ASPER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
ASPER CO-OP PROGRAM BLOSSOMS BY WENDY
Co-op students come into a workplace where the staff experience is as highly valued as customer experience. Metrycki offers a team-spirited, growth-oriented setting for staff and students. “We create an environment where students start with some structure, and as their role evolves, we start to remove the training wheels and give them more ownership and autonomy to solve problems and to answer the question ‘What do you recommend?’” Metrycki notes that almost all of her students extend their terms and some of them never leave — they become full-time staff. Asper co-op students make very real contributions to her business, she adds. On Mother’s Day 2021, Callia Flowers encountered issues in some cities that were seriously affecting promised delivery times. Waiting customers started checking in and staff were scrambling to respond to each one. “Our amazing co-op student Nicole Buckle had been with us for about six months, and in one of our chats she said ‘Why don’t we just send a massive email blast to all of our customers that are affected with the new ETA?’” says Metrycki. “That would impact 500 or 600 customers — it was simple but absolutely genius.” Metrycki says not only did Buckle solve the immediate problem, but her idea also led to the development of a larger project around ETAs and communication. “For me, that’s a pretty pivotal example of how Asper students bring their critical lens to problem-solving.” As Callia Flowers expands their business, they will continue to work with Asper Co-op students, creating a pipeline to new ideas while supporting student career success. “Pairing with the co-op program has been a great opportunity for us to bring in really high performing individuals and also for us to give back with a space where they can learn and grow very, very quickly.” ■
Year, says being paired with Asper co-op students has helped her business bloom. “To succeed at Callia Flowers, it takes a special person, really oriented toward working as a team to solve problems creatively and with the enthusiasm and energy to want to do better,” says Metrycki. “We find that Asper co-op students share those qualities, are really curious, really passionate, and they love figuring things out.” Metrycki describes Callia Flowers as “the best new online experience for sending flowers and gifts.” Customers log onto the Callia Flowers website (callia.com) where they are guided to a selection of thoughtfully curated, seasonally fresh bouquets and artisanal gifts that are beautifully wrapped and arrive in Callia’s signature bright blue box. “We make it easier, more enjoyable and more delightful to celebrate special moments with people you care about,” she says. Callia Flowers has seen stellar growth since its inception in 2016. Today, with 60 staff members in the Winnipeg head office, the company delivers across North America including every province in Canada and with recent expansion into Ohio and Minnesota. “We are focused on making every Callia Flowers experience perfect, so anything less than five stars is really a failure for us, and because of that standard for customer delight, we’ve been able to create a brand experience that has people come back again and again,” she says.
BY WENDY KING F ar too many highly qualified gradu- ating students encounter the same challenge when seeking a place to put their hard-earned diplomas to use: they can’t secure work because they don’t have the required experience, and they can’t get the- experience because they can’t secure work. And the I.H. Asper School of Business wants to change that situation. The award-winning business school at the University of Manitoba created the co-op program, which pairs students with local and international businesses where they can apply classroom knowledge in real-world work environments while being paid and earning academic credit. It’s the solution that works for students and employers. Building on the success of the Bachelor of Commerce Co-op Program, the Asper School of Business has extended the program in 2022 to the Stu Clark Graduate School to create a master’s co-op program. Students from the optional program are recognized as highly motivated individuals as they hone critical skills, gather valuable knowledge, and adopt the can-do attitude that lets them stand out in the workforce. In 2021, 99 per cent of co-op students were employed full-time within three months of graduation. Catherine Metrycki, founder and CEO of Callia Flowers and lauded Asper School of Business 2021 Co-op Employer of the
Faith Enns, junior financial analyst (current co-op student); Nicole Buckle, expansion specialist (former co-op student); and Stefan Kushka, customer operations specialist (former co-op student). Photos by Darcy Finley
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SUMMER 2022
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