The Kids Are Alright

I spent this past Thursday evening at the bullring on the University of Guelph Campus. Back in my university days, in the early 80’s, the Bullring was the dance palace on campus. Today, it’s got more of a coffee house vibe rather than a club atmosphere.

Regardless, the venue was full of the next generation of our business and community leaders. I was honoured to be the moderator for a panel of 3 alumni from the Management, Economics and Finance (MEF) programme, Lang School of Business at the University of Guelph. The purpose of the evening was to expose the current MEF members to the path that alumni have travelled to their current roles and positions in the business world.

The leadership team that put this panel together did a very smart thing. More on that in a minute.

The panel featured some very strong and confident young people. Bianca is a senior consultant with Deloitte, working internally with the Deloitte team in client experience. She had some great insights on how her time at Guelph and the internships she’s held allowed her to create a role that suited her strengths and skills.

Owen, also a business grad, has found his niche as a research and policy analyst with the ONWA and non-profit working with indigenous groups throughout Ontario, while he pursues his Masters degree. He eloquently tied his business background to the non-profit sector and his journey to a PHD.

Ashley has found her role in a Canadian tech star Shopify as a client acquisition executive and has put her sales and business background into helping small businesses get off the ground with some pretty amazing help from Shopify.

All three of them shared similar paths of leadership throughout their undergrad years and eagerly stepped up to mentor and guide the next generation of MEF grads. What was really impressive was the stories they shared about the mentorship they’ve had throughout their university and early business careers. Their willingness to share their experiences and offer guidance to the audience of those soon to graduate was evident.

It brought back memories from decades ago. The fear of what was going to happen after graduation. Finding a job, a career, taking steps into “adulting”. The parallel here is no different than what we as a community face on a daily basis as well. The fear of what’s happening in the economy, politics, the housing market. We don’t often think about how big of a role fear plays in our day to day lives.

Back to why this event was organized.

Ashley, Bianca and Owen actively encouraged the audience to acknowledge the fear and then take strength from that fear to move forward and take the next steps, build the future that was wanted and to not let fear put up a roadblock. The organizers were aware of the anxiety over what the future held for the next cohort and wanted to guide them through it.

I was impressed with their resolve and maturity. I don’t recall that I or my generation had that level of leadership or resolve when we were newly minted grads about to embark into the work world.

I walked out of the bullring that evening under the full moon and thought, “The kids are alright!”. They’ve got what it will take and I’m confident they can handle anything the universe throws at them. Trade wars, recession threats, they’ve got the leadership skills to roll with the punches and keep moving forward, with elbows high!

PS: this weekend is College Royal at the University of Guelph. If you’ve never had that experience, you owe it to yourself to do the campus tour this weekend.

Have a great weekend,

Paul

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LISTING OF THE WEEK

202 Couling Crescent, Guelph

$899,900

Semi-Detached 2 Storey
3 Bedrooms
2 Full Baths, 1 Half Bath
1,588 Above Grade Sqft
2 Parking Spaces

Welcome to 202 Couling Crescent, a 2013 Gemini Homes - Auburn Model!
This home offers incredible space and soaring ceilings that you will absolutely love. Throughout the entire home, you will find gorgeous hardwood floors stained in a rich, elegant tone, complementing the modern decor and giving it a magazine-worthy appeal. And just to emphasize there’s absolutely no carpeting here, not even on the stairs! Designed with entertaining in mind, the open-concept layout features a spacious breakfast bar that seamlessly connects to the kitchen. Upstairs, a fantastic den/media room offers the perfect retreat at the end of the day but can easily be converted into a fourth bedroom if needed. The second-floor laundry room adds extra convenience, while the generously sized bedrooms and high ceilings create an even greater sense of openness.The primary suite boasts a spacious walk-in closet and a stylish ensuite with an oversized shower. Downstairs, the unfinished basement comes with a three-piece rough-in and a large lookout window offering a blank canvas just waiting for your creative touch. Whether you envision a bright and inviting rec room, a home office, or a personal gym, this space is ready to be transformed to suit your needs. Doors from the kitchen and dinette lead to a deck with built-in storage underneath, keeping the yard free of clutter. The fully fenced yard is ideal for pets, and a 13x11’ stone patio offers additional outdoor living space. Additionally, the six-foot walkway slab is spacious enough to accommodate an SUV, providing extra parking convenience. Plus, steps away from Guelph Lake Public School, Eastview Park and MorningCrest Park. Could this be the perfect home for you and your family?

Listing Courtesy of Keller Williams Home Group Realty Brokerage

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