Fourth-year BBA students explore international business opportunities

March 6, 2020

On Friday, Jan. 31, fourth-year Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) students at Wilfrid Laurier University’s Lazaridis School of Business and Economics participated in World of Opportunities (WOO), a one-day poster competition dedicated to learning about the international opportunities many students will experience after graduation. 

WOO is the culmination of an assignment from the BU491 “Business Policy II” course. Students are assigned a country and must develop a business opportunity that supports the local economy. Applying their understanding of both policy and international business, students present their plans to a panel of judges. Students also learn from a number of guest speakers and industry experts who have experience working abroad.

VOICES OF EXPERIENCE

Amaryllis Jones - World of Opportunities

BBA ’14, MBA ’19, Trade Marketing Manager, Procter & Gamble

Jones has worked in offices across Canada and the United states for major brands like Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaws, Berkshire Hathaway, and P&G. During her presentation, she spoke about some of the major opportunities and challenges with global companies. Jones also shared her advice for students looking to develop a career abroad.

As a new hire looking to work internationally, Jones suggested focusing on four key transferrable skills:

1. Form a culture of mentorship
2. Develop your emotional quotient
3. Practice agility
4. Embrace the steep learning curve

At the end of the discussion, Jones told the audience, “The best advice I got was from an HR leader who told me ‘You were born with two ears and one mouth. If you use them in that proportion, you will be fine.’”

Shawn Warren - Your Career, Your Passport to Opportunity!

BBA ’94, MBA ’20, Former President, Packaged Foods Asia Division, Dole Packaged Foods, LLC.  

Warren has extensive experience working in consumer packaged goods across North America and Asia with some of the world’s best known food brands including Dole, Oreo, Ritz, Delissio, Kool-Aid, and more. During his talk, Warren spoke about his mindset, how he prioritizes his focus, and his tips for following opportunity.

When it comes to priorities, Warren attributes his success to his FOCUS – five areas that allow him to move both his career, and the companies he works with, forward:

Family
Optimistic about the future
Committed to business growth, team growth, and personal growth
Unleash the potential of teams
Speed and simplicity 

For students ready to branch out into the work force, at home or abroad, Warren gave this important advice:

Be adventurous: The world is waiting for you!
Be open-minded: Say YES… what do you have to lose?
Be bold: Are you pushing for incremental or breakthrough impact?
Be friendly: You never know where in the world new friends are waiting for your smile.
Be curious: About puzzles, tastes, cultures, others, and most of all… yourself!
Enjoy your sweet journey ahead.

THE RESULTS

After the morning presentations and discussions, students shared their business ideas with their peers and a group of expert judges.

Congratulations to all students who participated in WOO, Winter 2020.

People’s Choice Award

Voted for by their peers and classmates.

Tanzania
Jacob Bristo, Joanna Ellis, Kailyn Panasdir, Erika Petrosyan, Chelsea Sprout

Expert’s Choice Awards

Voted for by a panel of experts in the field.

Israel
Jason Au, Spencer Esler, Christopher Irwin, Beth Kannath, Konstantin Kapageridis, Gregory Murray