Centenary Reciprocity Ring

Rotman Commerce has a one-hundred-year legacy of sharing insights, providing mentorship and investing in future generations – our Reciprocity Ring is an excellent opportunity for you to experience the rewards of paying it forward through sharing your own expertise and lived experience with students and fellow alumni.

How and why it works

The Reciprocity Ring is designed to bring real tangible benefits, to encourage you to ‘get’ and ‘give’ help and to expand your network.

This dynamic and interactive small-group exercise is not the same as a traditional networking session. Alumni and students will be placed into smaller groups and will make a meaningful ask, either personal or professional, which they cannot get or do for themselves.  When someone shares their request, the others in the group are prompted to think about what they can offer to help fulfill that request. Even if they can’t personally assist, participants can also connect the person with someone in their network who might be able to help.

Adam Grant, Professor of Management at the Wharton School of Business highlights the power of a Reciprocity Ring in an article in Big Think.  He notes it can yield unexpected results because, unlike a traditional match-up of connections, even people who don’t have strong relationships can help or be helped. And when it’s a powerful and wide-ranging network such as the Rotman Commerce community…you never know where this exercise could take you!

Agenda

• 9-9:30 AM: Sign-in refreshments
• 9:30 AM: Welcome remarks, Catherine Barrette, Director, Rotman Commerce
• 9:40 AM-12 PM: Reciprocity Ring led by Professor Bill McEvily