FaLL2011

AIESEC Edmonton

Alumni Profile: Aaron BrownAIESECer Profile: Sam TurnerChat with an Intern: Apostolos Proios

ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

AIESEC EDMONTON

ISSUE 2 FALL 2011

aiesec.ca/Edmonton

IN THIS ISSUE Page 2 News Updates

Page 3 Alumni Profile: Aaron Brown

Page 5 AIESECer Profile: Sam Turner

Page 7 Chat with an Intern: Apostolos Proios

Page 8 Keep In Touch

CONTRIBUTORS News and Upcoming Events Jessica Steingard

Alumni Profile Rochelle Estoque & Rachel Zhang

AIESECer Profile Sarah McGregor & Cristina Robles

Chat with an Intern Ashley Nguyen

DESIGN Ashley Nguyen & Jessica Steingard

CONTACT US

AIESEC EDMONTON

Room 2-04, School of Business

University of Alberta

Edmonton, AB T6G 2R6

T: 780.492.2453

E: aiesec@ualberta.ca

For any alumni inquires, please contact Jessica Steingard, VP Corporate and Alumni Relations at

jessica.steingard@aiesec.net or Sam Turner, VP of Incoming Exchange at sam.turner@aiesec.net.

ALUMNI NEWSLETTER AIESEC Edmonton

Here is what AIESEC Edmonton has been up to over the last few months

SELECTION OF NEW EXECUTIVE BOARD

A fresh batch of AIESECers are ready to take on the

2012-2013 term! AIESEC Edmonton has selected its

new Executive Board, which will assume its roles on

March 1, 2012.

Congratulations to Jocelyn Steingard, Brad Kerscher,

Kayla Baretta, Desmond Salisbury, Anna Moore, Jill

Hopkins, Idel Reimer, and Sam Turner (from left to

right).

INTERNATIONAL GALA

AIESEC Edmonton hosted International Gala 2011 on November 26th,

2011. The event was a huge success with forty people in attendance.

International Gala was an opportunity for AIESEC to celebrate the

international aspect of our organization with an ethnic buffet and a musical

performance by Music as a Weapon, as well as to recognize our superstar

members, alumni, and corporate partners. Special thanks to all of the

restaurants who donated to our event, either delicious food or gift card

giveaways.

WINDOW ON EUROPE NETWORKING EVENT

AIESEC Edmonton partnered with the Portugal Canada

Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Delegation of the

European Union to Canada, and the World Trade Centre

Edmonton to bring together industry professionals and

Business students for a networking reception on November

9th, 2011. The event was successful with over sixty people in

attendance.

COMING UP: ALUMNI MIXERS

Want to reconnect with AIESECers from your day? Want to meet the new crop of AIESECers?

Watch for more information in the new year about AIESEC Edmontons Alumni Mixers. Each

mixer will showcase a different decade in AIESEC Edmonton history so watch for your

opportunity to share with the rest of us about the good old days!

News Updates

2

EB members with Luigi Scarpa de Masellis, Advisor at Delegation of the EU to Canada, and Aurelio Fernandes of the Portugal Canada Chamber of Commerce

and Industry

Ethnic Buffet at International Gala

2012-2013 Executive Board

Rachel and Rochelle sat down with Aaron Brown, alumnus of AIESEC Edmonton to talk about

his AIESEC experience, his career, and his involvement with CFA Edmonton.

What was the most significant opportunity you have had through AIESEC?

It was definitely the traineeship program. In my fourth year of my undergraduate here, I did a

placement in Bahn, Germany. It was a life-changing experience and although that may sound a

little clich, it absolutely was a defining moment for me and a phenomenal experience. I was

really adamant about finishing my degree in four years so I regret only going for 3 months.

Looking back now, I should have taken the full year and fully enjoyed it.

Can you describe your traineeship in Germany? What was your position?

I worked in a small regional bank in a suburb of Bahn. I did a lot of customer interaction, which

was challenging at times given my German-speaking abilities as well as the colloquialism in the

banking industry. I also did a lot of administrative things like processing overdrafts. It was

challenging too as the banking system in Germany was very different, so I had to learn a lot of

the processes.

What was your life in Germany like?

Germans are really different than Canadians, or at least they were at that time. When the bell

rang at 4:30pm, your interactions with your coworkers were over. One of my coworkers actually

lived around the corner from my apartment but he never invited me over once, even though I am

sure he knew I was living in Germany alone. I do not think I am anti-social, so it was kind of

strange to me. There was very much a mentality that work is work and play is play and the

two do not mix. In all honesty, I found it really difficult to adjust. One of my favourite memories

was the Christmas Markets. They are open-air markets in the centre of town set up for

Christmas time. On my way home from work, I would take the train to the centre of the city and

then walk home through the market. I also really got into the soccer scene. I found a local pub

that televised all of the games so I would hang out there too.

Would you recommend students to do an exchange abroad, given that they are majoring

in international business? Was it beneficial to you and your career?

It really is not limited to international business as my career has led me towards the financial

aspects in business. Thus, an exchange is certainly not limited to someone who is looking for a

career abroad. In todays world, boarders are close. It really is not the way it was 20 years

ago. In terms of needing to gain that international flavor, it is a great way to challenge not only

yourself, but the way you look at things. You can spend time in another country, going for two

weeks and seeing all of the sights, but it is not even close to the experiences you have when

living there. I was able to learn how offices work in Germany and how business is conducted.

From a learning perspective, a traineeship is phenomenal. An exchange is also a great

interview conversation piece. My last career move was four years ago and in that interview, I

was asked about my AIESEC traineeship, even though it happened ten years ago!

Alumni Profile: Aaron Brown

3

Did your international exchange experience help you with your current job?

Yes, absolutely. The market is very competitive for students. You need to have a competitive

edge coming out of university if you want the best jobs. Anything you can put down on paper

that makes you stand out and look different will set you apart. It is also important to be

interesting and memorable. An interview is an opportunity for you to really dive in and talk

about yourself, and allow for you to communicate to the employer your personality. I have been

involved in the hiring process for my department and one of the things we look at when we hire

is your personality. It is easy to gage skills but it is tough to gage how a candidate is going to fit

in. Are they the kind of person who is going to grab the job and run with it, or are they going to

have to take instruction all of the time? And that is where an AIESEC internship comes in. An

exchange abroad really shows that you are willing to stretch yourself. Additionally, it is an

interesting talking point in an interview, which will make you memorable.

What is your current job?

I work for Alberta Finance as the director of profile management. I lead a team that looks after

all the government investments, such as the Heritage Fund. I like my job because there is very

little that I do as a routine and Ive had the opportunity to do lots of interesting things that are

unrelated to the investment world.

You are currently involved with CFA Edmonton. Can you describe your current role?

I am currently the president of the Edmonton CFA society and I am in the second half of my

second term in this role. It has been very valuable on a number of different fronts, as the

position has forced me into areas that I would not necessarily have gotten out of my career,

which is very finance centered. The role of president is challenging but it has rounded me out,

provided me with many different experiences. Our society is split into institutional and private

wealth. My job is very focused on the institutional side of the industry though through my

involvement in the CFA, I have learned more about private wealth and career opportunities

associated with it. All in all, I think it has been very valuable from a knowledge gained

perspective.

What made you want to run for the top volunteer position in Canada for CFA?

When you get your BCom, you are not done learning. Just as it was important for me to

participate on an AIESEC internship back then, this is the kind of thing that I want to do at this

point in my career. The position is very challenging, as it entails coordinating and facilitating all

of the CFA societies in Canada and getting them to speak with one voice. You can imagine a

society like Toronto with 8000 charter holders compared to the Okanogan with 50; they are

going to