Student Perspectives of the Canadian Centre for Advanced Leadership in Business (CCAL)

For the past eight years, the Canadian Centre for Advanced Leadership in Business (CCAL) has been providing Haskayne students with out of classroom experiences to develop skills vital to their leadership. CCAL interns and volunteers have had the pleasure of working behind the scenes and participating in all CCAL programming. These programs have immensely improved their leadership skills and provided them with a deeper understanding of what it means to be a leader in the business community.

Through programs like Lunch with Leaders and the BMO Mentorship Program at the Haskayne School of Business, students got to have conversations with leaders in a more intimate environment. Students can see that leaders struggle and are vulnerable in the same way as the average student. What sets them apart is the leadership and ethical decision-making skills that they have developed. Participating in CCAL programs gives you the opportunity to hear from leaders as to what their leadership philosophy is, how they inspire their teams to work towards organizational goals and how they make decisions in the face of adversity. From watching hundreds of students participate in CCAL programming, General Business student Christian Herrera mentioned that “many students come out of the program feeling inspired and motivated. They have gained a new outlook on what it truly means to be a leader.”

CCAL offers unique programming that isn’t seen anywhere else at the Haskayne School of Business. Katelyn Son, a member of CCAL’s Peer Helper Program, highlighted that “topics such as leadership and ethics are something that we normally don’t think about on daily basis even though it’s an important part of working in the business community.” After volunteering with CCAL and participating in the programs Katelyn said, “I got the chance to discuss these topics in great detail from a research-based perspective. This assisted with uncovering my understanding of leadership and allowed me to think about what I can do moving forward to apply and enhance my leadership skills.” For every student in Haskayne, engaging in CCAL programs can allow you to evolve your understanding of leadership and ethics. Katelyn did this by participating in CCAL’s Lunch with Leaders program where she could network and get advice from industry professionals and by volunteering with CCAL’s Haskayne Peer Network Program where she was able to further develop her leadership skills.

For students looking for a more experiential or outdooring learning opportunity, CCAL offers this through its Haskayne Adventure Leadership Program. For Peer Helper Kennedy Heaton, The Leadership Challenge Weekend was her favourite program. Kennedy said, “I was able to step out of my comfort zone in ways I had never imagined I'd be capable of.” Through this 2-day program held in Kananaskis, students work through challenges designed to enhance their leadership skills and reflect on the valuable lessons they have learned. Kennedy mentioned that “[The Leadership Challenge Weekend] was a huge eye-opening experience and I will always remember it and the leadership lessons it taught me.”

For MBA President, Gagandeep Singh, being involved with CCAL allowed him to “realize how important it is to put yourself in uncomfortable spots or situations, to expose your vulnerable side in order to discover your true potential.” Experiences with CCAL allows for many students to break out of their shell. 

As discussed by the students who take advantage of all that CCAL has to offer, there are endless opportunities to get involved depending on your interests. Students can learn more about ethics through CCAL’s Ethics Speaker Series where renowned scholars like Ed Freeman and Mary Gentile talk to students regarding business ethics and leadership theories as well as important considerations for students who want a future career in the business community. If you are looking for a one on one leadership development experience, join the BMO Mentorship Program at The Haskayne School of Business. Through six one-on- one sessions, students will be able grow their network and learn from seasoned professionals. For Christian, Katelyn, Gagandeep and Kennedy, CCAL was an integral part of their leadership development and recommends the programs for all Haskayne students.