Queen’s MBAs Make Strides for Work-Life Balance

Future business leaders pound the pavement, but not for jobs

September 11, 2006

EMBA students Robert Barta and Kam Wong in Ottawa

Queen’s School of Business MBA students take the first of 15.6 million steps towards work-life balance today, when they embark on a virtual “Walk Across Canada.” All 320 Queen’s MBA and Executive MBA students have been put in teams and are being challenged to walk the 7,821 km — or 15,642,000 steps — it would take to get from Victoria, BC to St. John’s, Nfld. along the Trans Canada Highway as part of the business school’s Fit To Lead program. Fit to Lead was developed by Queen’s School of Business to encourage students to lead a healthy, balanced and active lifestyle to help prepare them for the rigours of business leadership.

“Queen’s School of Business is known for developing tomorrow’s business leaders, and our Fit to Lead program is a shining example of how our approach extends beyond the classroom,” said Bill Blake, Associate Dean of MBA Programs. “Success in the boardroom requires mental, physical, spiritual and emotional balance, and the Walk Across Canada, quite literally, puts Queen’s MBA students many steps ahead of the competition.”

Venturing Beyond the Rat Race

Queen’s Walk Across Canada participants each receive a pedometer to track their journey, and can track and measure their relative progress on the Queen’s School of Business intranet. With a goal of five kilometers per day per participant, it is expected that each team of 30 will cover the equivalent of the distance across the country in eight to 12 weeks. The initiative will also raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

“Queen’s MBA graduates don’t typically spend much time pounding the pavement for jobs, but the physical activity and team camaraderie they’ll get from the Walk Across Canada will ensure they enter the workforce fit to lead,” said Blake.

About Fit To Lead

The Queen’s School of Business Fit to Lead Program was started in 2005 with the goal of providing tools and opportunities to achieve work-life balance, happiness and success. The program covers a variety of topics including personal reflection, goal setting, fitness, and healthy eating, all learned through various team and individual activities such as fitness consultations and a lifestyle planning.

For more information, photos of the ceremonial Walk Across Canada kick-off, and to arrange an interview, please contact:

Amy Laski / Josh Cobden
Environics Communications
416-969-2737 / 416-969-2746
alaski@environicspr.com / jcobden@environicspr.com

Amber Wallace
Queen's School of Business
613.533.3151
awallace@business.queensu.ca