Jan. 25, 2019
The Career Connection: Where Inspiration and Ideas Grow.
Students and alumni got the chance to connect and share their stories at the Career Connection dinner on the 25th January 2019. This student led initiative is the first of its kind that prepares students transition into non-academic careers by building their network and knowledge.
The Career Connection is the biggest professional networking event for the students at the Cumming School of Medicine. Networking Etiquette and Career Exploration workshops were offered to students allowing them to hone their skills and apply them on at the January 25th dinner. With the workshops under their belt, students were ready to discuss career prospects and showcase the skills gained during graduate studies.
The majority of alumni who attended the event were professionals from the Cumming School of Medicine, representing a wide range of industries, from patent law, to Genome Alberta and the oil and gas industry. This diverse set of alumni fostered hours of discussion on career exploration, skill development and innovation within Calgary and Alberta. This gave students insight into the versatility of a science degree from the Cumming School of Medicine. The professionals attending the event were excited to connect with students and provide guidance and support.
A keynote address from Jacque-Lynne Johnson began the evening where she told her story of moving into industry after her post-doctoral research, her network and transferable skills secured her a position with Innovate Calgary. Jacque-Lynne provided students with practical advice on how to expand their skills and develop professional acumen while in graduate school (Mitacs and Mygradskills). Jacque-Lynne’s talk was followed by a buffet dinner and networking, intimate face to face conversations quickly made for meaningful discussion over a great meal. The second keynote was an inspirational talk from Jim Gibson, author of the 2018 book “Tip of the Spear” and business leader in Calgary. His talk provided insight into the innovation ecosystem in Alberta and how we can foster a diverse and productive innovation ecosystem through trust, collaboration and forward-thinking. After two inspirational talks, students and professionals a like had no trouble carrying on the conversation for the remainder of the night. The diversity of ideas and connections made throughout the night truly spoke to the immense range of skills and knowledge packed into the room, providing fertile soil for careers, inspiration, and ideas to grow.
“I just want to say that I absolutely LOVED the career connection event last night. The food was really good, location was very accessible with transit as well, keynote speakers were inspiring and lots of interaction with different professionals. Thanks for organizing it, it was great!” – Nancy Adams (Student participant)
If you a want to know more about the workshops offered by the Career Connection please follow the links below