Careers in Motion: Vern Kimball, BA’81, MBA’90

What was your career path from UCalgary to the Calgary Stampede?

In 1974 and ’75, I was a student at the U of C where I also worked part-time in the university’s Food Services Department. Then I went full-time in 1977 and had various roles — manager of the Residence Board Program and Dining Centre Cafeteria; then MacEwan Hall Cafeteria where I became second in command for the department. Those work experiences led me to the Calgary Stampede in 1986, where I became its Food Service Division manager.

Why did you return to school decades later to complete an MBA?

My first degree was a BA and I took that out of a sheer love of learning. I always planned on taking a second degree to improve my career options, but wasn’t sure if it should be an MBA or law. I liked the fact I could do my MBA in Calgary and on a part-time basis.

What were the top lessons you learned from your MBA program?

So many, but here are a few top lessons: (1) Define the problem or opportunity at the outset of any endeavour; (2) Big decisions deserve at least three perspectives; (3) Listen to folks who don’t think like you — it will improve the odds of success; (4) Strategy is always contingent on circumstance.

Why did you stay at the Stampede for 29 years?

The years flew by as there were lots of opportunities to grow . . . I guess that’s evident in the fact I held nine different roles. Every one of them was a great opportunity that gave something important to the community. The culture was a big part of the attraction — it’s a multifaceted partnership between professional staff, 2,000-plus committed volunteers and the community. People stay forever because so many jobs at the Stampede come with a strong purpose and they are given a chance to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Everyone serves the community whether it be:

a. teaching young and old about our Western and Indigenous heritages;

b. providing opportunities for youth in the performing arts;

c. connecting rural and urban worlds through agriculture;

d. creating audience-pleasing products and services;

e. promoting Calgary’s can-do spirit and Western hospitality.

Any top life lessons?

Life is a balancing act between many good things — most of us can only do one or two things really well and be just OK with the rest. Choosing wisely is both difficult and important.

Any advice for new grads?

Follow Polonius’s advice to his son, Laertes, in Hamlet who is leaving home. The speech contains such pithy advice as “give every man thine ear, but few thy voice”, “neither a borrower nor a lender be”, and it ends with, “this above all, to thine own self be true…,” which is about listening to yourself and living your own life rather than someone else’s.

"Treat others the way you would like to be treated.”

Success is mostly a habit, built in small incremental pieces by some mixture of talent, commitment, hard work and advice/education from others who have been where you are at any given moment.

What won’t you miss about work?

I love the freedom, possibilities and challenges of answering only to myself and those close to me.

Any regrets?

None that are significant — I am very grateful to all those that have helped me along the way and consider myself very fortunate to have lived the life I have. And I am looking forward to new adventures.

Top leadership books or podcasts that have helped you?

Stephen Covey’s bestseller, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People; Peter F. Drucker’s The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done; Peter Senge’s The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization; Benjamin Zander’s TED Talk about classical music and his book, The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life.