It’s that time of the semester were you’re starting to feel the pressure from school😫 which is why AMS Events has your back🤪
Join us on January 16th from 8:30 AM to 11:30 for some delicious coffee☕️ (and yes this one is on us😛). Grab your coffee before heading to your looooong lecture or study session.
Outside the Nest
Monday January 16th
8:30 Am – 11:30 PM
Free!! y’all can save that bank on the Block Party👀 (don’t be sleeping on this one🥵)
Are you a basketball fan? Or a fan of Pascal Siakam? If sooo then this event is perfect for you!
This event will be hosted on a basketball court with a series of six moves including: the famous layup, short corner shot, contested jumper #1, short corner shot, contested jumper #2 and moneyball rack.
At the end there will be a grand prize where YOU have the chance to enjoy a VIP experience to watch Pascal Siakam play live at a raptors home game. Travel & accommodation will be included for those outside of Toronto.
WHERE: Outside the Nest
WHEN: Wednesday September 7th from 11:00-3:00 PM
COST: To be announced
By Iciar Fernandez
Networking is a blessing and a curse. Meeting inspiring individuals that bring new perspectives and ideas can be great for career growth, particularly as students soon-to-be-introduced to the working world. However, unless you are one of the lucky few that feel completely comfortable engaging in conversation with strangers, networking can also be a great source of stress. So much so, that I’ve been guilty of avoiding attending events altogether precisely for that reason.
But not to worry, if you could get through trigonometry in high school, you can also learn to overcome social anxiety. It won’t happen overnight, but if you keep trying and follow these tips, I can guarantee you’ll end up networking like a pro!
Networking doesn’t always mean signing up for a 200+ people event – it comes in all shapes and forms. Talk to the person sitting next to you in class! Most of us go through four years seeing the same people, yet we never talk to most of them. It can be daunting, but it’s a good first step to getting out of your comfort zone. There are many more ways to connect with people in your area of interest beyond career fairs and conferences. Try volunteering, joining a club (can’t decide? check this out), or attending a guest lecture! Feeling lazy? Do some networking from your couch with LinkedIn.
As a student, you have free access to an insane amount of resources to help you grow and prepare you for a career, far beyond lectures and seminars. If you don’t know where to start, book an appointment at the Centre for Student Involvement and Careers. There are many career events every month, many of them geared towards networking skills. Get going and learn more about coping strategies and increasing your confidence this Thursday (Jan 16th) at this “Panic to Power: Build your confidence” workshop. See more upcoming events in the career events calendar.
Okay, maybe don’t rush out the door, but if you’ve attended a couple of workshops at UBC and made a few new friends in class, don’t miss your next opportunity of attending an event relevant to your career path. Keep an eye on your emails for opportunities, check out Eventbrite every once in a while, and something will eventually come your way.
Prepare, Research, Engage, and Follow up. Before you go, think of a brief introduction to avoid getting nervous on the spot later on. Learn as much as you can about the person you’re trying to meet, or the organization – be informed about what you’re diving into, and you’ll automatically feel more at ease. Once you get there, talk to people! It will be a bit appalling at first, but you will feel great after, and this is what you have been preparing for. Lastly, follow-up with your connections – maintaining a network for the future is the ultimate goal!
If you still feel uneasy about it, bring a friend at first. They will understand, and you might have to return the favour eventually. Next time will be easier, and before you know it you’ll be the one giving the tips!
By Iciar Fernandez
Last Monday, everyone gathered at the Gallery to hear fifteen teams try to convince the audience to use their vote as a catalyst for their venture to jump from paper to life. From healthcare solutions to environmental proposals and everything in between, the students presented their business ideas to win a cash prize that would help them with the first steps to develop their projects.
Shakil Jessa, a first-year student pitching a fashion line of modernized religious wear, said “pitching at RBC Get Seeded was such an amazing experience! Being in a room with like-minded individuals that all had pointed out problems in society that they were passionate about and using creativity to come up with solutions was extremely inspiring”. When asked if he was nervous, he continued, “I felt nervous but once I saw everyone there I was very excited to get started!”
These are the nine lucky (and brilliant!) teams that will have their idea “seeded”, all thanks to a one of a kind collaboration between the entrepreneurship AMS service, eHub, and RBC:
These ventures will receive $500 from RBC, and automatic entry to Innovation OnBoards competition where they have a chance to compete for more funding and resources to keep their idea going. If successful, a few of those teams will move on to the UBC’s incubator program, the Lean LaunchPad!
“It was great to see pitchers, peers, and other community members from the University come and support innovation that is happening here” – Tahir Adatia, EHub Coordinator at the AMS, commented – “Being able to see a full crowd celebrating those who are working to solve problems, will always be a spectacular sight to see. And, we would like to thank all the participants and remind the ventures that did not win this time that they should continue to refine and improve their ideas”.
Here is a recap on the rest of the brilliant ideas that were pitched onstage:
Do you also have an idea and don’t know where to start? Check the eHub and Entrepreneurship@UBC pages to find out more.
