ROTMAN COMMERCE PRIDE ALLIANCE

ANNUAL REPORT 2015 - 2016

Connect with a diverse and supportive community

Contents

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Welcome Education Application Reconnection Cohesive Bonds Our Team

WelcomeWe’re here to shape the business culture of tomorrow. This past academic year has been one of significant change, growth, and excitement for the Rotman Commerce Pride Alliance and our community. We know that when every single individual brings their full authentic selves to whatever they do, magic happens. Because today’s Rotman Commerce students will be tomorrow’s business leaders, our goal is to make sure every student can not only be themself, but actively create space for others to be themselves as well.

To expose every student to opportunities surrounding the LGBTQ+ community, we commenced the year with Rotman’s first ever ally week. We brought together student leaders, corporate partners, and faculty in a high impact multimedia campaign which resulted in 80% of students agreeing with the importance of a supportive ally network.

The resulting support among students led us to shattering a Rotman Commerce record by selling out 120 of our annual DiverCity case competition tickets in under 4 days. Partnering with Pride At Work Canada for our case competition, students were able to apply classroom concepts and education from our Panel Discussion to scale impact for LGBTQ+ people across Canada.

This year also saw improved student development. Through the creation of an Education and Community portfolio, we doubled our LGBTQ+ mentorship program, transformed our first-year engagement program, and launched the RCPA alumni network. To provide more career opportunities to students, we surpassed 15 corporate partnerships for the first time, while deepening relationships with existing corporate and community partners.

While we still have much work to do, I am confident that the passion and brilliance of the incoming 2016-2017 RCPA team will continue to carry the momentum forward. I look forward to witnessing the next chapter.

Christopher MorelloPresident 2015-2016

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Our Model

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The RCPA maximized human potential by offering events and initiatives from September to April based on education, application, and reconnection. We recognize the importance of being respected, understood and included, so we strive to create spaces where LGBTQ+ students are empowered to be their true authentic selves, while educating the broader community about the importance of allyship.

Corporate Champions

Our Partners

Corporate Allies

Community Partners

Education is at the foundation of the RCPA, and the guiding pr inc iple with which we develop all our initiatives. We seek to launch initiatives, forge partnerships and act as a knowledge source to increase awareness of the issues surrounding the LGBTQ+ community.

Education Module

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Ally Week

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This year we launched Rotman’s first Ally Week campaign in collaboration with Rotman faculty, student leaders, and our corporate partners. The RCPA reached over 6800 students through social media, with over 6,000 views on our “I am an Ally” video; distributed 180 ally pins; and boothed over 35 hours in Rotman’s main thoroughfare.

With the help of corporate leaders, RCPA’s ally week campaign brought LGBTQ+ diversity to the forefront of peer discussion, and created a visible community of allies.

Date: October 13th-19th, 2015

Over 80% of students now think it is important to have a supportive ally network

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“Millennials expect diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and we know that allies are an essential part of creating that inclusive environment. Initiatives like the Rotman Commerce Pride Alliance’s Ally Week provide an opportunity to speak to students about the importance of leading by example – showing support, taking action and standing up for inclusion – to create the corporate environment of the future that they expect.

- Lawrence Spicer, VP Internal Audit Services, RBC

Check out our Ally Week video on Facebook or Youtube

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Representatives from Deloitte, RBC, McKinsey & Co. and Dentons shared what it means to be an ally in our Ally Week video

Panel Discussion

Over 45 students were given the opportunity to partake in an interactive panel discussion featuring our corporate partners. Rotman students were educated on the economic impact of LGBTQ+ Inclusion, working toward the RCPA’s mission of creating a safer, more inclusive space. Topics ranged from resources in the workplace, to how international LGBTQ+ policies affect companies and communities. Jack Hixson-Vulpe, author of the 519’s Creating Authentic Spaces toolkit led the discussion with panelists from TD Bank Group, Deloitte, Pride at Work Canada, Norton Rose Fulbright and McKinsey & Co. contributing to an active panel with actionable takeaways.

Date: October 21st, 2015 Lead Sponsor: TD Bank Group

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First-Year Engagement ProgramGoing beyond the typical intern program, the RCPA’s First-Year Engagement Program helps first year students immerse themselves in the LGBTQ+ Community, both within the University of Toronto and beyond. First-year students work closely with the Executives, and are integral in shaping the future of the RCPA with their new ideas and perspectives. Through hands on experience, first-year students gain valuable project management skills and develop their business acumen, preparing them for growth within the RCPA and to become ambassadors of change.

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Accompanying education, the RCPA focuses on the application of soft skills and knowledge attained to put diversity and inclusion into practice.

Application Module

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DiverCity Conference and Case Competition

Rotman Commerce’s largest case competition, DiverCity has grown into one of the largest LGBTQ-focused conferences in North America. 24 teams, mentored by industry professionals, gave high-quality case presentations to our community partner, Pride at Work Canada. DiverCity 2016 featured the first ever collaboration with KPMG’s Talent Attraction team, as well as an after party in held in association with Out on Bay Street.

Date: February 5th, 2016 Lead Sponsor: KPMG Case Partner: Pride at Work Canada

DiverCity 2016 sold out in 4 days, a Rotman Commerce record!

Keynote speaker, Stefan Palios, is the Founder of

Ziversity, a popular recruiting platform

Reconnection Module

To culminate educat ion and application, the RCPA celebrates growth and self-development through connecting our students and partners.

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Reconnect

Our last event of the year, Reconnect is an intimate networking session bringing together LGBTQ+ and Ally students along with corporate and community partners. It is a safe space focused on continuing the dialogue started during the school year and a way for firms and students to solidify connections before summer break. This year’s keynote address was given by Marian Lawson, the Scotia’s Executive Vice President of Global Financial Institutions and Co-Chair of the Global Banking and Markets Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

Date: March 16th, 2016 Lead Sponsor: Scotiabank GBM

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Reconnect boasts a 1:1 Student to Corporate Representative ratio

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We combine our focus on education, application, and reconnection throughout the year with various initiatives focused on personal and professional growth.

Cohesive Bonds Module

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Mentorship Program

Launched in 2013 as the first LGBTQ+ student-driven business mentorship program in Canada, our Mentorship Program has grown to include over 8 firms. By connecting 10 pairings of LGBTQ+ and Ally students and corporate partners, we provide the framework for immeasurable personal and professional growth. This year we launched a 5-session curriculum where students navigated topics ranging from coming out in the workplace, to how to effectively utilize social media to further your career.

Date: November 2015 - March 2016 Launch Event Sponsor: Bank of Montreal (BMO)

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Mentor firms included; BMO, McKinsey & Co., Deloitte, HSBC, Bain, Dentons, Boston Consulting Group and the Rotman School of

Management (MBA Program)15 Cohesive Bonds

Alumni NetworkThis year, we launched the RCPA Alumni Network that connects current students with RCPA alumni and previous partners. This internal network allows RCPA members to gain additional mentorship, networking, and other growth opportunities, while strengthening the RCPA for years to come.

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Christopher Morello President

Amy Yu Vice-President

Jerry Xue Director of Marketing

Akhila Chintalapati Director of Finance

Ashley Nguyen Co-Director of Events

Vivian Zheng Co-Director of Events

Keiron Narine Director of Education and Community

Troy Peschke Director of Corporate Relations

Helen Kong Social Media Manager

Li Ting Wong Web Design Manager

Isha Nepal Public Relations Manager

Zeta Shan Market Research Manager

Our Team

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Our Team

Janice Tjon Data Manager

Helen Liu Marketing Advisor

Yujia Cheng Logistics Manager

Ken Qin Events Committee Manager

Jonathan Nguyen Events Committee Member

Osama Sajjad Events Committee Member

Chris Chen Intern

Shreeya Handa Events Committee Member

Catherine Tu Intern

Linson Lin Intern

Sichen Yu Intern

Pranav Sathish Intern

ROTMAN COMMERCE PRIDE ALLIANCE

125 St. George Street, Toronto ON M5S 2E8

rcpa.rotmancommerce@gmail.com rotmancommercepride.ca

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