Future Students

The power of storytelling: reflections on the CBV Challenge 2024

Hana Whatmough — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 20:47:41 +0000

The power of storytelling: reflections on the CBV Challenge 2024 Hana Whatmough Mon, 12/09/2024 - 15:47

On November 6th, I had the pleasure of competing in the 2024 Business Valuation (BV) Challenge alongside my teammates Ish (AFM), Akshat (AFM) and Ansaar (Mathematics/CPA). This competition gave us the opportunity to apply our knowledge of finance and business development to a real-world case. However, we quickly realized that one of the biggest obstacles wasn’t solving the case itself – it was presenting our analysis in a way that resonated with the client.

While we were confident in the quality of our model, we understood that communicating this level of complexity in a 20-minute presentation would be near impossible. For us, the real challenge was simplifying our work without losing its essence.

Our Presentation

To ensure that our presentation was as effective as possible, we focused on 5 main principles:

Focus on Key Value Drivers

We focused on the components of the case that impacted our conclusion the most. By zeroing in on these drivers and the associated assumptions, we made sure that our audience understood the big picture of how our models worked.

Use High-Level Visuals

Rather than explaining every calculation in detail, we created custom, condensed tables and graphs that allowed the audience to easily follow along without getting lost.

Tie Analysis to Recommendation

Every point we shared reinforced the “why” behind our recommendation. We made sure that the audience always understood how the analysis informed our decision, clearly conveying the value our work added.

Incorporate Qualitative Factors

While quantitative metrics like internal rate of return or impliedfair market value were crucial, we recognized that clients appreciate qualitative issues as well. Therefore, we made sure to tie in factors such as market conditions, risks and opportunities and alignment with the firm’s strategy and long-term goals.

Adopt the Client’s Perspective

By adopting the decision-maker’s point of view, we presented ourselves as advisors – not just analysts. This allowed us to convey our findings so that they would translate to an actionable outcome.

Final Takeaway

The BV Challenge gave me a new appreciation for the practice of business valuations, emphasizing that technical analysis must be paired with strong communication. I believe that this experience has helped me to develop both my analytical and storytelling abilities and I am grateful to have tackled it with such a great team.

The value of volunteering: SFM students give back by planting trees

Rachel Doherty — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 14:22:19 +0000

The value of volunteering: SFM students give back by planting trees Rachel Doherty Fri, 04/19/2024 - 10:22

Ever since my elementary school days, I’ve enjoyed getting involved in my community – from picking up litter at school to beach shore cleanups on vacation, I try to give back to the community. Fast forward to the present day, I continue to get involved with my university as an upper-year Sustainability and Financial Management (SFM) student.

In honour of National Volunteer Week, I wanted to share my experience with tree planting, in the hope that others will be inspired to join. This event was for SFM students and each tree planted was meant to represent every student in the program. That morning before we got our hands dirty, my peers and I spent time learning about the different species of trees native to the Kitchener-��ݮ��Ƶ Region, care instructions and how the saplings will look after a few years, around the time of our graduation.

After a few hours of hard manual labour, all 100 trees were planted and we celebrated by socializing near the lake with some delicious lunch.

This was my first time planting tree saplings and admittedly, digging the holes in the hard mixed soil was more strenuous than I expected but it was a rewarding and great team-building experience. In total, I planted 3 trees 🙂.

If you want to get involved and have a positive impact on our campus, The School of Accounting and Finance will be organizing another tree-planting day in Fall 2024. Send an email to Kelly, as there are many opportunities to volunteer your time.

I'm looking forward to giving back to the community again this year and I hope to see some new faces there.

What I wish I knew as a first-year student at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ

Megan Sherwin — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 17:25:49 +0000

What I wish I knew as a first-year student at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ Megan Sherwin Wed, 03/01/2023 - 12:25

Greetings future Accounting and Financial Management (AFM) students!

My name is Aradhna, and I am in my third year of AFM, specializing in the Professional Accountant Career Specialization. I know you may or may not be feeling terrified coming in as a first-year student at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ. I remember I was a little hesitant, scared and confused believing I wouldn’t be able to see my old friends, teachers and especially my family. So, I wanted to share something I wish I knew as a first-year student at U��ݮ��Ƶ.

Take care of yourself

First of all, take care of yourself! You need to understand being the best isn't something you should be aiming for. You will only overwhelm yourself and further delay your work. Make sure you treat yourself nicely. Set aside time each week to go to the gym, engage in a hobby of yours, watch a movie and hang out with your family and friends.

Make a schedule

To stay up to date with your coursework, use a scheduling system. It could be a Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, Notion, or any other system you are comfortable using. Don't worry about choosing the right calendar because you will have the option to link your LEARN (the web-based learning management system the university uses) calendar to know when something is due. This will help you prioritize your schoolwork and assignments.

Make a budget

This is something I believe everyone should do. Becoming an adult also means that you may want to spend money on unnecessary items that you would have never thought of. However, you should understand that in the long run, it could cause some financial difficulties. Budgeting will allow you to distinguish between your wants and your needs. It will help you save some money for your student loans, dreams, short-term goals, long-term goals and emergencies. There are several ways to budget and being able to successfully follow one will also help you in your accounting and finance career.

Stay connected

Make sure you are attending school events. Many of these events will have giveaways and freebies like food, but they also help you socialize with other students in your year! Being active on campus and in university allows you to learn new things about yourself such as what you are good at, what you care the most about and the lessons you’ll bring with you into your future.

These are just some of the tips I wished I knew when coming to university. Good luck!

A reflection on applying to university

Megan Sherwin — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 15:41:54 +0000

A reflection on applying to university Megan Sherwin Mon, 02/13/2023 - 10:41

Applying to university is a big decision in one’s life! As a prospective student, it can become extremely overwhelming when deciding what you want your future to look like, along with researching the various programs and their benefits. What is essential is finding a school and program that suits your learning style and can help you reach your goals. After going through the application process, I have gathered some advice for students planning on applying to university. I’ve found that the best way to make a decision that best suits your future goals is to do some research!

To start, when applying to a university program investigate the courses you will be taking throughout your degree. Look at all the required courses and their respective descriptions and ask yourself, ‘is this something I am excited to learn?’ When you are at university you want to take courses that you can be engaged in and will be excited to attend, instead of perceiving the classes as a chore. Additionally, look at all the opportunities the school and program offer. Ask yourself these questions:

What student clubs are there?
What unique opportunities can I gain from going there?
What am I interested in and how can the school/program help explore that?

Finally, I suggest talking to current students at the school and the program you are interested in. Ask them about what their experience has been like or what their favourite part of the program is. Students can provide excellent insight into student life, academics, and the transition from high school to university.

With that said, I wish you all the best in your application process!

Pointers on completing the SAFAA by someone who’s done it before

Megan Sherwin — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 15:24:31 +0000

Pointers on completing the SAFAA by someone who’s done it before Megan Sherwin Mon, 02/13/2023 - 10:24

As I am writing this, I’m getting flashbacks to when I was in grade 12. I remember the nerves of applying to university kicking in. Having this feeling of either it’s now or never and thinking to myself how am I going to do this? It was hard. I was stressing a lot. Life starts to hit you; you’re trying to do well in your final classes while making sure all your admissions essays and video responses are perfect. However, you must remember: you’ve got this.

First off, remember you have access to the School of Accounting and Finance Admissions Assessment (SAFAA) questions beforehand. It may seem a little unusual but use that to your advantage! Prepare your responses, think hard to make sure you answer the questions the best you can, authentically craft them, and make them about yourself.

Think about it, the admissions team knows you have the time to think about these answers, so that should tell you to take your time to answer them.

What I liked to do was list out all my experiences and ask myself four key questions:

What I did including my key accomplishments and challenges
What I learned from the experience and how it helped me
What leadership roles I took
Why I enjoyed the experience

Using this process, I crafted my responses and dove into adequate detail; I already prepared the building blocks for my responses. I always like to say, “Be yourself with some pizzazz!” Obviously, it is ideal to answer the questions like yourself and relate them to your experiences. However, for a university application, you want to add a little bit extra —look at the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF) and U��ݮ��Ƶ’s values and incorporate those ideas into your answers.

Lastly, I know it can be hard just staring at yourself to talk, but remain calm. Trust me, don’t leave this for the last minute as it will only add to your stress. As silly as you may look if someone walks in on you take some time talking in front of a mirror and get comfortable answering the questions. And finally, if you misspeak, pause or forget what you are trying to say do not worry! The world isn’t over as the admissions team recognizes this. They will not penalize you for a few mistakes while you speak if your points are relevant and valid.

I hope these tips help you!

How to make networking fun

Melissa Chong — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 20:15:01 +0000

How to make networking fun Melissa Chong Thu, 12/08/2022 - 15:15

Networking can be a scary experience, and you might be putting a lot of pressure on yourself because you think you need it to find a job or to advance your career. The truth is you can approach networking in a fun and lighthearted way to get the most out of it. Here are my three tips that I found made networking more enjoyable:

1. Be genuine and show interest

Be yourself and show an interest in the person you are networking with. You are more likely to click with somebody if there is a real connection. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, find some common ground, and have conversations about topics that genuinely interest you and the person you are networking with.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask some personal questions

While it’s important to remain professional when networking, don’t be afraid to throw in a few personal questions to help create a more genuine connection. However, it’s important to stay away from sensitive topics and keep the conversation fun. Here are examples of some good personal questions to break the ice:

With what you know now, what advice would you give to your university self?
What are your hobbies or interests outside of work/school?
What led you to choose this career/pathway?
What are your favourite memories from university/school?

3. Follow up with the person you networked with

Once your chat/meeting is over, reach out and thank the person you networked with for their time. Be sure to follow up and eventually find time to chat again. Following up helps develop your relationship with the person and foster a stronger connection.

Overall, it can take some time to build this skill, but try a few of these tips out and see what works best for you!

Networking for newbies

Melissa Chong — Fri, 02 Dec 2022 19:51:46 +0000

Networking for newbies Melissa Chong Fri, 12/02/2022 - 14:51

Networking can seem scary, especially since we can’t hide behind our screens anymore. Online or not, networking can be made easy with a little preparation. Here are my top four tips and tricks for making long-lasting connections when networking!

Prepare for the event: You’ve been invited to a networking event, way to go! Make sure you properly prepare yourself to meet new people. It’s easy to fall into routine small talk, but to make real connections you need to stand out! Practice your elevator pitch and brainstorm interesting things about you that make you unique.
Channel your inner sleuth: With so many free and accessible online sources ready at your fingertips, it’s super easy to learn more about the people you’re going to meet ahead of time. Do some light research and see if there’s anybody who has similar interests as you - it’s a great way to find common ground for seamless conversation starters!
Don’t be shy: Networking events can be intimidating, especially since you are walking up to people you don’t know and introducing yourself to them. Remember that everybody attends networking events to meet new people, so this is all totally normal! If you are hesitant, network with a friend to remove some of the awkwardness or discomfort!
Stay in touch with your connections: You killed the networking session and now have an amazing connection! Don’t let the relationship die out. Be sure to reach out regularly to check-in. This will maintain your relationships and help the people you connected with keep you in mind for any future professional opportunities!

While we all want to make quality connections, everybody’s networking process looks different. If you don’t like my tips and tricks, don’t use them! Just relax, be yourself, and most importantly have fun!

The top 3 things I learned about university that are different from high school

Pallavi Sharma — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 21:30:08 +0000

The top 3 things I learned about university that are different from high school Pallavi Sharma Mon, 11/07/2022 - 16:30

My name is Simran, and I’m a first-year student at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ studying Accounting and Financial Management (AFM). As a high school student, I wish I had a more in-depth idea of what to expect transitioning from high school to university, especially considering the pandemic that took over a big portion of my high school experience. Here are the top 3 things I learned about life at university that are different from high school!

Work is done at your own pace

In high school, teachers have more time for one-on-one discussions with students and provide a guided learning experience. At university, most work is done at your own pace, and independently from professors. Essentially, learning is done at home, and “class time” (lectures, seminars, and tutorials), is used to supplement your understanding of what you’ve already learned, and a great time to ask questions.

Don’t worry! Making new friends is inevitable!

In high school, it's common that the kids you go to school with are people from your middle school or elementary school. However, when you transition to university and are surrounded by strangers, making friends can seem daunting. However, with the help of different frosh and o-week events, it's almost inevitable to make friends in your faculty or program because everyone is in the same boat - trying to meet new people and make new friends!

University timetables are not a 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

The last thing I learned from transitioning from high school to university, is that a university timetable is not restricted like the 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. schedule most high schools have. Instead, many classes are spread out throughout the week with a mix of lectures, tutorials, and seminars!

I hope this is helpful to any high school student thinking about applying to the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ this fall!

Expectations vs. reality of my first day at U��ݮ��Ƶ

Pallavi Sharma — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 21:21:34 +0000

Expectations vs. reality of my first day at U��ݮ��Ƶ Pallavi Sharma Mon, 11/07/2022 - 16:21

When I was in high school, I did a lot of research on university life and I thought I pretty much knew what was going to happen. But the reality on my first day of school was a lot different.

Expectation 1: University class schedules are demanding of your time.

Reality 1: University schedules are not bad at all! There are a couple of lectures and tutorials each week, and my timetable is a lot emptier than it was in high school. I’m more of an independent, quick learner who prefers to go at my own speed, and I really love the schedules.

Expectation 2: You can walk to the library or your residence during short breaks between classes.

Reality 2: How did I underestimate the distance between the buildings? The campus is HUGE. I was surprised to find many study spaces embedded in the buildings where I have my lectures. If you’re set on going back to your residence, biking is definitely possible and the bike storage in my residence is really convenient.

Expectation 3: It’s hard to make friends because of how many people are in university.

Reality 3: I was anxious about this coming into university, but I had no problem making new friends on my first day! In my opinion, it’s easier to make friends in university than in high school. First, when you live on campus, you share more experiences with everyone, so my floor mates are immediately my friends.

I learned so much on my first day as an AFM student, and I can’t wait to find out what the rest of the journey at U��ݮ��Ƶ holds!

Exciting first days at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ

Melissa Chong — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 15:02:33 +0000

Exciting first days at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ Melissa Chong Mon, 11/07/2022 - 10:02

As soon as I accepted my offer for the Sustainability and Financial Management program at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ, I realized that I had one more big choice to make.

Since I live in the Kitchener-��ݮ��Ƶ region, it made sense to stay at home (after all, I had my whole room set up just the way I like it, and the pandemic meant that my couch and I were very good friends).

After a bit of debate, I decided to submit my campus housing form for Ron Eydt Village, and after being here for less than a week, I can say that it was an amazing choice! Like so many others, I was definitely nervous as I moved in. I barely knew my roommate– and now I had to meet new people across campus! I ended up having an amazing time getting to know the people on my floor along with my residence, and orientation helped me meet everyone from my faculty (Faculty of Arts– go orange!). It has definitely been a bit of a learning curve (and I recommend remembering to pack your socks!), but I am so glad that I decided to move in.

Overall, I would just say that you want to get a bit out of your comfort zone as you make this transition into university. Try to forget about the nerves and instead focus on how much fun and how many opportunities you’ll have as a student at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ!