SOCIETAL IMPACT STRATEGIC PLAN | TEACHING AND LEARNING STUDENT
GRIT Week 2025: The DeGroote Impact Film Festival
July 25, 2025 ·
Contributed by: Natalie Plechinger, Communications Assistant
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In June, DeGroote’s Full-Time MBA with Co-op students took part in their second GRIT Week—an immersive, hands-on experience designed to build Generative, Resilient, Integrative Thinkers. Over five intensive days, teams were challenged by putting their learning into action. Working closely with organizational partners, students gained insight into the complexities of non-profit operations and social entrepreneurship.
GRIT Week is designed to promote cross-functional learning, encourage meaningful collaborations between students and faculty, and deliver an immersive educational experience.
The theme for the June edition of GRIT Week, The DeGroote Impact Film Festival – a play on the Toronto International Film Festival – provides students with the chance to partner with non-profit organizations to produce a short film that addresses authentic challenges through a business lens.
“This week, we witnessed what is possible when experiential learning meets community purpose,” says Sarah King, Manager, Experiential Learning– Academic. “Our MBA students premiered videos that didn’t just highlight our not-for-profit partners; they moved us. These stories showed the true power of community-engaged learning to inspire empathy, action and change.”
Students partnered with 16 community organizations and had an opportunity to work on 18 unique challenges facing local community partners like Lighthouse for Grieving Children, StartOut Canada, Shifra Homes, Suicide Prevention Community Council of Hamilton, YWCA Hamilton and Triple IC.
In one short week, students worked closely with partners as consultants to develop business plans, support a marketing plan or create a community engagement plan. These projects provided a rich hands-on learning opportunity for DeGroote’s MBA students and allowed them to share their expertise, but it also delivered valuable reports and recommendations back to organizations.
“There are moments when life surprises you with exactly what you didn’t know you needed. For me, that moment came in the form of six young MBA students from the DeGroote School of Business, who walked into the world of Immigration Idea & innovation center during GRIT WEEK and left something behind that I will carry with me for a very long time,” explains Andrew Penie, Founder and Executive Officer, Triple IC. “In a world that often rewards noise and surface-level solutions, these students showed up with depth, intentionality, and professionalism that you can’t teach in textbooks.”
By working together, student groups showed strong commitment to developing strategic solutions that create real, meaningful change within their communities.
“Our MBA students created videos that spotlight the quiet strength and tireless work of not-for-profit organizations in our community. Many of these stories will move you. Some may stay with you,” says Behrouz Bakhtiari, Director, MBA Programs.
Congratulations to the DeGroote Impact Film Festival award recipients
The DeGroote Impact Film Festival Best Overall Award was presented to Lighthouse for Grieving Children, along with $5,000 to support the implementation of their project within the organization.
“Lighthouse is an incredible organization that offers free peer-based support to children and families who are coping with the loss of a loved one,” explains Supreet Muker, MBA candidate and member of the winning team. “This donation will directly support their efforts to create a safe and compassionate space where children can feel understood and less alone on their grief journey.”
The team’s project focused on amplifying the voices of grieving families and highlighted the essential services Lighthouse provides through a powerful video.
“This will be an experience I will never forget, and I’d like to thank my team for their creativity and commitment,” adds Camryn McCarville, MBA candidate and member of the winning team. “I’d also like to thank Lighthouse for the incredible work they do and for giving us the opportunity to share their story.”
Shifra Homes received the People’s Choice award, earning more than 50 per cent of community votes. The group was awarded a $1,000 prize to support their initiative and was also recognized with the Tearjerker Award for their impactful goal of creating safer spaces for vulnerable women.
The Tearjerker Award was also presented to the student group working with the Suicide Prevention Council of Hamilton for their powerful efforts to promote suicide prevention through community education and awareness.
The Avant-Garde Award was presented to StartOut Canada for their innovative video to support opportunities for LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs.
The YWCA (Health Clinic Project) was honoured with the grIT Factor Award, celebrating their dedication to gender inclusivity and building an equitable community.
The videos highlight the students’ dedication to enacting powerful change and provide the winners of the competition with the resources to give back to their partner organization.
Watch the full playlist of the student groups’ videos here.
