Jacqueline Kahnert

Where are you from? What high school did you attend?

I am a London local, and I attended Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School.

What was your Program of Study for Years 1 and 2?

Honours Bachelor in Computer Science.

List your Extra-curricular involvement in the first two years of university.

First Year:

• Board of First Year Students for the Off-Campus Soph Team
• Collegiate Leadership Competition

Second Year:

• Off-Campus Soph
• Computer Science Department Representative for the Science Student Council
• Director of Events for the Western Sign Language Club
• Model for Spur Fashion Show
• Coach for Intramural Residence League Football
• Volunteer with Northwest London Resource Centre

Why did you choose Ivey’s HBA program?

Coming out of high school, I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to do. I applied for AEO status because I was drawn to Ivey's curriculum of real-world business cases and participation-based classes. The second entry nature of the HBA program also allowed me to study a variety of topics in my first two years. Although I was studying Computer Science, I was also able to explore my interests in Film Studies, Philosophy, Gender Studies, and more, which was invaluable in shaping me as a well-rounded student. Along with the above reasons, I chose Ivey's HBA program because it has allowed me to specialize in my specific business interests (leadership, entrepreneurship, sales) while also learning other important business foundations (accounting, finance, data analytics, economics, etc.)

Describe one highlight of your Ivey Experience thus far.

I have enjoyed so many aspects of the Ivey Experience thus far, it's difficult to choose just one highlight. I would say that one of my favourite experiences was attending the UK Career Trek to London. This was such an amazing opportunity to travel to an interesting city while meeting accomplished HBA alumni working abroad. I made so many great connections and memories on the trip!

What advice do you have for incoming HBA students?

My biggest advice would be to try your best and not care what other people think. When I entered HBA 1, I felt like everyone around me knew what they were doing while I didn't. I felt like my peers knew more than me and I was worried about saying the wrong thing during class contribution. The truth is, however, that everyone is worried about saying the wrong thing and they are all thinking about themselves and not about you. So, work hard, try your best, and say what you have to say in class, even if you might be wrong. The only person truly concerned about what you say is yourself!

How has Ivey’s Career Management set you up for success?

I heavily leveraged Career Management to help me with my resume, learn how to reach out to professionals on LinkedIn, and stand out in my job applications, especially in HBA 1. It is so easy to make appointments and everyone on the Career Management is friendly and helpful.

What kind of support did you find the most helpful with the intense curriculum in HBA1?

I found myself relying on the close friends I made in my HBA1 section. We would regularly work on cases together as well as find fun activities to do when we needed to unwind. It can also be difficult to balance the intense curriculum while recruiting, so I found the Ivey Job board to be extremely helpful. I was able to browse and apply for jobs specifically geared towards Ivey students, making recruiting less of a hassle for me.

What has been the most challenging part of the program for you and how did you overcome it?

To be completely honest, 8am start Monday-Friday in HBA1 was a little rough for me at first. I am not a morning person, and It took a while for me to adjust. Developing a schedule that worked for me helped me overcome this.

How has Ivey helped you become a leader and make an impact on the world around you?

I have really come out of my shell since starting at Ivey. I used to be quite anxious and quiet, and now I am the Co-President of an Ivey club and have an exciting Sales career ahead of me. I owe it all to the case-based learning and participation requirements at Ivey.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I am excited to spend the summer travelling and enjoying time with my family before heading to Insight Global's Toronto office as an Account Manager in September.