December was perhaps one of the most unique and exciting months for the Ivey MBA Class of 2024! The month kicked off with the Leadership Under Fire (LUF) elective, which took 40 students into the wilderness for four days and four nights. Many of the students didn’t know the first thing about camping, but decided to brave the winter outdoors nonetheless. This one-of-a-kind course pushed every student both mentally and physically, and the Instructors shared valuable lessons about life, business, character, and more.
To close out 2024, the MBA students had the option to choose from three different study trips: San Francisco, Costa Rica, and Portugal. Each study trip presented a wonderful opportunity to travel with peers and learn about the local economy.

In San Francisco, MBA students ended up right in the heart of Silicon Valley. Key themes from the trip included innovation, resilience, generosity, to name a few. Lessons presented to the students by Del Seymour from Code Tenderloin, and Fangjin Yan from Imply Data, challenged preconceived beliefs and motivated new ways of thinking. An inspiring visit to Plug and Play highlighted the value and importance of a diverse network, and how past failures can contribute to future successes.
Students who participated in the Costa Rica study trip learned about the “Pura Vida” mindset. This translates to “simple life”, and highlights the importance of balance, community, sustainability, and celebration of life. Multiple insights were shared by the Costa Rican Investment Promotion Agency (CINDE), which explained why it focuses on 3 Ps” People, Planet, and Prosperity. Students were also fascinated by the sustainable farming practices they witnessed during their visit to Hacienda Alsacia, a coffee farm located on the slopes of the Poás Volcano, owned and operated by Starbucks.
The Portugal Study Trip came with visits to many different types and sizes of businesses, highlighting the innovation and growth taking place in the country. A day off in the middle of the week took the students to the beautiful Pena Palace, followed by a scenic visit to Cascais. Between visits to companies such as Companhia das Lezirias and the Navigator company, MBA students made sure they found time to taste the renowned Pastel de Nata!
There is no doubt that the 2024 calendar year ended off with a bang for the Ivey MBA Class of 2024!