First-year Future Leaders Challenge showcases innovation

By Jessica Smith | April 24, 2024

First-year students in the Lazaridis Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program shared their innovative solutions and presentation skills to a panel of industry judges at the BDO Future Leaders Challenge. The challenge began in March and concluded with six finalist teams presenting their innovative solutions to complex business issues at the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University.

The BDO Future Leaders Challenge, generously sponsored by BDO, asked students to address a current, complex business issue that impacts mid-sized clients in selected industries.  Issues included talent acquisition and retention, integration of technology, and achievement of environment, social, and governance (ESG) goals. The live final event, with external judges, brought an added level of excitement and dedication to the competition.

"BDO's sponsorship transforms an academic assignment into an immersive learning experience that motivates students," said Leanne Hagarty, instructor and course coordinator for BU121: Critical Thinking & Communication Skills.   “Thank you to the students – you rose to the challenge. You show what’s possible when you put your minds to it, and you show us that the future is in the hands of positive leaders.”

Competition began in business labs, where each team was assigned an industry and tasked with addressing a specific business issue within that sector. First, 44 teams were selected to present in the semi-finals, from which the six finalist teams were chosen. These finalist teams showcased their ability to tackle real-world business challenges with ingenuity and insight.

Thank you to our esteemed panel of judges for sharing your time, expertise, and questions:  

• Tim Sothern, BBA ‘89, Partner at BDO Canada
• Katie Kaplan, BBA ‘07, Partner, Private Client Services Tax at BDO
• Amaryllis Jones, BBA ‘14, MBA ‘20, HR Director, Brand Management at P&G
• Andy Macaulay, BBA ‘80, Founder and Engagement Leader at The Optimalists
• Chima Mbagwu, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Business Programs; BBA Program Director

Thank you as well to instructor Brandon Van Dam, and our 2023/24 Instructional Assistants (IAs), led by Head IA, Olivia Tiessen, who supported first-year students through this process.

In presentation order, read more about each of the finalist presentations:

1. Social Equity in Mid-sized Tech Firms  
Sehar Sohail, William Vincent, Sean Walker, Justin Watts
Lab 30, Group 2: Technology (3rd Place)

This team addressed the lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals in mid-sized tech firms. By leveraging solutions like Knockri, an unbiased hiring model, and partnering with BDO, they proposed comprehensive strategies to enhance social equity within the industry.

2. A Non-Profit's Amendment Arc
Chloe Chan, Jeffrey Hu, Robert Jin, Steven Li
Lab 32, Group 1: Not for Profit

Focusing on the high turnover rates in non-profit organizations, this team proposed a solution named ARC (Appreciate, Reinvest, Cultivate) to improve employee retention, reduce employee dependency, and boost employee productivity.  Their solution aimed to create a supportive and rewarding work environment conducive to long-term commitment.

3. An ESG Driven Approach to the Canadian Agriculture Industry
Krish Chopra, Maahi Desai, Josephina Kim, Aryan Patel
Lab 27, Group 1: Agriculture (1st Place)

This team tackled environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues in the agriculture sector, specifically addressing methane emissions from livestock. Their proposal included the implementation of Bovaer, a methane-reducing feed additive, supported by subsidies and credits to incentivize adoption among farmers.

4.  Integrating Sustainability Standards in SMEs
Liam Cox, Derek Gonzalez, Kiara Gocan, Shoumia Jeyasuthakaran, Anthony Tecsa
Lab 20, Group 1: Manufacturing

Focusing on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) struggling to reduce their carbon footprint, this team proposed the integration of IFRS Sustainability Standards and Greenly, a carbon accounting solution. By partnering with BDO, they aimed to provide SMEs with the necessary expertise and resources to achieve their sustainability goals.

5.  Project ARGO – Augmented Reality Guidance Operations
Connor Barry, Giovanni Cuda, Shivani Dave, Saleena Hans, Jessica Misek
Lab 1, Group 1: Real Estate and Construction (2nd Place)

Addressing the aging workforce and resistance to automation in the construction industry, this team introduced Augmented Reality (AR) employee training to enhance safety and efficiency. By partnering with Microsoft, they proposed a solution that revolutionizes training methods while ensuring worker safety and productivity.

6.  Leveraging AI for ESG Goals
Gunika Kapoor, Alina Khan, Tamir Leibson, Beatrice Passmore, Komalrit Rai
Lab 15, Group 2: Consumer Business

Focusing on the challenges faced by mid-sized retailers in setting ESG goals, this team introduced ENZO – the ESG Navigator, a gamified platform powered by AI. By educating and guiding businesses in setting and achieving ESG objectives, they aimed to drive performance, profitability, and regulatory compliance.

As the competition concluded, judges commended all participants for their impressive presentations and thoughtful solutions to pressing business challenges. Katie Kaplan, speaking on behalf of the judges, emphasized the significance of the competition in preparing students for future leadership roles and encouraged them to explore opportunities in professional services environments like BDO.

“We’re very impressed today by the problems that were identified. It’s obvious to us that you understand the business problems that exist today, and that you care about them,” she told students. “When you look back on your experience during your Laurier journey and beyond, I can promise you that you will look back on this course and this project and it will carry you through to the leaders you will become.”

Congratulations to all our first-year students for their participation in the BDO Future Leaders Challenge, to our 44 semi-finalist teams, and especially to our winning teams:

1st place: An ESG Driven Approach to the Canadian Agriculture Industry - Krish Chopra, Maahi Desai, Josephina Kim, Aryan Patel

2nd place: Project ARGO – Augmented Reality Guidance Operations - Connor Barry, Giovanni Cuda, Shivani Dave, Saleena Hans, Jessica Misek

3rd place: Social Equity in Mid-sized Tech Firms  - Sehar Sohail, William Vincent, Sean Walker, Justin Watts

In recognition of their outstanding efforts, the generous sponsorship by BDO awarded scholarships to students in all six finalist teams.

In addition to the finalist presentations, alumna Amaryllis Jones delivered a keynote address, sharing insights from her career journey and emphasizing the importance of leadership, adaptability, and continuous learning. Her inspirational speech resonated with the audience, highlighting the transformative power of education and experience in shaping future leaders.

Talking about competency frameworks, Jones told the audience, “In high school I was really involved, but at Laurier, our spirited community took it to the next level. Building leadership competencies, recognizing the transferability of skills, and actively learning and sustaining proficiencies has been key to my career development.”

The BDO Future Leaders Challenge not only showcased the talent and potential of aspiring business leaders but also demonstrated the importance of critical thinking, communication skills, and collaboration in driving positive change in the business world.