She isn’t thinking about the hours of practice and case preparation; she isn’t worried about being “too much” (a holdover from a lifetime of being a big talker); she isn’t fixated on the ideas that didn’t make the cut; and she isn’t second-guessing her delivery.

No, as Francis puts it, when she is presenting, everything else goes away.

“I honestly hit a state of flow,” she says. “It feels like I’m just having a conversation with the judges.”

When she finishes a strong introduction or a persuasive pitch, she knows when she has crushed it. Looking to coaches for the confirmatory thumbs up is all she needs.

“I feel on top of the world and like I can do anything after public speaking,” she says.

This year at the Business and Management Case Competition (BMCC), hosted by the Universidad Panamerica in Guadalajara, Mexico, Francis’ gift of gab earned her an individual honour as the 2024 competition’s Best Presenter.

“I always joke that I’ve been practicing for this for 20 years,” she says. “Anyone who knows me—certainly my parents—know that I am always talking; if someone will listen, I’ll talk.

“Earning that recognition was very cool because sometimes being talkative can be viewed as a negative, but with case, you’re rewarded for being good at communicating. People listen to hear you talk, and they’re very engaged.”

Since her first case competition last year, Francis has been feeling this fit with case competitions (although case found her rather than the other way around).

After her instructor, Rakesh Mittoo (Sessional Instructor, Business Administration) recommended her for the 2023 Intercollegiate Business Competition (Smith School of Business), Francis dove into case, participating in the 2024 selection weekends, earning a place on the BMCC team, and dedicating hours to preparing for this dynamic international competition.

“We did a lot of research into the Mexican business environment to understand what was unique about this context and how it might be different from what we know about the Canadian business landscape,” she explains.

Months later, she and her team of fellow BComm students tackled problems like how to help a Mexican candy company expand into Chinese markets, how to grapple with the ethical quandaries of animal welfare in farming, and how to get Lucha Libre wrestling culture into digital markets without losing the in-person intensity.

Francis shares the highs and lows of case, the sum total of which keeps her coming back since her first competition last year. Her tips for success? Prioritize sleep even in crunch time, eat well, take that 10-minute break (especially poolside in Mexico), don’t take things too personally, and most important: remember what you practiced and focus on the goal.

“When it gets hard, keeping your eye on the prize is important. We haven’t done all these practices for nothing, and we’re here to work together to present the best possible case we can,” she says.

Post-competition, Francis has had time to see the real impact of her case career so far as she works her way through law school applications.

“I had no clue that it would help me so much, but here I am writing these applications and being able to lean on all these experiences and see how everything—case, my BComm, public speaking—ties perfectly into my journey,” she says.

In those moments when Francis was presenting in Mexico, when doubts and anxieties fell away, all that was left was a talented, passionate public speaker who learned through case to trust her practice, her process, and her delivery. It was just her and the judges, and as one judge said of her award-winning delivery, it was ‘captivating.’

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Experiential learning is a cornerstone of any Asper School of Business Bachelor of Commerce journey. From a robust internal and external case competition season to co-op work placements, international exchange, entrepreneurship, and the Price student-managed investment fund, there is something at Asper for every student and every career path. Learn more about undergraduate programs at Asper today.

“I enjoy collecting souvenirs as keepsakes from my international exchange experiences. Throughout my degree, I have completed two international exchanges, which have enriched my International Business major,” says Mohamed.

With each new country she visits, Mohamed keeps train tickets, postcards, and keychains. When she gets back home, she arranges them carefully into a single scrapbook page, a glimpse of another Asper adventure.

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When you think about your Asper journey so far, what are the experiences that stand out?

HM: “I was always involved in Student-Action Groups (STAGs) at Asper, which can be a lot of work but so rewarding.

“I gained so many skills in such a short period of time—whether they be organizational skills like event planning, or communication skills from speaking with different partners and industry leaders.

“One of the most involved initiatives I got involved in was in my fourth year, when I rejoined the Commerce Students’ Association (CSA) as one of The Commerce Week (TCW) co-chairs. This involved multiple events, so we had to get many different permits and coordinate a lot of stakeholder engagement. That was really influential in terms of the skills and core competencies that I gained from that.”

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During her time at Asper, Mohamed has been a part of the CSA as a member of the First Year Council and TCW, VP of Academic Programming for the Asper International Management Society, Director of Finance for the World University Service of Canada, and VP of Corporate Relations for the University of Manitoba Supply Chain Organization, where today she is Director of Finance.

With all that involvement and busy-ness of student life, are there moments that you are particularly proud of? What are some of the moments that would make the scrapbook page?

HM: “My co-chair and I introduced the food truck event to TCW, which had not been part of the orientation week in previous years. We specifically wanted to do something that was not alcohol-centered. We know that many students don’t drink, and we wanted to create an event that was enjoyable but also a bit more inclusive.

“If I really had to zoom out and think about a moment… it would probably be during Commerce on the Quad, the last event of the week—I think it was a Friday. It was just really nice to see new Asper students having fun and making friends. We had a beach theme, so people were throwing beachballs in the air and having a good time. It was cool to see all that work we had put in all summer materialize into an actual event.”

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For as many moments as Mohamed can recount, she thinks of the people who have influenced her journey.

She mentions recruiters—Verna Kroeker and Kyle Lougheed—who inspired her move from Vancouver to Winnipeg to join UM, professors—Kelsey Taylor—who sparked her interest in supply chain management as a major, and former managers—Mai Gagujas and Krista Olafsson—whom she meets with monthly for mentorship check-ins, as well as Amber Pohl, Lead of International Experiential Programs at Asper.

“All of these interactions and moments, events and opportunities, they all kind of contribute to the bigger picture and help you along the way,” says Mohamed.

“One conversation can lead to learning something that you didn’t even know was possible or an opportunity that can change your life.”

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He prefers to group his management classes into late-morning blocks, leaving time to study, hit the gym, and dedicate hours to his entrepreneurial ventures. UM students may have spotted Theriault in UMSU University Centre, discussing a soon-to-be-launched app called eleven59.

An idea conceived with fellow Asper students Todd de Groot and Hazel Nguyen, eleven59 is an AI-driven calendar tool designed for students by students.

Is eleven59 your first venture? When did your entrepreneurial journey begin?

AT: “Technically everything started with magic. I’m a magician, and my first entrepreneurial experience came from being a performer and doing shows around the city.

“I was really passionate about collecting playing cards because magicians use all sorts of cards, but some were really hard to get in Canada. I thought, there’s got to be a better way, so I started my own playing card shop, Kingdom Cards.”

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Theriault has taken this entrepreneurial spirit into his Asper degree, connecting with de Groot and Nguyen in their Introduction to Entrepreneurship class, where they first devised the idea for eleven59 before taking it to the Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship and engaging with the Start Up Coach program.

Could you talk a bit about taking eleven59 from an idea in class to the 2024 Stu Clark New Venture Championships and now to tabling throughout UM?

AT: “I remember seeing the 2023 Stu Clark New Venture Championships advertised online very early in my first year, and I saw it and thought, ‘I don’t have a new idea… how would I ever be able to do that?’’ And yet, the next year, we were there competing. That has a lot to do with the Stu Clark Centre because if you have any idea—big or small— they are there to help take it to the next level, whatever that means for you.

“They are there to ask, ‘how can we make this an even better idea?’”

“So much has changed in under a year with eleven59. The app is actively in development with ACE Project Space at Red River, and Todd, Hazel, and I are getting feedback from UM students with our on-campus booth.

“At our booth, we want to start by making a connection and learning about what students want and need from an app like ours. It’s not about getting someone to stand there for our spiel; everything starts with a conversation.”

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Theriault emphasizes that collaborative entrepreneurship is all about the people with whom you work and consult. At their booth, they invite all feedback, determined to surround themselves with thoughtful, curious, even skeptical, perspectives, rather than with only ‘yes.’

What makes this team of Asper students work so well together?

AT: “Of course we all bring important skills to the table—Todd knows his numbers and is very good at financials and strategy, and Hazel is really good at getting work done and crafting our B2B approach.

“So, there’s obviously those tangible skills, but I think more of it also comes down to dedication. Ben Isakov [Startup Coach], from the Stu Clark Centre really instilled in me that good people can be taught skills, but it’s not easy to find someone that has the right dedication or motivations.

“With our team, we’re just so motivated to support each other and to help students.”

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With eleven59, Theriault, de Groote, and Nguyen have embraced innovation driven by a desire to respond to needs, drawing from their own experience as students to guide their creativity. It’s this kind of entrepreneurship that lives at the Stu Clark Centre and the Asper School of Business.

For aspiring entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs, the Asper School of Business offers a unique Entrepreneurship and Innovation major. Learn more about infusing your Bachelor of Commerce with an entrepreneurial mindset and read more about our programs here.

What are your majors, and why did you decide to pursue them?

“I’m currently majoring in management information systems (MIS) and supply chain. I enjoy understanding how information functions in a workplace and how everyone can be interconnected through effective systems, which led me to select MIS as my first major. I interned in my dad’s office while still in Nigeria, and I started to also see how supply chain works.

“Then, I had a meeting with Dr. Bruno Silvestre last semester when I was deciding between options for my second major. He explained how valuable it can be to understand not just the internal systems of the business, but also see what is going on externally, what’s happening with the whole supply chain. That breakdown made it crystal clear to me—I saw supply chain as a vital dimension for me to understand business.”

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Inspired by Silvestre’s advice, and the renewed understanding of how attention to supply chain had also greatly informed his parents’ careers and business success, Eretchabor dove in. He got involved at Asper through networking and with UMSCO as president.

What are your goals with UMSCO? How do you hope the group can support students interested in supply chain at Asper?

“Ultimately, we want to increase students’ awareness of supply chain as an option. I feel like supply chain holds a lot of benefits as a major because whether you’re an accounting student or a finance student, you’ll likely handle costs and other factors that are related to supply chain.

“The foundations of supply chain can be tough—it is a lot of technical work and learning, but there is so much more to the field. I hope that UMSCO can offer a community of supply chain students at different points in their degree, where more experienced students can give first-years a sense of how much more there is to learn and how interesting the specialization is.”

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Eretchabor is passionate about the value of personal and professional development. From his perspective, the best way to approach experiences that may fall outside of a student’s comfort zone (like networking) is to first acknowledge that you’re not supposed to be anything other than what you are in that moment: a student looking to grow, learn and develop.

What is the value of attending networking events as a student?

“When I went to IGNITE [hosted by the Young Associates], the draw was the opportunity to mingle with established business people, but I think the purpose is to help students get over the initial fear of networking with the business community. I was worried about not knowing enough about business yet and making a mistake when speaking to someone important.

“I realized when I went that they didn’t expect me to know everything already—they knew I was a student. And, from my perspective, I could use this opportunity to discover what kinds of competencies they might look for.”

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He shares that he was pursuing culinary school before making the switch to Asper, aware that his passion for cooking could be supported by his BComm and enriched by his professional experience in the future.

As a student, Eretchabor is ambitious and passionate about his field; he values a balance of consistency and novelty, seeking ways to improve himself and pursue new opportunities while aiming to always bring his best (so far) to the table.

For those wondering what Eretchabor brings to the table with his culinary passions, the answer is Nigerian fried rice: “I think it’s a dish that can be hit or miss, but when I make it, it’s consistent.”

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Supply chain excellence doesn’t end with the BComm. The Asper Master of Supply Chain Management and Logistics combines the best in industry with innovative scholarship, work-integrated learning opportunities and a vibrant local community.

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Where did your passion for accounting come from?

“I think it comes from my parents. When my mom was back home in Ghana, she worked in business HR for companies like Deloitte and EY. I remember being a kid looking at financial statements in my dad’s office and my mom explaining what revenue is. I would play and pretend that I had a revenue and expenses, and all that.

“I have nephews and nieces, and I always try to engage with them the way my parents engaged with me, responding to their curiosity and expressing interest in what they are doing. My parents were obviously instrumental in exposing me to that kind of learning environment and building that passion for me.”

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For De Souza, accounting is about more than numbers, and the profession offers opportunities to connect, not just within her own family, but with clients, colleagues and partners. While she first had her sights set on Big 4 firms, she has recently discovered an interest in small- to -mid-sized organizations, seeing the value of more autonomy and relationship-building early in her career.

She’s gaining good practice at Asper and UM, joining a variety of student groups including the Commerce Students’ Association (CSA), the Asper School of Business Accounting Association (ASBAA), the Black Student Empowerment Society (BSES) and the Ghana Students’ Union of Manitoba (GSUM).

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What inspired you to get involved in Asper and UM life?

“I completed my first year at UM in the Faculty of Arts before switching into Asper for my second year. I’ve always known the value of getting involved and community-based initiatives, but it can be intimidating. Even though there were opportunities to get involved, I couldn’t find that motivation in my first year.

“Once I switched into Asper, it just felt easier. I had friends and cousins at Asper encouraging me to get involved, so I finally went for it and joined ASBAA. Then a CSA opportunity came up, and I went for that. With every new opportunity I tried, I became more confident the next time one came up.

“Seeing other business students get involved and take initiative made it feel more possible for me.”

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De Souza acknowledges that it can seem like Asper students are doing it all, but she doesn’t feel the need to compare herself and her goals to other students and their goals.

“There are so many different opportunities at Asper that there is something for everyone. Maybe you struggle with one type of knowledge, but you might be really skilled in a different type. You can apply yourself in your own way and still get where you need to go.

“At Asper, there are different ways to succeed and celebrate that success (like the Business Banquet or The Commerce Week). Those moments to celebrate remind us that we are actually doing alright. There might be paths that you’re not comfortable with or good at yet, but it is another path that will help you get exactly what you want.

“Asper is inspiring because you see all the different ways people can succeed by pursuing what they want.”

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De Souza’s path to and through Asper has been unconventional, as she opted not to take her Direct Entry offer to complete a year of Arts first (“I’m glad my application was successful although it was harder to get in that way,” she admits). But, while she observes the many ways that students can find and start building success at Asper, she has realized that unconventional journeys are not so out of place.

He has been involved in Asper case competitions and the University of Manitoba Actuarial Club (UMAC) since he started his BComm in 2022, right as UM students were returning to in-person learning full-time for the first time since 2020.

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What advice would you offer to incoming BComm students on their first day at Asper?

DK: “I would say talk to as many people as you possibly can. People at Asper are really friendly, so make connections—with people from the CSA [Commerce Students’ Association], the CDC [Career Development Centre]—but also, with students in your classes. They are all at the same stage as you, and you’ll be learning with them for the next four or five years. One of the courses I took in my first year was GMGT 1010 with many other first-year students. I think I met four of my future case competition teammates that day!”

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Kaushal’s participation in case competitions began when an opportunity became unexpectedly available to first-year students.

Tell me a bit about how you got involved with case competitions at Asper.

DK: “In September 2022, when I first started at Asper, there was this workshop, Case 101. I went to the workshop and Howard Harmatz announced that case rookies could apply to participate in ICBC [Inter-Collegiate Business Competition] that year even though it’s an international competition.

“I got selected, and I did the accounting prelims on my own and then competed with my teammate Ben Swistun in the finals. I actually met Ben in GMGT 1010 as well, and I think I’ve done ten competitions with him on my team so far.”

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In a twist of fate, Kaushal’s time in the Case 101 workshop became a launchpad for an impressively competitive entry into one of Canada’s oldest international undergraduate competitions of its kind. He recalls a similar experience during his first days at Asper that helped him decide on a major.

Why did you pursue business, and what made actuarial mathematics a good fit for your major?

DK:

“I’ve always been passionate about mathematics, but I wanted to do something where I could travel, use my interpersonal skills, attend networking events and connect with others. I thought a business degree from Asper could give me all this.

“I didn’t know anything about actuarial math when I came to Asper. I thought accounting was the only way to engage my passion for math in business school. But I attended a UMAC presentation about actuarial studies called “Do You Like Math?” and that opened this path for me.”

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Offered by the Warren Centre for Actuarial Studies, the actuarial major at Asper is unique in that it gives students a chance to complete their actuarial specialty while receiving the broad business education of the BComm.

Kaushal, recognizing the impact of this UMAC presentation early in his Asper career, is now part of the same student group and is working to develop presentations for high school students, introducing them to the actuarial profession. He even met fellow Asper student Rutik Patel, who was at the same presentation and who became Kaushal’s mentor via UMAC’s mentorship program.

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Who do you look up to and who has supported your journey so far?

DK: “I have had so many amazing people in my life, especially in the past two years. If I started naming them all, it would take too long, but of course, my parents. They’ve supported me through good times and bad.

“And at Asper, there’s my case teammates, like Ben, and my mentor from UMAC, Rutik, of course Howard, who has coached me in so many competitions, as well as Liea Madariaga, a close friend of mine and a fellow Asper student, who has been an essential part of my journey and has always been there for me.”

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Kaushal’s advice to first years (“talk to as many people as you can!”) is ultimately a reminder that those first day connections matter, not just because of what they offer in the moment, but because of what they can grow into in weeks, months and even years down the line, something he has learned (and hopes to continue learning) by experience.

“I can be myself doing that.”

When Asper BComm student Zahara Husain chose her majors, she thought as much about her career goals as she did her personal ones. With aspirations to pursue the Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation after graduation, she is now completing a double major in human resource management and marketing.

What do you enjoy about your chosen majors?

ZH: “I’m an extrovert, and I love meeting new people—talking to them and getting to understand them. We all have our circles of friends or family, but to go out and meet someone new is so exciting for me. When I was researching majors, I read what an HR professional was, and I realized: I can be myself doing that.

“When I started at Asper, I took a marketing course with Dr. Kivalina Grove. She’s a lovely professor, and the way she taught helped me understand every concept, and I developed a real love of marketing after that course.

“Now I have the best of both worlds: I get to be creative with my marketing major and engage my extroverted personality with HR.”

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Husain has her eye on career success, taking opportunities to expand her professional skillset and gain corporate experience since joining the Asper BComm out of the International College of Manitoba (ICM). She brings her outgoing personality to her role as a student ambassador at UM, welcoming new students and offering tours of the university.

Having recently joined the Asper co-op program, Husain is excited—and a little nervous—to dive into the job market.

What motivated you to apply for the co-op program, and how are you feeling about the job search?

ZH: “I enrolled in the co-op program because I heard about the support they offer. Maybe I could have applied for work externally, but they have been so helpful with my resume, cover letters, job strategies and interview prep. It’s been a great experience so far.

“I’m excited to gain experience in the corporate world, but the applications can be nerve wracking. So much relies on the resume and cover letter once you send those in. I feel ready to face these fears thanks to co-op, and I am excited about the interview phase, where my personality can really come out and I can engage with employers.”

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Fortunately for Husain, beyond the support of the Asper Career Development Centre, she has a surefire technique for facing her fears. An avid horror movie fan, she describes how the company of loved ones makes it hard to feel afraid, and most movie nights at home are full of laughter.

She talks about how her friends and roommate keep her grounded when she faces doubt, and how close connections with her family inspire her.

Who are the people in your life that you look up to?

ZH: “My grandfather, may he rest in peace. I look up to him because he was a very well-respected lawyer back in India, and he always believed that learning has no age, and he embodied that himself. He has a master’s in many languages like Hindi and Sanskrit. I always found him with a book in his hands, forever learning something new.

“I also saw my mom and dad building their own business in Dubai and that was very inspiring. My brother, as well—he has a passion for accounting, and it has been amazing to watch him pursue something he is passionate about.”

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Husain shares that, along with HR and marketing, she has a side passion for fragrances, describing her ideal scent as one that blends florals and fruit (“natural aromas, not artificial,” she clarifies) and oud, a warm and luxurious base note.

With close connections and a strong support network to anchor her and a diverse array of authentic learning opportunities to add complexity, excitement and fun, Husain’s Asper experience is not entirely unlike this recipe.