As he reflected on his own Ivey experience from 38 years ago, newly minted honorary degree recipient, Michael McCain, had advice for the MSc, MBA, and EMBA Classes of 2017.
McCain, HBA ’79, is President and Chief Executive Officer of Maple Leaf Foods Inc. and received a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from Western University in recognition of his exemplary business leadership. He shared three tips for dealing with a volatile and uncertain world during his address at the Ivey Convocation and Pledge Ceremony on June 9:
- The journey is not about you. It’s about the people around you;
- Emotional intelligence is more important than intellectual intelligence; and,
- Your success is not what’s visible. What’s invisible matters most.
McCain also shared with the graduates his collection of artifacts from the people who inspired him on his journey. He urged them to collect their own artifacts to remind them of the insights gained from their personal relationships.
“The relationships that you nurture in your life, personal or professional, will make the difference to your happiness, personal growth, and success,” he said. “I hope you feel the joy of the relationships and the life lessons that each one of them represents to you.”
Related to this story
Carter Whitehead, MBA ’17, the MBA class valedictorian, also talked about the importance of the relationships made during the program.
“This year, we had time to pause and breathe before we now prepare to ascend the [Mount] Everest of our future. We can only do so by knowing ourselves and supporting each other. It is the support of each other that will help us to do far more than we could ever imagine,” he said.
During the ceremony, Elizabeth Grasby, director of Ivey’s pre-business program, was appointed Professor Emerita for her 39 years of service at Western University.
