All Wrapped Into One!

When people tell you there is so much you can do to be involved within Asper, they are not kidding. When I was a first year Asper student I experienced my first real taste of what the Asper School of Business offers their students on Buddy Day.

What I did not realize until later was that all these different events, clubs, and even teams, I was being enlightened about, are mostly run by Asper students. However, at the time I did not have time to think about who was running the show. Every room I walked into, every hall I walked through and almost everyone I bumped into bombarded me with:

AHHH! So much stimulation, so much to take in, but at the same time I was excited that there seemed to be something for everyone. The one thing that really stuck out to me however was this Business Banquet group.

They had a neat theme that was easy to recognize and everyone involved with it was very approachable. So I decided I would take a gander over to their booth (where they had FREE pens & coffee....SCORE), and chat with them about all the perks of the Business Banquet.

After talking to them I concluded that the Business Banquet was an amazing assortment of opportunities, for ALL business students, rolled into one fun day. I learnt about all the Winnipeg companies that attend, about the question and answer period with the keynote speaker happening on the day of the banquet, about the delicious meal to enjoy, and about the amazing networking opportunity with all 800+ people in attendance. The keynote speaker intrigued me, so I found out that in past years they have included Marc Kielberger, from the Me to We Foundation, and Dianne Buckner, the host of CBC's Dragon's Den.

After buying my ticket, I picked the table I wanted to sit at. Each table is sponsored by a variety of Winnipeg companies in a wide range of industries. I did not have a major chosen -- and if this is you then no worries! There are plenty of tables for students like us to choose from. These tables consist of recognizable companies that have multiple representatives pertaining to all majors. I also found out that I would be getting a $55 meal plus wine and a wicked after party at club downtown for only $25.

What topped it off however was that this event was for me, not for the Profs, not the school, and not for the companies. It was for me, the student. I sat with peers as I met representatives from a variety of companies and learnt about them and their work in a dinner setting. I saw different perspectives of Winnipeg companies, and heard about what their focus was and if it interested me.

This helped me realize that there are more jobs out there than just accounting and marketing. Dianne Buckner really inspired me with her keynote address last year when she talked about the Dragons Den and about how to create your best personal pitch possible in this world of opportunities

So should you attend the Business Banquet? YES, because you may meet your next employer there, you may learn about a new position, you may meet some new friends taking the same courses as you and finally, you WILL have an amazing time while building your network. I am going to Business Banquet this year, not because I am the Marketing Director of the Business Banquet, but because I will get to sit with an inspiring company, meet new business students, and continue growing an ever-important network within Winnipeg.

So remember Business Banquet's booth on Buddy Day! You will see us having an amazing time meeting all the new business students, so don't be shy and come introduce yourselves. This year's event will be bigger and better than ever before, and for the first time will be held at the Convention Center - so don't miss out!

Cannot wait to meet you on Buddy Day,

By Reyna Olivares