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Goodman news: New and notable
More than 100 accountants, academics and students gathered at the Goodman School of Business in February to discuss the future of accounting.
By Jocelyn Titone
The need for critical thinking and communication skills was a recurring topic of discussion at the Future of Accounting Symposium hosted by the CPA Ontario Centre for Public Policy.
The symposium, which was held in the Goodman Atrium in February, featured a mix of panel discussions and presentations from practitioners and academics from across Canada. Topics ranged from analytics and social issues to innovative technology, such as artificial intelligence.
“Employers are looking for people who can engage and adapt quickly in a fast-paced world,” said Andrew Gaudes, Dean of the School. “It’s not about the technical skillset as much as it is about the human experience. As educators, we’re looking to provide opportunities for students to develop critical thinking and emotional intelligence, while still addressing students’ educational interests, such as innovation, data analytics and sustainability.”
During a panel discussion about the future of accounting, Mark Squire (BAcc ’05, MAcc ’07), a partner with Crawford, Smith and Swallow Inc., said automation benefits entry-level accounting professionals because it eliminates boring and menial tasks.
“Entry-level positions are starting at a higher level than ever before,” he said. “As a co-op student, I did a lot of data entry. Now, co-op students jump right into the exciting parts of analysis, interpretation and discussing results with clients.”
Automation and new technologies are scary for some, said event organizer Jennifer Li, who is also a Goodman professor and Director of the CPA Ontario Centre for Public Policy and Innovation in Accounting. But there is potential for accounting professionals to take on new roles in the industry.
“Artificial intelligence may improve assurance quality. However, there will be a need to ensure the technology is working properly and ethically,” she said. “We’re all confused about technology’s implications about the future of accounting. The symposium was one way to face the issue head on, get a bit uncomfortable and share ideas for how we can all move forward for the overall betterment of the industry.”
NEW PARTNERSHIP EXPANDS DOUBLE DEGREE PROGRAM TO THE UNITED KINGDOM
By Kaitlyn Little
Brock University business students can now study and work in the United Kingdom thanks to a new partnership with Lancaster University.
The agreement allows students from the Goodman School of Business to study at the Lancaster University
Management School (LUMS) as part of Goodman’s
Bachelor of Business Administration Co-op International
Double Degree program.
The double degree program offers undergraduate students the chance to study and work abroad. They earn degrees from two universities for the price of tuition at Brock.
“LUMS is highly respected and is in great alignment with the programs that Goodman offers in terms of our shared values of corporate social responsibility and commitment to global engagement,” Goodman Dean Andrew Gaudes said.
Students starting Goodman’s double degree program in September will be the first cohort to choose Lancaster as their preferred international university. The program includes two years of study at each university and a co-op placement in both Canada and the U.K.
Both Brock and Lancaster are members of the International Partnership of Business Schools, a network of 13 partner schools that promotes language and cultural fluency alongside business aptitude through double degree programs.
“Welcoming these top students from our partner schools into Goodman classrooms adds a diverse and important international perspective,” Gaudes said. “The program benefits our students studying both at Brock and abroad.”
Lancaster University, United Kingdom.
FEMALE BUSINESS LEADERS SHARE ADVICE, EXPERIENCES AT THE RISE PANEL
By Jocelyn Titone
Work-life balance, adapting to change and following passions were some of the topics discussed at The Rise, a panel in recognition of International Women’s Day.
Hosted by the Brock Women in Business student group in the Goodman Atrium in March, the second annual event provided students with the opportunity to network with female business leaders, who have diverse experiences across several industries. Students also heard first-hand how the women rose to the challenge of being in a male-dominated business world.
“I’ve lost five potential client jobs because of the gender challenge,” said Crystal D’Cunha, CEO of The Insider View Inc. “I often say you have to fail fast, forward and famously so you can learn from the challenges and make adjustments.”
Kiran Prashad, Executive Vice-President of DAG Group, shared how she set visionary goals for herself to climb the ranks. Over more than 30 years with the same company, Prashad held 15 different roles and progressed from an account co-ordinator to vice-president.
“I hustled,” she said. “At times, it was incredibly hard for me to build a career and raise two kids at the same time. But now I run the largest revenue-generating and client relationship office in New York City and am financially independent.”
Prior to the panel discussion, more than 20 student leaders participated in small, informal discussion groups with one of the four panelists.
“It allowed for more intimate conversations in the small groups, as well as exploration of overarching questions in the panel discussion,” said Shania Walden, a fourth-year Business Administration student and President of Brock Women in Business.
“Many students don’t know what to expect when they enter the business world, so the event was a nice stepping stone to ask questions and learn from experienced female business professionals.”
The Rise panelists. From left, Jayna Sutaria, third-year Business
Administration student and Vice-President of Events for Brock
Women in Business; Shania Walden, fourth-year Business
Administration student and President of Brock Women in
Business; Kiran Prashad, Executive Vice-President of DAG Group;
Crystal D'Cunha, CEO of The Insider View Inc.; Seema Iyer,
Founder and Owner of Sat Yuga Life; and Karen Thompson, IT
Team Lead, BI and Analytics Canada at John Deere Canada ULC.
MBA PROGRAM RECEIVES CIM ACCREDITATION
By Allison Ives
Goodman expanded its CIM accreditation this past January to include the MBA program, with the BBA program receiving reaccreditation as well.
The accreditation from CIM Chartered Managers Canada’s National Centre for Management Accreditation (NCMA) recognizes Goodman’s programs as satisfying the educational requirements for the Certified in Management (CIM) and Chartered Manager (CMgr) professional designations.
The CIM designation signifies that its holder has completed a rigorous business education and demonstrated competence and skill in management and administration, including areas such as management operations, accounting, strategy and leadership.
The MBA program has a reputation for teaching students the skills desired by employers. The CIM accreditation means students will enjoy a more streamlined application process for the CIM and CMgr designations after they graduate. “It’s a bonus for students,” said Mohsen Alghazali, Goodman’s Accreditations and Quality Assurance Manager. “Accreditation does not change their learning, but it opens doors for them after they leave Goodman.”
Brock University hosted its first applicant reception tailored to Goodman students at Spark
Power Corporation in Oakville.
By Allison Ives
This winter saw Brock University’s first applicant reception tailored to new Goodman School of Business students.
Held at Spark Power Corporation in Oakville in March, the event guided applicants through the steps needed to accept their offer, register and set themselves up for success at Brock.
Cristina Greco (BA ’18), Goodman Recruitment Co-ordinator, positioned the event to showcase the School’s thriving alumni network and reputation for fostering employability in its students.
“Although it's important for incoming students to meet current students, we wanted to demonstrate our strong alumni connection,” Greco said. “I think it's an important factor students should consider when choosing a post-secondary institution.”
Hosting the event at Spark Power was a natural fit. Jason Sparaga (BBA ’94), the company’s Co-CEO and Co-Founder, is a Goodman graduate and past member of the School’s Dean’s Advisory Council. His firm has hired numerous Brock co-op students and alumni, and has been involved with Goodman events, including sponsoring Monster Pitch, a student business pitch competition inspired by Dragon’s Den.
Anthony Marotta (BBA ’14), Spark Power’s Director of Mergers and Acquisitions, and former Chair of the Goodman Alumni Network, helped Greco organize the event.
NEW EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAM OFFERS HANDS-ON CONSULTING EXPERIENCE
By Jocelyn Titone
Students interested in a consulting career have a new opportunity to gain experience and knowledge.
The Goodman School of Business Consulting Pathway is a non-credit extracurricular program that provides business students with hands-on training from faculty members and industry experts through workshops, events, projects and by working as a consultant for a startup business.
The program is a partnership between the School’s Communications and Engagement Office and Goodman Group, its community-focused learning and development services provider.
There are three phases to the program that students must complete. First, they’re trained in areas including business case competitions, presentation etiquette and case-based interviews. Next, select students receive further customized training before being divided into teams and matched with a startup company receiving services from
Business Students’
Association President and fourth-year Accounting student Manvir Brar presents a $3,000 cheque to Betty-Lou Souter, CEO of Community Care of St.
Catharines and Thorold, at the student group’s inaugural Goodman Gives
Back Gala fundraiser. GOODMAN GALA RAISES $3,000 FOR COMMUNITY CARE By Allison Ives Goodman Gives Back Gala, a hybrid networking dinner and charity fundraiser. The event was a culmination of activities the student group hosted throughout the 2019-20 academic year in support of Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold and where the BSA formally presented $3,000 in fundraising proceeds to the Niagara not-for-profit.
“Community Care is extremely grateful to the BSA for their continued support,” said Betty-Lou Souter, Community Care CEO. "Over the years, the agency and the BSA have partnered together to make a difference in the community through various projects and initiatives. This new event has taken the relationship to a new level, which is extremely rewarding at this very challenging time. The BSA’s donation gives the agency the ability to ensure food security for those in need.”
For BSA President Manvir Brar, the gala represented a change in direction for his team, which was committed to revitalizing its support for Community Care and incorporating community involvement elements into each event they ran for the year.
“It’s a simple way to have people feel more involved with the School and feel like what they’re doing is contributing to something bigger while also providing them with the professional experience they need in, say, a networking environment,” he said.
Attendees networked with Goodman alumni as well as BSA sponsors Desjardins, Wealthsimple and Front Row Ventures. Goodman Group's Venture Development division. They then spend several months working on a consulting project in areas such as business strategy, human resources, marketing and sales, or finance before formally presenting their recommendations to the company.
Once students successfully complete the first two phases, they have an opportunity to become paid consultants with Goodman Group’s Consulting Services division.
Abdul Rahimi, Goodman Group Director, said the program benefits students, startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with which they work.
“While students gain the hands-on experience desired by consulting firms, the startups receive a high-value service,” Rahimi said. “High-calibre students get the opportunity to work on consulting projects for SMEs. Goodman School of Business staff and faculty members work alongside select students to provide high-quality
This past March, the Business Students’ Association (BSA) held their inaugural
consulting services to SMEs at a fraction of the cost of the Top 4 consulting firms.”
Twenty-seven employees from Pathstone Mental
Health participated in Goodman Group’s custom Healthcare
Business Management
Certificate.
By Kaitlyn Little
Acustom-designed program for Niagara’s mental health leaders celebrated a milestone in January: its first round of graduates. The partnership between Pathstone Mental Health and Brock University’s Goodman School of Business created a 12-week professional development program that focuses on key aspects of strategic planning, change management, leadership, performance management, communication and teamwork in the mental health sector.
Developed by Goodman Group’s Professional Development Office, the Healthcare Business Management Certificate was designed to support Pathstone’s unique needs, training 27 Pathstone employees in its inaugural class.
“We were proud to develop and deliver this program that takes a transdisciplinary approach to management development and supports the wonderful work that Pathstone is doing in our community,” said Abdul Rahimi, Goodman Group Director.
The program builds on the partnership between Brock and Pathstone established last year.
Bill Helmeczi, Pathstone Director of Strategic Planning, Standards and Practices, said the program addresses the organization’s commitment to better support those it serves.
“The training in leadership health care is an excellent example of this commitment, Helmeczi said. “Goodman Group worked with us to flesh out a curriculum that would provide a level of management insight and expertise to meet this need.”
