Press Release / Communiqué de presse

Focus 2040 – Student competition explores the workplace of the future

TORONTO, ON – February 22, 2010 –There have been countless books, presentations and endless amounts of research done on the subject of leadership development and leadership models of the future. However, the uncomfortable fact remains: we will not be the ones leading when we find out if our hypotheses were correct.

Our knowledge of what the future workforce and work environment will be like is at best an educated guess.

Those who will be leading our national, global and political organizations in 2040 are currently students. Contrast that with many of today’s leaders, who admit to not understanding these early careerists, and may even be somewhat unsure of how to manage them. We are uncertain about how they are going to develop into our future leaders, let alone what our role is in helping them to develop.

This is why the Focus 2040 student competition is unique.

The DeGroote School of Business, in partnership with the Strategic Capability Network, has challenged business school students from across the country to predict what the world of work will be like when they are leading our organizations and our governments.

“This is exactly the kind of work we, as a company value and support. We want upcoming generations engaged and participating in growing our organizations and leaders of the future,” said Tim Arnill, President and CEO of Verity International Limited, a platinum sponsor of the competition. “We believe the insights these students will provide about the future – when they are leaders - will give us new perspectives to the leadership development work we are doing today.”

Students from some of Canada’s top schools registered for the competition. The top 10 finalists will present their final predictions to a panel of judges on March 23rd at the Art Gallery in Hamilton, Ontario. The winning student will receive a four-month paid internship with BPI group in Paris, France.

“We are pleased to be involved in the Focus 2040 competition, as it complements very well the research we are currently doing at BPI’s Institute for Leadership,” said Brice Mallié, Associate Director, BPI group. “We look forward to having this student join one of our project teams. He or she will add to the global perspective we like to take when it comes to leadership development.”

To find out more about the Focus 2040 competition, visit the web-site at: www.focus2040.com.

About Verity

For over 25 years, Verity – one of Canada’s national HR consulting firms – has focused on the people side of business, specializing in three practice areas: Executive Advisory Services; Career Management & Transition; and Talent & Organizational Consulting. Through the national Verity Filion Inc. partnership, Verity operates in all major cities across Canada and in over 40 countries globally as a founding member of BPI group. Incorporated in 1984, Verity remains a privately held Canadian company. (www.verityintl.com)

About BPI group

BPI group is a leading global management and human resources consulting firm with a focus on creating shared success between organizations and individuals. BPI, founded in 1984, is headquartered in Paris, France. More than 2000 consultants strong, BPI operates in 40 European, Asian, North African, and North and South American countries. (www.bpi-group.com)

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