Innovative Business Association (IBA)

In September and October we had two major events hosted by IBA! Looking back at our opening ceremony, our leaders did a fantastic job at planning and executing this event! Many thanks to Andreas who assisted in organizing the fine details to make this event great! We hope the event gave you an opportunity to network and engage with the IBA community. A big thank you to all 350 of you who attended the ceremony and made this event unforgettable! We also had the opportunity to connect incoming students with upper year students in order to share insightful experiences about navigating graduation and UTM through our BizMentorship Panel. At IBA we value the power of networking and mentorship and this past month we want to appreciate all those who participated! 

Our Innovative Business Association (IBA) Student Engagement team is excited to host Susan Allen, FCPA (FCA), ICD.D for a Fireside Chat on October 10th! She'll be sharing her inspiring journey from UofT to PwC’s Global Board and offering insights from her book 'Count Me In.' Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a trailblazer in business leadership! Join us at for a night of inspiration and growth! #WomenInBusiness #WomenInLeadership #IBAFiresideChat

At IBA, we take pride in celebrating our outstanding team, who have gone above and beyond in their positions. As we near the end of the academic year, we would like to extend recognition to several individuals who have made significant contributions in the winter semester. Congratulations to Sharifamo Odinamamadova, Abdullah Al-Murab, Shaan Pihu Anand, Kristen Lee Pack, Vanessa Widyadharma and Sean Tan for receiving the Winter Eagle Award! 🦅 Your commitment and dedication to IBA have shown immensely through the success of your events and initiatives. Thank you to everyone for a wonderful school year, wishing you all the best! *For detailed descriptions of each award recipient, please visit our Instagram @utmiba for more information.

🚀 Exciting News! IBA is thrilled to announce our successful visit to the Wealthsimple HQ in Toronto 🌟 Our champion team from the 2024 Finance Innovation Competition (FinComp), AE Fintech Solutions - Emma Miekountima, Aditi Kapoor, Arshdeep Singh Bindra and Emaan Fatima had the incredible opportunity to showcase their groundbreaking solutions to the senior leadership team at Wealthsimple, as part of their well-deserved grand prize. Their insightful analysis of Wealthsimple's brand structure and business model received praise from all present, including Wealthsimple's CEO, Michael Katchen! A huge shoutout to David Mak, CFA, CIM®, FCSI® and the entire Wealthsimple team for making this exhilarating experience possible. From an insightful office tour to a delightful luncheon, every moment was unforgettable. Here's to fostering more amazing experiences and professional development opportunities ahead! 🙌

As the final event of the academic year, we are beyond thrilled to share that our Women in Business conference was a resounding success! 💜 The Innovative Business Association had the honour of hosting this inspiring event, bringing together students and accomplished University of Toronto Mississauga female alum, including leaders from TELUS, PwC, EY, and Mosaic North America. The interactive panel discussion and open networking session provided invaluable insights into navigating the professional landscape as women, fostering engaging conversations and connections. With over 50 students in attendance, the event served as a fitting tribute to International Women's Day! We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all attendees and our esteemed panelists Joanne Evangelista, CPA, MMA , Ayushi Kapoor, Caitlyn Giles Bonekamp, MMPA and Jamila J. for your contributions in making this event truly memorable. Finally, we express our sincere appreciation to the dedicated members of the IBA team whose tireless efforts made this event possible. As we conclude this event, we are filled with gratitude for the collaborative spirit and dedication of our community. Your participation, engagement, and encouragement have been irreplaceable to us. We hope to have provided you with insights into the business industry, facilitated long-lasting connections, and offered meaningful opportunities for your professional development. Thank you for being part of our journey. Sincerely, The IBA Team

As the academic year comes close to its end, we are proud to have hosted our last of the trilogy of case competitions, Show Me The Green! As the final case competition organized by the Innovative Business Association (IBA), this event marked a significant juncture in the journey towards fostering environmentally conscious practices in business operations. 🌱 Show Me The Green brought together 15 meticulously prepared teams, each presenting their groundbreaking ideas to promote sustainable innovation. Throughout the event, over 25 esteemed industry professionals assumed the roles of representatives and judges, lending their expertise to evaluate and recognize the most promising endeavours. Participants had the privilege of engaging in a series of workshops tailored to deepen their understanding of sustainability management and gain transferable skills for their future careers. These sessions included a “Through the Sustainability Lens” workshop hosted by MScSM,  esteemed alumni who shared their insights and experiences through a meticulously curated panel discussion, and a themed Jeopardy. These workshops served as invaluable platforms for knowledge exchange and skill enhancement. The careful planning and execution of the Show Me The Green competition would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of the IBA's Clubs & Conferences. Your unwavering commitment to excellence ensured the seamless orchestration of this esteemed event, alongside two other notable case competitions earlier in the academic year, Ready Set Market! and FinComp. Thank you to all participants, judges, and industry professionals who made this event a roaring success. Let's continue to cultivate innovation, and foster collaboration to make our future brighter together!

We are thrilled to share the outstanding success of our recent Consulting Expo held last week. It was a monumental occasion that brought together over 12 industry giants, including esteemed organizations such as Deloitte, PwC, EY , KPMG, McKinsey & Company , Bain & Company , IBM , Bell , Cognizant , Capgemini , Moneris , Capco and an amazing speech from Bruce B. Simpson ! The Consulting Expo was the ultimate consulting networking event for IBA, offering students a golden opportunity to connect with industry representatives for invaluable insights into career guidance, mentorship, and potential career opportunities! Attendees were able to engage in insightful presentations, dynamic discussions, and even explore potential internships, providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the consulting landscape. The event allowed attendees to foster connections with industry leaders, creating an open network for students and industry professionals alike engaged in meaningful conversations to navigate and explore potential career paths.  We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our esteemed panel of industry leaders who made this event possible. Your support has played a pivotal role in providing students with a platform to connect, learn, and grow. Thank you to all who contributed to the phenomenal success of the Consulting Expo. Your active involvement, enthusiasm, and valuable insights not only created memories but also paved the way for future opportunities in the consulting industry.  We look forward to more such events in the future to offer enriching experiences fostering the development of the next generation of business leaders!

The Finance Innovation Competition (FinComp) marked an exciting chapter as delegates immersed themselves in the ever-evolving world of FinTech! With 22 teams participating and a total of approximately 150 attendees, the competition provided a platform for aspiring finance professionals to showcase their strategic acumen. Delegates faced real-world challenges within the FinTech space, crafting comprehensive solutions that reflected the industry's dynamic nature. FinComp served as a catalyst by providing participants with invaluable experiences, feedback, and exposure to the rapidly growing FinTech sector. A heartfelt thank you goes to our main sponsors, Wealthsimple, AIG, ICUBE UTM, and UTMM, whose support was instrumental in making FinComp a resounding success. Your commitment to fostering innovation in finance has left a lasting impact on our competition. As we reflect on the triumph of this exceptional event, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participating teams. Your dedication, innovation, and strategic efforts have not only shaped the success of FinComp but also contributed to propelling innovation in finance. Cheers to the success of our Finance Leaders and the incredible journey of innovation that lies ahead! 

We are thrilled to share some highlights from our recent Banking Expo! 📈 This event, tailored specifically for students keen on exploring the dynamic world of banking, hit a new record with over 200 applicants, the largest event in our history! The expo was a treasure trove of knowledge, we dove deep into the banking industry with renowned industry experts and recruiters who shared invaluable insights into various banking domains. Including RBC, Deloitte, BMO, HSBC, National Bank of Canada, CIBC, TD. Attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions, presentations, and hands-on workshops, enriching their understanding of banking and finance.   A heartfelt appreciation to our esteemed sponsors, including RBC, University of Toronto - Rotman School of Management, CFA Society Toronto, The Princeton Review, and the numerous, accomplished industry representatives from finance and banking industries in the a promising career of banking.   A special gratitude to everyone involved in making this event a grand success. Your participation, enthusiasm, and insights not only made this event memorable but also carved a path for future opportunities in the banking sector. We're inspired to keep providing such enriching experiences and look forward to seeing many more students take their first steps toward the banking sector!

Welcome to 2024 with IBA! 🚀 As we begin the new semester, let's take this moment to recap some highlights from the fall 2023 term: 📌 BizFrosh - our kickoff event for the academic year, welcoming all first-year commerce/management students to the University of Toronto Mississauga. We saw over 70 attendees and a packed day of fun activities and fostering knowledge exchange with upper-year students, professors, and the Department of Management (UTMM). 📌 Accounting Expo - the inaugural accounting-focused event at UTM, with generous support through the University of Toronto - Master of Management & Professional Accounting and CPA Ontario. This conference featured an industry panel, presentations, and of course, a full-blown networking session, seeing 100+ registrants! 📌 Meet the Profs - an intimate workshop with 5 of our most distinguished professors from the Management and Economics Departments. Students had the exclusive opportunity to interact with their favourite professors outside of a classroom setting, building relationships that will continue to flourish as they progress through university. 📌 Ready, Set, Market! - the first of our three signature case competitions, revolving around inventive marketing strategies for Spotify's new platform proposal. Our 120+ competitors showcased their critical thinking and creativity using their business and tech knowledge. With our first place bringing home a grand prize of $1000! Congratulations 🎊 📌 BizMentorship (Session 1) - the first part of our comprehensive mentorship program designed for commerce and management students. With 50+ mentor and mentee applications, a fine selection process, and an outstanding session of rotational networking, and team-building activities. A guaranteed fun time! 📌 BizBanquet - the ULTIMATE networking event, hosted at the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel. We achieved an outstanding number of 120+ event attendees, with 20+ industry representatives from various sectors of Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Consulting, and Tech! Of course, we had to enjoy the evening with a three-course plated dinner, IBA style 🍽 Our most sincere appreciation to everyone who supported the Innovative Business Association in 2023. Whether you attended our events as a student, an industry representative, or supported our functions through partnerships, thank you for believing in our team. We're confident the new year will be nothing short of professional growth and fostering impactful relationships! With that said, keep an eye out for our upcoming events 👀 📌 Banking Expo - January 17th 📌 Finance Innovation Competition (FinComp) - February 4th *Find more details on our Instagram, @utmiba Cheers to a great year ✨