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Getting the most out of getting involved 

By Michael Keegan

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When Olivier Romain got into the MBA program at JMSB in 2007, he was told he would get out of it what he put into it.

“I wanted to put a lot in to get the most out of the experience,” says the 30-year-old.

Romain not only put a lot into his studies, but also into the international and Concordia communities.

With a law degree from Université Laval, he had worked in both a private law firm and a multinational corporation when he decided to broaden his business knowledge. He’s now graduating with a 3.75 GPA.

Wanting to assist in international development, Romain and four like-minded classmates co-founded the MBA International Community Outreach Program (MBA iCOP) in 2008. As part of a pilot project, Romain spent that summer in Los Olivos, a municipality in the city of Lima, Peru. He worked with the assistant mayor in the creation of a municipal bank to assist micro- and small businesses in getting access to funding to help them reach local, national and international markets.

Last month, Romain received a Concordia Council on Student Life award.
Romain will stay involved with iCOP to help ensure the program keeps going.

But his proudest accomplishment was as an organizer of the John Molson MBA International Case Competition held last January. Romain recruited 120 volunteers and raised $200 000 in sponsorships for the event.

“We raised the most money ever, in spite of the economy,” says Romain. “And all participants agreed this was one of the best-organized and best-run competitions in 28 years.”

Romain wants to bring his legal and business knowledge to his professional life and to not-for-profit organizations, and to “continue to get involved.”