The changes were twofold: students created real, practical business solutions at top businesses, while going on their own transformative journeys.

Asper’s Co-op is run by the Career Development Centre (CDC), a point of connection for employers and students. In addition, CDC offers assistance with resumes, cover letters, and interviews, as well as workshops, networking events and more.

The following three students left a big impact on their workplaces this summer.

Lenah Abdelrahman (5th-year Finance and Management Information Systems) – The North West Company

Lenah Abdelrahman’s experience in her third co-op started with interviews from a hospital bed.

Lenah Abdelrahman

Don’t worry—she’s ok. She had undergone a neuro-spine surgery that left her bedridden for weeks. But with the Asper Career Development Centre’s help, she didn’t miss a step, keeping track with her recovery as well as her co-op interviews.

Out of the hospital and recovered, she started her summer co-op at The North West Company. She was given a wide range of tasks involving data and management systems.

One of her jobs was to write a computer program that would automate work for one of their units. This was intimidating to Abdelrahman, who has never been a technical person.

“We often underestimate our abilities and confine ourselves to the limits of our majors or backgrounds,” she says. “With determination, curiosity, and persistence, I discovered I was capable of much more than I thought.”

The foundation of critical thinking she gained through her time at the Asper School helped her turn this seemingly impossible goal into a reality. She successfully built the automation using coding languages previously foreign to her, was recognized by the IT department…and then she built three more automations during her co-op.

Abdelrahman uncovered a new passion that she excelled in. Emphasizing the power of always being curious, she says, “As students, we are rarely 100% sure of what we want to do for the rest of our lives.”

“The beauty of Asper co-op is that it doesn’t just show you who you are today—it reveals who you could become,” she says.

Victor Alabi (3rd-year Business Analytics and Supply Chain Management) – TransX Group of Companies

Upon Victor Alabi’s first step into the supply chain industry, he was nearly swept away by the current.

“The real operations were a lot of information to process,” he says. “I learned how fast things move and how important it is to think on your feet.”

Victor Alabi at the TransX Group of Companies office

Contributing to dispatch, order building, and fleet management, his supervisor described him as an “education sponge,” absorbing some seriously complex information, while remaining eager and communicative.

“Nothing was too much for me to handle as an Asper student,” he says.

He knew that there were high stakes: mistakes could delay deliveries or lead to fines as high as $80,000.

“Handling that without issues gave me a real sense of accomplishment,” he says, adding that he feels 10 times more confident in his abilities after his Asper Co-op.

To anyone unsure if they should try Asper Co-op, he says: “Don’t think about it, just do it. I’ve never met anyone who regretted joining the program.”

Whenever he was unsure about his resume, cover letter, or interviews, the Career Development Centre had his back.

“Knowing I had their support gave me extra motivation, and honestly, I don’t think I would have achieved as much in my co-op without their guidance.” Says Alabi.

Nina Baty (3rd-year Marketing and Strategy and Global Management) – UpHouse

At UpHouse, one of Winnipeg’s biggest ad agencies, Nina Baty was quietly fearless as she dipped her toes into a little bit of everything.

In her role as a Marketing Assistant, she sharpened her creative and copywriting skills, got on set for video shoots, and discovered it’s really rewarding to plan events.

Nina Baty (left) and fellow interns working at an event activation for DrinkSense

“I learned more than I thought I could, and much of that was because of the trust my team had in me,” Baty says.

She’s especially proud of the work she did planning experiential event activations, and then seeing them come to life, for DrinkSense, one of UpHouse’s clients.

“There’s also a unique reward in seeing something you worked on being posted, printed, or published for the world to see,” she says.

Baty is glad that she got to experience such a variety of roles during her co-op. In fact, she recommends it: “Having diverse work experience can help you determine what you really love.”

No task was simple, but she embraced the challenge. “Real growth comes from working through those tough moments and finding strategies that help you manage them” she says.

On her final day at UpHouse, she didn’t want to say goodbye.

“Walking out of a place where you’ve spent so much time, grown so much and made so many memories is always strange,” Baty says. “But it made me realize just how valuable the experience was.”

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For students interested in the Asper Career Development Centre and Co-Op opportunities, learn more about career resources and how you can join Asper Co-op here.

Lenah, Victor, and Nina are only a few examples of our bright, highly-skilled co-op students. If you’re an employer interested in partnering with the Asper School of Business co-op program to get access to students, click here to find out how you can connect with us. The Asper CDC is accepting employer job postings until October 16th, 2025.

Each year, the Co-op Student and Employer of the Year are awarded, recognizing excellence in leadership, mentorship, and contributions to learning.

The 2024 Co-op Student of the Year is Priyansh Modi, and the 2024 Co-op Employer of the Year is Treaty One Nations Inc.

2024 Co-op Student of the Year – Priyansh Modi

Nominated by the Government of Manitoba Department of Families, Asper finance major Priyansh Modi is the 2024 Co-op Student of the Year.

Modi served as a Student Policy Analyst, supporting the work of fellow policy analysts, senior management, and the Minister of Families. His supervisors commended his ability to thrive, lead, and grow in a dynamic, high-stakes environment.

Tamsin Collings (Manager) and Joann Correa (Senior Policy Analyst) described how significant Modi’s work was during a time of transformation for the Strategic Initiatives and Program Support unit of the Child and Youth Services Division (Department of Families).

“The work is filled with pressure and high demands, and Priyansh took on the challenge with eagerness and curiosity,” they wrote in their nomination.

For Modi, seeing the impact and real-world application of his work was transformative.

“My co-op placement taught me to translate academic knowledge into meaningful real-world contributions. The impact of my work, which was even used by the Minister, was incredibly meaningful. This experience boosted my confidence in my analytical abilities as I witnessed how my efforts contributed to tangible change,” he wrote of his co-op experience.

Modi, who has since joined the Asper Co-op Student Association as the Director of Finance and the Price Student-Managed Investment Fund, shared how he is taking this newfound confidence into the future.

“Co-op education has taught me to focus on the process rather than the results. This mindset shift has empowered me to set higher goals and embrace challenges, knowing that growth comes from facing the unknown,” he wrote.

2024 Co-op Employer of the Year – Treaty One Nations Inc.

Nominated by Asper MBA co-op student Ryan Nykvist, Treaty One Nations Inc. is the 2024 Co-op Employer of the Year. Jolene Mercer (Executive Director) accepted the award.

Nykvist completed his co-op term as an Environmental Planner at Treaty One Nations Inc., a unique role in which he contributed to the organization’s sustainability initiatives and strategic planning. During his co-op term, Nykvist developed environmental policies, conducted impact assessments, and created a sustainability management toolkit.

In his nomination, he shared that he expected to apply what he had learned throughout his MBA and gain some experience in environmental planning. “But Treaty One surpassed these expectations by providing me with opportunities to lead initiatives, engage with diverse stakeholders, and contribute to high-level strategic planning,” he wrote.

Nykvist described a supportive environment that encouraged learning and a team that allowed him to take the lead but was always there if he needed guidance.

“Treaty One Nations Inc. is an organization where your ideas are valued, and you’re given a real responsibility to make an impact,” he wrote in his nomination. “The work is meaningful, contributing to important goals in sustainability and First Nations economic development.

“Co-op is an excellent opportunity to gain diverse skills, work with passionate professionals, and contribute to significant initiatives.”

Manitoba’s top business co-op program

Accredited by CEWIL Canada, the Asper School of Business Co-op Program is the largest business co-op program in the province. Co-op placements offer students a chance to gain practical experience in the workforce while pursuing their studies.

According to 2023 Asper Employment Report, 89% of BComm co-op students were employed full-time within three months of graduation, bringing their practical experience, strategic insights, and passion into the workplace.

The program is committed to connecting talented Asper co-op students and employers in Manitoba, Canada and around the world. Celebrating Co-op is an opportunity to renew this commitment and honour these connections.

The Co-op Student and Employer of the Year demonstrate the transformative experience of co-op. It’s not just about work experience. Co-op students get to see the impact of their work beyond their team, department, and the organization. Co-op employers connect with top talent, seeing them grow as leaders while making meaningful contributions to their organization.

Connect with the Asper Co-op Program today and learn what experiential learning can bring to your organization.

Seeing her name on the piece of parchment that she worked for five years to attain, Par [BComm(Hons)/24] was reminded of a piece of advice that changed the course of her academic journey. She had applied to Asper upon entry to university and didn’t initially get in, which inspired two focused and determined years of study until she could reapply and then officially enter the program in her third year of post-secondary education.

Proud as she was of her hard work to get that acceptance, Par also couldn’t ignore a growing tension: her feeling of being behind, wanting to make up for lost time and secure a true four-year degree, compounded with her growing awareness of all that was available to her as an Asper student.

“I was actually very hesitant to join the Asper Co-op Program,” she says. “I was really worried about graduating ‘on time’ and feeling like everyone should finish the degree in four years.”

But this perceived timeframe couldn’t quite keep Par’s interest in co-op at bay. Conflicted, she reached out to a friend who had experience with the program and who reminded her of something deceptively simple:

“It’s your degree, isn’t it?” her friend pointed out.

This reminder was a lightbulb moment for Par.

“From that moment, one of my goals was to take as many opportunities as I could at Asper because the School offers so many things that students can take advantage of; it’s just a matter of being confident and brave enough to try those things,” says Par.

In pursuit of this new goal, Par started to craft her unique BComm journey—she joined the Asper Co-op Program and completed three work placements across as many sectors and industries.

At Deloitte, she supported quarterly reporting while brushing up on public accounting and auditing controls; at Transport Canada, she saw labour relations theory in practice as part of the PSAC strike of 2023; at Priceline Partner Solutions, she pitched a new influencer-led media campaign for a client, learning how to pivot and research in response to client feedback.

Par’s co-op experience was diverse, with her work placements shifting between accounting, human resources, and marketing. She shares how these experiences truly helped her learn both what she wanted and enjoyed in a career, and perhaps less comfortably, what she knew was not going to be a forever fit.

While Par greatly enjoyed the technical finesse of accounting and speaks highly of her time at Deloitte, she also realized that her soft skills, lifestyle, and interests did not quite fit the field.

“I felt lost for a bit, after realizing that, to be honest,” she says.

“I thought that I was going to be a CPA—it had been my be all and end all at that point. I had to sit down, reflect, and retrack.”

Par gave herself space to be uncertain, to rethink what she wanted, to allow herself enough grace to know that it wasn’t her job as a student to have every single thing figured out right away, but she did need to keep trying and pushing herself to learn.

Enjoyment of core human resources courses and a flair for marketing led her into her next two placements respectively, and then into her current role as House Brand Coordinator at Princess Auto.

“I really do think that from all the different industries and roles I tried through co-op, I’ve become a more well-rounded business professional. Those three experiences really did support my job search after finishing my courses,” she says.

Par notes the support of the Asper Career Development Centre, mentioning the resources, networking, and insights they offered throughout her journey.

“I think the Career Development Centre really did help me grow,” she says.

“I really didn’t know the things I could learn.”

Like so many Asper graduates, Par was proud to finally hold her Bachelor of Commerce degree in her hands—proud of the accomplishment it reflects, the years of focused study and dedication, and proud of the prestige, the excellence of an Asper School of Business education.

And, proud to see her name on that parchment, to have completed her BComm journey, to have changed, to have doubted, to have grown, and to have learned.

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Learn more about how to apply for co-op as an Asper student here.

Flores, an actuarial major and 2022 Co-op Student of the Year, completed a co-op term at Wawanesa in 2022. From her first day in the office, she felt a special connection to the organization. First-day nerves abated the more time she spent in the office, guided by her co-op buddy, an Asper alum himself.

“It was clear from the beginning how special the culture was at Wawanesa. The more I met people and interacted with them, I very much felt those nerves and that tension releasing,” she says.

Day to day, Flores conducted analyses to address stakeholder questions and concerns, refreshed reports and documented notable insights, all while supporting full-time analysts. She’s most proud of creating a report that measured the impacts rate changes have on Wawanesa’s competitive position in the market, demonstrating her ability to work independently and learn quickly.

The more she contributed, the more she knew for certain that Wawanesa was where she wanted to stay. That certainty and comfort came from the company culture, the patience and warmth of her mentors and from her own drive to make a positive impact.

Flores, who began a small electronics and office supply recycling program at Wawanesa’s previous location, suggests that this orientation toward positive change is common among co-op students.

“Co-op students offer a fresh perspective informed by their experience,” she says. “I bring my whole, authentic self to work; I’m not there strictly as an actuarial analyst—I’m still very much a person, and with that I bring my values. That means considering the social and environmental implications of the work we do.”

This perspective is encouraged in the Asper Co-op Program’s award-winning curriculum, which instructs students to seek opportunities to advance UN sustainable development goals in their work placements.

For Flores, this focus creates strong connections between employers and students in shared pursuit of greater improvement for all. “We want to take action, take the next step and help the company succeed, not for the advancement of our own careers, but to push the needle in the right direction, make the world a little better,” she says.

She reflects on the qualities of a good co-op employer and, in turn, a good co-op student. Of the latter, she encourages all students to proceed with a growth mindset, where they are ready to learn and prepared to make mistakes, be corrected and improve.

“An employer, on the other hand, that empowers and enables their students,” she explains, “is, by my standards, above and beyond.”

As she finds herself soon on the other side of the student-to-employer threshold, Flores realizes she may never be able to adequately pay her managers, mentors and employers back for all the ways they have supported her. She also realizes that co-op employers may themselves be paying it forward rather than paying it back.

“As business students and emerging professionals, we can pay it forward by helping the people coming in behind us. If I can be that person—that mentor—for someone else one day, it would feel very fulfilling,” she says.

Jacinda Flores was a co-op student with a plan: pursue co-op, make a connection and do her best to show an organization like Wawanesa why she would make an incredible permanent employee, all while striving to make a positive impact in the workplace and the world.

Co-op was always part of Flores’ plan, and one thing she has learned on this journey is that the benefits of co-operative education and experiential learning at the Asper School of Business reach students and employers alike.

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Each year the Asper Co-op Program matches hundreds of BComm, MBA, MFin and MSCM students with organizations across Manitoba and Canada, connecting top employers to Manitoba’s top talent. Check out our top six reasons to hire an Asper co-op student here.

Ready to hire an Asper co-op student now? Visit our Information for Employers page to find out your next steps.

Charlotte Vis van Heemst, Career Consultant at the Asper Career Development Centre

Charlotte Vis van Heemst, Career Consultant at the Asper CDC, regularly meets with industry experts to learn more about meaningfully implementing principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in all elements of career development.

“I’m passionate about bridging the gap between industry and students,” Vis van Heemst explains. “This research aims to assist employers on creating accessible workplaces and empower students to advocate for their needs. Ultimately, I hope to foster a more inclusive hiring landscape where talent thrives.

Most recently, she interviewed Nicole MacDonald, National Member Engagement Coordinator at Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE), to learn more about accessibility in job postings and hiring norms. MacDonald shares best practices for accessible job postings, highlighting content (inclusive language, focus on skills and qualifications) and form (using an accessible font).

“Nicole’s perspective highlights the importance of open communication and fostering a disability-positive culture. This aligns perfectly with the CDC’s values of inclusivity. Now, I’m even more motivated to explore ways to strengthen our own accessibility practices and empower students with disabilities,” says Vis van Heemst.

The initiative is part of the Asper CDC’s larger commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.

“The CDC’s mandate is to empower students to pursue their desired careers,” explains Kelly Mahoney, Director, CDC. “Inclusivity and accessibility are foundational to the Asper Career Development Centre’s mission, ensuring equitable opportunities for all students. Fostering inclusive environments cultivates innovation, prepares students for the global workplace and promotes social responsibility.

“At the CDC, inclusivity and accessibility are not just values; they are integral to our commitment to creating a supportive and empowering environment where every student can thrive.”

Vis van Heemst hopes that these interviews can contribute to this mandate, fostering continuous learning for career development professionals, employers and students, and allowing the Asper CDC team to act as knowledge partners for the Manitoba business community and to empower students through career education informed by accessibility.

She shares the following best practices for crafting job postings, informed by MacDonald’s expertise:

Nicole MacDonald, National Member Engagement Coordinator at CASE

Focus on skills and qualifications: Use language that focuses on the skills and qualifications required for the job rather than assumptions about abilities. For example, instead of specifying physical requirements like “must be able to lift 50 pounds,” focus on the outcome, such as “ability to perform tasks that require physical strength.”

Use inclusive language: Use language that is respectful and inclusive of all individuals, regardless of their abilities. Avoid terms that may be stigmatizing or discriminatory. For example, instead of using terms like “disabled” or “handicapped,” use person-first language like “person experiencing disability.”

Provide information on accessibility: Include information in the job posting about the accessibility of the workplace and any accommodations that are available. This can help students with disabilities determine if the job is a good fit for them and help them feel more comfortable applying

Offer alternative application methods: Provide alternative methods for students to apply for the job, such as email or phone, to accommodate different needs. Ensure that these alternative methods are clearly outlined in the job posting.

Use an accessible font: Ensure that the font used in the job posting is easy to read and accessible for individuals with vision loss. Choose a font style and size that is clear and legible; avoid using decorative or serif fonts or small text sizes that may be difficult to read.

Be open to accommodations: Clearly communicate in the job posting that the employer is open to providing accommodations for candidates with disabilities. This can help alleviate concerns that students may have about requesting accommodations during the application process.

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The Asper Co-op Program is your connection to top talent to support your business needs, year round. Connect with the Asper Career Development Centre to learn more about how participating in the co-op program can help to bring fresh ideas into your workplace, increase your organization’s brand recognition among current students and grads, and more.

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For further resources on accessibility, visit the Canadian Association for Supported Employment.

As an employer, you will have the opportunity to become a mentor to aspiring business students by contributing to their education outside of the classroom. Entrance to the Asper co-op program is competitive, which means your business will be hiring some of our top talent. Successful applicants will have been pre-screened and admitted to the program based on academics, professionalism and communication skills.

In a survey sent to our summer 2023 employers, 99% of supervisors would recommend an Asper co-op student to their colleagues. If that doesn’t have you convinced, we’ve curated a list of our top six reasons to hire an Asper co-op student.

1) There’s funding available

Don’t let money be a barrier in hiring an Asper co-op student. Did you know that you can apply for funding up to $7,500? The Government of Canada’s Student Work Placement Program (SWPP) even has a variety of funding opportunities to hire students for experiential learning. We have created a list of wage subsidy options for future employers.

2) No office, no problem

With the new virtual work landscape, your geographic location matters less. From Vancouver, British Columbia, to St. John’s, Newfoundland, our students can join your workspace from anywhere. While the Asper School of Business is based out of Winnipeg, many of our students are willing to work virtual or even temporarily relocate if possible.

3) They bring a new perspective

One of the benefits of new hires is that they bring a fresh perspective. At the Asper School of Business, we pride ourselves on being leaders in our industry, ensuring our students are up-to-date on industry trends. Our students don’t shy away from learning, are eager to take on new tasks, and quickly adapt to our world’s changing technology. While they can bring a variety of skillsets to your workplace, they are best known for their willingness to learn from others.

4) It’s good for business

We understand the difficulties of staffing, which has been made more difficult by the pandemic. Your hiring practices are changing, staff are adapting to a virtual work place and you need to find employees who fit with your work culture. When you hire a co-op student, your company can fill any temporary or short-term staffing gaps.

There’s also the added bonus of reducing your recruitment and training costs. If the co-op placement is a good fit for both parties, we often see employers extend a student’s term and sometimes offer them fulltime employment. This means you can skip the new employee onboarding as you’re gaining a staff member who is already familiar with your company values, culture and business.

5) We have both undergraduate and graduate students looking for co-op

Due to the success of the Bachelor of Commerce co-op program, introducing the program at the master’s level was the logical next step. Employers can now choose from students studying a BComm, MBA, Master of Finance, or Master of Supply Chain Management and Logistics, allowing organizations to find students with the skillsets and experience that suit their business.

6) You invest in the future

When you employ a student, you are helping shape the future of business. Every year, we have more than 500 BComm and master’s students graduate. They take everything they’ve learned in and outside the classroom–co-ops included–to their new workplaces.

The Asper co-op program has been around for more than 14 years, and our grads are employed around the world. It’s guaranteed that they will never forget the impact their co-op terms made on their education and professional career.

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Ready to hire an Asper co-op student? Visit our Information for Employers page to find out your next steps.

“At the Asper School of Business, we aim to encourage a sustainability mindset in our students, faculty and staff, and weave sustainability into our academics, business relationships and organizational culture. Approaching business challenges with a sustainability mindset offers a framework to generate economic growth, social justice and environmental stewardship,” says Silvestre.

Dean’s Office receives Green Office certification

The Asper School of Business Dean’s Office has received Green Office certification from the UM Office of Sustainability. The Green Office Program measures progress and impact across various operational areas such as waste, energy and social sustainability, while offering information and resources towards continuous improvement.

Whitney Crooks, acting director, Office of Sustainability, describes the goals of the program while recognizing Asper’s progress so far.

“The Green Office Program supports units to incorporate green practices into their day-to-day operations that contribute to the achievement of UM’s sustainability and climate action goals,” says Crooks. “The Office of Sustainability would like to congratulate the Asper School of Business for becoming ‘Certified’ as a Green Office at UM.”

The Asper Green Office Team is an employee-organized group that provides sustainability resources for the Drake Centre. They have introduced office composting and personal protective equipment (PPE) recycling in the Dean’s Office, while providing general recycling information, organizing awareness events and holding fundraisers for environmental causes. The Drake Centre’s third floor study area bins now feature a compost slot where contents from smaller compost bins around the building can be disposed of with ease.

Alexa Harwood-Jones, Asper Green Office Team lead, inspires passion for sustainability while fulfilling her duties as a graphic designer.

“Since starting the team on my own, we have expanded to include representatives from various units at the Asper School of Business,” says Harwood-Jones. “My goal with the Asper Green Office Team has been to engage our community with sustainability, through events and initiatives like repurposing outdated Asper merchandise or starting up a Wednesday Walking Club for faculty and staff. It’s great to see how far we have come in a year and think about the progress we will continue to make.”

The plaque placed on the picnic table in front of the Drake Centre

SETing the table

A specially commissioned picnic table now sits in front of the Drake Centre, highlighting and celebrating sustainable business and the Social and Ecological Thought (SET) research group at the Asper School of Business. Nestled among the trees planted by the group over a year ago, the thoughtfully designed communal table brings visibility to sustainable business practices and research.

“It is my hope that students taking a break from their busy day, or colleagues in need of an informal meeting spot, can enjoy the outdoors and reflect on how they can have a positive impact in the world by prioritizing people and planet,” says Bruno Dyck, Norman Frohlich Professor in Business Sustainability.

The table was custom built by a local craftsman and features a plaque that underscores the Asper School of Business’ commitment to sustainability.

Keeping up with Asper sustainability

The Asper School of Business has launched a dedicated webpage to showcase sustainability, documenting eco-literacy academic programs, sustainability-focused research and green community initiatives. The Sustainability at Asper webpage captures the latest news articles and classroom and staff engagement activities, as well as the various awards and honours received by the School’s faculty and staff.

Highlights on the page so far include:

• The Asper Co-op program’s sustainability initiatives earning the Innovations that Inspire Award from AACSB
• Asper’s new Bachelor of Commerce curriculum, which includes a required course in sustainability
• Recent sustainability-focused academic publications by faculty members

Yikun Wang [MSCM/23, BComm(Hons)/17]

Now a double-Asper alum, Yikun Wang graduates this year with one of the first MSCM degrees from the Asper School of Business.

Currently working as a transportation coordinator at Richardson International, Wang describes how the MSCM prepared her for industry leadership, highlighting the program’s curricular knowledge and emphasis on collaboration.

“The MSCM program advocates teamwork and cultivates our cooperation skills. This has been one of the most impressive parts of my Asper experience and has helped me integrate into my current team seamlessly,” she says.

Read more about Wang’s career journey and innovative approach to teamwork.

Meet even more exceptional Asper School of Business graduates!

Chisom Ike [BComm(Hons)/23]

An international student from Nigeria, Chisom Ike receives his Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) majoring in accounting, completing three terms with the Asper Co-op Program and representing UM on the football field as a Manitoba Bison.

Ike credits his Bison experience for teaching him unwavering discipline and commitment, which allowed him to balance the demands of student athletics and his business degree. 

“Rain, snow, cold—in a harsh climate like Winnipeg’s, we show up to practice no matter what,” he says. “That discipline is what got me to show up for class, to study and to give my all at Asper.”

Currently employed as an accounting analyst at Richardson International, Ike acknowledges the Asper Career Development Centre (CDC) for supporting his career goals through co-op. “Meredith [Wood] was amazing. She worked with me to develop my resume-writing and interview skills, and her guidance helped me secure my first co-op placement at KPMG.”

Ike graduates knowing that his professional skills and discipline will be invaluable over the next few years as he pursues his CPA designation.

Nicole MacIntosh [BComm(Hons)/23]

Nicole MacIntosh began her university journey about eight years ago with the drive to get a business degree. An ADHD diagnosis became a turning point in her academic career, and as MacIntosh began to access resources and develop strategies to work with her neurodivergence, she also found community at Indigenous Business Education Partners (IBEP) at the Asper School of Business.

This fall, MacIntosh gradates with her Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from Asper, proving that resilience, community and an investment in student success across the university make a resounding difference in the lives of our future leaders.

Read more about MacIntosh’s journey to graduation and her connections to IBEP and the UM Indigenous Student Centre.

Sage Weselowski [MBA/23]

Sage Weselowski receives an Asper Master of Business Administration with concentrations in Leadership and Organizations and Health Administration.

Weselowski reflects on what she has gained since beginning her degree in Fall 2021. “My time at Asper served to bolster my confidence to sit and actively participate at tables with professionals of all backgrounds and to know that my contributions have merit,” she says.

A dedicated healthcare professional and registered nurse, Weselowski pursued the MBA hoping to broaden her ability to effect change within the healthcare system. She began a new healthcare management position this summer that is already putting her MBA training to good use.

“This new role along with my MBA feels like a first step in becoming a more well-rounded healthcare professional,” she says. “There are so many possibilities in this field, and I’m embracing each new experience as a chance to grow.”

Solomon Schlegel [BComm(Hons)/23]

Graduating with a double major in Leadership and Marketing, Solomon Schlegel developed an aptitude for research during his BComm experience. He received an undergraduate research award in Summer 2021 and had the opportunity to work with Dr. Bruno Dyck studying sustainable business.

He combined this experience with co-op work, engaging his business theory and practice skills early.

“The Asper Co-op Program provided me with hands-on work experience while the concepts and theories I was learning were freshest in my mind,” says Schlegel. “I also began to develop a professional network that I would not have been able to achieve at this stage in my young career without co-op.”

Schlegel now works full-time for his previous co-op employer, IntegrateIT, as a program manager, where he gets to share his knowledge with a small team that includes current Asper Co-op students. Planning to continue gaining work experience for now, he hopes to return to research and pursue a master’s degree in the future.

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Congratulations to all students graduating from the Asper School of Business this fall!

This year, Asper is among 25 business schools highlighted in AACSB’s Innovations That Inspire member spotlight program. Since 2016, out of 214 schools recognized around the world, only 10 other Canadian schools have received this honour.

“We are incredibly proud of this recognition from AACSB. At Asper, we pride ourselves on revolutionizing business education through innovative experiential learning opportunities,” says Dr. Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business. “This achievement highlights the impact of our Co-op program and Career Development Centre and reflects our commitment to training socially minded, active and ethical leaders of tomorrow.”

In 2021 the Asper Career Development Centre (CDC) launched an initiative to incorporate the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their Co-op curriculum.

Co-op students learn about, set learning objectives related to, reflect on, and take action to advance the UN SDGs, as part of the program’s for-credit course. They are coached to engage with colleagues and leaders about their organization’s sustainability practices and policies to identify where they can make an impact.

When attending a conference in 2021, former Asper Co-op Coordinator Holly Klann, now the Experiential Learning & Co-op Education Coordinator at the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, connected with the University of Waterloo’s Director of International Strategic Initiatives, Shabnam Ivkovic. In their discussion, Klann learned about how Ivkovic had focused a student’s international co-op placement around the UN SDG goal of clean water and sanitation.

Klann admired how this approach to work-integrated learning offered both a unique career development opportunity and an avenue to create positive social impact, something she knew would appeal to students.

“Many students voiced to me that they wanted to make a positive change in their career, but they felt they couldn’t do so in large, corporate organizations. I wanted to show students that no matter where they work, they can make an impact,” says Klann.

Klann recalls students leading change in various organizations from improving webpage accessibility for the visually impaired, to encouraging everyday changes in culture to prioritize employees’ mental health.

2022 Asper Co-op Student of the Year Jacinda Flores even received recognition for her implementation of a recycling program in her co-op term at Wawanesa Insurance.

Jacinda Flores at Wawanesa Insurance

“The incorporation of the SDGs into my learning objectives gave me a new perspective. It allowed me to connect my values and my passion for sustainability with my role in the workplace. It pushed me to take the first step and take action, which was as simple as having conversations with people about these topics,” says Flores.

Flores says her initiative even caught the attention of a Wawanesa executive.

“That was very rewarding; it bolstered my desire to bring my authentic self to work every day, and when we do that, change happens.”

For Flores, the program helped her set goals not as an ideal candidate, but as an ideal version of herself.

Sean MacDonald, an instructor in the Department of Business Administration at Asper and faculty advisor for the Co-op Program, has seen this impact in the for-credit course that Co-op students complete, reflecting on how this initiative helped students set more engaging goals for their learning.

“We recognized that the goals students had been setting were, at times, usable, but not inspiring. This initiative changed that; it has pumped life into the program and energized it in a very meaningful way.”

With the support of the Asper CDC and faculty, Klann created a program that emphasized taking action at every stage of professional development. Students don’t have to wait until they are mid-career or in senior roles to advance the SDGs—they can find ways to do so in their very first work placements.

They can even create change that flourishes well beyond their work term.

“Part of implementing this initiative was to help students learn how they could engage with their colleagues in a positive way, to influence their environment in small ways,” says Klann. “Even if you can’t make a complete change in four months, you can leave an idea behind.”

This sentiment rings true for Klann, who has made her mark at Asper and is now building a strong co-op program in UM’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.

Kelly Mahoney, Director of the Asper CDC is quick to credit Klann’s role in this achievement while noting the team’s enthusiasm in sustaining the project after Klann’s departure.

“As a team, we embrace the integration of EDI perspectives, and these are part of the SDGs. When Holly brought the idea forward, there was support from both the career development and academic sides of co-op,” says Mahoney.

“The reflection that Co-op students do as part of their learning objectives and work-term report becomes quite powerful. It is a way for them to make informed decisions about their career pathways—identifying their values and motivations and learning who they want to work for and what they want to build their career into. This award is an excellent recognition of that innovative practice. “

Incorporating the SDGs into the Co-op curriculum aligns with UM’s commitment to sustainability, and with Asper’s mission, strategic priorities, and core values.

More importantly, it creates an experiential learning opportunity for students to live out those values, and a way for students to make their first commitment to sustainability as a career-long habit.

Sidhant Sharma [BComm(Hons)/21] is forthcoming about the highs and lows of his career journey. A Business Analyst Team Lead at Bison Transport, Sharma says the secret to his success is a combination of leaving his comfort zone, leading with responsibility, and following the occasional gut feeling.

He grew up in India and attended high school in Ghana. Despite having a career plan that began with studying in the United States and pursuing computer science, Sharma perused other programs online and found himself drawn to a school in the Canadian prairies.

“I came across the University of Manitoba. I found something there. I’m a very logical person, but there was really no logic behind it. I wanted to go to UM. I had a gut feeling.”

That gut feeling led to Sharma enrolling at the International College of Manitoba, then beginning a computer science degree at UM. At first, everything seemed great.

“I arrived, made friends, did well academically; everything was perfect. That’s when the challenges settled in from being alone here and trying to figure out what I want to do with my career. I was comfortable, but internally things were coming up. I wasn’t enjoying or connecting with my computer science classes.”

Once again, Sharma had a viable future ahead of him, but a nagging gut feeling was pulling him toward something else. His struggles felt less like a challenge to overcome, and more of a sign that something wasn’t working.

“It was February 2018,” says Sharma. “I opened up the Asper portal and applied without telling anyone.”

As soon as Sharma was accepted at Asper, he was thriving—it felt right. He went on an International Exchange, completed three Co-op terms, competed in case competitions and was actively involved in the Commerce Students Association (CSA)—Sharma was even the first international student to run for an elected role. These experiential learning opportunities defined his education, but also shaped him and his connection to Winnipeg.

“I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my experience at Asper. That includes the people I’ve met who genuinely cared about me. I developed a network of friends and a strong professional support network. With these networks, I got closer to the person I wanted to be.”

For his third co-op term, Sharma worked in Labour Relations at the Government of Manitoba. Despite facing self-doubt during the application process, Sharma’s interview was a success, thanks to his confidence and technological skill.

Once hired, Sharma developed a database that streamlined the department’s cross-referencing of past contracts as they drafted new ones. He created an efficient and effective tool and ensured that the team could continue using and adapting it when his co-op term was over.

“I could see the value that I was creating with my work, and I know the government still uses the database I created today.”

For Sharma, this project revealed what matters to him in his career. It wasn’t just about doing good work; it was about being able to leave that work in the hands of people who feel empowered to use and transform it.

Now, as Team Lead at Bison, Sharma aims to inspire innovation in problem solving, rather than imitation.

“What I like about this job is solving problems and empowering others to do the same. As a leader, I aim to help my team be the best versions of themselves without it being conditional on them doing something exactly how I would.”

When Sharma says that you don’t always need a role model, he doesn’t mean that you can only succeed on your own. He means that you can be your own blueprint for success and impact others by being the best version of yourself.

“We get used to the idea that success looks a certain way, but if you don’t fit that mold, success feels out of reach. When people see the value in how they are different, when they have the confidence to carry it, they have this energy,” he says. “You grow, you adapt, but you are unapologetically yourself. That’s how you make an impact.”