Before the end of winter break, as school neared closer to its commencement, I met with Ivey student Hanna Ke to discuss all things Ivey. Through our virtual Zoom meeting, our discussion led to conversation around the importance of extracurriculars, values Ivey imprints on its students, as well as what each student must have in order to get the most out of the opportunities present in the HBA program. She even provided some very valuable intel on how to succeed in online school—essential as the pandemic continuously lengthens. I am confident our discussion will help students still debating on choosing Ivey, students with AEO status, and even those who are currently attending the business school.
I want to start off by allowing you to introduce yourself. What degree are you currently completing? Are there any clubs or activities you are a part of that matter most to you?
Sure, my name is Hanna Ke. I'm currently a fourth-year student at Western and HBA2. I'm completing a dual degree with Medical Sciences. So next year I'll be doing an HBA3, meaning a fifth year at university.
Right now, I'm planning an event for the Ivey Health Sector Club. We're coordinating an annual case competition/conference. At the moment, that's probably the activity that matters the most to me, just because I've been working on it with my co-chair for about a year now, and the event date is coming up really soon. So that's the biggest thing going on right now.
Choosing Ivey with a Medical Sciences degree, was that something you had planned beforehand with a career in mind? Or was it something that just made sense to you? How did this come to fruition?
It was more of a random thing. I was always very science-oriented. Even in high school, I never took any business classes or anything. But I saw the advanced entry opportunity (AEO) and my dad convinced me to apply.
I then took the Business 2257 course in second-year—which is one of the requirements for Ivey HBA—and I really enjoyed it! It was actually very surprising how much I liked the whole business thing because I had never taken anything like that before. Although it was a learning curve, I loved that class, and thus I decided to pursue Ivey.
Once I got into Ivey, I didn't originally intend on doing the dual degree, but then I figured it's one more year, and I already took all these science classes, so I might as well just finish it and see where that leads me. So it wasn't actually with anything in mind. It just sort of happened, and it just felt right when the moment came to it.
As you begin to think about graduation and life ahead of university, how do you think Ivey will best translate from the classroom into your future, whether that be through knowledge or any defining characteristics?
I think out of all the university classes I've taken, Ivey is probably the one that is going to be the most applicable in real life. As opposed to science, which is a lot of memorization and less application, in Ivey it's always application and how it affects the real world. You also learn all these interpersonal skills like how to work with people, how to communicate properly, and how to use different perspectives! This type of learning is useful for the job market in general so that you can better empathize with people and understand where they're coming from. So, I definitely think Ivey will be super helpful, even if I don't end up in a business field.
The fact that it's case-based also helps because these are real-world situations. Everything we learn is very hands-on. You're very involved. It's not like the professor is just spewing information at you that you need to memorize to get right on an exam. Whatever you learn, you must thoroughly understand it. That's where Ivey, for me, is most valuable.
Expanding off of that, what are some qualities you believe every HBA student must channel if they want to take full advantage of the opportunities Ivey presents?
That's a really good question. One main thing I would say is being open-minded. Going in, there are a lot of people from different backgrounds: people who might have different worldviews from you. But the whole goal of the case-based process, and the way it’s set up for you to interact in class, is so that you can learn from people around you as well, not just from the teacher. As long as you keep an open mind, and all you want to do is better yourself, you will be able to get the most out of Ivey.
As with any academic venture, there’s always going to be some pressure on the student to be doing the best they can and achieve success. Do you think that is enhanced at Ivey?
I definitely think so. Maybe not in the bad way that “Oh, you have to succeed or else like you're a terrible person or a terrible student.” But Ivey definitely pushes you to push yourself. I have personally learned a lot about myself since starting Ivey, and I did things I didn't think I was able to before. Everyone at Ivey is extremely supportive because they all understand that we are here to do the same thing: which is to learn, to grow, and to eventually excel in our careers. So, there is this whole community that's pushing you to become the better version of yourself.
You are a part of multiple clubs and associations at Western. Why do you feel it is important to get involved with your school and your fellow peers?
I try to be involved because I feel like it's part of the whole university experience to connect with everyone around you and to get to know people. I try to be involved just so that I can branch out a little outside of my Ivey bubble and make some friends. I also want to give back to the Western community because they were very welcoming to me in the first couple of years of school when I started.
But in general, I do think that it's important to join clubs and be active in the community, mainly because it is important to do things other than studying. And if you can make friends and get a support system through that, then that's just a really nice extra thing to obtain from it.
What is some crucial advice you wish you had received entering the HBA program that you think would help a lot of students just beginning their journey in this program? You mentioned being open-minded is critical, are there any tips more specific to yourself?
I think the main thing is to realize that everyone is in the same boat as you. It's easy to get imposter syndrome and start to believe everyone else has it together while you’re falling behind. For me, it was especially hard since it seemed like I had a lot less business knowledge and experience than everyone else did. Because again, Business 2257 was the only business class I had ever taken. I had no idea what consulting, finance, or any of the different business sectors were! It was quite a learning curve for me to switch from entirely science to entirely business.
But talking to other people, I realized no matter which program they started in, everyone else is just as lost. Altogether, I think it makes it a more positive experience! It’s comforting to know that everyone is working towards this together, rather than feeling alone in a program of 600 people.
Are there any resources that Ivey provides which you found through your journey in the program?
The Career Management program that they have is really, really helpful! Going in, I had never done any recruiting, and I wasn't sure how to approach the whole interview process on a business level. The people who work at Career Management are so helpful and kind. I had tons of meetings just going over my resume and cover letters, making sure I had everything to apply to jobs and was approaching the recruiting process with the right attitude. They also provide a list of job postings, so you don't even have to go out and find them online yourself!
To close off, as we trudge onwards with learning online, are there any tips you can share about keeping consistent and motivated in your work, when it is difficult to connect in the virtual classroom?
Yeah, for sure. It's definitely a lot harder, I will say. What works for me is keeping a schedule. Make yourself a schedule and stick to that routine.
If your class is asynchronous, watch the lectures during the time slot that you're supposed to. That way you will never fall behind. Also, I like going to libraries when they’re open. Getting out of the house makes me feel much more productive in my work.
At Ivey it's synchronous learning. So for Ivey classes, I would say keep your camera on, do the pre-reading, and try to participate in class because that way you're actively listening. This makes a huge difference. Otherwise, you're just wasting an hour staring at a screen.