On March 27, more than 200 students, alumni, faculty, and staff gathered for the inaugural Desautels Launch, a student‑led evening designed to explore what it means to become a Desautels alum. Rather than a traditional send‑off, the Launch was designed as a student‑led initiative, built from the ground up to answer a simple but important question: what does it actually mean to become a Desautels alum?
The idea came directly from students. “The Launch grew out of a semester spent listening to the student body,” said student organizer Oliver Abrams, BCom’26. “We found that most students had little sense of what becoming an alumnus would actually mean, yet many wanted to stay connected to their community after graduation.” That gap between intention and understanding became the foundation for the evening. Designed by students, for students, the Launch was created to reflect what this moment actually feels like, not a formal networking event, but a space that felt familiar, social, and grounded in shared experience, with a clear goal of making alumni life feel tangible, immediate, and personal.
The evening opened with remarks from Associate Dean Benjamin Croitoru and Dean Yolande Chan, followed by reflections from Director of Engagement Joy Bennett, who framed alumni life not as a distant or symbolic concept, but as an active and ongoing relationship. Together, they set the tone for what followed, an experience rooted in connection rather than obligation.
That message was reinforced by keynote speaker Neil Cuggy, BCom’10, Co‑Founder of Goodfood, who spoke candidly about the role relationships have played in shaping his path. His advice was simple and direct: stay active, reach out, and take initiative, because it is impossible to predict which conversations will matter most. That perspective carried into the evening’s young alumni panel, featuring Stephanie Du, BCom’21, Roy Zhang, BCom’20, and Josh Levy, BCom’22, who shared their experiences navigating life after graduation across Montreal, Boston, and Toronto. Their stories reinforced what the evening set out to demonstrate, that the Desautels network is not abstract, but built through small, intentional moments over time.
The true test of the evening’s success came after the formal programming ended. As the room shifted into conversation, what had been designed carefully began to take shape organically. “The energy in the room was incredibly positive, with vibrant, genuine conversations happening everywhere,” said student organizer Riley Logan. “It didn’t feel like a formal networking event. It felt like a space to connect and celebrate together, and in that moment, it was clear we had done that.”
That sense of ease was not accidental. It was the result of detailed planning and a deep understanding of what students needed in that moment. “We planned the event down to the minute,” said student organizer Léo Dansereau. “From coordinating catering and speakers to setting up the space, it took dozens of hours for something that ultimately lasted two. But seeing it all come together made it worth it.”
Throughout the evening, students were encouraged to take one simple but meaningful step toward staying connected. Through a live call to action, attendees were invited to share their post‑graduation plans and join the , transforming the event from a one‑night experience into the foundation of an ongoing community. The response was immediate. In the days following the event, nearly 130 students shared their plans and updated their information, with 63 percent expressing interest in participating as Â鶹´«Ă˝ÍřŐľ Ambassadors through mentorship, events, and community engagement. Those numbers continue to grow as we approach convocation on May 27, signalling a clear appetite for connection when the pathway is made visible.
For many attendees, the evening also reframed what it means to be part of the Desautels community. “Seeing close friends, former classmates, and alumni in the same room really highlighted how close this community is,” said Ben Buzby, BCom’26, who also played a key role in moderating the panel. “The longer I’m here, the more I realize how much we all have in common.”
Looking ahead, organizers hope the Launch becomes a lasting tradition. “I hope the Desautels Launch becomes something students look forward to from their first year,” said Bella Kraay. “A space where students and alumni can connect naturally and build relationships that last well beyond graduation.”
If the inaugural evening demonstrated anything, it is that students are looking for meaningful ways to stay connected to the people and experiences that shaped them. The Launch did not create that desire, it gave it structure. In doing so, it reframed the transition out of Desautels not as an ending, but as a continuation that begins in a room like this and grows through the choices students make long after they leave. At Desautels, graduating does not mean leaving the community, but growing into it.
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