Have you ever been involved in a project or endeavour that came from an idea that arrives spontaneously and impromptu? Unplanned, with the added advantage of optimum timing? CFAME Connection is an outcome of such an occurrence.
March 2016, Martine Durier-Copp facilitated a Dalhousie presentation to potential MBA students at the Delta Hotel, Vancouver. This session provided an opportunity for graduates of the CFAME MBA (fs) to share their experiences and encourage others to join a robust academic program.
CFAME Presentation
There is a singular connection that exists with CFAME graduates, whether they are freshly-minted 2016 graduates or whether they completed their MBA in the early days of the program. The memories are vibrant: reading late into the night, submitting an assignment a few minutes before the deadline, studying for an exam, the insightful intensives and the profound friendships made along the way. When graduates move on to new adventures, a lingering feeling akin to nostalgia follows them.
After the presentation, Martine and I headed out into the chilly Vancouver weather. Our conversation was stopped mid-stride when Mr. Peanut and his representative offered us a rose, a bag of peanuts and an opportunity to discuss marketing strategies, product placement, delivery systems and branding.
And that was the genesis of CFAME Connection. For in that short meeting, Martine and I came away with the same thought that we need to have meaningful discussions, even with Mr. Peanut. Martine looked at me and said, “Wouldn’t it be interesting if the graduates had a forum to dialogue and reconnect?”
So here we are, a few months later, launching a place that fosters conversations. We welcome your comments, questions and suggestions. CFAME Connection is an expedition into uncharted territory. But as Ray Bradbury wrote many years ago, “First you jump off the cliff and build your wings on the way down.”
Martine Durier-Copp
Rebecca Budd