On the evening of May 12th, the Beedie Ambassadors joined in celebrating the vision, legacy, and impact of three business leaders who were to be inducted to the 2016 Business Laureates of British Columbia Hall of Fame. The inductees included Norm Francis (Co-founder, former Chairman & CEO, Pivotal Corporation), the late A.E. “Dal” Grauer (President and Chairman, BC Power Corporation and BC Electrical Company), and Ian Telfer (Chairman of the Board, Goldcorp Inc.) In addition to a number of representatives from diverse organizations within the Vancouver business community, distinguished guests such as the Honourable Judith Guichon, O.B.C., Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, and the Honourable John Manley, P.C., O.C., President and Chief Executive Officer, Business Council of Canada, were in attendance.
Hosted by Junior Achievement British Columbia (JABC), the evening acknowledged each inductee’s positive contributions to our province and country. The gala also featured JABC students whose development and growth emphasize the importance of delivering high quality business education for the country’s up-and-coming business leaders. Throughout the evening, JABC students were recognized for their oratory and presentation skills, entrepreneurial spirit, and innovative problem solving, and I felt proud to be among a community that recognized the importance celebrating young leaders’ success as well as role models for our generation. With a bagpipe welcome and opportunity to meet SFU alumni, the gala felt warm and familiar to our group of Beedie Ambassadors. It was a prestigious night of inspiration and enjoyment as we paid tribute to new inductees and all the existing leaders who have been identified as distinguished individuals who have impacted our province.
The theme ”They built. We Benefit” speaks to the culture of excellence and community development that JABC promises to deliver for young professionals and showcases in events such as the Business Laureates of BC Gala. In her opening address, he Honourable Judith Guichon spoke about the British Columbian spirit of generosity and courage, and the importance of putting a spotlight on individuals who have demonstrated a life of leadership. This was echoed by the Honourable John Manley, who spoke about solidarity within BC, particularly in the aftermath of the Fort McMurray fires, and the contributions of these laureates to make Canada become the smartest, most global places in the world.
Three gems from the evening stood out to me as reminders for young business leaders and students: “Skate to where the puck is going”, “Think of success as a look out point, not a destination”, and “If you’re not failing at some point, you’re probably not trying hard enough”. Within SFU we are so fortunate to have so many opportunities and create our unique journeys and pursue our goals. By attending this event, I was reminded about how much excitement and support there from current leaders and mentors for the next generation of business leaders to emerge into the workforce.
The evening ended with final acknowledgements of the inductees and the promise of continuing to develop young business leaders through programs and services such as JABC. The Business Laureates of BC Gala truly emphasized that “if you honor your past you secure your future”. Congratulations to the new inductees to the 2016 Business Laureates of BC Hall of Fame!
BIO:
Jessica Gutierrez is in her final semester at Beedie, pursuing a concentration in Human Resource Management with a minor in Early Education. Valuing co-curricular involvement as an essential complement to the academic experience, she has actively sought out opportunities to learn and grow outside of the classroom at the SFU Beedie School of Business. She has been involved with the Business Administration Student Society (BASS) as President, Vice President of Human Resources, and Manager of Corporate Relations. Jessica is currently completing her fourth Co-operative Education work term in consultant training and enablement at SAP after working in not-for-profit event planning and HR at Goldcorp. She is passionate about pursuing her personal and professional development by continuing to seek enriching experiences within Beedie and the Vancouver business community.