The Inroads/Toronto Alumni Association

INROADS hosts annual Meet the Sponsors Event

admin — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:30:13 +0000

In December, INROADS hosted its annual Meet the Sponsors event which was attended by over 80 students and corporate sponsors including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Procter & Gamble and Chubb Insurance.

If you would like to volunteer for future events, please check our calendar. We will be sending requests for volunteers via email before each event.

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Alumni Profile – Reuben Fernandes

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:08:11 +0000

Age: 22
Lives in: Toronto
Lived in: Saudi Arabia
Graduated from: Richard Ivey School of Business – University of Western Ontario
Years as an Intern:
2006: P&G – Assistant Brand Manager on Herbal Essences
2007: P&G – Assistant Brand Manager on Head & Shoulders
2008: P&G – Customer Finance Analyst
Current Employer/Position: P&G – Assistant Brand Manager, Swiffer

How did you hear about INROADS? I heard about Inroads through a campus event when I was in my first year of University. I had no idea that the program would have such a large and sustained impact on my life.

How has the program helped your career? The program has greatly aided my career aspirations. I knew early on in my school years that I wanted a career that provided me with real leadership opportunities, meaningful project ownership and learning. My brand role at P&G provides me with these opportunities and allows me to pursue continuous learning everyday.

What were some of the best things about the INROADS program? The Inroads program in Toronto has a heavy focus on training and ensuring interns develop the right skill sets to meet and exceed expectations during their internships. The extended training sessions provided me with the opportunity to share my experiences with fellow interns, while at the same time allowing me to learn from their experiences. These sessions provided me with some of my fondest memories from Inroads and kicked off life long friendships.

What advice would you give to someone starting out with INROADS? My main piece of advice to new Inroads interns would be – take nothing for granted. You’ve worked hard to get where you are and continued consistency in your work rate will be rewarded.

What advice would you give to current IAA members? It’s easy to let Inroads slip to the bottom of your priority list once you graduate and start full-time. I would really like to stress how important it is to give back to the Inroads community and mentor new Inroads interns. As Inroads alumni, we have the ability to make a huge impact on the next generation of future leaders.

Alumni Profile – Christopher Cruz

admin — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:53:55 +0000

Age: 25
Lives in: Los Angeles
Lived In: San Francisco, Toronto
Graduated from: University of Western Ontario – Richard Ivey School of Business
Years as an Intern: 2003-2004
Interned with: Pitney Bowes (Toronto and London, Ontario)
Current Employer/Position: Oaktree Capital Management / Associate in the Principal Opportunities Group
Previous Employer/Position: UBS Investment Bank (San Francisco), BMO Nesbitt Burns – Investment Banking (Toronto)

How did you hear about INROADS? My sister, Christine Cruz, was an INROADS intern at Kraft Foods during the summers of 2000 and 2001 in both the Sales and Consumer Relationship Marketing departments. After seeing the incredible experience that she was having with INROADS in terms of professional development, career opportunities, meeting other motivated young people, and giving back to the community I had to join.

How has the program helped your career? If I had to identify one thing that I took away from the INROADS program in terms of career development it would be the introduction and development of soft skills. It is amazing how much a young person can take away from weekend sessions on professional behavior, communications and speaking, “managing upwards”, etc. when you can utilize them real-time in your internship. I find myself using these soft skills everyday in my career and credit INROADS for introducing them to me early on – giving me the opportunity to cultivate as my career progresses.

What were some of the best things about the INROADS program? The best thing about INROADS is the people that you meet and how well you get to know them. Rarely do you get the opportunity to become a part of an organization that attracts such similarly motivated young talent. However, I believe that it takes an exceptional organization to also facilitate the closeness that you develop with your fellow INROADers that makes INROADS special. It is truly encouraging to hear about what drives all of your fellow INROADers and amazing when you realize that it in turn drives you.

What were some of your most memorable / funny experiences? Everything about LDI was a memorable and fun experience! If I had to pick one moment though it would have to be learning how to “glide” (hip hop dance move) in the hallway of the hotel at LDI… from a Schulich accountant no less!

What advice would you give to someone starting out with INROADS? Be involved. Its easy to go along for the INROADS ride but it is truly an experience that gives you more when you give more. By this I mean; organize and lead events, attend all weekend sessions refreshed and ready to participate, get to know everyone you can.

What advice would you give to current IAA members? Be sure to find time to give back. As busy as we can get its easy to find excuses but, even something as small as helping reconnect a few other IAA members and strengthening the organization is a form of giving back. Only with the lens of hindsight have I realized how much the INROADS organization has done for me so giving back and helping those whose shoes we once were in is the least we can do.

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:24:20 +0000

Please check your email for the agenda at tonight’s networking event! Related posts:INROADS hosts annual Meet the Sponsors Event Related posts:

INROADS hosts annual Meet the Sponsors Event

IAA Helps Youth to Discover their Career Pathways

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:29:28 +0000

One of the objectives of the IAA is to partner with local organizations to provide meaningful community outreach opportunities for our alumni. On Monday April 6th, the IAA hosted its first Community Outreach event with the Yonge Street Mission for high potential youth in the organization’s Leaders in Training (LIT) Program. The event consisted of a panel discussion of INROADS alumni who generously volunteered their time to share information about career backgrounds and answer questions from the youth in attendance about post-secondary education and planning their careers. Our alumni included Shane Heywood, Anton Katipunan, Thi Khuat, Joanne St. Bernard and Konata Lake.

IAA speaking to youth at the Yonge Street Mission

The event was a great success and received positive feedback from the Yonge Street Mission Youth program directors and alumni in attendance. The IAA would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the alumni that volunteered their time and contributing to our successful launch of our Community Relations portfolio.

We look forward to hosting future community events and providing additional opportunities for our alumni to give back to the community.

Executive Profile – Shane Heywood

admin — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:18:48 +0000

IAA Executive Meeting, Saturday May 16, 10 am No related posts. No related posts.

admin — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:18:01 +0000

Inroads Alumni Networking Event, Friday May 15, 6 pm No related posts. No related posts.

Welcome from Alex Nguyen

admin — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 17:26:46 +0000

On behalf of the INROADS Alumni Association of Toronto (IAA) Board of Directors, I am pleased to welcome you to our website.

The IAA is comprised of a dynamic group of over 300 visible minorities globally who have leveraged the INROADS (www.inroads.org) process on their way to successful and rewarding careers and endeavours in a variety of industries and sectors.

We are committed to capitalizing on our strong alumni network by providing our members with rewarding opportunities to: 1) Expand their networks through professional and social networking events; 2) Develop their careers through education, job postings and recruiting events; and 3) Give back to their valued communities while gaining leadership experience through volunteer work with INROADS Toronto as well as other affiliated organizations.

Through our website, you will be able to learn more about the IAA, keep up to date on our news and events and access our private global alumni directory (registered alumni only). We welcome all INROADS alumni as well as non-affiliated individuals and organizations that show interest in our community.

We appreciate any suggestions that you may have with regard to further opportunities that the IAA could pursue to the benefit of its Alumni members. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to be involved with the club.

Regards,
Alex Nguyen

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IAA’s New Executive Team

admin — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 18:08:33 +0000

The new executive team for the IAA had its first meeting recently. Here is a breakdown of the new team:

President – Alex Nguyen
Alex started with INROADS in 2004 and has completed internships with
the Aerospace Finance team at CIT financial and the Investment Banking group at RBC Capital Markets. He is a currently a manager on the Strategy & Corporate Development team at FirstService Corporation. Prior to joining FirstService, Alex
worked as an analyst at Teachers’ Private Capital. Alex holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Schulich
School of Business, and is also a CFA charterholder.

Director of Alumni Development – Richard Chang
Richard D. Chang graduated from Queen’s in 2007 with a degree in Cognitive Science. He interned in 2005 with CIT Financial, and then in 2006 with TD Bank Financial Group. Since graduation, he has been working as a Consultant with IBM Global Business Services. He believes that the Inroads Alumni Association can provide for its alumni what Inroads provided for us as interns: opportunities for career advancement, networking, volunteer work, and relevant skills training and experience. This will be his main focus for the year.

Director of Community Relations – Chivon John (Returning)
Chivon John graduated from York University with an Honours Degree in Information Technology in 2004. From 2002-2003 she interned with INROADS at the Bank of Nova Scotia in project management roles. She presently works at TELUS as a Program Manager since 2005. Chivon was motivated to join the executive committee of the IAA because of the positive impact that INROADS has in her career and in the community. She is excited to be a returning executive member and looks forward to reconnecting with the talented alumni network and sharing her passion for community engagement.

Director of Marketing and Public Relations – Anton Katipunan (Returning)
Anton returns to the Board after having spent his first year helping the IAA establish itself and building its website. Anton graduated from the Schulich School of Business with a concentration in Finance and currently works as a Senior Analyst in the Investments group at RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust. Anton was an INROADS intern from 2004-2006, completing internships with Liberty Insurance.

Director of Networking and Communications – Colin Lynch (Returning)
Colin Lynch is currently an M.B.A. student at Harvard Business School. He previously spent two years as an Analyst at Morgan Stanley’s investment bank in Toronto. Prior to that, he was an intern at Monitor Group, a management consulting firm. Colin was an INROADS intern from 2004-2005 holding an internship at Procter & Gamble’s Iams pet food division in 2004 and in Logistics Management in 2005. Colin was awarded a B.Com. in Finance and Economics and a B.A. in History from Queen’s University in 2007.

Director of External Relations – Jasmi Shah
Jasmi holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Schulich School of Business, York University. Her work experience includes working for Credit Suisse as an Investment Banker and with InCode Wireless and Deloitte as a Management Consultant. Her internships with INROADS include Procter and Gamble and RBC Capital Markets. In her spare time, Jasmi enjoys traveling, playing sports and working with the charitable sector.

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admin — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 05:31:02 +0000

IAA Executive Meeting, Saturday March 22, 10 am No related posts. No related posts.