Inside my whirlwind trip to the Global Business Forum | By UBC MBA student Matt Allemang
UBC Master of Business Administration (MBA) student Matthew Allemang was invited to represent the UBC Sauder School of Business at the 23rd annual Global Business Forum in Banff, Alberta. Along with nine other MBA students from universities across Canada, he joined business leaders, academics, and senior government officials at the two-day conference to discuss global economic and social issues. Allemang journaled throughout his whirlwind trip and shares his experience through the eyes of an attendee.
As my plane flew over the Rockies at sunset, I split my time catching up on school work and reading about current events to prepare for the interactions and discussions I would be having in the coming days. Once I landed in Calgary, I hopped on a 90-minute shuttle ride and made my way to the historic Banff Springs Hotel, checking into my room a little after midnight.
I decided to wake up early on the Thursday morning to walk the grounds of the hotel with a coffee. I’ve heard stories of the breathtaking views at the Banff Springs Hotel but to experience them in person was astonishing. After taking it all in, I made my way back inside to get ready for day one of the Global Business Forum.
To kick off the day, MBA student attendees were given a special welcome meeting with former Lieutenant Governor of Alberta Lois E. Mitchell. It was a great opportunity to speak with Mitchell, who co-founded the forum with her late husband, Doug. It was also a chance to get to know the other MBA students and learn about their professional backgrounds and academic experiences.
We then moved into the scheduled sessions for the day. Centred around the overarching theme of ‘Perspectives on a New Dawn,’ topics covered the war in Ukraine, energy transition, uncertainty surrounding inflation, managing shared stewardship in the Arctic, and the role of the United States in the new global order.
Once the sessions on the first day came to a close, all attendees, speakers, and hosts met for a cocktail hour on the back patio of the Banff Springs Hotel overlooking landmarks like Bow Valley and Tunnel Mountain. I networked with executives from some of North America’s most powerful companies, debating topics from the first day of the forum and discussing how some of those challenges interfere with their businesses.
The dinner program featured a panel of Canadian Premier League owners and executives discussing the future of soccer in Canada. After a team-oriented game of soccer trivia and a Q&A with the panel, I socialized and networked with those at my table. I was seated next to the co-founder of an investment management firm, a former Olympian, and a consulting executive. They asked engaging questions about UBC Sauder, my career ambitions, and market trends.
On Friday morning, I made my way over to the conference centre early to have breakfast before the sessions began. The second day was focused around the theme, 'Perspectives on the Path Forward,' and the sessions covered community economic development, the meteoric rise of India, the American midterm elections, the cloud revolution, and the disruptive nature of streaming in Hollywood.
Although I found all sessions throughout the forum insightful, the session on weaving business into communities led by Zita Cobb, the founder and CEO of Shorefast, was my favourite. Cobb discussed possibilities of economic prosperity in local communities across Canada where both their landscapes and people can be assets.
Having been raised on Fogo Island in central Newfoundland, Cobb gave the example of the Fogo Island Inn, a community-centred social business that gathers visitors from around the globe. Her session emphasized the importance of connecting the real economy in local communities to the investing economy.
As I boarded the shuttle on Friday afternoon to return to the Calgary airport, I reflected on the past few days at the conference. The Global Business Forum was an incredible opportunity to listen to leaders from across the world discussing and debating today’s greatest challenges. The conference provided both harsh realities of our new dawn and optimism on the path forward.
My professional network had grown substantially since I arrived. I began connecting with many of the business leaders I met at the conference on LinkedIn. As a recent immigrant to Canada, I found the forum to be a great opportunity to build my professional network across the country.
After pausing to appreciate the highlights of the last few days, I reached into my backpack, pulled out a case study, joined a conference call with my classmates, and got back to work.