can always count on me to speak the truth, regardless of the circumstances. This commitment to honesty isn't just a principle; it's an integral part of who I am.
Rebekha Lee
I am most excited to learn from all the senior executives around me, and to connect with my fellow first years in hopes of getting them comfortable with Schulich events. I personally believe that a person’s work is at its best when they have a passion for what they are doing. That is one of the biggest qualities that I bring to the team, as IMG stood out to be a club that I could see myself being a part of long term. Thank you so much for the amazing opportunity, Insider Media. Can’t wait to be a part of all the amazing things that will come!
ON THE HORIZON:
Upcoming Events
IMG has lots of exciting stuff planned as we gear up for the Winter 2024 Semester! Check out our instagram for news of any upcoming events!
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.
Transparency in Job Postings: New Ontario Laws Demand Salary Disclosures
The Ontario government has recently announced a labour law that will mandate employers to disclose salary information when posting for new job positions.
Ontario’s Minister of Labour, David Piccini, says this move is a positive stride towards greater employer transparency (Evans 2023). Job seeker Kawal Preet Kaur expresses an appreciation for the new law, arguing that it will eliminate the need to navigate the tricky question of salary expectations during the job search process.
The new law will transform the job market, considering that currently, only 37% of all job postings in Ontario last year included information regarding salary ranges (Evans 2023).
Commitments to Tame Soaring Prices in the Grocery Industry
In recent months, Canadians have struggled with the steady surge in food prices. In August alone, there has been a staggering 6.9% increase in grocery costs when compared to previous years (Marfo 2023).
Amidst this challenge, Empire, Sobeys parent company, has promised to continue its price freezes on certain products from November 2023 through to January 2024. This commitment comes after potential action by the Federal government to implement tax measures on companies if they did not present plans to stabilize their food prices (Marfo 2023). Evidently, this decision will help all Canadians struggling with the price increases across the industry.
How Prevalent is Environmental Greenwashing in the Fashion Industry?
In recent years, many popular clothing brands have positioned their products as sustainable and recyclable. However, how true are their claims? Despite statements from major companies like Nike, Zara, and Lululemon that they are working towards more sustainable practices, Sabine Weber, a professor at the School of Fashion at Seneca College, argues that these claims can be misleading for consumers. According to Weber, when popular brands put a ‘sustainable’ label on their products, consumers believe they can continue to shop with them while also doing their part to help alleviate environmental issues (Agro and Matteis 2023). In reality, the products being promoted are far from truly sustainable, and only contribute to the fashion industry’s waste generation.
STUDY SMART:
5 Helpful Tips You Can Utilize this Exam Season
With final exam season just around the corner, you’re likely the most stressed you’ve been all semester. Not to worry - Insider Media has your back! Here are 5 tips that will ensure you ace those upcoming exams!
1) Plan it Out: The Power of a Good Study Schedule
During exam season, it's easy to feel disoriented and stressed. Sometimes you just don’t know where to begin. That’s why it is all the more important for you to plan out all of your exam dates using Google Calendar, Notion, or any other scheduling tool. When something is planned out in front of you, it is far easier to visualize it and commit to it. Next, break down the material into digestible chunks and assign it to specific time slots. This will help you concentrate better and avoid burnout by spreading out the work across multiple days as opposed to cramming it all in at once.
2) Make it or Break it: How to Optimize Your Breaks
Nobody can study for hours on end because the material will eventually become incomprehensible mush. Breaks have been proven to improve memory and productivity. But, the kind of breaks you take matter a great deal. The most common break of browsing social media can overload your prefrontal cortex with decision-making and generate negative emotions (University of North Carolina 2021). You instead want a break that helps you step back from work without overwhelming you with information. Engaging in face-to-face socialization or physical activity are excellent means of refreshing oneself.
3) Active Recall: The Ultimate Life Hack to Memorization
There are several methods of memorizing information. One powerful tool to use for exams that require heavy memorization is RemNotes. This program allows you to put down notes and it will later convert them into cue cards for your use. You can emphasize topics that you struggle with, so that as you go over the cards, they are likely to appear more often. It is a highly individualized experience that can benefit you greatly through a lot of challenging, content-heavy study sessions.
4) Don’t Make This Mistake: Study Actively
One common mistake people make when they are pressured for time is to ask others for their notes or attempt to skim through the whole textbook. These aren’t very effective; because the studying is done passively. You’re overloading your brain with too much unsorted knowledge that you’ll likely forget on the test. Instead, try actively engaging your brain by attempting practice questions that require you to use facts you have learned to strengthen your comprehension of the topic. This will most closely emulate what you will likely see on the exam.
5) Healthy Habits: Don’t Forget to Sleep!
Exam season can be a stressful and overwhelming time. During this time, it is easy to fall into poor habits. But it is all the more essential during exam season that you take care of yourself. This means getting enough hours of sleep! I understand that this sounds like a cliched response that you have heard a million times. But what if I told you that you are studying while sleeping? Crazy, right? But it’s true, during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, your new memories are becoming interconnected with prior knowledge (Budson 2021). Additionally, studies have uncovered that those who choose to sleep as opposed to carrying out all-nighters on average will perform better (Estevan 2021). Therefore, get in those hours of sleep!
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
And that about does it. We hope you enjoyed the second edition of IMG’s Seasonal Newsletter! On behalf of the IMG Team, we want to wish everyone the best of luck on their upcoming exams, and we hope everyone has a relaxing and enjoyable holiday break.
Sources:
Agro, C. and Matteis, S. (2023, October 27). Why so much recycled clothing is still going in the garbage. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/marketplace-recycled-clothing-garbage-1.7009225
Budson, A.E. (2021, April 2). Want to improve your memory? get a good night’s sleep! Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/want-to-improve-your-memory-get-a-good-nights-sleep-2021040222255
Estevan, I., Sardi, R., Tejera, A. C., Silva, A., & Tassino, B. (2021). Should I study or should I go to sleep? The influence of test schedule on the sleep behavior of undergraduates and its association with performance. PLOS ONE, 16(3), 5–6. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0247104
Evans, P. (2023, November 15). Job postings in Ontario must soon include salaries. Pay equity advocates call it a good first step. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/pay-transparency-1.7027826
Marfo, D. (2023, November 21). Major Canadian grocer says expanded price freezes will happen amid new plans to stabilize food prices. CTVNews. https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/major-canadian-grocer-says-expanded-price-freezes-will-happen-amid-new-plans-to-stabilize-food-prices-1.6654427
University of North Carolina. (2021, July 8). Taking breaks. Learning Center. https://learningcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/taking-breaks/