Alumni Events Archives - Division of Advancement - Alumni and Friends

Global Alumni

mj112 — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 18:39:24 +0000

There are approximately 385,000 91��ɫ alumni working to right the future locally, across borders, and around the globe. You can stay connected to 91��ɫ, wherever you are, by joining a regional alumni network, attending local events, or participating in virtual activities.

If you're located outside the GTA, update or change your info and communications preferences to receive relevant event invitations and news.

Our Regional Networks

Alumni networks are led by alumni, for alumni, and we are grateful to our dedicated alumni volunteers who devote their time, expertise, and resources to building a vibrant global community. Our network leaders coordinate social events, organize networking opportunities, assist with welcoming incoming and prospective students, and much more.

Whether you have recently moved to another country and are looking for practical advice or if you wish to network with like-minded individuals in the same industry, our friendly global network will always be glad to assist you.

Check out our networks to see if there’s a group near you. Don’t see your region listed? If you’re interested in starting a network where you are, we’d love to hear from you. Contact Prikankshit Mor, Manager, Alumni Communities, to express your interest: morps@yorku.ca.

91��ɫ Hong Kong Alumni Network (YUHKAN)

91��ɫ UK Alumni Network (YUAAN)

Glendon Montreal Alumni Network

Glendon Ottawa Alumni Network

91��ɫ Vancouver Alumni Network

91��ɫ New 91��ɫ Alumni Network

91��ɫ Singapore Alumni Network

91��ɫ Malaysia Alumni Network

91��ɫ Middle East Alumni Network

91��ɫ Bay Area Alumni Network

Upcoming Events

Global Alumni Spotlight

Meet some of the alumni finding success across the globe and read their stories below.

Gabriela Gonzalez

(BA ’10, MPIA ’13)

Location: Calgary

Rowena Tan

(BA ‘17)

Location: Montreal

Farah Motani

(BES ’14)

Location: Vancouver

Elizabeth Sahadeo

(BA ’07)

Location: New 91��ɫ

Yaakov Greene

(BSc ’17)

Location: New 91��ɫ

Shant Joshi

(BFA ’17)

Location: Los Angeles

Ingrid Chu

(BFA ’93)

Location: Hong Kong

Alokananda Dasgupta

(BFA ’09)

Location: Mumbai

Anabel Maldonado

(BA ’11)

Location: London, UK

Stay Connected

91��ɫ Alumni Book Club

In this online community, alumni can enjoy books related to lifelong learning, social issues, literature, psychology, and other user-submitted ideas. There is no cost to participate – you just have to get a copy of the book to enjoy.

Learn more

What have you been up to since graduating from 91��ɫ? Have you received a promotion or an award, published a book, started your own business, recently married or had a child? Submit your update to be included in the Classes section of the 91��ɫ Magazine.

91��ɫ Alumni Newsletter

Our monthly 91��ɫ U Alumni News e-newsletter (formerly Alumni Matters) has great stories about alumni and community members, with stories about upcoming activities you might want to join. It’s an easy way to find out about events, opportunities and campus news, and stay in touch with 91��ɫ!

Learn more

Join our very first networking and mentoring program, Connecting YU. Students and alumni of 91��ɫ can leverage our virtual network to establish meaningful relationships, find valuable mentoring opportunities and cultivate professional and personal relationships that will enhance their learning and development.

LinkedIn Groups

Expand your network by joining one of our regional LinkedIn groups! Each group aims to bring together alumni in a specific location and provides a space to showcase the accomplishments, talents and expertise of our community. If you'd like to create a group for your region, Contact��Prikankshit Mor, Manager, Alumni Communities to express your interest:��morps@yorku.ca.

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Update from Alumni Engagement on alumni events (February 2022)��

akolade — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 16:40:17 +0000

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, 91��ɫ’s first priority has always been to keep our communities healthy and safe, including our alumni.  We continue to take a gradual approach to holding in-person alumni events in accordance with our plan for a safe return to campus. &�Բ��;

Alumni Engagement will continue to follow 91��ɫ U’s plans and guidelines and strongly encourage our Alumni Networks, event guests and others to do the same.  Specifically, if you’re interested in: &�Բ��;

attending an event:  effective January, 31, 2022 the set a capacity of 25 people for indoor organized public events and 50% capacity for indoor public settings such as meeting and event spaces. At 91��ɫ U we are holding in-person events in exceptional cases therefore most alumni events will be held virtually.
organizing an event:  please refer to these guidelines from the Office of Temporary Use of University Space.  The gradual approach is explained and can help you plan for a safe on-campus event during this time of transition.  �į&�Բ��;

Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions or for more information: &�Բ��;

Alumni Engagement �į&�Բ��;
Alumni events calendar �į&�Բ��;
91��ɫ U – Better Together – Planning Our Safe Return to Campus &�Բ��;

Keep safe, stay connected and be well. ��

Julie Lafford (��/��)��
Executive Director, Alumni Engagement��
Division of Advancement��

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Mid-Career Conversations

kpowell — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 15:26:14 +0000

Mid-Career Conversations��was created for alumni to connect and learn from the experiences of other mid-career professionals. This virtual event will feature a talk from 91��ɫ U Alumni Career Coach, Lisa Petsinis. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and join virtual breakout rooms to discuss their own career path and ambitions with other 91��ɫ alumni.

Tickets are complimentary but registration is required. You can register now by using the buttons below for each session. We'll send you a reminder closer to the event date.

Date: Wednesday, Sept. 23
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Alumni Speaker: Lisa Petsinis (BA ’91)

Many professionals launch a job search by updating their resume, refreshing their LinkedIn profile, and applying to job postings – without first identifying a clear target. Without clarity, it’s easy to spend hours on job boards, submit generic applications, and network without purpose. Yet one of the most important predictors of a successful job search is having a focused understanding of where you’re headed and why. This practical session will help mid-career professionals understand why career clarity matters, identify the questions that help them define a realistic and motivating direction, and see how a clear target can strengthen every aspect of their job search from their resume and LinkedIn profile to networking and interview performance.

Previous Sessions

Alumni Speaker: Natalia Kaplan (MACC ‘15)

We celebrate pivots once they succeed, but we call them failures while they’re happening. In this session, Natalia Kaplan explores how the words we use to describe our careers shape how we experience challenges and how others see us. Drawing from her own nonlinear path, she shares how the way we frame what we go through can influence confidence, opportunity, and direction, and how to balance being honest about difficult moments while still shaping the story we tell.

Speaker: Sonia Sheechoria, 91��ɫ U Alumni Career Coach

Negotiating your salary or asking for a raise is not about luck; it is about strategy. You have the skills, delivered results and added value. It's time to make sure your compensation reflects it. This session will show you how to assess your worth and approach salary conversations with confidence. Whether you are preparing for a new offer or planning to ask for a raise, you will gain practical tools to help you advocate for your value and achieve your earning potential.

Storyteller: Delisa Abraham (BA ’20) CEO, 3CL Communications and Co-Founder Faith & Sparkles World

When machines can write our words and predict our choices, what makes a leader truly stand out? Uncopyable human code is a thought-provoking exploration of how trust, empathy and purpose, have become the new leadership code. In an age where algorithms can mimic intelligence and authenticity feels increasingly rare, the leaders who rise are those who lead with humanity.

Storyteller: Jackie Staub (BA '01), Retail & Brand Strategy Leader, Executive Positions at L’Oréal, Coty and Estée Lauder

This talk will explore how confidence becomes essential even when feeling out of place. Drawing on stories from brand leadership, moments of creative divergence and decision‑making moments under pressure, the speaker will share practical lessons on showing up authentically, navigating pushback and finding the strength to stand by what you believe in.

Storyteller: Sonia Sheechoria (BHRM ’15, MLCE ’19)

Sonia Sheechoria is a proud two-time alumna. She holds an undergraduate degree in Human Resources Management and a graduate degree in Leadership and Community Engagement and has worked in executive recruitment roles throughout Canada and the U.S.

Whether you’re exploring your next step or aiming to level up in your career, your resume is one of the most powerful tools in your job search. In today’s hyper-competitive job market, even small tweaks can make a big difference.

Storyteller: Klaudia Zinaty (BA/BEd ‘95)

Klaudia Zinaty is a visionary leader, entrepreneur and advocate for women’s empowerment. She has led a transformative movement dedicated to amplifying women’s voices and creating opportunities for success, collaboration and growth.

This conversation is designed to inspire and empower you to take charge of your legacy now—whether you're an entrepreneur, professional, student, or changemaker. You’ll walk away not only with a deeper understanding of your impact but with tangible strategies to bring your purpose to life.

Storyteller: Jamie Read (BA ’03)

In this inspiring session, Jamie Read (BA ’03) will dive into the art of making bold decisions, embracing uncertainty and leveraging perspective to create lasting impact. As a visionary leader, Jamie has redefined the traditional agency model by curating diverse, high-performing teams of global experts to deliver flexible, impactful solutions for businesses. His journey exemplifies the courage and innovation needed to break boundaries and inspire others to do the same.

You will learn:

• Practical strategies for assessing risks and opportunities.
• How to harness diverse perspectives to navigate uncertainty.
• The power of taking calculated leaps in career and entrepreneurship.

Storyteller: Dolly Shao (MBA ’11)

Effective networking is an essential skill whether you are a working professional aiming to advance your career or a business owner seeking a partner. Dolly Shao will share her experience and proven tactics on how to initiate engaging conversations and build lasting relationships to help you thrive in any setting. You will walk away with a fresh perspective and eagerness to expand your network as you kick off 2025.

Dolly Shao brings over 20 years of experience in empowering brands across China and Canada. Her expertise in multicultural marketing has enable her prestigious clients to forge authentic connections with Asian markets. Dolly has overseen branding and marketing in China for the Schulich Executive Education Centre and nurtured partnerships for the Centre for Career Design at Schulich.

Storyteller: Keith Loo (MBA ’12)

Whether you're an entrepreneur, aspiring business leader, or simply curious about making a bold career move, this conversation will provide insight on navigating the balance between a thriving enterprise career and the unpredictable, often challenging, world of startups. Storyteller, Keith Loo (MBA ’12) will dive into the leap he took launching Skinopathy, a company in a sector completely new to him—one that has since been recognized as one of Canada's top startups.

Storyteller: Monika Monga (MHRM ’14)

Changing careers during your professional journey can be both challenging and rewarding. Whether you're a seasoned professional looking for a change or a newcomer to Canada, having the right strategy is key to achieving success.

Join us for an insightful presentation led by Monika Monga, an experienced career coach with a diverse background in both the public and private sectors. Monika specializes in guiding professionals through the job search process, including résumé and cover letter reviews, interview preparation and networking best practices.

Storyteller: Dr. Nidhi Sachdeva (MA '09)

Discover key strategies and actionable tips to optimize your LinkedIn profile and engage with your audience authentically. In this session, Dr. Sachdeva will explore tangible ways to elevate your online presence and leverage LinkedIn's potential for career growth.

Nidhi Sachdeva is an evidence-informed learning designer, post-secondary educator, researcher, and an educational technology specialist. With more than 15 years of experience developing and facilitating learning content for both face-to-face and online courses, Nidhi is extremely passionate about integrating the science of learning in her pedagogical practice. Nidhi is currently teaching graduate level courses (Science of Learning) at OISE.

Storyteller: D'Arcy Cameron (BA ’86), Career Coach at D’Arcy Cameron Coaching

Are you a middle manager trying to stay relevant and grow your career while navigating platforms and the latest technologies? Listen to Mélissa Romulus Lisanti talk about what it takes to showcase your leadership and create a successful client and people experience in a rapidly changing world of technology and GenAI.

Mélissa Romulus Lisanti is a highly accomplished professional with over 18 years of experience leading complex business and digital transformations.

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The 91��ɫ U Alumni Awards

akolade — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 20:27:33 +0000

Each year, the 91��ɫ Alumni Awards recognize outstanding alumni who have achieved the extraordinary and are working to right the future by creating positive change in their fields. The Awards celebrate the broad 91��ɫ alumni community of innovators, activists, and researchers and its long-standing commitment to the public good.��The tradition of recognizing their contributions will continue at the 91��ɫ U Alumni Awards show. If you have any questions about the Alumni Awards show, please contact Rose Lucibello, Manager, Advancement Events at��crocitto@yorku.ca. If you have any questions��about the��nominations process or recipients,��please contact Nicole Light, Manager, Alumni Success at��nlight@yorku.ca.

View previous Alumni Awards recipients here.

The 91��ɫ U Alumni Awards Categories

AWARD	DESCRIPTION
Outstanding Contribution	An alum who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of 91��ɫ and its students through exceptional service, commitment and/or philanthropic contributions.
Outstanding Achievement	An alum who has achieved distinction in their field and whose integrity and ability inspire alumni, faculty, staff and students.
Tentanda Via	An alum who has demonstrated innovative, unconventional and daring leadership and success, reflecting the university’s motto, “The way must be tried.”
One to Watch	An alum who has made a significant impact in their field and/or community within 15 years of a bachelor’s degree or 10 years of a professional/graduate degree.
Excellence in Entrepreneurship	An alum who has excelled in entrepreneurship that has led to positive change in their field or the community.��

Remembering Bruce Bryden, an outstanding 91��ɫ leader

The 91��ɫ U Alumni Awards were inspired by Bruce Bryden who was an exceptionally committed and influential leader at 91��ɫ for many years. He was a member of our first undergraduate class, was the founding president of the 91��ɫ Alumni Association (now the 91��ɫ Alumni Board/YUAB) and was a member of the 91��ɫ Board of Governors.

The 91��ɫ U Alumni Awards recognize and honour his vision, exemplary leadership and extraordinary achievements.

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GRADitude Series - Past Events

alucches — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 18:27:56 +0000

The GRADitude program takes place every year to honour our graduating class. It takes this time to celebrate student achievements and provide graduating students with the opportunity to connect with inspiring alumni.

This reformatted virtual GRADitude program features subjects led by alumni speakers to help new grads with next steps in their career journey. These sessions help to hone virtual networking skills, plan career steps, while bringing new grads’ authentic selves into their future.

Stay tuned for our next season. Watch previous sessions below.

2022 Series

Alumni panelists discuss how young alumni and students can network and build relationships virtually to support their career goals. Hosted by alumni engagement officer Joanne Huy (BES ’15), panelists include Amirarsalan Rahimian (BSc ’21), Paniz Ghazanfari (BSc ’15, JD ’20), and Kevin Cao (BHRM ’17).

Thinking about investing but not sure how to get started? In this session hosted by 91��ɫ alumnus Alamgir Khandwala (BAS '17), alumnus Fahad Rana (BA '17) covers range of topics for beginners, including how to invest and what vehicle to invest in (TFSA/RRSP, etc.), and insight on where to focus your money when starting out (stocks, index funds, ETFs, etc.).

2021 Series

Interested in learning how to make the most of your money? Hear from two industry experts (and 91��ɫ alumni) on a range of financial literacy topics, including budgeting, credit and investing. Designed for new and recent grads, hosts Michele Da Silva (BHRM ’07) and Stefania Giorgio (BA ’04) provide a thorough foundation on personal finance topics and empower attendees to make their own financial decisions.

Thinking about grad school or simply curious about your options? Hear from 91��ɫ alumni who’ve experienced grad school and how it helped them launch their careers. Alumni share their candid experiences as grad students, why they decided to enroll in a master’s program, what they wished they knew before beginning their studies, and share tips on how to prepare an effective graduate school application. With host Mark Hayward, Associate Dean Academic, Faculty of Graduate Studies, panelists include alumni Jason Robinson (BA ’17, MES ’19), Harwinder Singh (BAS ’14, BHRM ’16, MHRM ’19), Sarah Thompson (MDEM ’16), and Rana Nasrazadani (BA ’20, MPPAL candidate).

Are you thinking about buying your first home or interested in the home buying process? Watch this session to hear from industry experts and 91��ɫ alumni Michele Da Silva (BHRM ’07) and Stefania Giorgio (BA ’04) on a range of topics, including the differences between renting and buying, how to prepare your finances to enter the market, mortgages and down payments, and protecting your home.

In this session, senior economist Ted Tsiakopoulos (BA ’94, MA ’96) outlines the economic challenges that young people face and shares the ways that Millennials and Gen Z can move closer to achieving their goals of renting or owning a home.

In this session, LA&PS alumna Darci Taylor, CHRL (BA ’97), CEO of HR Compass, illuminates how you can best prepare yourself for success as virtual interviews become the new normal. Darci’s presentation helps prepare you for the three phases of the virtual interview process.

Wondering how using LinkedIn effectively can enhance your job search? Presenter Surina Sohal (BA ’11) provides tips to create a strong profile, shows how recruiters use the website so you can stand out, and how to use LinkedIn features to help you build your brand and professional online presence.

Certified financial planner and 91��ɫ alumna Cindy Marques (BA ’12) explains how social media can impact your spending behaviors and what you can do to create better money habits. Viewers learn how to manage your cash flow and debt in a simple and stress-free way, and where to access financial literacy resources.

2020 Series

Featuring recruitment specialists and hiring managers from a variety of industries, this special alumni panel discusses ways new graduates can increase their chances of success when job hunting. Panelists discuss what companies and organizations look for in new talent, resume and interview tips, like how to interview well online, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected hiring practices.

Award-winning lawyer Tanya Walker (LLB ’05) and Associate Jordan Routliff (BFA’11, JD’18) of Walker Law demonstrate how utilizing good negotiation skills can get you a step closer to achieving success – and help you build better relationships. They discuss how to apply negotiations to personal and professional transactions, how negotiating can help you build stronger professional and personal relationships, and how to alter your negotiation approach during uncertain times.

Take ownership of your finances and your future by joining this session led by Money Matters Founder, Basia Pozin (BBA ’17). In this session, Basia helps 91��ɫ grads learn basic money management that will help lay the foundation for later life success. She shares tips related to budgeting and saving, how to build good credit history, and an introduction to investing.

91��ɫ alumni panelists discuss how students can network digitally and make themselves stand out in an online world.

Alumnus Tuvia Borok shares his experience with authentic leadership, multi-faceted diversity, and re-defining heteronormative stereotypes.

Our alumni panelists share their experiences about their journey from graduation to how they got where they are today.

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The 2026-2027 91��ɫ Circle Lecture Series

kpowell — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 19:14:35 +0000

Presented in partnership with our 91��ɫ Circle Chair, Christopher Perry, Associate Vice-President Research (AVPR), we are excited to welcome you to Keele campus for the 91��ɫ Circle Lecture series. Hear from 91��ɫ's leading faculty members on a wide range of interesting topics that speak to some of the key themes that define 91��ɫ.

Stay tuned for our upcoming 91��ɫ Circle event on Saturday, Nov. 14.

For more information on The 91��ɫ Circle Lecture Series, call us at (416) 650-8159 or email us at alumnievents@yorku.ca.

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Scholars’ Hub

dolphinj — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 20:34:47 +0000

Broaden your mind with the Scholars' Hub @ Home Speaker Series

Do you enjoy hearing about the latest thought-provoking research? The Scholars’ Hub @ Home speaker series features discussions on a broad range of topics, with engaging lectures from some of 91��ɫ’s best minds. The Scholars’ Hub events are done in partnership with Vaughan Public Libraries, Markham Public Library, and Aurora Public Library. The Scholars' Hub @ Home series is brought to you by 91��ɫ Alumni Engagement. We invite students, alumni and all members of the community to join us. All sessions take place at 12 p.m. ET.

Latest Scholars' Hub

Natalie Coulter, Associate Professor, Communication and Media Studies, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies

Drawing from her new book Kids, KidTech, and Digital Capitalism: The Fight for Our Digital Futures, Coulter explores what it means to be a child and how the experiences of childhood are shifting under the oppressive weight of digital capitalism. Using Roblox as a primary example, she illustrates how understanding children’s digital lives requires greater attention to the corporate infrastructures that shape their digital environments and how these influence what it means to grow up in a digital society.

Anna Hudson, Graduate Program in Art History, Department of Visual Art & Art History, School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design

This talk will focus on how visual arts serves as a bridge, a touchstone, a talking point between people from all walks of life and backgrounds. Bringing people together to communicate and understand different life experiences and ideas is what a curator can encourage. But the flip side of this coin is the reality of the art world. What art does the general public get to see and why? This presentation will also talk about art museums, collectors and the art market as a global phenomenon.

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Alumni Events Archives - Division of Advancement - Alumni and Friends

Global Alumni

Our Regional Networks

Upcoming Events

Global Alumni Spotlight

(BA ’10, MPIA ’13)

Location: Calgary

(BA ‘17)

Location: Montreal

(BES ’14)

Location: Vancouver

(BA ’07)

Location: New 91��ɫ

(BSc ’17)

Location: New 91��ɫ

(BFA ’17)

Location: Los Angeles

(BFA ’93)

Location: Hong Kong

(BFA ’09)

Location: Mumbai

(BA ’11)

Location: London, UK

Stay Connected

91��ɫ Alumni Book Club

91��ɫ Alumni Newsletter

LinkedIn Groups

Update from Alumni Engagement on alumni events (February 2022)��

Mid-Career Conversations

Previous Sessions

Connect with 91��ɫ Alumni

The 91��ɫ U Alumni Awards

The 91��ɫ U Alumni Awards Categories

Remembering Bruce Bryden, an outstanding 91��ɫ leader

GRADitude Series - Past Events

Connect with 91��ɫ Alumni

The 2026-2027 91��ɫ Circle Lecture Series

Connect with 91��ɫ Alumni

Scholars’ Hub

Broaden your mind with the Scholars' Hub @ Home Speaker Series

Latest Scholars' Hub

Connect with 91��ɫ Alumni