Manulife: Entry to Asia Challenge | Jacqueline Sava, Judge.

We are very excited that our Director of Possibilities, Jacqueline Sava is included among the distinguised judges for this business plan competition. She’ll spend today listing to great presentations and reviewing finalists based on her knowledge of exporting Soak. If you need her, she’ll be back at the office tomorrow. Watch for Instagram snapshots from the day. How exciting!

Manulife Financial Presents the Distinguished Panel of Judges for “Manulife: Entry Into Asia Challenge”

The elite panel, listed below, is made up of distinguished members of the business & finance community will select the winner of the Manulife: Entry into Asia Challenge after final proposals are presented:

Ramona Cheng:

Ramona Cheng is Executive Director of Ernst & Young and the Americas Markets Leader of Ernst & Young’s China Business Network, a bilateral platform designed to assist clients in developing, refining and implementing their China inbound and outbound strategies. Ms Cheng has over 20 years of corporate finance experience across North America and Asia, including five years of investment banking experience in Greater China.

Philip Leong:

Philip Leong is Vice President and Director, and Chairman’s Council member at RBC Dominion Securities. He is the Founder and Chairman of the Liberty Foundation, an organization with the dual mandate of promoting international freedom and democracy domestically and internationally and helping new immigrants to settle and integrate in Canada. In 2012 Mr. Leong was appointed by the Prime Minister to represent Canada in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Business Advisory Council.

Jacqueline Sava:

Jacqueline Sava is Founder and Director of Possibilities of Soak Wash Inc., a consumer goods manufacturer, whose products are distributed through boutiques and department stores across North America, as well as in the U.K., Australia and Japan and at soakwash.com. In 2009 Jacqueline received the Woman Exporter Award from the Organization of Women in International Trade, in recognition of successfully exporting to international markets. Last fall she was invited to appear before the Standing Committee on International Trade of the House of Commons as part of the discussion regarding a trade agreement with Japan.

After reviewing 46 entries submitted by teams of university business school students from across Canada, seven teams were chosen as finalists. These teams will present their plans to the judges today. The three winners of the competition will be announced in Toronto on May 22.