By Joseph Aubert  – Economics & Business Editor

The Bishop’s University Commerce Society (BUCS) took Williams School of Business students to Montreal on Saturday, Nov. 23rd, for ‘Beyond the Bubble’, an event designed to connect current students with Bishop’s alumni to speak about professional life, career paths, and life beyond the ‘Lennoxville bubble’. Hosted on the 39th floor of Place Ville-Marie at Dentons Canada LLP, Beyond the Bubble featured three guest speakers and a networking session with alumni, offering students valuable insights and connections. 

The day began at 9 a.m. when the group of aspiring business professionals boarded the bus at the Bishop’s Sports Complex. By 11 a.m., students arrived in downtown Montreal and had time to explore the city over lunch. The official program started at around 1:15 p.m. when students gathered at the Dentons office to meet the first guest speaker: Kai Bjorn. 

Kai Bjorn is the founder and CEO of Corporate Connections Canada, a networking firm that connects a variety of business leaders and industry experts. Bjorn, a former professional football player turned entrepreneur, shared stories about his time at Bishop’s, his athletic career in the CFL and as an olympic sailor, as well as some of the lessons he has learned about business as a network marketing specialist. His talk emphasized the importance of creating and maintaining meaningful relationships in the business world, a theme that resonated with the audience. 

Timothy Bowker, a 2018 WSB graduate, took the stage next. Bowker, who spent six years working different positions at Valnet Inc. has recently co-founded and is CEO of Micropreneur Media Group, a consulting firm that helps content creators and publishers with revenue growth, content development, and engagement. His presentation highlighted the importance of carefully selecting your first job and that the five years of someone’s career are perhaps the most consequential for their future financial comfort. Bowker provided students with practical strategies for navigating the early stages of their careers.

The final speaker, Mylène Savoie, Vice President and Group Account Director at INNOCEAN Canada, spoke at around 3 p.m. Savoie, whose impressive career includes serving as General Manager at john st., a well known creative agency, shared lessons on adaptability and leadership in the dynamic marketing and advertising industries. During her speech, Mylène Savoie addressed the role of women in business, acknowledging the persistence of gender-based inequalities but emphasizing her approach of focusing on her work and achievements rather than allowing these challenges define her career trajectory. Savoie concluded by saying that some of the most important things to be successful in business is to build your brand and to develop a strong network. 

The event transitioned into a networking reception where students mingled with the speakers and a dozen additional alumni. The informal setting allowed students to ask questions, seek advice, and gain deeper insights into potential career paths. 

“This was a fantastic opportunity to hear from and connect with successful people who were once in our shoes,” said Frederic Grenon, a second year finance student at Bishop’s. “It’s motivating to see what we can achieve with the connections and foundation we’re building at Bishop’s.” 

Beyond the Bubble demonstrated the strength of the Bishop’s alumni network and its commitment to fostering the next generation of leaders and showcased the dedication of the Bishop’s University Commerce Society to preparing students for life after graduation.