High school students from across North America gathered at Ivey’s main campus this week for the annual John F. Wood Centre Summer Leadership Symposium, an immersive one-day program tailored to equip students with a solid foundation for their post-secondary education endeavours.
Launched in 2015, the Symposium is inspired by John F. Wood, HBA ’64, who believed that how you learn is just as important as what you learn, and engages students with Ivey’s case method to foster a deeper interest in learning.
Over three days, the event welcomed its largest cohort to date: 250 exemplary students from grades 10 to 12, chosen from a record-breaking 600 applicants. While on campus, participants took part in targeted activities and workshops that honed essential skills in leadership, teamwork, emotional intelligence, and communication, enhancing both personal and academic development.
Valuable leadership insights
Participants were welcomed by Ivey’s new Dean Julian Birkinshaw, MBA ’91, PhD ’95, who delivered opening remarks. Reflecting on his time as an Ivey student 30 years ago, Dean Birkinshaw shared insights about the value of experiential learning and encouraged participants to get involved and contribute to discussions.
“Today, you will not attend lectures and listen to theory. You will experience the challenges of being a leader in a new environment through a real business case,” he said. “Here at Ivey, inspiring leadership is all about helping you understand yourself, the way you relate to others, and the impact you can have on the world.”
Immersed in the Ivey experience
In addition to leadership development, students attended several practical workshops covering topics including the Ivey admissions process, funding university, balancing work and personal life, career management, and resume building. They also learned how to leverage their talents by taking a CliftonStrengths Assessment – a personal development tool used to identify and build on the students’ natural strengths.
For many participants, a highlight of the Symposium was the opportunity to attend their first Ivey case class. In this session, students analyzed a real business case and were challenged to make leadership decisions under the guidance of an Ivey instructor.
A lasting impact
“The organizing team has created an engaging, student-centric experience for secondary school students, integrating the Ivey Leadership Essentials and bringing to life the vision of our generous donor, John F. Wood,” said Zoe Kinias, Ivey’s John F. Wood Chair in Innovation in Business Education and Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour. “I am confident that this introduction to business learning will be an experience that the students carry with them through their lives.”
After the case class and workshops, students were invited to attend a university fair, along with their parents, to speak with recruiters from Western, Huron, King’s, and Ivey. The day ended with a tour of the Ivey building, giving participants the opportunity to learn more about the campus and to envision their promising post-secondary futures.
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