AROUND TOWN: February

AROUND TOWN IN FEBRUARY Three February festivals and events

HAYLEY WOODIN

LAUGHING OUT LOUD Just For Laughs (JFL) NorthWest launches 12 days of standup, screenings and snickers on February 13. Last year, the comedy festival brought more than 110 shows and more than 200 artists to streets and stages throughout the region. This year’s lineup includes performances from Bill Burr, Margaret Cho, Jay Pharoah and Patton Oswalt. jflnorthwest.com

JFLNORTHWEST/INSTAGRAM

Need a real estate professional? Hire an RI.

A designated, educated, experienced, and connected real estate professional.

Find one at reibc.org

OLGAKIMPHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK

BREAK OUT THE BORDEAUX This month, the world visits Vancouver for one of the oldest wine events on the planet. The 41st annual Vancouver International Wine Festival kicks off nine days of seminars, tastings and events on February 22. For 25 years, the festival has chosen to highlight wines from a specific country or region. The inaugural theme featured wines from Bordeaux; this year, wines from France will take centre table. vanwinefest.ca

HARRIET/VIFF

HONOURING THE LEGACY OF BLACK CANADIANS A number of events throughout B.C. recognize Black History Month this February. They include the 19th annual Black History Market & Cultural Showcase, special musical performances throughout Greater Vancouver and films at The Greater Vancouver Film Festival Society’s Vancity Theatre. The theme of this year’s Black History Month in Canada is “Canadians of African Descent: Going forward, guided by the past.” blackhistorymontheventsvancouver. wordpress.com É

ignite your business

Bring in the best and brightest emerging talent to ignite your business with new perspectives, energy and the latest skills. With access to 300+ work-integrated learning programs at 25 post-secondary institutions, ACE-WIL BC/Yukon is your fi rst stop. Find funding and post a job at co-op.bc.ca/employers

The Association for Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning BC/Yukon is committed to leading excellence in postsecondary experiential learning through Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning experiences.

IT’S NO LONGER JUST ABOUT SHAREHOLDERS UVic launches MBA in sustainable innovation

Business today needs to engage communities and work for the good of people and the planet. The University of Victoria has always believed that the fates of business, the planet and society are woven together.

The Gill Graduate School at the University of Victoria’s Gustavson School of Business is launching a new MBA in sustainable innovation beginning in September 2020. The program is offered in daytime and weekend program streams. In addition, there is a unique master of global business program.

In the UVic MBA in sustainable innovation, students will learn new ways of looking at innovation, management and leadership and will be ready to take on the wicked problems of the 21st century. Most of all, students will learn about themselves, and how to bring about change. They will be part of a community of creative thinkers who share a passion for sustainability and think far beyond the status quo.

DAYTIME PROGRAM STREAM UVic’s daytime MBA takes place over 16 months and is an immersive, full-time experience. It is delivered in a unique integrated block format. Each block consists of three integrated courses taught intensively over a five-to-six-week period.

Students will collaborate intensely with peers from all over the world. Real-world projects, integrated across different business disciplines, will test their skills and decision-making.

Daytime cohorts are up to 45 students with one intake per year, starting in September 2020.

WEEKEND PROGRAM STREAM The weekend MBA takes place over 24 months. Students take three integrated courses each term. The program is tailor-made to be manageable for working professionals. Regular classes – one weekend a month for two years – are blended with assignments and online teamwork between weekends.

Weekend students are practising professionals: people from backgrounds in large and small businesses, from startups to multinationals, from private sector to public sector, from for-profit to notfor-profit. What they share is the drive and experience to make a real difference in the world.

Weekend cohorts are up to 25 students with one intake per year, starting in September 2020.

PROGRAM FEATURES Courses are taught in integrated blocks of three courses at a time. Applied projects put the integrated learning from the courses into practice. Often, the applied projects involve live client organizations. One project has an international focus and culminates in an international trip, where students work with client organizations in the country being visited to explore business opportunities or help solve business problems.

All students also complete a capstone project, either a team-based consulting project or an individual research project. Throughout the MBA, students participate actively in a professional development course. They develop their long-range life/career vision and actively work towards it while in the program.

The UVic MBA in sustainable innovation is affordable: total cost (including tuition, program fees and travel costs for the international project) is approximately $35,000 for domestic students. Details are available at uvic.ca/gustavson/gill/ mba/index.php.

MGB: STUDY, WORK AND LIVE IN 3 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES The Gill Graduate School also offers a unique one-year master of global business (MGB) degree. A prospective MGB student can apply to the one-year, fulltime program right after completion of an undergraduate business degree. As with other Gustavson programs, the MGB is cohort-based and students attain an MGB after one year. The program structure includes an academic component with study modules in three countries and a global internship. (The program can be extended to 16 months to accommodate longer internships.)

Students can join one of four paths for their MGB journey. Path 1 takes students from Victoria to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and ends in Linz, Austria. Path 2 takes students from Victoria to Montpellier, France; and Seoul, Korea. Path 3 includes Victoria; Linz, Austria; and Lima, Peru. Path 4 includes Victoria; Glasgow, Scotland; and Bangkok, Thailand.

T he deg ree fi n ishes w ith a globa l internship, providing each student with valuable cross-cultural study and work experience. Details are available at uvic. ca/gustavson/gill/mgb/index.php.

STUDENTS CREATE OWN DEMAND AT SFU BEEDIE Innovative MBA programs show how collaboration between academia, industry and prospective students can help elevate careers

Is an MBA still relevant today? It is a quest ion m a ny people consider i ng busi ness school options a re ask i ng themselves.

In short, at the Segal Graduate School at Simon Fraser University’s Beedie School of Business, the answer is yes. The school continuously collaborates with industry leaders and prospective MBA students. This ensures the curriculums for its suite of innovative MBA programs reflect current market demands for skilled senior professionals and will help its graduates reach their career goals sooner.

In addition, the school has successfully reached gender balance for many of its MBA programs. By comparison, at many other business schools, female participation in MBA programs falls well below 35%. SFU Beedie achieves this by recruiting more qualified women to apply through event sponsorships and referrals from alumni and corporate partners.

SFU Beedie is home to those who believe in the power of business to spark new ideas, fuel social innovations and advance society.

Through teaching and learning powered by world-class research, meaningful engagement and a global outlook, SFU Beedie takes business education beyond the walls of academia and empowers people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives to reimagine the role of business in tackling society’s most significant issues.

Its students learn by doing and have the freedom and space to explore their interests, discover their strengths and take risks in a collegial, supportive environment. Students collaborate within this diverse group on projects and inevitably learn from one another as they form a business network that will last a lifetime. SFU Beedie’s Segal Graduate School offers multiple options, each using a cohort model tailored to meet the demands of today’s professionals.

FULL-TIME MBA IN DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER With a small class and tight-knit cohort, the full-time MBA, which includes 12 months of academics and a four-month work term, helps students grow professionally and personally to realize their career potential. On average, 96% of its graduates have been able to find a job within three months after graduation.

EXECUTIVE MBA – CANADA’S FIRST EMBA For those who have already accomplished a lot in their careers, the EMBA is the catalyst that will give them the executive-level support and knowledge to unlock their full leadership potential. Students develop the confidence and capabilities to drive business strategy at the senior management level.

EXECUTIVE MBA IN INDIGENOUS BUSINESS AND LEADERSHIP Traditional protocols. New kinds of leadership. The EMBA Indigenous business and leadership program – the only one of its kind in North America – combines the latest business best practices with ancient Indigenous knowledge to support Nation-building. The program includes the core concepts and knowledge covered in most MBA programs, combined with a recognition that traditional knowledge plays a significant role in decision-making in Indigenous communities.

PART-TIME MBA IN SURREY Because students don’t have to quit their job to pursue the part-time MBA, they

can bring their learnings to the office and their work challenges to the classroom. Of the 2018 cohort, 48% received promotions within four months after graduation.

MANAGEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY MBA Optimized for tech, the management of technology MBA is the first of its kind in Canada and gives students all the cutting-edge business best practices they expect from a top-tier MBA, plus tools and contacts that will help them step into a leadership role in the technology sector.

ALUMNI NETWORK FOR LIFE Completing a program at SFU Beedie gives alumni lifetime membership into an exceptional group of more than 25,000 leaders, innovators and gamechangers around the world. Many SFU Beedie alumni remain highly engaged with the school, sharing their experience and expertise and giving back to the community. They are shaping the next generation of student talent by volunteering in a wide range of roles: as mentors, case competition coaches or judges, panellists at events and classroom speakers. Visit beedie.sfu.ca/graduate to learn more or take the quiz to find out which program is right for you.

LEADING THROUGH LEARNING Royal Roads’ doctor of business administration program the first of its kind in B.C.

An MBA laid a great foundation for a career, but what’s next?

Royal Roads University’s new doctor of business administration (DBA) is the first program of its kind in British Columbia. Launching in January 2020, the four-year blended online and on-campus program is designed for professionals who aspire to lead their field or sector. The Royal Roads DBA combines the academic research rigour of a traditional PhD with the applied focus of a professional doctorate. “The hybrid focus of the DBA offers learners a unique advantage,” says Royal Roads DBA program head Hassan Wafai. “While traditional doctorates prepare students to work in academic environments, the DBA responds to the changing Canadian labour market by preparing students to support industry as well.”

Delivered in a blended format composed of short intensive residencies at the beautiful Royal Roads campus on Vancouver Island, the DBA program allows students to gain a doctoral degree while maintaining a professional career. “The DBA program will produce scholar-practitioners who will contribute to the academic community while producing actionable knowledge. That is a very powerful combination,” says Wafai. In this program, students tackle a real-life management issue and contribute to the advancement of management research and practice. They join a community of management researchers whose work will impact management learning and practice. Course concentrations may include research and development, management practice, the knowledge economy and globalization. “The cohort you’ll be working with is significantly different than what you would traditionally find in a doctoral program,” says William Holmes, dean of the faculty of management. “You are working with mature people, with significant business problems they want to address. Your student relationship with supervisors and faculty develops as much more of a peer-to-peer relationship than

usually found in PhD programs.”

The research options are broad. Students can contribute to advancement of the Canadian knowledge economy by studying business innovation, technology and knowledge transfer, or bridge the gap between theory and practice with research into management practice and leadership. They can also approach research through an interdisciplinary lens and look at sustainability that incorporates economic prosperity, social advancement and environmental stewardship.

“I think it’s exciting and it’s practical,” says Holmes. “People who engage in this particular degree are doing so because they have a passion for an issue or a problem that they want to address.”

For more information about Royal Roads’ DBA program, to sign up for a free webinar or to check admission requirements and start dates, visit royalroads.ca/prospective-students/ doctor-business-administration.

SOURCE: ROYAL ROADS UNIVERSITY

Level up.

Top up.

At Royal Roads University, you’ll be inspired and challenged to level up your career and life, without putting either on hold. Truly impact your professional world and maximize your leadership potential through our Doctor of Business Administration program. It’s your time to turn it up, so shake it up, make it up and step-it-up. Next up? Sign up and buckle up.

DIFFERENT PROGRAMS FOR DIFFERENT GOALS TRU offers flexible, customizable programs with a global perspective

Everyone’s goals are different. Thompson Rivers University’s business graduate programs are different too. Students can learn on campus or online, part time or full time, and make the program their own.

FLEXIBLE AND ACCESSIBLE Students can choose to complete the program on campus or online, or they can combine online courses with on-campus learning to suit their individual work and life commitments. Part-time study options are also available, making it possible for busy working professionals to advance their leadership skills without putting their careers on hold. With no minimum professional work experience requirements, the TRU MBA is also a great choice for recent graduates and those just beginning their professions who want to fast-track their careers.

CHOICE The TRU MBA is designed to meet the needs of students, who can customize their learning experience with maximum flexibility and choice. The core courses of the MBA provide students with competency in all the major functional management areas of an organization, preparing graduates to manage effectively in today’s complex and rapidly changing business environment. The program offers a choice of completion options: the graduate project and thesis completion options allow students to focus on an area of interest in depth, while the course-based completion option provides a generalist program in advanced management topics.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE It is critical for leaders to understand and embrace the international business environment. Global perspectives are incorporated throughout the curriculum, and the diversity of the students and faculty further enhances the development of intercultural understanding. Graduates leave the program with a high degree of understanding of the cultures and business practices found around the world and a true empathy for all participants in our rapidly globalizing economy.

BRIDGE TO BUSINESS This series is an initiative designed to enhance the experience and knowledge gained in the classroom through experiential and executive learning opportunities while fostering collaborative relationships within the business community. Through Bridge to Business, graduate students will have the opportunity to learn, network and mentor with executives, professionals and community leaders.

LEARN AND LIVE ON CAMPUS Situated in the centre of Kamloops, TRU is near all the amenities available in this city of more than 90,000 people, including a vibrant arts and culture scene, shopping and some of the best four-season recreational activities in Canada. For more information and to apply, visit tru.ca/mba.

MASTER’S DEGREES IN ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT Now celebrating the programs’ first graduates, TRU’s master’s degrees in environmental economics and management prepare students to become leaders in environmental and fiscal responsibility and grow their career opportunities in sustainability management. These programs are interdisciplinary, combining business education with the study of economic sustainability, producing managers with a unique perspective. The master in environmental economics and management is a course-based degree, while the master of science in environmental economics and management consists of both coursework and research. Students with a business education background may be eligible for direct entry into the second year of the program, completing a master’s degree in 12 months. Career prospects include environmental management and policy development in the private and public sectors. For more information and to apply, visit tru.ca/eem.

SOURCE: THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY

SMALL CLASSES, WORLD-SIZED LESSONS TWU’s MBA teaches business students to effect positive change in the marketplace

The MBA program of the Trinity Western University School of Business features small classes to facilitate interactive, dynamic learning. Professors have a wealth of experience and desire to see each student thrive in their studies and excel in the workforce. To meet the needs of working professionals, the program can be customized to achieve individual goals and accommodate busy schedules. But the MBA goes beyond providing an amazing business education. In addition to becoming skilled organizational leaders, students become agents of positive change. Professors believe that profit is critical to the success of organizations – but only when made and managed with integrity.

Tom Spraggs, a 2013 MBA graduate who started his own law firm, says, “The reflections on ethical conduct in all aspects of business have been personally fulfilling and have provided a renewed appreciation that business can be both ethical and financially rewarding.”

In fact, the TWU School of Business is a member of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which sets business education standards and believes in creating a generation of leaders who strive for global prosperity – a concept that is woven into the fabric of TWU’s MBA.

MBA students at TWU also benefit from the university’s strong network of business alumni, with regular opportunities to be mentored and to glean from real-life experience.

SPECIALIZATIONS AND DELIVERY T he core MBA courses are taught in class at both the Langley and Richmond campuses. Beyond this, students can choose one of three specializations: international business, management of the growing enterprise, and non-profit and charitable organization management. Depending on the specialization, the degree can be completed in 12 to 18 months full time or in 21 months using a blended format.

The international business specialization, offered in both Richmond and Langley, is a 12-to-18-month full-time program. It explores the managerial skills and cultural intelligence that business leaders need to navigate the international market. Coursework includes global economic competitiveness, international business law, international finance and accounting, and cross-cultural leadership. Since students who enrol tend to come from all over the world, this specialization is known for being stimulating and insightful. Additionally, a two-and-a-half-week trip to an influential region of the world allows students to meet with company executives and receive a truly global education. The international business specialization is also offered in China, in partnership with Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, and takes about 18 months to complete.

To specialize in management of a growing enterprise, students can finish their MBA in 21 months. This specialization helps students become creative, confident entrepreneurs who can skilfully bring their ideas to market. Students work through case studies and learn about startup positioning; marketing and financing; competitive strategies to attract venture capital; and navigating legal challenges.

The non-profit and charitable organization management specialization is also delivered in a 21-month blended format. One of only two programs of its kind in Canada, this specialization prepares students to think innovatively as they

lead mission-driven organizations to greater impact, sustainability and social responsibility.

“I’ve been able to use the skills I acquired to take my organization’s mission to a higher level,” attests Laura Lansink (MBA 2010).

Students learn about formation and structure of non-profits and charities; management and leadership; legal issues for charities; financial management of non-profits; and grants, fundraising and non-profit marketing.

COSTS AND APPLICATION DEADLINES Tuition for the 12-to-18-month full-time MBA specializing in international business is $36,225 ($805 per semester hour), plus additional travel costs for the study trip. This specialization has a rolling entry throughout the year, allowing students to begin in any month.

Tuition for the 21-month MBA specializing in either managing the growing enterprise or non-profit and charitable organization management is $34,200 ($760 per semester hour). Students can start the program at the beginning of each term. T he most common entry point tends to be August. Scholarships are available. (Tuition rates typically increase in May for the following academic year.)

SOURCE: TRINITY WESTERN UNIVERSITY

AN EDUCATION THAT TRANSFORMS CAREERS UBC Sauder’s top-ranking, innovative programs equip students for professional success

The University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business empowers students to transform their careers. Ranked the No. 25 university in the world for business and economics by Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019 and the No. 1 business program in Canada by Maclean’s Un iversity Rankings 2019, UBC Sauder is the only Canadian member of the prestigious Global Network for Advanced Management, a collaboration of 30 top business schools spearheaded by the Yale School of Management.

FULL-TIME MBA The 16-month full-time MBA at UBC Sauder equips students to strategize like a CEO. Small class sizes and various mentorship programs allow students to focus on their career goals and to receive dedicated support to get there. Five career tracks are offered: technology analytics leadership; finance; product and service management; innovation and entrepreneurship; and a custom track tailored to individual career objectives. The innovative classroom curriculum offers hands-on experiences and opportunities to learn from senior business leaders, as well as courses in ethics and corporate responsibility. Each year students travel to destinations like Chile, Israel, China and Germany to consult on business opportunities with international organizations. Learn more at: sauder. ubc.ca/ftmba.

PROFESSIONAL MBA UBC Sauder’s part-time professional MBA propels careers without taking students away from work. The 24-month program is designed around a full-time work schedule: classes take place every two to three weekends, all exams are online, winter and summer breaks are included, and three separate eight-day professional residencies help students deepen their network. Through collaborative coursework and personalized career coaching, students develop an ethical leadership style, deepen their understanding of the inner workings of an organization and cultivate their strategic thinking skills. As a result, 90% of the students in the part-time MBA classes of the last three years have enhanced their careers by promotion or by changing companies or entire career paths. Learn more at: sauder.ubc. ca/pmba.

MASTER OF BUSINESS ANALYTICS The 12-month UBC master in business analytics (MBAN) is about much more than technical know-how; it captures the full analytics spectrum, including data management, data analytics and decision analytics. Students learn how to make strategically sound recommendations and data-driven business decisions – exactly what companies around the world need. UBC MBAN candidates acquire the professional skills to complement academic accomplishments. All candidates participate in a four-month internship to consult on an analytical challenge faced by a partner company or non-profit organization. Students can apply for two main internship streams: an analytics research project supervised by UBC Sauder’s renowned Centre for Operations Excellence or a traditional internship contributing to an analytics project on site at a partner company in Vancouver. Past industry partners include Telus, Boeing Vancouver and the Fraser Health Authority. With 91% of graduates achieving full-time employment within three months of graduation, the program offers an accelerated path to career success in the analytics field. Learn more at: sauder.ubc.ca/mban.

COSTS AND APPLICATION DEADLINES Full-time MBA: Runs August 2020 to December 2021. Cost for Canadian citizens and permanent residents: $49,419. Next application deadline: April 7, 2020. Professional MBA: Starts in January of an academic year; next intake is January 2021 to December 2022. Cost for Canadian citizens and permanent residents: $49,419. Applications for January 2021 entry will be accepted starting in early 2020.

Master of business analytics: Runs August 2020 to August 2021. Cost for Canadian citizens and permanent residents: $40,326. Next application deadlines: March 17, 2020, and April 28, 2020. Master of management: Runs August 2020 to May 2021. Cost for Canadian citizens and permanent residents: $30,203. Next application deadline: March 31, 2020.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES UBC Sauder offers a number of financial aid and support options for exceptional students, as well as dedicated scholarships for Canadian candidates. All students are evaluated for scholarships upon admission. Visit sauder.ubc.ca to learn more.

SOURCE: UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

FINDING THE CONFIDENCE TO SUCCEED UNBC’s MBA prepares students for the complex business world

A diverse learning model at the University of Northern British Columbia is providing MBA students the confidence to face their business challenges head-on. “The MBA at UNBC gave me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone,” says Shane Sienaert, a 2019 MBA graduate and wealth management director for Assante Wealth Management. “I now have the ability to create solutions to issues I might not have thought about before. After finishing the program, I am not intimidated by things I do not know.” UNBC’s MBA reflects the versatile skill set required of today’s business leaders, with the intent of preparing students for the complex business world. It covers a vast range of topics, including business and corporate strategy, managerial economics, accounting, corporate finance, organizational behaviour, marketing, operations management, strategy implementation, financial management and project management.

The diverse range of courses gives students the essential knowledge and understanding to navigate the business environment they work in.

“The knowledge that you gain you are able to immediately apply in the workforce,” says Andrea Born, an MBA alumna. “It makes you a better person. It makes you a better business person.” Beyond the various topics of study, students also find they benefit from being in a classroom with peers from diverse sectors. In fact, the MBA program places an emphasis on peer-to-peer learning through group work and is devoted to bringing together professionals from an assortment of fields. Graduates consistently state that being in a cohort with peers from different business backgrounds was the greatest advantage to them because they were able to experience new perspectives and acquire skills they would not have learned anywhere else. Being part of a unique cohort challenged them to think differently, try new things and connect what they learned to their own profession.

“The MBA will help you in any business to do things smarter,” says Sylvain Godbout, a 2017 MBA graduate. “It is a safe environment to try your argumentative self, to come out of your shell, to do things you are not normally comfortable

doing.”

Students also have the option to conduct a capstone project with support from their instructors. This practical learning opportunity enables them to apply

relevant theory to an actual challenge in their own company that they will work to overcome during their degree.

With the program offered in Prince George and Vancouver, students have the option to attend courses in either location, and those who travel for work are able to schedule class times around their career. Additionally, though it is a full-time degree, classes meet just one weekend a month, giving students even more flexibility to balance school with their personal and professional lives.

“Being a new father when I started the program there were other individuals that had families, so you really got to share that challenge with your cohort,” says Sienaert. “You could step up and help each other, or just know that sometimes it is tough to have a balance of everything and you are not alone.”

To learn more about the UNBC MBA, visit unbc.ca/mba or contact a program representative via email at mba@unbc.ca.

SOURCE: UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA

SETTING STUDENTS UP FOR SUCCESS VIU’s redesigned MBA emphasizes critical thinking, digital literacy and a growth mindset

The master in business administration program at Vancouver Island University is disrupting the traditional educational model. The recently redesigned MBA program draws heavily on active learning and boasts an integrated curriculum. Its goal is to ensure graduates can leverage the challenges of an increasingly complex, digital, interconnected world. The MBA at VIU equips students to act as global citizens by incorporating financial, social and environmental perspectives in organizational and business decisions. In addition to disciplinary knowledge around accounting, finance, management, economics and marketing, the program emphasizes critical thinking, ethical decision-making, technical/ digital literacy and developing a growth mindset.

SETTING STUDENTS UP FOR SUCCESS VIU’s faculty of management is defined by six fundamental values: teaching excellence, intimate class sizes, applied focus, faculty-student interaction, an international outlook and an unrelenting drive for academic and employment success. The MBA program begins with an introductory module that builds a strong learning cohort and a common foundation around intercultural and learning literacies. Students are given every opportunity to shine, empowered by career coaching, work-integrated learning, internships and hands-on experiences.

AN INTEGRATED LEARNING EXPERIENCE T he MBA learning pathway ref lects the increasingly integrated nature of management. A series of intensive modules are designed to build upon each other, incorporating critical elements of the business disciplines. The focus is student engagement with, and application of, knowledge to address the challenges of tomorrow’s business landscape. A two-week break at the conclusion of each semester ensures downtime to support knowledge retention, career exploration and optional field school opportunities. Upon successful completion of coursework, students undertake a four-month internship. Working with an industry mentor, they identify a significant organizational problem that will be used to

write an applied business project under faculty supervision.

DIGITAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL SAVVY The VIU MBA is one of the most technologically integrated programs in Canada with data analytics embedded in research courses and four dedicated, technology-focused courses. Students graduate with specialized expertise on how the digital and technological landscape influences an organization’s entire value chain, exploring phenomena such as surveillance capitalism and digital media management.

DYNAMIC GLOBAL SETTING MBA students at VIU experience a dynamic global setting with peers and faculty from all over the world. The diversity of the students and faculty provides a relevant global perspective for today’s business world. VIU faculty members bring a unique combination of industry-based expertise and international experience into the classroom, providing academic rigour to real-world examples and cases from their own experience.

V IU MBA graduates are confident leaders with the ability to navigate the complex, integrated nature of demanding careers that require a growth mindset and creative and critical thinking as foundational skill sets. VIU offers the ideal MBA program for the adventurous, the ambitious and those wanting to embrace the digital age. If you’re seeking a non-traditional MBA in Canada to prepare you for success, VIU’s MBA is the program for you.

SOURCE: VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY

LEAD AND SUCCEED in the digital age

Join us at Vancouver Island University for MBA studies in one of Canada’s most technologically integrated programs. Our redesigned MBA sets you up for success as a global leader in our increasingly complex, digital interconnected world.

• Teaching excellence • Intimate class sizes • Applied focus • International outlook • Career coaching • Hands-on learning

Apply now viu.ca/mba

5 QUESTIONS ON NEGOTIATION

WITH JILL TIPPING, CEO, BC TECH Have high expectations, ditch sunk costs and have a next-best option: three pieces of negotiating advice Jill Tipping shared at a recent BC Tech Women in Tech Series event. Tipping is the president and CEO of BC Tech, a diversity champion and a skilled negotiator. Here, she shares five insights on negotiation.

1. YOU AND BC TECH RECENTLY DELIVERED A WORKSHOP ON NEGOTIATION FOR WOMEN IN TECH. WHY IS NEGOTIATION A SKILL WORTH HONING?

Negotiation is a key life skill. Sometimes people think about negotiation in simplistic terms – like how to get a great price when we buy a car – but in reality it is much broader than that. I like to define negotiation in terms of relationships and give and take. What is the purpose of the relationship – what are we hoping to create together? And once we are clear on that it can get much easier to identify who will give what and who will take what to deliver that. You really need to make sure you’ve spent time on both value creation and on value capture. You’ll lose out on creating something truly worthwhile if you just fight for your slice of the pie. But on the other hand, you don’t want to be the master of value creation, none of which you capture for yourself. It has to be fair. We’ve had feedback that women are especially prone to feeling insecurity or stress when negotiating. So we wanted to provide skills training to get rid of the fear and equip people with practical strategies. It’s important in business to get not just any deal, but the best deal available – for everyone.

2. WHAT ARE THREE VALUABLE THINGS YOU’VE LEARNED ABOUT NEGOTIATION?

First, it’s important to have high expectations. You get the deal you think you deserve, so be sure to enter negotiations confident and secure in your abilities.

Second, focusing on sunk costs will get you nowhere. Instead, focus on the opportunity costs you may be able to leverage in your negotiations.

And last but not least, negotiation is not a zero-sum game. To get a good deal, we need optimal outcomes – there can be no good result if one side feels like they lost.

3. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A NEGOTIATION?

I spend a lot of time getting clear about what I really need and want in the situation. But then I spend at least as much time