Stéphane speaks in both official languages with BNN host

Congratulations to Stéphane Erickson, recipient of the Futures Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership. The award, a $5000 grant established to acknowledge and mentor ten exemplary young Canadian university business students, is given out by Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year™. This year's honoured recipient was Pat Daniel of Enbridge.

Stéphane, in his fourth year of the bilingual commerce program, said the Awards Gala which took place on November 24 at the Palliser Hotel in Calgary, was by the far one of the best events he has attended during his undergraduate career. Grateful for the chance to network with prominent politicians, leading business executives, and fellow students, Stéphane also left a strong impression on attendees.

“Mr. Howard Green, Anchor of Headline on the Business News Network (BNN), asked every recipient a question on stage. My question surrounded my five year vision. I spoke of my endeavors at the university, and how they have lead me to value Canada's leadership role in a globalized world, in which cooperation, business and respect of human rights have never been so important,” shared Stéphane, who was the only recipient to answer the question in both official languages. The event was sponsored by BNN, the National Post, and Caldwell Partners.

With a major in Latin American Studies and a minor in Business Economics and Law, Stéphane is a poster child for globalization. Last summer, he worked at the Canadian Consulate in Guadalajara, Mexico for the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, conducting business in English, Spanish, and French. He has been to Europe, Nicaragua, and Vietnam on school trips, studied abroad last semester at the Universidad de Chile, and completed an exchange with the University of Ottawa.

“I think my global experience was one of the reasons I was chosen for the award,” shared Stéphane. “People at the ceremony were particularly impressed by the School’s endeavors to promote Canada's official languages through the Bilingual BCom. I really feel that I am so much more employable because of studying at the Alberta School of Business, and was even told so at the event.”

And he has definitely been involved during his time here. As outgoing President of the Club de Commerce Bilingue, and former Student Ambassador, his résumé keeps growing. With his love of travel and languages, his future goals aren’t surprising: “Once I graduate, I would like to pursue legal studies – either International or Linguistic Law.”

Monica Wegner
Communications Strategist
University of Alberta
Alberta School of Business
780.492.7996
monica.wegner@ualberta.ca