Cornwall Business Students Host Interview Session with City Councillor

Submitted by Saima Naqvi, Professor, Faculty of Innovation & Professional Services 

Cornwall Business students in the Culture, Leadership & Management class recently hosted a candid interview session with Cornwall City Counsellor, Carilyne Hebert, also an alumnus of SLC Cornwall's Business program. 

We were honored to welcome Carilyne, the newly appointed Engagement & Navigation Lead at the Great River Ontario Health Team (GROHT) after completing a successful tenure as Executive Director at Social Development Council Cornwall & SDG. Her candid reflections on growing up, her time at SLC, which she called some of her fondest memories, and her journey into public service resonated deeply. 

Student hosts Tanmay Sharma and Zainab Hasna Mohammad led a lively in-person interview, asking thoughtful questions about Carilyne’s leadership style, team motivation, and the realities of entering civic life as a young woman facing stereotypes. Her message was clear and powerful: Change is everyone’s responsibility, and students should step forward to create positive impact. Her emphasis on prioritizing mental health while facing challenges struck a chord with everyone in the room. 

The classroom buzzed with energy as students followed up with engaging questions, turning the session into a genuine exchange of wisdom. Watching an SLC alumna share experiences with future alumni was both meaningful and motivating. Special thanks to Kris Ward, Alumni Relations, for offering a small token of appreciation to our guest. 

Events like this reinforce classroom learning, expand career horizons, and inspire students to advocate for positive community change. Thank you to everyone who made this conversation possible.