1

Fall 2012 Issue No. 01

Hey AIESEC!Letter from the Editor

As your new Editor in Chief, welcome to the first issue of the AIESEC Manitoba Newsletter! As both the new Editor and a new member of AIESEC, I’m learning more and more about this exciting organization every day -- so bear

with me. Here at the Communications Platform, we hope to bring you a new and exciting newsletter every two or three weeks to keep you updated on what’s happening at AIESEC Manitoba. Remember, this newsletter is for you! I’m always open to hearing suggestions, opinions, and constructive criticism. If you have an idea for content, or if there’s anything you’d like to contribute to share with the team please get in touch with me at lana.d.belton@gmail.com. Here’s to a great semester!

A Message from VP Comm, & LCPe 2013Hey AIESEC! I had a fantastic week when Dominic Tremblay, our MC coach, was visiting us and attending our Local Committee President (LCP) election. I am the current Vice President Communications of AIESEC Manitoba and the

Local Committee President Elect of AIESEC Manitoba in the year of 2013. 

Thanks everyone for coming to the election and asking questions, even it was a midterm week. My vision is to sustain our LC by focusing on our members development. I hope that you did utilize Dominic`s visit and bombarded him with questions. Otherwise, the next time you can meet him again will be at the  National Congress 2013, the upcoming AIESEC national conference with around 400 delegates, which will be held by AIESEC Edmonton from December 29th, 2012 to January 3rd, 2013.

Finally, I hope everyone came out to the World Opportunities Week at the University Centre! Also,

the Colin Baril Cup regional challenge will be held on October 29th to November 2nd. Please come to the office at a specific time to learn how to make some cold calls!

There is a $1000 scholarship for the best marketer within Canada! Come and Rock!

- Ka Tsun Mak, VP COMMLCPe 2013

MANITOBA NEWS

2

Western Regional Conference

What’s an AIESEC conference all about anyway? On October 5 - 8th, 2012, eight members of AIESEC Manitoba traveled to Vancouver to participate in the Western Regional Conference (WRC). This annual conference drew over 100 delegates from the region and provided 4 days of intensive learning, personal and professional development, and a great deal of fun. Delegates discussed ways to extend AIESEC’s impact by increasing the number and quality of exchanges and promoting the value of becoming an AIESEC leader. These impacts help to develop change agents who have a positive impact on the people they meet and the world around them. Faza Raflis, your VP Finance, said the biggest learning experience for him at WRC was an activity that simulated a whole AIESEC experience condensed into a couple hours, allowing him to better understand the all areas and stages of the organization. Our local delegates brought back all their new ideas to make our LC even better. To find out more, ask one of the attendees about their experience, and don’t forget to ask about how you can get involved with the next conference.

3

Getting to know Sue, your LCP!

How did you first get involved with AIESEC? I first found out about

AIESEC in my first year of university when I was attending Carleton University in Ottawa. My Residence Advisor was a VP at the time and I joined out of obligation and ended up discovering an organization that would change my life.

What drew you to the organization? What made you stay? I was drawn to the organization because I’ve always been involved in leadership activities and I wanted to go abroad. However, the thing that really hooked me in AIESEC was when I attended the National Leadership Development Conference in Halifax and my eyes were open to the impact and scale of the organization. This was how I discovered that AIESEC was more than just a student group and would give me the chance to make a true impact in the real world, on a global scale.

Tell us your most embarrassing/funniest AIESEC moment.The funniest moment would have to be at Western Regional Conference 2011 when I had to dance for two strangers and one of my best friends (now the current Member Committee President) in front of the entire plenary. (Ask me about it later!)

What has been your favourite part of your role as LCP?I will never forget the network and support I’ve received from the rest of AIESEC Canada, in particular my fellow LCPs who have gone through thick and thin with me.

What's the biggest challenge you've faced as an AIESECer?Being LCP.

Tell us something about you that we don't know.One thing that not many people know about me is that I have a passion for the performance arts. Whether it’s musical theatre, dance, or music, I love them all! If you ever want to go karaoking with me or want to talk Broadway, let me know!

Local Committee Visit By Dominic Tremblay

My name is Dominic and I am the National Vice President of Corporate Relations for the year 2012/13 for AIESEC in Canada. I joined AIESEC

Saskatoon in September of 2008 where I have been actively involved in many portfolios but focused my efforts on CR for a year and a half until I became VP Corporate and Alumni Relations. A portfolio structure I created a few years back which is now being duplicated in multiple LCs! Following my position as VP, I became LCP which set my platform to my currently position. I unfortunately have yet to go on exchange however I do hope to go on a marketing internship at some point in time! I am currently unsure of where I would like to go as I am planning on visiting 5 countries during my term as MC which I think will help guide my decision of where to go. 

Putting that all aside, I was recently in Winnipeg as I am coaching AIESEC Manitoba during my term on the MC and it was absolutely amazing! The membership in Toba is extremely motivated and enthusiastic which really pumped me up during my time in Winnipeg! If I had to give one piece of advice to any AIESECer it would be to take the time to understand what it is you truly want to gain from being in AIESEC and what you want to give back to the organization. Have a clear understanding of where you hope this experience will lead you and take any and all opportunities which are available to you. Your time in AIESEC is going to be one of the most challenging but will provide you with skills you won't even realize and really value until you leave the organization and enter the work field. 

My AIESEC experience has been remarkable and it is the people I meet around the world from attending conferences such as IC 2012 in Russia all the way back to LCs such as AIESEC Manitoba that make a difference.

-Dominic

4

Get to Know Your EPsEver wonder what it’s really like on exchange? This week, we hear from Samara Chandran, an EP from Manitoba currently living and working in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

What made you join AIESEC and what was your experience as an AIESECer before going on exchange? I got involved in AIESEC because of the unique message it had that really stood apart from the other student organizations I saw in Asper.  I wanted to work towards something with a purpose, develop valuable skills, and also get to know people from different walks of life.  I started out as a general member, and then attended a National Conference in Montreal. Shortly after I took on the position as Careers Day Coordinator 2008.  I then took over the VP Corporate Relations position, and moved on later to Organizing President of the National Leadership Development Conference in 2010.  So all together, I had about 4 years of AIESEC experience before becoming an EP.

What was your experience like searching and being matched for an internship?

I knew that I had to be open in terms of where I wanted to go on exchange, but I also had to be specific on what I wanted.  I wanted to be matched to one of the Global partners, and that work experience was more important to me, than location.  So it did take about 2.5 months to match, but my expectations were in line with the internship program I think.  I applied to many, many exchanges, and got rejected from many, many exchanges.  This was a good process, in the sense, it helped me evaluate what I wanted, and start to be more flexible in job roles as well.  It also helped me to realize, how big the world is really, applying to so many, I just saw a side of the competition (after being rejected a few times), and that made me appreciate my internship more once I made it here. There were times I was discouraged, but for anyone feeling this way, there are exchanges available, and you can match, but be flexible in what you want, and keep applying several times a week!

Where did you find your match? I was matched with the Deutsche Bank in Amsterdam, The Netherlands as a Junior/Assistant Cost Controller. I am working on the Business

Finance team on Deutsche Bank's recent acquisition of ABN AMRO.  I am required to assist the product controllers with various MIS reporting, and offer value added analysis to management of the current market environment and the overall impacts on the Bank within the Netherlands.  I also am involved in process improvements, and financial analysis on the banks profit and loss sheets due to this project.

5

What’s your favourite thing about your new city?I love the diversity of the people, and how connected it is to other cultures.  I love the old architecture and the history. It's a beautiful city, and there is ALWAYS something to do, and always new people to meet!

What has your experience been like so far? It has been a roller coaster, I had a tough start - visa issues and adjusting to a different culture and way of life.  The job environment was exactly what I wanted, however, I found it difficult as everyone would speak in dutch to each other, which really affected the way you try to understand the dynamics of the office.  The job is very interesting, I am not stuck doing just administrative tasks - although sometimes I have to, but I get to experience how an international bank works and specifically the response to the European Financial Crisis.  The world is watching Europe - and although it is a difficult time, it is a very interesting time as well. Unfortunately I have not learned much dutch, everyone speaks english fluently!  However, I am trying to learn a few words here and there.

What are the biggest challenges and rewards of integrating yourself into a new culture? Challenge: Understanding how to act when you don't know the language.  For example, Dutch people are very direct, but Canadians would often find some of these actions rude, but here it is just the culture! Reward: I found I have become more self-aware of how I express myself, and also found different ways to connect to people despite culture differences - Ie. food, music etc. I found that I am learning more history and about different cultures - I am living in an apartment where all the interns have their own place, so there are people from all over the world on my floor.  You can learn so much from other people, it's amazing.

What advice would you give to an AIESEC member who’s thinking of participating in the exchange program? If you have the slightest interest in travel or other cultures - DO IT!  I never thought I would do exchange, and after working 1 year in Winnipeg, I decided - there is a world out there, and there is so much experience you can gain from exploring it! Save up some money before exchange (if you have to work for a year, do it) and go go go! You won't regret it- you will build a network internationally, learn about other cultures and business practices, and have an amazing time.