Class Liaisons Juliet Atha, HBA ’85, MBA ’91, and Mary Lou Hukezalie, EMBA ’02, have kept their classmates in contact over the years.
Class Liaisons Juliet Atha, HBA ’85, MBA ’91, and Mary Lou Hukezalie, EMBA ’02, have kept their classmates in contact over the years. They came to Ivey with different backgrounds. They took different programs. They forged different career paths. Yet Juliet Atha and Mary Lou Hukezalie have two things in common: their lives were changed by the Ivey experience, and they have continued to give back since graduating.
Make that three things: Atha and Hukezalie both received the Ivey Alumni Network Award in 2015.
Atha completed her HBA and MBA at Ivey. “We had some really good times in our class, and made some deep personal connections.” She operated a publishing and retail business for more than 25 years, before becoming a condominium property manager three years ago. “Although I didn’t fully appreciate the value of what we were learning at the time, it was really brought home to me when I changed careers. The reason I was able to do it without too many hiccups was because of the training I got at Ivey.”
Hukezalie was already well launched in her career as a human resources professional when she came to Ivey for her Executive MBA. She says the MBA was a “differentiator” that helped move her career forward. (She is now Group Head, Human Resources at TMX.) But the program also had a profound impact on her personally. “You’re going through a personal reinvention, your brain is expanding, and you’re coping with all the impacts on work and family life,” she says. “It is a tremendous shared experience—intense, but not without hilarious moments!”
As Class Liaisons, Atha and Hukezalie have kept track of their classmates as they moved jobs and countries, submitted class notes for Intouch, and helped organize gettogethers and reunions. Both enjoyed the work. “I’m rewarded because I’ve got this great network of friends,” says Atha. “We have a special bond, and it’s really nice to build on it.” Hukezalie adds, “That two-year experience had a real impact on me. When I connect with others who went through it, I’m connecting with a special time in my life.”
Hukezalie recently “retired” as Class Liaison, when a classmate volunteered to take over. After 30 years, Atha continues to be the glue that holds her class together.
Receiving the alumni award was “shocking and wonderful,” says Huzekalie. Atha says being a Class Liaison hasn’t seemed like a lot of work. “I’ve taken great pleasure in it and I’ve had lots of positive feedback from my classmates.”
All Photos: Nation Wong
Art Direction: Greg Salmela, Aegis
