In the article below, HBA students Ezz Abdelmeguid, Komal Patel, and Katie Yao share key takeaways from a recent presentation from Dominique Anglade, the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party and Quebec’s official opposition.
Don’t confuse progress with thinking the problem is solved.
That was the message from Dominique Anglade, the leader of the Quebec Liberal Party and Quebec’s official opposition, when she spoke with the HBA Corporations and Society classes earlier this month. In the political sphere, Anglade has held ministerial positions in Economy, Science and Technology, and Digital Strategy, as well as a position as Deputy Premier to former Quebec premier Philippe Couillard. In addition, she has worked with prominent firms including P&G, Nortel, and McKinsey, and co-founded the charitable organization KANPE.
Anglade’s diverse background offered students an unparalleled opportunity to ask questions about social and environmental leadership across sectors. Hearing about Anglade’s resilience, perspective on the non-profit sector, and openness to new experiences inspired students to reflect on the impact they will create as future business leaders in the context of sustainability and giving back to their communities and the environment.
A personal responsibility
Anglade's involvement in the private sector, non-profit space, and government has led to considerable contributions in each of these areas. Her outlook on why she contributes to society fundamentally boils down to her belief that she is lucky to live in a country like Canada. She said, with that, comes a personal responsibility to give back. Anglade mentioned being inspired by individuals who have faced hardships, such as people living in Haiti, where she grew up. But her own story and the resilience and leadership she has shown is an inspiration in and of itself. Ivey's Corporations and Society class emphasizes the intricacies of how corporations intertwine with society and the environment. The stories and advice Anglade shared sent an important message to students: As future business leaders, we need to consider the future impact of our actions and recognize the opportunities we have to contribute and create change as we begin our careers.
Issues in the non-profit sector
Anglade’s presentation outlined many issues that the current non-profit sector faces. An imminent threat to the growth and capitalization of non-profit organizations is sourcing, evaluating, and compensating talent in the field. Anglade suggested non-profits should be evaluated on a performance basis similar to the private sector. She said it’s also important to place emphasis on their human resource efforts and to compensate executives with incentives aligned with the non-profit’s mission. By holding non-profits to the same performance standards as private sectors, Anglade said we as a society will be able to reap more of their mission's benefit.
Finding diverse experiences
On a more personal note, the diversity of Anglade’s background, career interests, and sectors of impact show how she has modelled lifelong learning and growth. Young people are often encouraged to specialize early to make themselves competitive applicants for jobs, professional schools, and their other immediate interests. Anglade challenged this idea by encouraging the students to embrace new opportunities.
“Try as many things as you can while you can … If you get an opportunity, say ‘yes’ and then figure it out!,” she said.
Anglade said trying new things helped her to grow throughout her career and realize that her passion lies in public service. The students of today are the leaders of tomorrow, and Anglade’s perspective on learning and opportunity is valuable for all future leaders to learn from and embrace during their own journeys.
Related Articles
