Stories
Business leaders and students explore hope and opportunity at CMU
Approximately 150 business leaders, students, and alumni gathered in Marpeck Commons for Taking Society Forward, a collaborative event hosted by CMU and Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) to explore responsible leadership, economic challenges, and the role of business in building stronger communities.
Conversations continued long after the formal program ended when approximately 150 business leaders, students, and alumni gathered at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in early October to explore how businesses can help build stronger communities.
Co-hosted by CMU and Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), Taking Society Forward brought participants together in Marpeck Commons for a panel discussion, small-group conversations, and opportunities to connect with business leaders.
At the heart of the evening was a question: In an era marked by uncertainty, what does responsible and hopeful leadership look like?
For James Magnus-Johnston, Director of the Redekop School of Business and Assistant Professor at CMU, the event's greatest success was the connections it fostered.
"One of the objectives was to cultivate students' interaction with business mentors and community mentors," Magnus-Johnston says. "The beautiful thing to watch was that even when the event was formally over, the conversations kept going."
Throughout the evening, panelists shared experiences of overcoming adversity in business, reflecting on economic disruptions including the COVID-19 pandemic, financial crises, and market closures. Their experiences highlighted the creativity and resilience needed to adapt to changing circumstances.
Panelists speaking during the event.
With tariffs and trade negotiations creating uncertainty for Canadian businesses, the discussion offered a reminder that today's challenges are not without precedent.
"Although this has been a noisy interruption to business as usual, it's actually not the first time... And the reassuring part was that the stories landed in a place where they built back better," Magnus-Johnston says.
He notes that constraints can also encourage creativity, prompting leaders to consider ideas and approaches they might otherwise overlook.
Beyond the panel discussion, small-group conversations gave students and members of the business community opportunities to exchange perspectives and learn from one another.
For Magnus-Johnston, these interactions reflected a growing interest in exploring the relationship between business and social responsibility. Throughout the evening, entrepreneurs emphasized the role businesses can play as responsible members of their communities.
Following the gathering, students and entrepreneurs expressed interest in further collaboration, while CMU and MEDA have discussed the possibility of making Taking Society Forward an annual event.
Group discussions with CMU students and members of the business community.
MEDA is an economic development organization that works with communities facing limited economic opportunities through partnerships and strategic investments. Magnus-Johnston says the partnership with CMU "happened naturally," reflecting a shared interest in connecting business leadership with community well-being.
Magnus-Johnston sees these connections as increasingly important in a challenging economic climate.
"You can't just assume that a student's going to go out and find their way in the business world these days," he says. "You need a little bit more intentional support."
As CMU and MEDA consider future opportunities to collaborate, the relationships formed during the event could serve as an important starting point—helping students connect with experienced business leaders and imagine new possibilities for their futures.
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