Students, faculty and members of the community braved the frigid temperatures to hear venture philanthropist and University of Guelph honorary doctorate [1] recipient Mick Jackson at the inaugural Derry Lecture [2] at War Memorial Hall on Monday night.

Jackson, founder of the WildHearts Foundation [3] and creator of Micro-Tyco [4], a philanthropic international business competition, spoke on “How a dollar can change the world.” His talk covered diverse topics such as nature vs. nurture amongst entrepreneurs, wage inequality for women and how businesses can be a force for good.   

The University of Guelph’s MGMT*1000 students have experienced firsthand the benefits of competing in Micro-Tyco, where participants raise as much money as possible using $1 in seed capital. Those profits help finance micro loans for entrepreneurs in developing countries. Over the last two years, our students have raised almost $20,000 [5] and helped more than 4,400 lives.

An exceptional public speaker and engaging personality, Jackson gave a heartfelt description of how his passion for social justice in the business world developed through his journey climbing K2 Mountain. He stated that there are budding entrepreneurs in developing countries throughout the world that lack the availability of resources and capital.

“With everyone getting $1 through the Micro-Tyco Challenge, the playing field is even.” - Mick Jackson

Kevin Pietrobon, a third-year accounting student, spoke to the crowd about how Micro-Tyco contributed to his transformation as a student, emphasizing that it changed his perspective on business and helped build his confidence and problem solving skills.

The Derry Lecture is a first-year seminar symposium promoting interdisciplinary initiatives among students enrolled in Guelph’s first-year seminar program. The series is named for former U of G Board of Governors chair Douglas Derry and his family.