The JDCC effect: Four years of growth, leadership and impact

If I had to summarize my past four years with JDCC in one word, it would be growth. Reflecting on who I was when I joined JDCC back in 2022, I am more knowledgeable, more empathetic and a stronger leader. Still, I never imagined I would be where I am today.

When you are in the thick of it, the planning and the competition experience can feel overwhelming. But as you take it season by season and learn from the incredible people around you, you suddenly find yourself where I am now — at the end of your JDCC journey. Joining a new extracurricular or community can feel intimidating. I am incredibly thankful for the 2022–2023 co-captains, Anna Di Bacco and Laura Coelho, for showing me that I belonged and for giving me a chance on the team. They ignited my passion and inspired me not only to compete again in my third year but also to support the team as an executive.

During the 2023–2024 season, I served as an academic delegate and VP of Engagement. As an IBH student, I found tremendous value and a deeper sense of purpose in this role through helping students engage and support our local community. My favourite part was creating community partnerships that have stood the test of time and remain active today. These included writing letters to isolated seniors through Letters Against Isolation (2023–2025) and supporting Food For Life (2023 and 2025). Working with organizations I still volunteer with today, while inspiring fellow delegates, was incredibly rewarding. My next role while in my fourth year was as the VP of Operations. 

This past season, I had the pleasure of serving as co-captain alongside my partner, Sara Goldkind, and our team of 14 exceptional executives. I had never led a team this large before, conducted interviews or been responsible for a group in this way. At times, leadership can feel daunting and isolating. However, learning to navigate these challenges, delegate effectively and rely on your team is an essential part of the leadership journey.

Once our executive team was hired, we held the first-ever JDCC strategy and planning meeting that summer. This meeting stands out as one of my proudest accomplishments. The executives prepared presentations outlining ideas and goals for innovation. Together, we pushed ourselves to think outside the box. Initiatives such as Trivia Night, the Crumbl Cookie bake sale, the Incubator Mentorship Program, and many other ideas emerged from that meeting and were executed for the first time.

For current and future student leaders, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of stepping back to chart your vision. That planning truly makes the journey smoother.

At the gala dinner and awards ceremony, I stood in tears with executives Andrew Coulter and Alyssa Burnett and shared, “I think we changed lives this semester.” While it may sound like an exaggeration, I genuinely believe it to be true. I am confident that students feel more capable in their presentation skills, that they have built meaningful friendships and networks and that they feel empowered to continue being a part of JDCC while carrying forward its legacy.

As I continue supporting the team post-graduation, I am excited to watch its ongoing impact and see what our delegates accomplish next. The future of JDCC is incredibly bright. This year exceeded all expectations. We set records and achieved milestones, earning the School of the Year trophy for the fourth consecutive year and securing the Academic Cup for the first time in JDCC history. We filled very big shoes, building on the foundation laid by the remarkable leaders before us: Anna, Laura, Marcus Marchese, Alex Bovie and Isabella Demakos.

Thank you to Sara, our executives, delegates, coaches, the DCS and the DeGroote School of Business for your unwavering support in turning this year’s dream into a reality.