Viewpoints, Spring 2013 - Sauder School of Business by UBC Sauder School of Business

THE TUUM EST ISSUE

A magazine for alumni and friends of the Sauder School of Business at UBC

SPRING 2013 • VOLUME 33 • NO 1

Inside:

10 alumni and how they’ve brought

UBC’s motto

Our new dean Prof. Robert Helsley returns to lead the Sauder School of Business

to life

Together, we’re rewriting the rules of business. Get inspired at rewritetherules.ca

It’s time for business to go global and change the world.

Dominykas M Minsk, Belarus

It’s time for business to become more emotionally intelligent and focus on trust and respect.

James C Hong Kong SAR of China

Tomorrow’s leaders must create change proactively, not try to manage it retrospectively.

Shaun C

Tomorrow’s leaders must be aware of their personal values to better serve their community.

Minerva F

Success is measured by failing fast & designing ventures to solve problems people care about.

Paul C Vancouver. Canada Area

Success is measured by the future generations you are able to shape and inspire.

Enzo W Vancouver, Canada Area

Success is measured by one’s willingness to learn and their ambition.

Davy V Manchester. United Kingdom

Tomorrow’s leaders must be flexible enough to connect the dots to solve problems.

Catherine M Toronto, Canada Area

It’s time for business to reward employees for good ideas and not just good service.

Fang Fang L China

It’s time for business to focus on social and political issues that are central to business.

Punit L Dehra Dun Area, India

Success is measured by how much employees rave about their company when they’re not at work.

Wade C Saint Albert, Alberta

Tomorrow’s leaders must learn to care for the people they work with.

Felicia L Selangor, Malaysia

The Tuum Est Issue

IN EVERY ISSUE

Viewpoints

Sauder Index

Newsworthy

Actuals

Tuum Est, UBC’s motto, is often translated as “It is yours” (A gift? A possession?), but also “It is up to you” (An admonition? An invitation?). This paradox is not just one of Latin translation; it is the paradox of knowledge and endeavour, indeed of life. We explore the paradox in this issue of Viewpoints.

Insider Information

Earning Interest

Class Notes

Points of View

Alumni in Focus

MARK MUSHET

The cairn on our cover was built at the conclusion of The Great Trek, a parade from downtown Vancouver to Point Grey that took place on October 28, 1922 and marked the culmination of a campaign organized and led by UBC students to persuade the provincial government to complete the University’s Point Grey campus. It would be the first completed structure at the University’s new home. At the dedication ceremony after The Great Trek, Campaign chairman A.E. Richards noted: “The building of the Cairn to me is full of meaning. It stands for the combined efforts of 1,178 students. Each rock represents a personal contribution in a worthy and just cause. As the mason with his trowel shapes and cements the rocks together into a complete and unified whole so the Campaign has bound the student body together by a bond as strong as the very granite itself.” The base and sides of the cairn, built of stones gathered from around the construction site, were completed before the ceremony. Into its hollow centre the students threw stones they had collected themselves before and during The Great Trek. A written account of the publicity campaign was placed inside, the top was completed, and the monument sealed.The inscription on the north side of the cairn reads: “TO THE GLORY OF OUR ALMA MATER STUDENT CAMPAIGN 1922-23.”

alumni@sauder.ubc.ca UBC Commerce/Sauder School of Business Alumni Twitter.com/ViewpointsMag twitter.com/ubcsauderschool linkedin.com/company/sauderschool-of-business-at-ubc

17 Tuum Est: what does it mean?

Meet the skateboarder, the philanthropist, the software dreamer, the bike polo entrepreneur, the world changer, the Olympic skier, the wish granter, the bookish fashion designer, the Monet-collecting lawyer and the healthcare-and-bagel vendor: ten Sauder graduates talk about what Tuum Est has meant to them, in good times and bad, success and mishaps, business and personal life.

Big 4 Conference Centre opens

Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers support penthouse conference centre at Sauder.

Being the change they wish to see in life Seven fledgling ventures have been taken under the wing of Sauder’s ISIS Research Centre, thanks to a $1 million gift from Coast Capital Savings. See how these enthusiastic, progressive social entrepreneurs are trying to change their lives and yours.

Volunteer program unites alumni New volunteer initiative, launched in Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Hong Kong, gives alumni more than 40 ways to get involved with Sauder after graduation.

Sauder Business Clubs: New leaders step up Newly minted Sauder Business Club presidents in Toronto, Vancouver and Hong Kong give alumni more than 40 ways to get involved with Sauder after graduation.

VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

VIEWPOINTS FROM THE DEAN

OUR MISSION FOR VIEWPOINTS Viewpoints Magazine is designed to nurture dialogue and relationships with our alumni and friends by ensuring that you continue to enjoy the practical benefits of the school’s leading-edge business thinking. Viewpoints presents news, research and commentary that demonstrate the ability of our faculty and our graduates to define the future of business and to open doors for those who are connected to the Sauder School of Business. Your thoughts about this mission are always welcome.

Find success, do what you love During my first year as dean of the Sauder School, it has been my pleasure to travel extensively to connect with members of the School’s vibrant global community.

EDITORIAL Dale Griffin EXECUTIVE EDITOR Cristina Calboreanu EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jennifer Wah MANAGING EDITOR

IN MY TRAVELS, I HAVE MADE IT A PRIORITY TO

SPRING 2013 VIEWPOINTS

DESIGN Brandon Brind CREATIVE DIRECTOR Deana De Ciccio, Karen Cowl GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

PRODUCTION Spencer MacGillivray PRODUCTION MANAGER

MARK MUSHET

meet as many of Sauder’s alumni as I can. As our largest and most connected stakeholder group, our alumni are truly the extended family of the School. I’ve set out to explore and appreciate the lives of our graduates, whether they are in Vancouver or Hong Kong, Toronto or London, or in any one of the 77 countries around the globe our alumni call home. The first thing that struck me about the scores of graduates that I’ve met is the extraordinary level of professional excellence they strive for and achieve. They are leaders in their fields across almost every industry. Career success seems to be a defining factor of a Sauder graduate. However, I have also learned that there is a second important quality that defines our graduates—the desire to give back to the greater community. Among the stories in this edition of Viewpoints, which is guided by the theme Tuum Est (“It is up to You” or “It is Yours”), are some outstanding examples of alumni who are making a meaningful contribution to improving civil society with the tools of business and management. One such profile is of BCom graduate Nolan Watson, whom I met only a few weeks ago. A remarkably successful young entrepreneur whose venture is making a tremendous impact in the mining industry, Watson sees himself as a humanitarian first. He walked me through how he started his thriving Sierra Leone-based charity, Nations Cry, and it became immediately apparent that the strategic planning skills he used to drive his humanitarian achievements find their roots in the perspectives gained from solving business problems.

He is joined in this issue by nine other alumni, including Jon Stettner, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish International, a charity striving to bring joy to sick children; Julia Fan Li, who is helping to create a new social venture fund to tackle infectious diseases in Africa; and Ken Sim, whose in-home health care service focuses on compassion as the key to success. It is extremely gratifying for me to know that Sauder is training people who understand and embrace their roles as agents of positive change, both in their professional and civic lives. They are following their hearts, doing what they love, and thriving personally and professionally. As Steve Jobs said, “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you do.” ■ Sincerely,

Robert Helsley, Dean

Viewpoints Magazine is produced by Forwords Communication Inc. and published by the Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia 2053 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2 Tel: 604-822-8555, Fax: 604-822-0592. Viewpoints is published regularly for alumni and friends of the Sauder School of Business. We welcome the submission of ideas and articles for possible publication in Viewpoints Magazine. Email: viewpoints@sauder.ubc.ca For an online version of Viewpoints, visit www.sauder.ubc.ca.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS Send change of address to Alumni Relations Office, fax: 604-822-0592 or email to alumni@sauder.ubc.ca ©Copyright 2013, Sauder School of Business. Editorial material contained in Viewpoints Magazine may be freely reproduced provided credit is given. ISSN 089-2388. Canada Post. Printed in Canada.

EDITORIAL BOARD Dale Griffin (Chair), Sheila Biggers, Bruce Wiesner

CONTRIBUTORS Cristina Calboreanu, Lorraine Chan, Allan Jenkins, Claudia Kwan, Spencer MacGillivray, Erica Smishek, Jennifer Wah, Leanna Yip, Kate Zimmerman PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40063721 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO ALUMNI RELATIONS, SAUDER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA, 800 ROBSON STREET, VANCOUVER, BC V6Z 3B7 This issue of Viewpoints was printed in Canada using vegetable-based inks. The paper is also certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®). The use of their logo assures the end user that the forest-to-consumer process is responsible, and that the product comes from a forest-friendly source.

The Sauder Index BY

JENNIFER WAH

First (and only) year bike polo appeared as an Olympic exhibition sport: 1908, London First rule of bike polo: “Don’t be a [jerk]”

Number of other schools in the world with Tuum Est as a motto: 3 (Quebec, Ontario and Papua New Guinea) Most common Latin words used in English: Alibi, alumni, ego

Most common first job title for business school graduates: Analyst Rank of business major in starting salaries: #2, at $57,132 Major in #1 place, at $59,471: Marketing

Total UBC alumni: 280,000 Total new Sauder BCom graduates in 2012: 655 MBAs: 157 Year of largest class of BCom graduates: 678, in 2011 Size of 1985 Sauder BCom class: 373 Largest graduate business school in the world, by number of graduates: Hult

Rank of Canada from the 2012 World Giving Index (based on donating, volunteering and helping a stranger): 3 China rank: 141 Most giving country in the world: Australia

Dollar amount returned to charitable projects focused on child vaccination and poverty, by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2012: US$1.5 billion Five wealthiest non-profit charitable foundations by endowment: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (US$37.4 bn), Stichting INGKA Foundation (US$36 bn), Wellcome Trust (US$22.1 bn), Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US$16.1 bn), Ford Foundation (US$10.3 bn).

Number of cairns on the UBC campus: 3 Last time one was destroyed: 1988, when Forestry students demolished the Engineers’ Cairn with a backhoe. Number of stones in The Great Trek Cairn (see cover): 1,178, one for each student who trekked from downtown to Point Gray in 1922 to urge the provincial government to finish the UBC campus.

VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

NEWSWORTHY SAUDER IN THE NEWS

New research shows it’s better when bosses pick favourites A new study on office politics lead by Professor Karl Aquino made headlines in The Wall Street Journal, The Globe and Mail and The Times of India. The research suggests that bosses should pick favourites if they want top performing teams. “Conventional wisdom tells us that we should treat everyone the same to create a collegial and productive work atmosphere,” says Aquino, who co-authored the study for the Journal of Business Ethics. “But our research shows this can be a disincentive for workers who would otherwise go above and beyond on behalf of the team with a little bit of extra attention.” ■

Professor argues Canada should take US lead on marijuana In an op-ed written for the National Post on Canada’s current marijuana policy, Associate Professor Werner Antweiler, of the Strategy and Business Economics Division, looks across the border. Antweiler argues, with co-author Professor Evan Wood of the Faculty of Medicine, that some US states are leading the way on progressive drug policy, in particular with the move to legalize, control and tax marijuana use in Colorado and Washington. He also notes that Canada has fallen behind the US in terms of enforcing existing laws governing marijuana prohibition. ■

SPRING 2013 VIEWPOINTS

UBC MBA the focus of numerous features The UBC MBA program was highlighted in several feature articles in the national media. The Financial Post focused on how Sauder’s Robert H. Lee Graduate School is supporting diversity. Canadian Business’s 2012 MBA-focused issue included a feature Q&A with Associate Dean Murali Chandrashekaran on the relevance of MBAs. The Globe and Mail showcased the UBC MBA in numerous stories, including an interview with Associate Dean Chandrashekaran on the importance of creativity in the revamped UBC MBA. Other Globe articles included Assistant Professor Tim Silk discussing the use of case studies and Associate Dean Chandrashekaran explaining the global immersion component of the UBC MBA. ■

Professor comments on new carbon cap-and-trade regulations Associate Professor James Tansey participated in a Globe and Mail Q&A about carbon offsets after California and Quebec became the first jurisdictions in North America to adopt carbon cap-and-trade regulations under the Western Climate Initiative. Tansey responds to the assumption that carbon offsets let industry and governments take a “business as usual” approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He further explains that there is a globally recognized standard for carbon offsets. ■

Deadline has big impact on rebate behaviour, marketing professor finds In “A Roundtable on Rebates,” which aired on National Public Radio on August 28, Assistant Marketing Professor Tim Silk discussed his research on rebate behaviour. Silk’s research investigates if people are influenced by rebates offered with a purchase and whether they follow through and redeem them. After a study involving rebates for movie passes, he found that the more time people are given to redeem a rebate, the more attractive the offer looks. However, the more time people had, the less likely they were to actually follow through with collecting a rebate. ■

Inviting customer complaints can kill business The Financial Post covered a new Sauder study which shows that giving customers a chance to complain can be a bad idea if customers believe they’re to blame for a product’s failure. “It’s commonly assumed that giving customers a chance to voice grievances allows companies to maintain relationships,” says Marketing Professor Darren Dahl, who co-authored the Journal of Marketing study with PhD student Lea Dunn. “But our research shows that when a person feels implicated in a product’s failure—think building Ikea furniture—they’re more likely to shift blame to the product when complaining and increase ill will towards it.” ■

Prof. Darren Dahl impresses judges in The Economist’s Professor of the Year teach-off Professor Darren Dahl can reflect on an impressive appearance in the final round of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Business Professor of the Year Award. The March 14 event involved a live contest that pitted the final four contenders for the global award in a face-to-face teach-off in front of both an in-person and online audience. Online viewers of the teach-off voted Dahl as their favourite professor and the four contest judges also gave him top marks for his lecture on creativity in business. Chair of the judging panel William Ridgers, Business Education Editor, The Economist, commented, “He [Dahl] particularly impressed the judges with his vibrancy and his enthusiasm and also the personal connections that he built up with all of his students, one of whom remarked that he brought an energy and life to the classroom that he’d never seen before.” In addition to Ridgers, the judging panel included John Beck, Professor, Hult International Business School, and Managing Director, Hult Labs; Peter M. Felix, CBE, President, Association of Executive Search Consultants; Astrid S. Tuminez, Regional Director (Legal and Corporate Affairs), Microsoft, and Adjunct Professor and former Vice-Dean, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy; and Adrian Wooldridge, Management Editor, The Economist. The online vote results and the judges’ comments were presented to the in-room audience, who had the option of taking these into account when deciding which professor came out top. Their decision awarded the title to Vijay Sethi, Professor in the Department of Information Technology and Operations Management at Nanyang Business School, NTU, Singapore, who delivered a lecture on the subject of Digital Networks, Dynamics of Network-Based Industries. The other two finalists were Johanne Brunet, Associate Professor, Director of the Marketing Department and Associate Member of the

Screen shots from the video One Last Push.

To see the entire video, visit http://www.sauder.ubc.ca/News/2013/One_last_push_Dahl_up_for_The_Economists_ Prof_of_the_Year.

Carmelle and Rémi-Marcoux Chair in Arts Management at HEC Montréal; and Kevin Kaiser, Professor of Management Practice and Director of the Transition to General Management at INSEAD. The global search for world’s best began in October 2012, with a student-driven nomination process. In a second round of online voting, Dahl shot to the top 10 of 222 nominated professors from 31 universities around the world.

Dahl’s appearance in the final four comes quickly after his recent naming as one of 10 Canadian professors to receive the 2013 3M National Teaching Fellows Award—the country’s most prestigious prize for teaching excellence. ■

To learn more about Sauder in the news, visit www.sauder.ubc.ca

VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

ACTUALS SEEN AND HEARD IN THE SAUDER WORLD

Sauder takes top seeds at Enterprize 2013 Students from the Sauder BCom course New Venture Design swept the top three spots in the recent Enterprize Canada National Business Plan Competition, held February 8 to 10 in downtown Vancouver. Agile Monitoring Equipment took first with their technology aimed at solving the problem of leaks in oil pipelines. Developed in New Venture Design, which partners business and engineering students, the device uses micro sensors inside a pipeline to map the size of holes and alert operators. The team consists of Sauder BCom students Shaan Narang, Michal Luptak and Diana Hu and UBC Engineering students Daryl Pritchard, Brad Bycraft and Nathan Chan. Last month, the team also won first place at the BMO APEX Business Plan Competition. Team Aasith, founded by BCom students Beverley Cheng, Monica McMahen and Sean Fleming, and engineering students Davis Wuolle, Colin Daw and André Herath, came in second. Their product Quick Dry Bag, a product that safely dries a suit within two hours, enables competitive swimmers to race in several heats during the course of a day using their fastest suit possible. SoundIt, a mobile app using a ranking system to create a playlist for customers’ favorite bars, pubs and venues, grabbed third place. The product was created by BCom students Sonal Haria, Douglas Cheung and Eric Seto, and engineering students Anuj Mehta, Nick Adams and Samuel Chan. Thirty schools from across Canada competed at the Enterprize Canada Business Plan Competition, a part of Enterprize Canada’s Entrepreneurship Conference, which connects young Canadian entrepreneurs with industry professionals. ■

The International Business Conference turns 20 Sauder’s International Business Conference celebrated its 20th anniversary on November 23 at its annual event at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Over its 20-year history, the International Business Conference has established itself as a must-attend event for both students and business professionals due to its phenomenal speakers who highlight new international business trends and issues. It exposes young student minds to the insights and experiences of world-class business leaders while at the same time equipping members of the Vancouver business community with up-to-date knowledge about trends in the global economy. Every year, the conference brings speakers and panelists from a multitude of different industries and fields ranging from government operations and international relations to global strategists as CEOs of international corporations. For its 20th anniversary, the conference, themed “G20: World Economies,” explored the future of three of the most dynamic regions of the G20—European Union, the “Tiger Economies” of Southeast Asia, and the US, looking at changes in each area and current events that will have pivotal impacts on the future. Conference speakers included Glen Hodgson, Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist, Conference Board of Canada; Yuwa HedrickWong, Global Economic Advisor, Mastercard; Jeremy Kinsman, former Ambassador to EU and High Commissioner to UK; and Fiona Macfarlane, Managing Partner and Chief Inclusiveness Officer, Ernst & Young LLP. ■

BCom students soar at international business case competitions BCom teams, both coached by Associate Professor Kin Lo, have nabbed first and a second place wins in recent international business case competitions. BCom students Conor Clarance, Jayden Jiang, Monique Wong and Paulina Aksenova took first at the Marshall International Case Competition, which was held from February 12 to 16. Hosted by the Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, it is the world’s largest and longest running undergraduate case competition. “It’s probably the most competitive event of its kind with 30 business schools participating by invitation only,” says Lo. BCom students Dan Barak, Daria Panteleeva, Enrique Cacho and Winda Fung placed second at the Champions Trophy Case Competition, hosted by the University of Auckland Business School from January 27 to February 2. Twelve business schools, including University of California, Berkeley and the National University of Singapore, were invited based on winning or placing in a top-tier international competition in the past year. ■

SPRING 2013 VIEWPOINTS

Family Legacy Series Dinner features the Running Room family “Create an environment in which your staff doesn’t know whether they’re working or playing and stick to your core competencies,” says John Stanton, describing how his retail chain the Running Room continues to surpass its competitors. This philosophy helped make his family-owned Calgary-based business North America’s largest specialty running and walking retailer. It has also earned him the spotlight at the 2012 Family Legacy Series Gala Dinner hosted by the Sauder School of Business’s Business Families Centre on October 25, 2012 at the Westin Bayshore. A major fundraiser for the Business Families Centre, the annual dinner drew more than 400 guests. The event gives Canada’s top performing business families the opportunity to share their experiences of how they work together and transfer knowledge across generations, providing a model for other family enterprises to emulate. Stanton and his two sons, John and Jason, his partners for the last seven years, took the stage at the event to provide insights into the inner workings of the Running Room and their family dynamic which has allowed it to thrive. For Stanton, it all began with a three-kilometre fun run with his young sons. Inspired to change his lifestyle, he went from a 238-pound chain smoker to an accomplished runner, completing several marathons and triathlons, including the Hawaiian World Championship Ironman.

When struggling to find a shoe retailer with deep knowledge of running, Stanton got the idea to open a store that made expertise in the sport its hallmark. In 1984, the Running Room was born in Edmonton in a one-room store in an old house shared with a hairdressing shop. The company now stands as one of Canada’s most successful familyowned businesses, with 114 stores across Canada and the US. In 2007, the Running Room’s success was recognized with a “Canada’s 50 Best Managed Companies” award, and it was inducted into both the Canadian Retail Hall of Fame and the Alberta Business Hall of Fame. Since 2001, the Business Families Centre’s Family Legacy Series Dinner has featured numerous leading Canadian business families, including the McLean family, owners of one of BC’s leading family-owned and operated conglomerates; the Beedie Family, the largest landlord of industrial space in BC; the Foord family, owners of Kal-Tire, Canada’s largest independent tire dealer; and the Molson family, owners of the Molson family of beverages. Sauder’s Business Families Centre was created in 2001 with the support of more than 30 founding business families. A leader in the field, the Centre is known for its comprehensive research and academic programs, addressing issues such as succession planning, wealth management, family dynamics and governance. ■

In 1984, the Running Room was born in Edmonton in a one-room store in an old house shared with a hairdressing shop.

CCBC awards Sauder for education excellence

Sauder receives $1M from Coast Capital Savings to propel social ventures

The Sauder School of Business won silver in the “Education Excellence” category at the Canada China Business Council’s (CCBC) Business Excellence Awards held in Montreal on November 27. Sauder received the award for demonstrating achievement in delivering success in areas including research partnerships, recruitment, student/faculty exchanges, alumni relations, institutional linkages and executive training. Established in 1978, CCBC acts as a facilitator and catalyst for Canada-China bilateral trade and investment. ■

Social entrepreneurs will benefit from a $1 million contribution from Coast Capital Savings to the Sauder School of Business. The funding, announced on September 26, will establish the Coast Capital Savings Innovation Hub, an accelerator program supporting early stage ventures devoted to solving social and environmental problems using for-profit business models. Led by the ISIS Research Centre, the initiative will provide working space, mentoring from faculty, alumni and industry experts, and support from Sauder students paired with ventures as interns. ■ Read more about the Coast Capital Savings Innovation Hub on page 36 >>

VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

ACTUALS SEEN AND HEARD IN THE SAUDER WORLD

Arlene Dickinson talks about persuasion On February 21, 2013, Scotiabank, in partnership with UBC Alumni Affairs and the Sauder School of Business, presented “In Conversation with Arlene Dickinson” at the Scotiabank Theatre in downtown Vancouver. Over 400 UBC alumni and members of the Vancouver business community came together for the sold-out event featuring Arlene Dickinson, Scotiabank Business Champion and CEO of Venture Communications. In a conversation hosted by Darren Dahl, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty & Research at the Sauder School, Dickinson discussed the power of persuasion, the role it has played in getting her to where she is today, and where she hopes it will take her in the future. She argued that the most compelling persuasion is grounded in integrity and results in mutual benefit. She noted that effective persuasion is based on influence rather than manipulation, uses motivation instead of harassment, and relies on information instead of deception. One of Canada’s most renowned independent marketing communications entrepreneurs, Dickinson became a partner in Venture Communications in 1988 and sole owner in 1998, and has grown the company into a strategic and creative powerhouse for a blue-chip client list, which includes Toyota (Prairie Region), Cenovus Energy, Travel Alberta, Mayo Clinic, Brookfield Residential and Husky Energy. Since 2007, she has been featured on CBC Television’s award-winning show Dragons’ Den. Dickinson’s accomplishments have earned her numerous honours and awards, including PROFIT and Chatelaine magazine’s TOP 100 Women Business Owners; the Pinnacle Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence; Global Television Woman of Vision; and Canada’s Most Powerful Women Top 100. Venture was also recognized as one of the 50 Best Managed Companies in Canada for three consecutive years. ■

Sauder professors emeriti and former deans gather for the annual Emeritus Lunch On October 9, 2012, the annual Emeritus Lunch took place in the Big 4 Conference Centre in the Sauder School of Business, following a tour of Sauder’s revitalized facilities. ■ Top row, left to right: Dean Robert Helsley, Roger Davis, Larry Moore, Stan Hamilton, Peter Lusztig, Merle Ace, Larry Jones, Darren Dahl, Ken MacCrimmon, Brian Bemmels. Bottom row, left to right: Trevor Heaver, Noel Hall, Ricco Mattessich, Al Dexter, Mike Goldberg.

SPRING 2013 VIEWPOINTS

UBC MBA team wins 2013 National Investment Banking Competition A team of second-year UBC MBA candidates have won the prestigious 2013 National Investment Banking Competition (NIBC) at Sauder, beating a field of more than 150 others from across North America. The team, competing under the name The Misers, a moniker borrowed from their former ice hockey team, was comprised of MBA students David Tiedje, Greg Macdonald, Graeme Millen and Lewis Peattie. The preliminary round consisted of a written case submission, with 25 teams (10 MBA and 15 undergraduate) making it through to the finals in Vancouver. Next, they received a fully functional financial model along with summary financial data, and were given just six hours to evaluate different financing assumptions and prepare a pitch book. They presented to associates and vice presidents in the boardrooms of major Canadian investment banks. In the final round The Misers competed against an MBA team from the Rotman School of Management and presented their pitch to senior management directors during a gala dinner. “You get a ton of information and you only have six hours to get everything ready, which is pretty tight,” says Tiedje. “We had to pick and choose what were the most important aspects to focus on. I think that the critical ability to prioritize our work and then to present it with confidence are skills we learned at Sauder’s Robert H. Lee Graduate School.” Tiedje says that his team got the advantage with a convincing pitch. “Rather than trying to beat them with the best quantitative analysis, we differentiated ourselves by making sure we had a very polished presentation and by telling an engaging story. For the final round it was all about presenting your ideas effectively and that’s where I think we stood out.” Even before officially graduating from the UBC MBA program, Tiedje secured a job at PH&N Investment Services, but he says the competition is a great career-builder for those who do well. “This was an excellent opportunity to get exposure in terms of our own personal brands,” he says. “Here you have a group of the most senior people in the investment banking industry and a chance to really show them what you’re made of.” ■

Business Now! Student-Alumni Speaker Series

UBC MBA students win international case competition MBA students from Sauder’s Robert H. Lee Graduate School have won the 2012 Schulich School of Business’ International Case Competition, focused on community engagement in the mining industry. Preceding the two-day competition in Toronto, the UBC MBA team, of Kalpana Bisht, Lucie Cornish, Kurt McFee and Phil Wallace were assigned their case and tasked with building communication channels and generating support from local communities for new mining projects. Each competition round required teams to hold a 15-minute presentation followed by questions from the judges, many of whom were representatives from the mining industry. “What we delivered was essentially a community engagement plan,” says McFee. “Then we had to come up with a strategy to implement it, which included metrics for monitoring performance and determining the level of community consent for any given project.” “It was important to have a global approach to the solutions we provided,” says Cornish. “They wanted something that could be applied in many different areas of the world.” In preparation for the competition, which was held in early December, the team conducted extensive research into the mining industry and sought the advice of a corporate social responsibility specialist from a local mining company. They also worked to hone their presentations in front of Blake Hanna, a Sauder professor and former partner at Accenture, and Mark McCoy, who leads case competition workshops for a not-for-profit group called Vancouver Acumen. “The most important thing about giving effective presentations is that you need to tell a well-constructed story,” says Bisht. “The theme we created for our presentation was called ‘bridging the gap’ and we used graphics and a powerful story ark to illustrate that.” The team intend to split the $9,000 prize between them and use the money to cover their flights to Bangalore, Copenhagen and Singapore for the Global Immersion period of their UBC MBA program. ■

On October 30th, 2012, over 100 Sauder alumni—ranging from 1972 BComs to 2011 MBAs—and current MBA students from the Robert H. Lee Graduate School gathered at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Vancouver to hear about the inspiring career of Ken Sim, BCom 1993, cofounder of Nurse Next Door Home Healthcare Services. This event was part of the ongoing Business Now! Student-Alumni Speaker Series, hosted by the Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre, which highlights the careers of distinguished Sauder alumni. Sim spoke about how, like many Commerce graduates, he was drawn into the lucrative, high-profile world of corporate finance. After holding various positions with KPMG, CIBC World Markets, and CIBC Capital Partners, he decided to leave a career in investment banking in order to pursue a more personally fulfilling career as an entrepreneur. In doing so, Sim found a career that he is truly passionate about, and he has made a lasting contribution to communities across North America through the establishment of Nurse Next Door, a private in-home senior care franchise system with over 60 locations in Canada and the United States. Sim encouraged students and alumni to take emotional and financial risks as he did, in order to lead more fulfilling lives and to find a career that makes them happy while also making a difference in the world. To thank Sim for his time, the Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre made a donation to the Dream On Seniors Wish Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping fulfill the dreams of seniors. ■

VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

ACTUALS SEEN AND HEARD IN THE SAUDER WORLD

Sauder co-sponsors world’s largest consumer behaviour conference in Vancouver In October, the Association for Consumer Research (ACR) annual conference, co-sponsored by the Sauder School of Business, convened more than 1,000 top researchers from universities around the world along with industry insiders— from advertisers to manufacturers. “The ACR conference is a tremendous opportunity for Sauder to share its leading consumer behaviour research on the world stage, while learning about the latest developments from international colleagues,” said Sauder Associate Professor Juliet Zhu, conference co-chair. The conference ran between October 4 and October 7, 2012. Topics included how consumers react to advertising and relate to brands; how social groups shape consumer desires; how food presentation and preparation shapes eating habits; and how living in a consumption-oriented culture influences emotional and financial health. Many talks also reflected how consumers embrace marketing practices aimed at improving individual and ecological well-being. “This year’s conference theme is Appreciating Diversity, which allows us to share some truly diverse areas of research. It’s a wonderful

opportunity to showcase a variety of studies stemming from experiments carried out by some of the best consumer researchers in the world,” said Zhu. Sauder consumer behaviour researchers played a prominent role at the conference, presenting on diverse findings from how people view the morality of others based on their food choices to how room temperature can affect the purchases people make. Zhu spoke on how the messiness of physical space affects consumer choices, and how temperature influences how consumers process information and make decisions. Professor Darren Dahl detailed how consumers ascribe morality to others based on the food they eat; how people with high selfesteem may be overtly kinder to those they envy, but are more likely to covertly sabotage them; how the act of selecting one’s own ingredients in a consumer food product decreases its perceived healthiness; and how, when someone feels rejected by a brand they desire, they are more likely to want to consume it. Assistant Professor Joey Hoegg explained that giving customers preferential treatment in

a public setting is not always positive and may cause discomfort, and that creating a sales team with increased commonality in appearance can enhance customer satisfaction. Associate Professor Katherine White noted that, when charities want to encourage people to give money, it is more effective to give them specific details of the cause; but when the aim is to attract contributions of time, then charities need to engage consumers with abstract ideas about the cause. ■

Four decades of global politics: Kofi Annan talks at Sauder Kofi Annan, the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, spoke about his time in the midst of global turmoil, in a conversation hosted by Sauder’s Canaccord Learning Commons on September 18. Annan became the first sub-Saharan African to hold the position as Secretary-General. His two terms saw the world faced with the terrorist attacks of September 11, the American invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, and the fighting between Israel, Hezbollah and Lebanon. In December 2001, he received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work toward creating a “better organized and more peaceful world.” Annan noted that, “we have entered the third millennium through a gate of fire.” In his biography, Interventions: A Life in War & Peace, Annan discusses his time at the United

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Nations and the geopolitical transformations that followed the end of the Cold War. He shows the successes of the United Nations but also points to the organization’s current challenges—the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the endurance of global poverty. Annan spent forty years working for the United Nations. He joined in 1962, working for the World Health Organization and later the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees. He was the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping at a time when nearly 70,000 military and civilian personnel were deployed in UN operations around the world. He recently served as the United Nations/ League of Arab States Joint Special Envoy for Syria. ■

BCom students take home 2013 MIMC In January, a team of Sauder BCom students placed first in the Manitoba International Marketing Competition (MIMC)—the largest undergraduate marketing competition in Canada. Held at the Asper School of Business, MIMC tests multiple skill sets, from completing a marketing simulation to creating a strategy statement. In its 31st year, the competition attracts business students from around the world and this year included teams from Canada, Ghana, China, Mexico and Belarus. The Sauder team consisting of BCom students Joshua Tiong, Alice Guo and Laura Wong, met University of Alberta and Mexico’s Universidad Panamericana Campus Bonaterra—last year’s winner—in the finals. Each team was given a case and placed in isolation for three hours before presenting their marketing plan to the entire delegation of the conference. “It was an extremely competitive and high-pressure situation,” says Associate Professor Katherine White, the team’s faculty adviser. The team, coached by Sauder alumni Chad Embree and David Li, took home a $4,000 prize for the win. ■

Economist Larry Summers credits Canada in Sauder talk With the US facing a much-publicized fiscal cliff, and the EU budget talks breaking down, former US Secretary of the Treasury, Larry Summers praised Canadian monetary policy in a talk at the Sauder School of Business. “You’ve done a bit better, which is a credit to your financial regulation,” said Summers during “An insider’s view on economic policy in the US,” hosted by Sauder’s Canaccord Learning Commons last November. Summers, president emeritus of Harvard University, has served as financial adviser to two US administrations. He became Secretary of the Treasury, from 1999 to 2001, under President Clinton and led President Obama’s National Economic Council, as the director from 2009 to 2011. Speaking about his time with the Obama administration, Summers said that the most important accomplishment was getting the US economy growing again—especially as economic statistics were worse than during the stock market crash in 1929. Despite the doom and gloom of current global markets, Summers marvelled at the economic development seen pre-financial crisis, particularly in China. “It has only taken China six years to replicate the economic progress made between ancient Greece and the industrial revolution,” he said. In order to build on that success, Summers stressed the importance of the relationship between economy and information technology. “A smartphone has more computing power than the Apollo program that sent a man to the moon,” he said. Summers added that, if he was asked to choose between access to his smartphone or to the library at Harvard University, it would be an easy choice—he would pick his phone. ■

A conversation with Fareed Zakaria On February 25, Sauder’s Canaccord Learning Commons hosted renowned journalist and author Fareed Zakaria in a conversation about the forces and events shaping today’s world. Zakaria is the author of The Post-American World, the host of the Emmy nominated CNN show GPS (Global Public Square), and an editor-at-large for The Times. He’s been named by Foreign Policy one of the top 100 global thinkers. ■ VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

The Big Conference Centre Sauder’s new intersection for outreach PHOTOS BY

MARTIN DEE

4 WHEN THE SAUDER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS UNVEILED ITS NEW FACILITIES ON

1 2 3 4

Olin Anton, Office Managing Partner, Deloitte Fred Withers, Chief Development Officer, Ernst & Young John Bunting, Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers Jonathan Kallner, Managing Partner Vancouver, KPMG

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UBC campus, the literal crowning achievement was represented by the Big 4 Conference Centre, a glass-encased penthouse topping the School’s faculty office tower. Providing 360-degree views of mountains and ocean, the Centre offers a vital new space for faculty, staff and students to interact with alumni and members of the business community. Supported by the “Big 4” international professional service firms— Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers—the new conference centre has already become the hub of substantial activity at the School, as well as the greater UBC community. “The support of Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers

to create the Big 4 Conference Centre builds on a foundation of generosity constructed over many years,” says Sheila Biggers, Associate Dean, Development and Alumni Engagement. “In addition to their key gifts to the Opening Worlds Campaign that made Sauder’s new facilities a reality, the firms have played an important role in the life of the School, supporting research, professorships, scholarships and student activity.” Sauder and UBC alumni fill the ranks of the Big 4 professional service firms and can be found in leadership positions all over the world. Over 100 students and graduates of Sauder are hired by the Big 4 each year. These and other employees at the firms devote significant time volunteering in Sauder mentorship programs, and as guest speakers in classes.

“On behalf of the CA profession, I would like to congratulate the Sauder School of Business on opening their new state-of-the-art facility that includes the Big 4 Conference Centre,” said Richard Rees, FCA, CEO of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC. “The accounting profession recognizes the excellence of Sauder’s students and values the relationships that have been built over the years with staff, academics, students and alumni—many of whom go on to successful careers at our accounting firms. As global business leaders, we are pleased to be associated with this world-class facility—education is the cornerstone of our profession, and we are proud to give something back to Sauder, an innovative global leader in business knowledge.” ■ VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

SAUDER FACULTY INSIDER INFORMATION

UBC MBA up 25 places in Financial Times Global MBA Ranking Up 25 places over its 2012 ranking, the UBC MBA ranked 57th among the world’s top MBA programs in the 2013 Financial Times Global MBA Ranking, published on January 28. Now ranked third among Canadian schools, the UBC MBA, offered by Sauder’s Robert H. Lee Graduate School, experienced the second largest increase in the ranking overall. “While only one measure of a school’s success, the ranking reflects Robert Helsley our alumni’s strong career growth, the global reach and diversity of our MBA program, and the strength of our faculty members as leaders in business research,” says Robert Helsley, Dean of the Sauder School of Business. ■

Professors win research grant to look at pensions Professor Kai Li of the Finance Division and Professor Dale Griffin of the Marketing Division won the UBC-Sauder Research Award in the Economics of Pension Plans on November 19. Li and Griffin were awarded the grant of $40,000 for their research proposal “National Culture, Corporate Governance Practices and Firm Performance: Implications for Canadian Pension Plans.”

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From November 28 to 30, 2012, the Sauder School of Business hosted the UNICON Team Development Conference in Vancouver. Comprised of 105 member schools worldwide, UNICON is the world’s leading organization working to encourage best practices among business school executive education providers. Bruce Wiesner The Sauder-hosted conference brought together more than 200 participants from every continent to learn and share ideas in the areas of customer service and client relations. Bruce Wiesner, Associate Dean, Executive Education hosted the conference together with Conference Chair Professor Darren Dahl and Co-chair Professor Moura Quayle. Speakers included Christine Day, CEO of lululemon athletica; Mark Raham, Creative Director, Vancouver Canucks; Associate Professor James Tansey; Assistant Professor Tim Silk; and Associate Professor Mahesh Nagarajan. ■

Sauder research on the influence of birth date on chances of becoming a CEO makes global headlines

Kai Li

The two professors have previously worked together, looking at how a multinational company’s home culture tends to shape how it operates in China— something that can ultimately affect its level of profitability in the country. ■

Dale Griffin

Sauder Executive Education hosts global conference

A large number of international media, such as The Wall Street Journal, TIME, China Daily and National Geographic, highlighted a new study by Professor Maurice Levi which finds that babies born in June and July are less likely to climb to the top of the corporate ladder. For the study, Levi and his co-authors collected birth-date information for the CEOs of S&P 500 companies between 1992 and 2009, Maurice Levi and found that only 6.13 per cent of the sample was born in June and only 5.87 per cent of the sample was born in July. By comparison, people born in March and April represented 12.53 per cent and 10.67 per cent of the sample of CEOs. ■

Prof. Dahl takes Canada’s top honour for teaching Senior Associate Dean and Professor Darren Dahl was announced on February 8 as one of the 10 Canadian professors to receive the 2013 3M National Teaching Fellows Award—the country’s most prestigious prize for teaching excellence. The Fellowship, established by 3M Canada and the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, recognizes exceptional achievements and contributions by teachers and Darren Dahl scholars across Canada. Dahl’s selection for the award was motivated by his ability to “awaken students’ imaginations” through engaging and often unconventional teaching strategies that allow for the exploration of different approaches to business. This newest accolade comes quickly on the heels of an announcement on February 5 that Dahl had been named to the short list for the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Business Professor of the Year Award, making the final four of a pool of 222 nominated professors from 31 universities around the world. ■

COE research featured at major conference Research from the Centre for Operations Excellence (COE) and the Operations and Logistics Division (OPLOG) was featured at the Industrial Engineering Students National Conference in Peru, a prominent international conference, in August. One of the plenary speakers was Assistant Professor and COE Faculty Advisor, Steven Shechter, who discussed several healthcare-related projects conducted by students of the Steven Shechter Master of Management in Operations Research program (MMOR) and OPLOG PhD students. MMOR alumna Valerie Quevedo was among the organizers of the conference, which attracted more than 2,000 participants from Peru, Ecuador and Chile. ■

Assistant Professor receives best paper award On September 29, the Northern Finance Association awarded Sauder Assistant Professor Jason Chen their Chartered Business Valuators Award for the Best Paper on Business Valuation. The Northern Finance

Association consists of finance academics from Canada and around the world. In his paper, “Do Cash Flows of Growth Stocks Really Grow Faster?,” Chen questions a commonly held belief that growth stocks have substantially higher cash-flow growth rate compared to value stocks. Chen’s research shows this assumption is not actually supported by data, and that often the opposite case is true. ■

Jason Chen

INFORMS inducts Professor Daniel Granot On October 11, the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Services (INFORMS) announced that Professor Daniel Granot will receive the annual INFORMS Fellows Award. Granot was being recognized for his “groundbreaking research that has opened significant pathways for inquiry within the fields of cooperative games and supply Daniel Granot chain management.” INFORMS is the leading international association for professionals in advanced analytics, with 10,000 members, including a number of Nobel Prize laureates. ■

Associate Professor receives Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal On February 26, Sauder Associate Professor James Tansey was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by Premier Christy Clark at a ceremony at the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria. As an internationally recognized expert on sustainability and carbon offsets, Tansey received the medal for promoting sustainable practices in business. The Diamond Jubilee Medal James Tansey was created to mark Queen Elizabeth’s 60th anniversary of her accession to the Throne as Queen. ■

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SAUDER FACULTY INSIDER INFORMATION

The Sauder School of Business is delighted to announce new Faculty Advisory Board members

Sacha McLean is Vice Chair of Blackcomb Aviation, a privately owned helicopter and jet charter company operating 26 aircraft out of permanent bases in Canada and the United States. Prior to his appointment, McLean was Chief Executive Officer of Blackcomb Aviation and Co-President of the McLean Group, a second-generation family business active in film production services, real estate, construction and aviation. An accomplished business entrepreneur, he played a key role in the transformative growth of the McLean Group’s flagship production facility, Vancouver Film Studios, from a group of locally managed warehouses into one of the largest modern sound stage facilities in Western Canada. He then served as family lead on the expansion of the McLean Group’s aviation interests, which led to Blackcomb Aviation, a company co-owned with John Morris. McLean is a Director of the McLean Group and a Director with the Vancouver Board of Trade where he serves as Vice Chair of the Company of Young Professionals. He is also Chair of the Board of Advisors to the Business Families Centre at the Sauder School of Business. A commercial

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helicopter pilot and fixed wing pilot, he has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Economics and Geography from Queen’s University and in 2008, he completed the Families in Business program at Harvard University. ■

member of the CIBC World Markets Board of Directors. He graduated from the Sauder School of Business and is a Portfolio Management Foundation (PMF) alumnus and Leslie Wong Fellow. ■

Harry Culham, BCom 1990, is Managing Director and Group Co-Head, Wholesale Banking, with CIBC World Markets Inc., in Toronto, Ontario. He is responsible for all Wholesale Banking Capital Markets businesses globally. Prior to joining CIBC in May 2008, Culham was with a global US bank in London as the Managing Director of Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities. Previous to that, he was Managing Director and Head of Fixed Income, Currencies and Commodities in London for a large German bank. He has also held senior roles in capital markets with other global banks in Europe and Asia. Culham started his career with CIBC in the graduate training program, working in the foreign exchange business in Toronto from 1990 to 1994. He is a member of the Wholesale Banking Management Committee and a

Richard Harris is President and CEO of Golden Boy Foods Ltd., in Burnaby, BC. An accomplished CEO with a strong background in consumer marketing, he has lived and worked in North America, Western Europe and Eastern Europe. Harris’ career includes four years as CEO at Golden Boy Foods, a North American private label food manufacturer; three years as CEO of a Coca-Cola bottling company in Western Europe; three years as Division Marketing and Public Affairs Director for Central Europe and Russia at The Coca-Cola Company; and six years in various brand marketing and marketing services roles at The Coca-Cola Company in UK and Ireland. He earned his MA from the University of Oxford and an MBA from the University of London. ■

TUUM EST

IT IS YOURS / IT IS UP TO YOU

A motto for life

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MARK MUSHET

Tuum Est: UBC’s motto has defined the spirit of the school since 1915, and—after almost a century—the Latin phrase holds a greater call to action than ever before. While semanticists might debate the nuances in meaning between the two common translations of the phrase—“It is yours,” or “It is up to you,” the ten alumni profiled on the following pages all embody the intent of the University’s historical motto. Each one of them has owned their choices in unique and inspiring ways. Some have found wild success; others are still looking. A few have followed more traditional routes; while others are putting the principles of business to unexpected challenges. As well as their Sauder roots, there is one other thing they all have in common: a very strong sense of themselves in the world, and a drive to make both a difference, and things different. Our hope is that these stories remind you of this: It is Yours—Your school, Your education, Your opportunities, Your choices, Your career, Your adventure, Your life.

TUUM EST

Les Robertson, MBA 2010, Marketing and Sponsorship Manager at Rayne Longboards

Scrap metal to skate boards Speaking with Les Robertson, you can hear his enthusiasm for meeting new people, and sense his boundless passion for entrepreneurship. The last is perhaps unsurprising. Entrepreneurship runs in his veins. His grandfather started a scrap metal business, and his father followed. His grandmother and mother were both entrepreneurs. ROBERTSON WENT INTO SCRAP METAL

himself, and—in doing so—ended up in the Sauder MBA program. In 2003, he joined a scrap metal company—a competitor of the family business—with the understanding he would take over after a few years. At first, it was

“I really learned more with my book closed and out talking to people than with my book open in front of me.”

easy sailing. From evening classes in basic business, Robertson found

time, to get my MBA to get

himself well equipped to run the

what I need to make this

day-to-day side of the business.

successful,’” says Robertson. “And he said ‘You know, you will

in the company was simple

probably do a better job if you go

margins and things like that. It

back full time. We can talk about

wasn’t a difficult business,” recalls

what to do when you get out.’”

Robertson. But on the strategic side,

Once at Sauder, Robertson immediately threw himself into

Robertson needed more tools. The

activities other than just studies—

scrap metal business is fraught with

and it is here he says much of his

regulatory and political pressures

real learning took place.

that require excellent PR and people

He joined the Sauder Africa

skills. Robertson also wanted to

Initiative in Nairobi in 2009.

make his operation the best scrap

Staffed by Sauder MBA students

metal recycler in Vancouver—and

and instructors, the one-year

that meant he needed advanced

program teaches critical business

skills in operations efficiency,

skills to young Kenyan would-be

inventory flow and supply chain

entrepreneurs.

management. “I went to the owner and said ‘I need to go back to school, part

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“The Sauder Africa Initiative just immediately spoke to me,” says Robertson. “Volunteering

MARK MUSHET

“Most of what I was doing

TUUM EST

BROOKE MCALLISTER - BROOKA PHOTOGRAPHIC

has always felt better to me

Playing for Sauder in the

yard, always looking for certain

“I wondered if the company

than working. So I was able to

MBA Hockey League, made up

items, really looking for eco-

was too small. I was doing a lot of

go to Kenya, learn more about

of business school students from

friendly stuff. And he always had

consulting work, and I wondered

entrepreneurship by teaching it.

across North America, was an

a skateboard under his arm, and I

if it was too risky. But Graham

invaluable source of informal

was into skateboards, too, so we

convinced me that I wanted to take

networking, says Robertson

started talking.”

that risk.”

And in doing so, help people. It was ridiculously rewarding.” Nairobi was not the only

“It was great because you go to

At the time, Buksa was

Today, with Robertson as

“away from books” program

the Harvard MBA tournament in

forming the Rayne concept: high-

marketing and sponsorship

Robertson took advantage of.

Boston, with all these Ivy League

performance boards made from

manager, Rayne sells its unique

“Beyond the basic

schools and students. It’s really a

durable, natural, eco-friendly

boards around the world, which

academics, the Sauder MBA

suits Robertson perfectly.

great leveler… a great experience

materials. Their shared interest in

pretty much gave me the

to network with all those guys just

skateboarding and environmentally-

chance to explore any avenue

playing hockey rather than it being

responsible recycling led to a

into Big-Five consulting, but I

that I wanted to: the Sauder

about the schools.”

friendship—and business—between

ended up with skateboards. Which

Buksa and Robertson. Robertson

I love, because it makes my ‘work-

even arranged for Rayne to become

life thing’ simply a ‘life thing.’” ■

African Initiative, MBA Games, MBA Hockey Tournament, Net Impact, Toastmasters, hanging out

Sauder to Rayne The intertwined strands of the

the focus of his group work

with international students, and

scrap yard, entrepreneurship and

at Sauder, helping Rayne with

traveling at every opportunity. I

Sauder is what brought Robertson

marketing and business strategy.

made sure there was nary a day

to his position at Rayne Longboards.

when something was happening

“Graham Buksa (Founder of

that I wasn’t at it.”

Rayne) would come by the scrap

“I mean, I thought I was going

Finally, Buksa asked him to come on board. Robertson was

twitter.com/LesRobertsonMBA ca.linkedin.com/in/lesrobertson raynelongboards.com

doubtful, he recalls.

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TUUM EST

Jonathan Bowers, MBA 2011, tech entrepreneur

Always turning over a new leaf If you ask Jonathan Bowers, there really is no such thing as luck. Well, not exactly. The tech entrepreneur, 32, grew up in Salmon Arm, BC, and claims he never got into trouble as a child. “I WAS PRETTY WELL-BEHAVED, A

Bowers also began working on

little boring to be honest! I did

websites in his free time, starting

have a group of friends, but I was

with one for a theatre that put the

shy—I was petrified of doing

movie listings online. That’s when

any performance-related thing,

he decided to make computers a

and meeting any new person was

career. He studied at a college in

always scary.”

Salmon Arm for a year, and then

He remembers playing hockey

enrolled in the computer science

and soccer, wakeboarding and

program at SFU. The freelance

swimming, but there was also a lot

website work helped pay for his

of video game playing. That’s what

education.

got him into computers. Bowers ended up taking a number of computer-related classes in high school, and learned whatever he could on his own. He might have become the stereotype of a socially awkward computer geek, if not for a part-time job that changed his approach to life. “I got a job at a

After graduation in 2005, he moved to Kamloops, to be with his then-

“A lot of it’s luck, but you can maximize your luck if you increase your exposure to it! You can’t be lucky if you’re just sitting in a room all day...”

“It just didn’t seem like I was

Bowers realized he wanted to

doing what I was supposed to be

create something from the ground

doing. I saw other people pursuing

up, and took a leap of faith that he

their ideas—and becoming quite

was on the right path—he quit his

successful—and wanted to do that

job while still pursuing his studies.

too. The school district had a policy

“It was kind of dumb, really,

to support further education, so

but it was such a grind doing both,

helping people load

going for a graduate degree was

driving back and forth between

boats, that kind of

an opportunity I couldn’t really

Kamloops and the Lower Mainland.

turn down.”

I calculated that over the course of

marina pumping gas,

thing. My boss instilled the value of

girlfriend. He got a job as a

customer service and talking with

computer technician with the

people. I was completely out of my

local school district. Within a few

opened up the world of

comfort zone, but he was right—I

months he was in a management

entrepreneurship and leadership.

did have to talk to the people I was

position. Bowers liked the people

It was a good thing he had

history with funeral homes—he

helping. Gradually it helped me

he worked with, and had great

made progress on tackling his

grew up in one, his father had one,

open up, and become less shy. It’s

benefits and employment security;

youthful shyness, as the program

his father’s father had one—to

a big reason why I’m at ease with

he could have easily made a career

required him to take part in lots of

begin work on MemoryLeaf.

people now.”

out of it.

presentations and public speaking.

The idea was for funeral

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His MBA studies at Sauder

the MBA I spent $3,000 to $4,000 on gas!” He drew upon his family’s

TUUM EST homes to offer an online memorial

around the provider of the obit. For

space for people from different

He entered the idea in the

service, where people could share

instance, the ones in newspapers

circles of someone’s life—work,

BCIC—New Ventures competition

photos, memories and messages

are surrounded by ads. It just didn’t

school, family—to mingle and

and did well, enjoying the process

about someone who had died.

seem appropriate.”

create an understanding of the

so much that he created another

person as a whole. The concept is

startup just to compete again.

still in development.

That’s when he met a Kelowna-

“Traditional obituaries, even those that are online, seem focused

Bowers hoped that funeral homes could provide a neutral

based entrepreneur working on a new company called FreshGrade. It creates educational software to help

“It was kind of dumb, really... I calculated that over the course of the MBA I spent $3,000 to $4,000 on gas!”

elementary school teachers assess their students. How lucky that he already had a background in the education system and was based in Kamloops, rather than the more distant Vancouver, a casual observer might remark. “A lot of it’s luck, but you can maximize your luck if you increase your exposure to it! You can’t be lucky if you’re just sitting in a room all day. These things wouldn’t have happened without some deliberate action. Go off and do something interesting, and the chances someone will approach you about it go up. If you’re persistent the dice will eventually come up all sixes for you.” Bowers says being based in a smaller region has many advantages, including a lifestyle involving lots of great recreation, and being the “go-to” guy for projects that come up. He says all of his choices to date have led to him being incredibly happy with where he currently is in life. ■

Bowers realized he wanted to create something from the ground up, and took a leap of faith that he was on the right path—he quit his job while still pursuing his studies.

twitter.com/thejonotron memoryleaf.net ca.linkedin.com/in/jbowers memoryleaf.net | freshgrade.com

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TUUM EST

Max Feldman, MBA 2011, President, Northern Standard Bike Polo

A little road rash on the way Max Feldman likes to think ahead—“five to ten years,” he says—and he had a career in sports apparel mapped out. Then he discovered the obscure sport of bike polo, and was lured, like so many, by the dream of being his own boss. Tuum Est, right? Maybe not.

“Honestly, I thought entrepreneurship would be way more rewarding. I had a concept, I created it, I sold it. And we have done well.We are helping to grow the sport.We created the bike polo glove. But you also go through the financial issues, the rejections. It wears on you.” “EVEN IF YOU ARE RECOGNIZED IN

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PERRY ZAVITZ

the industry, it is one step forward, two steps back. I thought we’d do a lot of cool stuff really fast. But no, it takes two to three times longer to get the money we need and the product we want. And two to three times less reward in the end. “Even though we create cool stuff, it’s really hard to do.” Fresh out of Ryerson in 2000, Feldman worked as a graphic designer before joining Ginch Gonch Fashion in 2004. “I started as a designer at Ginch Gonch, but became responsible for the style’s development and ensuring a consistent brand message. That is where I realized I was interested in the clothing industry.” Feldman’s next stop was lululemon athletica, joining in 2007 as trims developer and portfolio manager, and later

becoming a sourcing manager. His experience at lululemon helped Feldman focus. “I decided I wanted to be a consultant in technical performance apparel: cycling, outdoor sports, extreme sports. And I realized an MBA was the way to get there.” Feldman entered Sauder as a part-time MBA student, while taking on greater responsibilities and achieving greater success at lululemon. “It was a really exciting time. Looking ahead a few years, I could see moving into a senior position with lululemon or another company.” But Feldman was seduced by bike polo, a grassroots sport few people have heard of, and even fewer play. “A good friend got me into bike polo,” he recalls. “I liked it. I saw a really connected group of individuals, who used social and online channels to connect and share the sport and their enthusiasm. I saw a really cool sport that was growing immensely. “For my practicum project at Sauder, I thought ‘why not write a business plan for a bike polo products company?’ My profs thought it was quite good. And I realized that maybe I could take a risk in this unknown sport.” continued on page 33 >>

TUUM EST

Julia Fan Li, BCom 2006, social entrepreneur

Change the world Make it a better place On paper, Julia Fan Li is almost astoundingly intimidating. She’s a PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge, she cofounded an NGO supporting entrepreneurship and small business in Africa, she’s volunteered at three different Olympic Games, and she has her Canadian Chartered Accountant designation. Oh yeah, and she wants to change the world.

IN PERSON, SHE IS QUIETLY WARM,

all too willing to make a joke at her own expense when a coffee shop owner pokes fun at her bright yellow shirt. You may notice her height first (5’10” in flats), but it’s the liveliness and enthusiasm in her eyes that you’ll remember. Li has had a bit of a nomadic existence. She was born in Shanghai, moved to northern England when she was six, and then came to Canada when she was 12. Her chemistry professor mother and metallurgist father brought her to their labs often, but never pushed her to specifically obtain a lot of higher education. That just happened along the way after she decided she wanted to find a cure for cancer. The goal first began to take shape after her grandmother’s death from leukemia when Li was six. Two other grandparents died from cancer when Li was in high school. “Sometimes my grandparents would wait for me to get back to China; they were literally hanging on for my visit. You notice absences, how it affects your family to try and deal with death. That’s when

I thought ‘I should really find out what is going on with this (cancer).’” She considered becoming an oncologist, but discovered something about herself while doing a dissection in biology class—she didn’t like blood. At all. At summer camp, she was exposed to other aspects of science and research, and realized that she didn’t have to be a doctor to play a role in curing cancer. She could instead find a way to commercialize scientific discoveries and then fund research. She also volunteered with organizations ranging from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC, the Burnaby Policing Council, and Habitat for Humanity. Li entered what was then known as the Faculty of Commerce at UBC, but was determined to keep studying science. At the time, it was not possible to get a double major in such disparate disciplines. “I went to see the Dean of Science and said, ‘I really think you should let people get a double major if they can make their schedules work.’ I took as many science classes as I could. I always

“The private sector responds to value creation and capture. Profit motivation tends to focus on high-income countries, but the aggregate purchasing powers of 15 Sub-Saharan countries, for example, could be equally or more significant.”

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had the goal of combining science and business, I just didn’t know how to get there.” The rules changed in Li’s fourth year at UBC, which allowed her to major in both Finance and Immunology. She received the Dorothy Anne Dilworth Memorial Prize as the outstanding female graduate of her year. During her studies, Li took part in a business case competition, which helped put UBC onto the world stage. Sauder Professor Daniel Gardiner became a mentor in the process, and they maintain frequent contact. “I read a book once where people talked about ‘Level 5 leaders.’ The only other one I’ve seen is Bill Sauder,” says Gardiner. “I think Julia either is there or will be there. She has an unbelievable sense of drive, and an unbelievable sense of humility.” He believes that people tend to focus more on philanthropy and sensitivity as they get older, rather than purely competing for personal benefit—he jokingly calls Li a “young bloomer” because she’s already reached that level. “One of my favourite questions to ask is what do you want to do when you grow up. She put her mind to it, saw this very altruistic thing that she wanted to do and is 24

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doing it. She walks the talk.” After graduation, Li worked as a CA in Vancouver for KPMG LLP. Her clients in the biotechnology sector reinforced her conviction that business and science could work together. In 2008, she decided to pursue her master’s degree in bioscience entrepreneurship. The parameters of the Gates scholarship—which fully cover the cost of a postgraduate degree at Cambridge—could have been written specifically for Li. They are awarded to people with outstanding intellectual ability, leadership potential, and a commitment to improving the lives of others. Li was about to graduate from Cambridge when she attended a lecture delivered by Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda. He extended an open invitation for people to visit the country, and she actually took him up on it. Li remembered how much fun she had had competing in business case competitions, and set up the African Innovation Prize. It provides mentorship and seed grants for small businesses. Now in its third year, it operates in both Rwanda and Sierra Leone. Last year more than 75 teams competed. Li also believes she has now found her life’s work. In the Silicon Valley model, venture capitalists

give money even when they didn’t know exactly what a product might be or how it would work. Li believes that mindset needs to be applied to healthcare. “The private sector responds to value creation and capture. Profit motivation tends to focus on high-income countries, but the aggregate purchasing powers of 15 Sub-Saharan countries, for example, could be equally or more significant. That would create a pull incentive. A push incentive would be for governments to understand it’s important to deal with certain diseases—that could manifest as a certain percentage of budget being set aside annually for research and development.” Last year, Li did an oncology course in the Netherlands. The country has a population of approximately 11 million people, and more than 10,000 medical professionals dealing with cancer alone. In Rwanda, a country of similar size, there is just one medical professional specializing in cancer treatment. In 2012, Li chaired a roundtable at Cambridge bringing together academics, investors and innovators to talk about addressing such a huge imbalance in global health. She is hoping a new social venture fund will tackle infectious

diseases first, and that it can then be leveraged to deal with cancer, diabetes, and chronic diseases like hypertension. Li says she is encouraged every day by encountering individual people who are taking small steps forward within huge global issues. She believes it’s possible for everyone to find a way to change the world. “It’s really important to ask and find supporters for crazy ideas in your life! I like to surround myself with positive people, because I’m pretty positive. Constructive criticism is totally okay. It’s also okay if you don’t always know how it’s going to happen, but it’s up to you to make it happen. If you see opportunities along the way, you have to go for it.” In and amongst all of her lofty ideas, Li does have one more relatively mundane goal—she would like to at some point become a grandmother. It’s an homage to some of the amazing women she’s had in her life, and—perhaps—a potential tribute to the woman who sparked this journey to find a cure for cancer. ■

twitter.com/juliafanli www.juliafanli.com

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Nolan Watson, BCom 2001, Founder & CEO, Sandstorm and Nations Cry

Startup to $1 billion market cap in four years When he was a BCom student at Sauder, Nolan Watson considered dropping out to become a “humanitarian.” Twelve years later he is the founder and CEO of two companies with a combined market cap of over $1.1 billion—and founder and president of one of Canada’s most innovative charitable organizations. “I DECIDED TO BE A HUMANITARIAN,”

Watson remembers, “but my father and others convinced me to stay in school and do humanitarian work after. That I would be much smarter at it after becoming a business person.” Immediately after graduation, Watson joined Arthur Andersen (later merged with Deloitte) and its CPA program. After four years and earning his Chartered Public Accountant designation, Watson was lured to Silver Wheaton, where he was employee number one. Two years later he was CFO, and the youngest CFO of any multibillion dollar corporation traded on the New York Stock Exchange. In 2008, he left Silver Wheaton and, with David Awram, another Silver Wheaton alumni, founded Sandstorm Gold Ltd., a gold streaming company (see sidebar). “We took control of a shell company,” remembers Watson. “We started going out to raise money in the capital markets during the financial crisis when the whole world was starting to fall

apart. Everyone was consolidating and shutting their businesses down, while we went out and started one and started raising money. At the beginning of 2009, we launched Sandstorm with $50 million.”

Nations Cry, a small charitable organization aimed at doing two things many mainstream charities do not: ensure every dollar donated goes to actual humanitarian work, not administration, and to ensure its efforts help beneficiaries become selfsufficient (see sidebar). Nations Cry’s first project is in Waterloo, Sierra Leone, where the organization runs a small orphanage and is building a secondary school. They have also provided full university scholarships to eight students, the first of whom graduated in January, 2013. For Watson, the desire to set up Nations Cry was born partly of a belief that many charities are

“I do not believe it makes sense for a charity to try to make a difference in someone’s life if you do it in a way that does not lead them to eventually become independent of that charity.” Philanthropist at heart While Sandstorm has been enormously successful, Watson’s heart lies in philanthropy. In 2006, he, along with his wife, friends and business associates founded

inefficient and may even promote a cycle of dependency. Breaking the cycle of dependency “Outside of the great waste of money spent in administering charities, one of my great frustrations is that, although these charities are well-meaning and start with good intentions, they end up not solving the underlying problem and may end up actually perpetuating the problem. “For example, many orphanages take kids in at a young age, so they won’t starve and die— which is great, there is nothing wrong with that. But they won’t focus on their education, they won’t focus on their development, and then one day they say ‘Ok, you are seventeen years old, we are kicking you out.’” VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

TUUM EST According to Watson, children’s aid charities fail to support the orphan in becoming an educated, employable, self-sufficient individual who can go out and raise educated, employable and self-sufficient children. The result, according to Watson, is a vicious cycle of temporarily relieving pain and suffering without solving the underlying problem, and that is why Nations Cry strongly emphasizes education in its work. “I do not believe it makes sense for a charity to try to make a difference in someone’s life if you do it in a way that does not lead them to eventually become independent of that charity,” says Watson. “So we focus on trying to get them independent and we believe education is the way to do it.” Though he finds his spiritual reward in his philanthropy, Watson is perfectly content to let business and charity go hand in hand in his life. “Fundamentally, what has always driven me is wanting to make a difference in the world. And to that extent, I would say the philanthropy side is key to who I am as a person. I could live without the business side if I had to. But business helps me make money that can be used to help others, it helps me make contact with people who are willing to step up alongside of me in philanthropy, and it gives me the financial and organizational skills to make a difference in philanthropy.” But business is also a passion for Watson. “I will admit somewhere along the line, and I don’t know exactly when, I developed a deep passion for business, too. And now I don’t just do business as a means to an end. I really have fun and I really enjoy what I do.” 26

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“Fundamentally, what has always driven me is wanting to make a difference in the world. And to that extent, I would say the philanthropy side is key to who I am as a person.”

“For the rest of my life I will be in both philanthropy and in business. I want to get better and better at it and do more and more of it. And have more and more influence over it.”

Sandstorm Gold and Sandstorm Metals & Energy Sandstorm Gold finances gold mining projects through an arrangement called gold streaming. Sandstorm makes upfront payments to mining partners that need capital to build a mine, refinance obligations, or make an acquisition, for example. In return, Sandstorm receives contracts that stipulate the purchase of a certain percentage of the gold produced from the mine, for the life of the mine, at a fixed price

Don’t wait: start today Watson urges young people not to wait to start making a difference. “You only live life once. Don’t make the mistake of saying ‘Well I am going to go establish myself in my career, make some money and then one day I will be in a position to give back.’ Life doesn’t work that way. If you want to make a difference with your life, start today. Not later. Start at day one. With whatever you’ve got. With extra time, with whatever small amount of money you have, just go do it.” ■ twitter.com/sandstormSSL

per ounce. Sandstorm Metals & Energy uses a similar model to finance and receive future streams from commodity and energy development projects. Sandstorm Gold was founded in 2008 by Nolan Watson and David Awram. It is traded on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges and has a market capitalization of over $1 billion. www.sandstormgold.com ■

Nations Cry In 2005, Nolan Watson founded Nations Cry, a charitable organization focused on providing education to underprivileged children in Africa. Unlike many charities, and in keeping with Watson’s beliefs, Nations Cry is structured so that 100 per cent of donations go directly to projects in the field. Nations Cry is most active in Sierra Leone, where it offers university scholarships, operates an orphanage, and is building a secondary school. It also has activities in Central America. Nations Cry oversees assets of over $800,000. www.nationscry.com ■

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John Smart, BCom 1990, CEO, Momentum Camps

Be Smart: Keep your options open John Smart knows Tuum Est…. that it is “up to you.” “NOBODY IS OUT THERE WORKING

ski camp on Blackcomb. From the start, Smart wanted the best instructors on the planet, so he insisted that all instructors be World Cup medalists. Twenty one years later, the camp flourishes, offering seven and nine-day camps in slopestyle, halfpipe and moguls. “The camp business is a passionate extension of what I do naturally,” says Smart. “It stays fun and it keeps my energy high. I am 48 now and I am

talking to the same age group as when I started out at 26.” Some might call it an untraditional career, but Smart never yearned for a traditional path. “I never saw myself working for another company,” he says. “When we graduate we always have visions of grandeur about where we want to be. But nowhere on that path could I see working for someone else.” Smart urges young people—and all of us—to keep an open mind.

“When we graduate we always have visions of grandeur about where we want to be. But nowhere on that path could I see working for someone else.” “Look at it as an adventure, because it is. When you come out of school, it shouldn’t feel like work. You should think ‘wow, where am I going to go, what route am I going to take?’ And don’t avoid challenges, because those are the most rewarding obstacles to get over. And anyone who runs a business or competes in sports knows the challenges are constant.” ■

In 1992, he founded Momentum Camps, a freestyle

twitter.com/JWSmarty PERRY ZAVITZ

for you,” says Smart. “Everything you get in life comes from you and your drive. And if you think otherwise, you will be disappointed. You learn that as an athlete for sure.” Smart speaks from experience. The Sauder graduate competed for Canada twice in the Winter Olympics in freestyle skiing, and today combines his Sauder degree and his love of skiing by running a successful summer ski camp business on the Horstman Glacier in Whistler. Skiing was and is Smart’s first love, but he says good advice led him to Sauder and a degree. “I knew I would go to university but didn’t know for what,” says Smart. “Then someone advised me to take a business degree because it gives you the most options in life. You can go wherever you want, once you figure out what you want.” But Smart could not turn away from skiing for long. “While I was at UBC, I ran into friends who were traveling the world for the Canadian national team,” says Smart.“I couldn’t help but make a little comparison to my life.” “So I did another stage left,” recalls Smart. “I continued my studies, but I juggled them with skiing. By competing and training, I worked my way onto the Canadian team. I took summer classes and was able to finish the five-year program at UBC in six years. I was committed to the degree; I wasn’t going to lose that. But I was also committed

to my passion.” Passion paid off for Smart. Competing in men’s mogul freestyle, he represented Canada in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville and again in the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. Along the way, he picked up three Canadian championships and 13 World Cup medals. He is also a member of Canada’s Ski Hall of Fame.

ca.linkedin.com/pub/john-smart/ 4b/39a/49 momentumskicamps.com

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Jon Stettner, MBA 2003, President & CEO, Make-A-Wish International

Opening hearts and purse strings Ask Jon Stettner what he does for a living and chances are, you’ll wind up in tears. IT’S NOT THAT THERE’S SOMETHING

you get the emotional—you get

acumen. He was admitted to UBC

focus or mission may be, they must

wrong with his Phoenix, AZ-based

the entire spectrum,” he says.

with a scholarship that covered his

manage two bottom lines: financial

job. It’s because Stettner (MBA

“Every day when I go home, I feel

tuition, moved his young family

solvency and social benefit.

2003) is the president and CEO of

better, because I know I’ve made a

west, and got his MBA. “I came

“You still have to be

Make-A-Wish International, which

difference in a child’s life.”

here, and it changed my life.”

helps grant the wishes of children

Stettner, 58, could hardly have

“What the MBA program did

entrepreneurial. There’s still the same sort of life cycles in a not-for-

with life-threatening medical

imagined as a boy that he’d wind

for me was give me an advanced

conditions. For him, sharing deeply

up travelling the world, working

education, an education focused on

touching and inspiring stories—

with volunteers, affiliates and

business,” says Stettner, a father of

for a hospital foundation in

like that of the Indian boy whose

sponsors to give hope to families

four and grandfather of two, and

Manitoba and then for several arts

greatest desire was a refrigerator so

in 48 countries. A career in the

whose wife, Connie, was born and

organizations, one gig as the first

his mother wouldn’t have to walk

arts was a much surer bet. As kids

miles daily to get his chemotherapy

in Saskatchewan, Stettner and his

drugs—is a daily occurrence.

four brothers often lent a hand at

“It’s such a simple mission,”

the University of Regina Darke Hall

says Stettner of his organization,

theatre, where their dad was the

pointing out that the name of the

stage manager. They learned to be

charity says it all. “And you know

stagehands and ran the lights for

what? Anyone can make a difference

local and visiting companies.

to help a child renew their interest

All those volunteer hours meant

in life, help them transcend their

that by the time Jon Stettner was

illness—that’s what a wish does.

18, he was touring the country

“More and more doctors,

profit as there is in a for-profit.” Stettner went on to work

“Some people would argue that the not-for-profit industry is not a business. I would argue the opposite: It is a business. It needs to be run like a business, and it needs to be professionally managed.”

working the lights for the Stratford

especially in developing countries,

Festival. He went on to the Royal

are using the wish experience as

Winnipeg Ballet, where he became

raised in Arizona. “Some people

general manager of Vancouver’s

part of the medical regimen, in

technical director, production

would argue that the not-for-profit

Arts Club Theatre. That organization

a sense. When there’s a wish, the

director and then assistant general

industry is not a business. I would

was branching out from its

child’s mind isn’t on being sick

manager over the course of 10

argue the opposite: It is a business.

funky Granville Island space to a

anymore—the child’s mind is on

years. When the general manager

It needs to be run like a business,

larger, more sophisticated venue

‘What’s going to happen with my

fell ill, Stettner filled in, organizing

and it needs to be professionally

called The Stanley, which quickly

wish? What can I do?’”

tours for the company all over

managed.”

attracted plays that were new and

Some people might find it depressing doing a job that routinely

the world. It was then that he realized he

Any great not-for-profit usually has an excellent administrator

in-demand. Stettner’s success as general

confronts them with the heartbreak-

had plenty of not-for-profit man-

involved, he explains—someone

manager there brought him to the

ing reality of desperately ill children.

agement experience along with his

who understands all the applicable

attention of Variety, the Children’s

Not Stettner, who is uplifted.

undergraduate degree in religious

regulations. They also have to

Charity, which was in the process

studies, but he lacked business

understand that whatever their

of revamping its staged telethon

“You get the intellectual and 28

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TUUM EST into a televised version, allowing it

course of his six years at Make-A-

legalities, a lot of process, a lot

time fundraising, liaising with

to attract bigger names and, with

Wish International, Stettner says,

of putting the infrastructure in

high-end or large donors.”

them, a much larger market share

its revenues have more than tripled,

place to allow the organization to

of potential donors. He left Variety

despite global economic troubles.

grow in a sustainable way. Every

time, Stettner also chooses to

Stettner describes the role

individual who is the head of a

volunteer locally as one of Make-A-

charity has to spend part of the

Wish Arizona’s wish-granters, and

after six years and soon afterward found his current job. Over the

of President & CEO as “a lot of

A Zen Yoga master in his spare

has watched his organization make children’s wishes come true in countries around the world. One crucial change Stettner made to the organization was replacing a “weak” board. “We put in a governance model that was really looking for individuals who wanted to make a difference and were leveraged,” he explains. “When I first started, none of my board members were making a donation. This past year, the 13 board members, personally and through their companies, donated $700,000. That’s a great board. It took me six years to get it there. So that’s changing the governance structure and looking for people who are what we’d call ‘best in class’ board members, individuals who really want to make a difference for children around the world, who have a global focus. That’s what I try to do—build quality relationships.” Stettner adds, “UBC’s motto Tuum Est is about how individual action can have great consequences, a philosophy that’s integral to Make-A-Wish. For me, it means that if you take the power of one and you put many ones together, you can make an incredible difference.” ■ twitter.com/MakeAWishIntl

For Stettner, UBC’s motto Tuum Est is about how individual action can have great consequences, a philosophy that’s integral to Make-A-Wish.

linkedin.com/pub/jon-stettner/ 19/366/74b worldwish.org

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Steven Tai, BCom 2007, fashion designer

Fashion designer turns out to be a cut above Designer Steven Tai has Europe’s fashionistas talking with a highly original collection, inspired by the nerdiness of his youth.

“I think when you go to Sauder you can take charge of whatever you want to do. And even in something as unconventional as the fashion industry, you can find a way to use what you’ve learned there and it will give you the edge.” A BOOKISH CHILD WHOSE PARENTS

read widely when they weren’t working in Macau’s garment manufacturing trade, Tai moved to Vancouver at the age of 10. He says his key high school pursuits were watching cartoons and playing video games with an eclectic group of fellow outsiders. “I wouldn’t necessarily say I was creative,” the 28-year-old mused recently from his north London base in Finsbury Park. “I think I just see things in a different way.” Tai thought an artistic outlet might allow him to share his unconventional perspectives. After getting his BCom (2007) in

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Marketing at Sauder, he got into London’s Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, where one of the requirements of his BA program was designing a graduation show. Afterward, Tai extended his 2011 collection into two more shows featuring wan, bespectacled models—one of whom even wore braces on her teeth—who looked like they spent most weekends translating works of literature from the Greek. The outfits from this first collection were inspired, in part, by the idea of bookbinding. “If you look at a lot of the

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garments, they have a lot of layers that lie horizontally, like a book would,” Tai explains. The layers are thin, but when they’re stacked together they create volume around the body like a book’s pages emerging from its spine. Dazed Digital Video dubbed Tai’s collection “intellect chic.” The designer says the customer must understand the craftsmanship behind each garment in order to fully appreciate it. These clothes, he explains, celebrate awkwardness and “give the woman another sense of confidence that isn’t usually offered, as opposed to just a very

one-dimensional ‘You look skinny’ or ‘You look hot.’” In fact, one model wore a dress with a bodice flashing 795 golden pen nibs mounted on minuscule motors that, wrote creative technologist John Nussey, were “animated to create a hypnotic shimmer of movement which changes over time, varying the temp, pattern and the overall mood of the piece.” Such experimentation is at the heart of his brand, says Tai. “If I didn’t get to experiment, I think I would lose interest quite quickly. For me at that point, it was time to do something electronic.”

Tai’s debut post-graduate collection won the first 15,000-Euro Chloe design prize at 2012’s Hyères International Festival of Fashion and Photography. He went on to bowl over style mavens at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Berlin. The Canadian’s London shop is still a small one. He works with a small team and revolving interns to manage the production, pricing, orders, fabrics, press, and upcoming shows at the same time as he conceives, designs and fabricates each collection. The clothes are currently available in boutiques in London, Paris, Hong Kong and Antwerp.

Tai’s vision has clearly set him apart from his peers, but he believes he has another advantage—his Sauder education. He notes that the School is wellorganized, thorough, and teaches many business skills that he’s found to be crucial internationally. As for UBC’s motto, Tuum Est, Tai says, “I think when you go to Sauder you can take charge of whatever you want to do. And even in something as unconventional as the fashion industry, you can find a way to use what you’ve learned there and it will give you the edge.” ■

twitter.com/steventaistudio steventai.co.uk

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Paul Mitchell, BCom 1978, lawyer and art dealer

Collector of milestones and Monets Paul Mitchell’s idyllic childhood in the Kelowna of the 1960s set him on a course as a champion of his community. Though he left the Okanagan to get his undergraduate degree (BCom 1978) at UBC and attend law school (LLB 1979), he and his high school sweetheart, Tracy, always intended to return. So Mitchell got an articling position with a Kelowna firm, and in 1979 they moved back to what was still a small town. The choice suited them perfectly.

“IT’S A FABULOUS PLACE TO RAISE

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preferred the status quo. “It was a bit of a battle.” Eventually UBC president Martha Piper proposed that the new university become a part of the institution she headed. Mitchell thought that a grand idea, and worked to help achieve that goal by 2004. “It’s been awesome,” he says. “They figure the economic impact of the university is about $500 million a year for the community. That’s huge.” Evidently Mitchell, 59, isn’t the sort who likes to slam doors shut behind him; he seems to prefer swinging them open. Though he got experience early in his career in real estate, criminal, family and banking law, he wound up focusing his law practice on acting for plaintiffs in personal injury cases and trying to get them the best insurance settlements possible,

ROGER MAHLER

a family,” says Mitchell, a personal injury lawyer with Pushor Mitchell LLP and the father of three adult children. “You’ve got all of the attributes of a resort community. You’ve got a great lake, a great ski hill, orchards and wineries. There’s something about the Okanagan that’s just magical. I’m a lifer.” Mitchell eventually realized that there was one thing missing from his hometown—a university. Okanagan University College offered a limited number of degrees, but few North American municipalities of Kelowna’s size had no full-fledged university within a two-hour drive. This glaring absence made a postsecondary education prohibitively expensive for some, so the percentage of Kelowna high school graduates who did not further their education was extremely high. “The next logical step was to get a full university,” says Mitchell, who cofounded the University 2000 Society to help do that. The administration of Okanagan University College, however,

TUUM EST improving their post-injury opportunities. “I found quite quickly that the personal injury practice is really a hybrid of many different factors that you have to deal with,” Mitchell explains. “You’re part psychologist, you’re part coach, you’re risk manager. You’ve got families who are in absolute crisis and they’re just about to fall apart at the seams, so you’ve got this result that may happen three or four years from now and you’ve got to get the legal side done and,

award for alumni achievement— the Blythe Eagles Volunteer Leadership Award. Mitchell’s other obsession is art. He and his wife, Tracy, began collecting investment-quality art early in their relationship. His enthusiasms run the gamut from historical paintings by Cornelius Krieghoff and canvases by members of Canada’s famous Group of Seven to the comic strip-style works of pop artist Ray Lichtenstein. He now spends a couple of hours a day working as an art dealer, using connections he has made around the art world to help clients track down exactly the sort of art they like. “Someone says ‘I want to buy a Picasso— or Monet, Rothko or other highend work of art—of a certain type, quality, genre, date,’ and I try and find someone who owns one, or knows somebody who does, and you get them together.” Mitchell interprets Tuum Est as encouraging personal responsibility. “Once you graduate, it’s really up to you to forge your own path and help out the community,” he says. “You have to be the change agent. You can’t rely on other people to do the heavy lifting. You’ve got a degree, you’ve got an attitude about life from UBC—it’s up to you to apply those tools and make your life a better life and to make the world a better place. Go ahead and do what you have to do—but it’s up to you to do it.” ■

“Once you graduate, it’s really up to you to forge your own path and help out the community. You have to be the change agent. You can’t rely on other people to do the heavy lifting.” in the meantime, you’re trying to keep this family together. “It’s very rewarding at the end when you can get a good result and the family’s still intact and they can pick themselves up and carry on. I really enjoy that part of it.” It was the problem-solving aspect of law that drew him to his profession in the first place, says Mitchell. It may also have lured him into the volunteer arena when he started giving free legal advice in the evenings to low-income clients through UBC’s Law Students Legal Advice Program (LSLAP). “That kind of got the bug going in me for helping people out.” As a volunteer who has led dozens of organizations over the years and has been honoured many times for his efforts, Mitchell currently sits on UBC’s Capital Campaign Cabinet, which is trying to raise $100 million for UBCO, and $1.5 billion for UBC Point Grey. In 2012, he was presented with a UBC Alumni Association

ca.linkedin.com/pub/ paul-mitchell-q-c/12/8a3/9a8

>> Max Feldman continued from page 22

Feldman established Northern Standard Bike Polo after receiving his MBA in 2011. His aim was to develop and market gear for the sport. Feldman bootstrapped the business with very little cash, traveling to bike polo tournaments and hawking his mallets and polo gloves from the back of a van. “I learned from Jake Burton. [founder and CEO of Burton, a maker of snowboards and apparel]. He started out doing the same thing. And I thought ‘Bike polo could be snowboarding in 10 years. If I move quickly, I could be at the cutting edge.’” It is a risky business, according to Feldman. No one really knows how many people play bike polo. There is no trade show and only a fledgling organizing body. Feldman’s first attempt at a polo mallet failed. He then created the first bike polo glove on the market, which became a success. “We’ve become one of the most known companies in bike polo,” says Feldman, before chuckling “Of course, there aren’t a lot of us in bike polo.” Like many entrepreneurs, Feldman says he was motivated by the chance of reaping the rewards of risk taking. “As an entrepreneur, you get to be your own boss. You get to create all the value for yourself. Everything you put into the business comes back to you, not someone else.” Still, Feldman has found that being your own boss means stepping out of the corporate comfort zone. “At lululemon, it was easy to get people to return calls,” Feldman says. “But in this, you have to go out there and fight for everything. I have to sell my own product,

ask for money, and make a lot of guesses. And then I have to promise I will deliver when I don’t know if I can.” While bike polo has not yet given Feldman the financial rewards he hoped for, he is glad he tried going on his own. “What I’ve gained from this business, I just couldn’t have gotten any other way. If I were to go back to a company now, the value I would bring would be much greater than had I not become an entrepreneur. “And I know that if Northern Standard fails, I know I can go back, and start up something again. I know that if I keep at something, I could be really successful. You really gain a lot by doing a start-up.” In March 2013, Feldman joined Arc’teryx, a maker of outdoor clothing, as a cost and sourcing analyst. He still runs Northern Standard part time. ■

twitter.com/nsbikepolo ca.linkedin.com/in/maxfeldman http://nsbikepolo.myshopify.com

pushormitchell.com

VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

TUUM EST

Ken Sim, BCom 1993, Founder and Co-owner, Nurse Next Door and Rosemary Rocksalt

From salt of the earth to Rosemary Rocksalt Growing up in Vancouver, Ken Sim (BCom 1993) was the youngest of five kids in a family whose Hong Kong-born parents struggled to make ends meet. They had plenty to do without worrying much about him. As a result, Sim says, he spent a lot of time “goofing around.” “I GOT AWAY WITH EVERYTHING

years there, working in London,

was pregnant, and in 2001 they

under the sun,” the 42-year-old co-

Vancouver and Toronto.

decided to move back to Vancouver.

owner of Nurse Next Door Home

“I thought it was absolutely

During that period, Sim read the

Healthcare Services confesses. “Not

amazing. I mean, you go from

book Boom, Bust and Echo, which

that I was a bad kid or anything—I

being an accountant to torts law

touched on the burgeoning market

just had a lot of freedom.”

and M & A transactions and equity

for home healthcare. When Milton Wong introduced

Luckily, Sim had a decent

deals and the numbers are a lot

work ethic and natural abilities

bigger. You’re working on multi-

him to fellow Vancouverite John

at math, social studies and PE. He

billion dollar acquisitions,”

DeHart, who was looking for new

squeaked into UBC with heady

Sim recalls.

business opportunities, they liked each other and started looking at

dreams of waltzing into a job as an investment banker right out of his undergraduate program. “It’s almost embarrassing. As you get older, your views change,” says Sim. “But when I went to UBC, I truly believed that I’d be a billionaire by the time I was 30.” The relationships Sim established at UBC serve him

“We’re actually not really in the business of healthcare—we’re in the business of caring. And that’s a big distinction.”

companies to buy or build. Then Sim’s pregnant wife had to be put on emergency bed rest and needed home-care assistance. The couple interviewed applicants and discovered that some hadn’t even been screened. “My business partner and I thought, ‘Wow. That’s kind of

well to this day. One of the most

crazy.’ So we did a bunch of

important was with his mentor,

research, wrote a business plan, raised money and we launched in

the late Milton Wong, a prominent Vancouver businessman and

After Sim married Teena

October of 2001.” The demand continues. Nurse

philanthropist. With Wong’s

Gupta in 1998, he found the time

encouragement, Sim became an

demands as a mining investment

Next Door now has 60 locations

accountant with KPMG while at

banker too great and he transferred

across Canada, and a dozen in the

UBC and spent the next few years

to the Toronto office of CIBC

US. It has 4,000 active employees

there, simultaneously earning his

Capital Partners. The fit was bad. “I

at its corporate and franchise

is to improve one million lives a

chartered accountancy. When he

literally went from a hero to a zero

locations, and was named one of

year. “We’re actually not really in

got offered an investment banking

in a matter of four months.”

BC’s Best Companies in 2012 by

the business of healthcare—we’re

BC Business magazine.

in the business of caring. And that’s

job at CIBC World Markets, he bit, and he spent the next five 34

SPRING 2013 VIEWPOINTS

Over Christmas in Mexico, he and his wife discovered that she

Sim says his and DeHart’s goal

a big distinction.”

TUUM EST Anybody can give clients baths or dole out medication, he explains. “What makes us really relevant and interesting is that we try and figure out what the dreams of all of our clients are, and then make them happen.” Sim cites the example of an elderly woman who had swum in the Okanagan all the time as a child but, to her sorrow, was no longer strong enough to do that. Nurse

“So really, my choice is to have a safe and reasonable ride, or to have an incredibly unreasonable, big, nation-changing, crazy life. And that’s what I choose.”

working with friend Parise Siegel,

to consciously consider his or her

the owner of Siegel’s Bagels, to

approach to life.

massively expand her market. Sim says there’s a “cult-like

“I know that some day I’m going to die and everything’s

following” for Siegel’s Montreal-

going to reset to zero,” he says.

style product, and he’ll work with

“So really, my choice is to have a

her and minority shareholders to

safe and reasonable ride, or to have

take her brand, repackage it under

an incredibly unreasonable, big,

the name Rosemary Rocksalt, and

nation-changing, crazy life. And

sell it at 200 outlets across the

that’s what I choose.” ■

continent within 10 years. Think the mix of home healthcare and bagel vending is

Next Door took her to the local

Sim no longer cares about others’ opinions of his choices. He’s independent minded, and to him, the slogan Tuum Est encourages each individual to consciously consider his or her approach to life.

pool every week until she was able,

of four kids, ranging in age from

odd? You’re not alone. But Sim no

once again, to swim in the lake

four to 11, has his own personal

longer cares about others’ opinions

she loved.

dreams. With one major business

of his choices. He’s independent

nursenextdoor.ca

success under his belt, he’s moving

minded, and to him, the slogan

rosemaryrocksalt.com

into another, quite different, arena,

Tuum Est encourages each individual

Of course, Sim—a snowboarding, guitar-playing father

ca.linkedin.com/in/kensim

VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

Being the change they In September, the Sauder School of Business announced a $1 million contribution from Coast Capital Savings to establish the Coast Capital Savings Innovation Hub, a program accelerating early stage ventures devoted to solving social and environmental problems using for-profit business models. Led by Sauderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ISIS Research Centre, the initiative provides collaborative working space, mentorship from faculty, alumni and industry experts, student intern support, and access to networks of potential collaborators.

SPRING 2013 VIEWPOINTS

wish to see in the world

PERRY ZAVITZ

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KENT KALLBERG

“BUSINESS CAN AND SHOULD BE A FORCE FOR

Tracy Redies

Dr. James Tansey

About ISIS The ISIS Research Centre at the Sauder School of Business is focused on leveraging business tools to advance social innovation and sustainability, through research, incubation and application. The core research themes at ISIS are building the low carbon economy, social economy and economic development with First Nations. The Centre’s goal is to build intellectual and human capacity by linking knowledge with action to further the field of sustainability and social innovation. www.isis.sauder.ubc.ca

SPRING 2013 VIEWPOINTS

positive social and environmental change,” said Robert Helsley, dean of the Sauder School of Business. “The Coast Capital Savings Innovation Hub provides an ideal venue for Sauder students to learn from and contribute to this progressive new form of entrepreneurship.” Fully funded to operate for five years, the Coast Capital Savings Innovation Hub provides social ventures with a one-year program to accelerate their growth. The social venture space represents an emerging sector in North America. Using revenue-generating business models, these organizations are committed to bringing positive social or environmental impacts to the community. In 2009, the BC-Alberta Social Economy Research Alliance reported that social ventures provided paid employment to 4,500 workers. The sector generated annual revenues of $46 million, provided training to 10,450, and services to 678,000 British Columbians. The program is “a great fit for our organization, aligning with our commitment to help build a richer future for youth in our communities,” says Tracy Redies, Coast Capital Savings President and CEO. “The Coast Capital Savings Innovation Hub is a one-of-a-kind initiative that will propel the success of social entrepreneurs, and provide them with direction, mentoring, encouragement and resources that they would otherwise find difficult to access. “It’s our hope that the Coast Capital Savings Innovation Hub will help put BC on the map as an international centre for social innovation. Over the next five years, we anticipate seeing a number of brilliant, young creative out-of-the-box thinkers launch successful and viable businesses

that will yield tangible social benefits, strengthen our community and boost the BC economy.” The call for social ventures, which was put out last fall, attracted numerous applicants looking for a unique and collaborative community to thrive in. Seven social ventures were selected in December for the 2013 Coast Capital Savings Innovation Hub program, through a competitive process assessing the viability of their business models, and their potential to have a positive social impact. The ventures work in sectors ranging from healthcare to urban agriculture. The Coast Capital Savings Innovation Hub entrepreneurs are brought together in a shared supportive and collaborative working environment to attend regular thematic workshops on topics from pricing strategies to design thinking to personal health management while developing a start-up. Entrepreneurs have access to expert advisors from the Sauder community and industry leaders, and fellow ventures engaged in the program. The ventures receive support and expertise to fine-tune their business strategies, to fully define their investment needs, and access networks to help them grow their businesses. Working closely with student interns for three to four months of the program, the ventures also gain a dedicated employee with extensive business training, while in turn providing students with an immersive work experience in an entrepreneurial environment. The Coast Capital Savings Innovation Hub entrepreneurs also have frequent opportunities to interact with seasoned entrepreneurs and learn from their experiences in venture development, such as how to steer a

About Coast Capital Savings Coast Capital Savings Credit Union is Canada’s largest credit union by membership with 504,000 members, total assets under administration of $14.6 billion, and 50 branches in the Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley, and Vancouver Island regions of British Columbia. Product innovations include Canada’s first free chequing account from a full-service financial institution and the country’s most flexible mortgage product, the You’re the Boss™ Mortgage, which was named 2010 Mortgage of the Year by canadianmortgagetrends.com. Coast Capital offers one of Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures™. It is a member of Canada’s Best Managed Companies Platinum Club and an Imagine Canada Caring Company. To learn more, visit www.coastcapitalsavings.com.

new venture through its critical pivot points and how to approach investors. “Ultimately this program is designed to get social ventures investment-ready so that they are able to pitch for and accept investment, and move onto the next stage of growth,” says Dr. James Tansey, Executive Director of ISIS. “The five-year vision for the Coast Capital Savings Innovation Hub is to establish British Columbia as a world-class centre for social venture development.” Tansey adds, “We just think there’s a great niche in Vancouver. This has been the home of so many really interesting social ventures. What we see in the community is lots of start-ups that are bouncing along in the early stages of development. “We think if we can wrap our support around the best of them, and at the end of that process introduce them to potential funders and investors, that’s a high-value role for the university and the business school to play.” Redies says Coast Capital’s decision to invest in the Innovation Hub stems from the company’s recognition of the important role young social entrepreneurs play in challenging the traditional business model. “We want to support innovative businesses that combine financial sustainability with a commitment to improving our world. “We are a strong champion of innovation in our own organization because it allows us to rethink new solutions to old problems, provide meaningful help to our customers, and to make a tangible, lasting contribution to the communities we serve. “Ours is indeed a lofty goal for a financial institution—it’s not just about cashing a cheque, or opening an account, or funding a mortgage. Our business is to change lives. And we believe by flipping the orthodoxies of banking and supporting social innovation we have a great opportunity to help make a tangible difference.” ■

CHANGE HEROES

Change Heroes is an online fundraising platform that helps people engage their friends to fundraise for schools and libraries to support education in developing countries. With customized and personalized videos, engagement through social media and a cause young people can relate to, Change Heroes aims to increase the philanthropic activity in this demographic. www. thechangeheroes.com SEAMARKET

are designed to help children with severe communication difficulties develop their communication and expression skills. www.shailahinteractive.com SHIFT URBAN CARGO DELIVERY

Shift is transforming the urban goods movement by using pedal-powered trike vehicles for last-mile deliveries in the downtown core, eliminating congestion and pollution. Shift is a worker co-op providing empowering Seven employment for young ventures people within the working to green economy. change the www.shift.coop

SeaMarket works to promote and increase the supply world of sustainable seafood GREEN CHALLENGE WASTE through branding, MANAGEMENT marketing, sales and Green Challenge Waste education. By focusing on Management is a waste and recycling the supply side of the seafood market, management not-for-profit society that SeaMarket helps producers and catchers get provides employment opportunities to their eco-friendly choices on the market. people with barriers to employment. www.seamarket.ca Green Challenge creates greener and more sustainable waste management solutions for CONNECT HEALTH SROs and multi-dwelling home units, and Connect Health is pioneering a model of provides solutions for sensitive hoarding integrative medicine, providing effective management issues. whole-person care by combining the best www.takethegreenchallenge.ca conventional medicine and complementary approaches. This approach is proactive, VICTORY GARDENS offering the best preventative strategies to Victory Gardens is a one-stop-shop that maintain good health. helps people grow food in their urban www.connecthealthcare.ca spaces. The team offers a variety of services to their clients including building and SHAILAH INTERACTIVE providing food-growing infrastructure; Shailah Interactive is developing full-service farming; and educational tools affordable gesture-controlled tablet and such as coaching, workshops and custom mobile educational games designed for planting guides. children with physical disabilities who www.victorygardensvancouver.ca cannot use a touch screen. The games

VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

EARNING INTEREST TRENDS, TIPS, AND TIDBITS BY

CLAUDIA KWAN

It’s yours to give MANY PEOPLE DONATE GENEROUSLY

to causes without knowing exactly how their funds are used, or without knowing what the ultimate goals are. That’s changed in recent years, with the advent of “venture philanthropy.” It takes principles of venture capital financing and applies them to charitable pursuits. That includes a focus on measurable results, and building capacity for growth. In venture philanthropy, human and intellectual capital have just as much value as financial contributions, with many donors choosing to become highly involved with the organizations they fund. There is also an emphasis on multi-year commitments, to create a stable basis of funding. High-profile venture philanthropists include figures like Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates.

Here are some of their thoughts on when, how, and why to give. “Concentrate your resources on needs that would not be met without your efforts. Conversely, avoid making small contributions to the multitude of worthwhile activities that have many possible funders and that would likely proceed without your help. Consider working with your siblings on important projects. Pay attention to your home community but favor a broader view. Judge programs by how they fit with your goals and their chances for success, not by who makes the request. Expect to make some mistakes; nothing important will be accomplished if you make only ‘safe’ decisions.” ~ Warren Buffett’s advice to his three children “Some of the projects we fund will fail. We not only accept that, we expect it—because we think an essential role of philanthropy is to make bets on promising solutions that governments and businesses can’t afford to make.” ~ Bill Gates, Chairman, Microsoft “Is it really needed? Does the thing work like it’s supposed to? Will it get to those who need it, and a lot of them? And will they use it right when they get it?” ~ Kevin Starr, Managing Director, The Mulago Foundation ■

It’s your health FOOD IS MEDICINE.

1. Eat a cup of blueberries every day. Promising new research indicates that eating blueberries can not only prevent age-related memory loss, it can actually reverse it.

5. Have a glass of sour cherry juice before bed. It’s been shown to release melatonin, which can help you get a good night’s rest. ■ 2. Folic acid isn’t just for expectant mothers. Vitamin B9, as it’s also known, promotes nerve cell regeneration in the brain and spine.

3. Pop a teaspoonful of cinnamon into your next latte. Cinnamon has powerful antioxidant properties, and may also help regulate insulin levels. 40

SPRING 2013 VIEWPOINTS

4. Fish is brain food. Fatty fish like halibut, mackerel, and salmon contain Omega 3 acids, which are needed to build cell membranes in the brain. Eating these fish three times a week could also help protect against heart disease and stroke.

It’s your balancing act: books hot off the shelf Here are some books aiming to have a big impact on the topic of work-life balance. Live your Dreams, Change the World: The Psychology of Personal Fulfillment for Women by Joanna Gavin, James Quick, David Gavin. (May 2013.) This book teaches strategies around playing to traditional female strengths, such as communication skills and emotional competence, while accurately deploying assertive behaviour.

It’s your life, your talent KEYSHAWN JOHNSON

Johnson was selected first overall in the 1996 NFL draft, and went on to play wide receiver for 11 seasons. He does commentary for ESPN, but his talents aren’t limited to football. He hosted an A&E series showing off his knowledge of interior design, and has served as a judge on Iron Chef America. His companies invest in real estate and restaurants across North America, encompassing both franchise outlets and fine dining. VIGGO MORTENSEN

He may be best known for his work in movies like A History of Violence and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but the actor is also a talented photographer, poet and painter. His artwork has been exhibited in galleries around the world. He composes music and speaks seven different languages. BRIAN MAY

The lead guitarist of rock band Queen was working on degrees in math and physics when the band began to really take off. In 2007, he decided to complete his PhD in astrophysics, and is currently serving as the chancellor of a university in England. He’s also been selected as one of the top ten guitarists of all time in a number of different polls. ■

Author Timothy Ferriss broke the mold with the bestseller The 4-Hour Workweek. It included tips on eliminating pointless busy work, encouraging bosses to value performance over presence, streamlining information intake, and considering bursts of activity with mini-retirements, instead of a long-haul career. The Power of Doing Less: How to Spend Your Valuable Time on Things That Really Matter by Fergus O’Connell (Coming July 2013.) This book discusses the social implications of overwork, as well as the value in learning when to say no.

The Balance Myth: Rethinking Work-Life success by Teresa A. Taylor. (April 2013) In this book, the author shares her anecdotal experience of being a COO of a Fortune 200 company while raising two boys with her husband, with lessons learned about integrating personal and professional life, and remembering to celebrate accomplishments.

HOCKEY RULES IN CANADA, RIGHT?

Not quite—the Sport Participation 2010 Research Paper, published by Heritage Canada, cites golf as the number one sport by participation (and yes, hockey is number two). What about soccer, you say? Demographics play a decisive role in participation—golf is ageless; soccer, not so much. Although sports participation in Canada has been decreasing over the past 20 years (because of the aging population, costs, and lack of time), soccer can be called the hot athletic pastime—it is the only sport in the Canadian top 10 to have experienced growth during this period.

VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

GLOBAL ALUMNI NETWORK

Launch of volunteer program brings alumni together Alumni volunteers make a significant and lasting contribution to the Sauder School of Business and the educational experience of its students. THE SCHOOL RECENTLY LAUNCHED ITS VOLUNTEER

DON ERHARDT

Teresa Faulkner, Associate Director, Alumni Relations, listens to the night’s keynote speaker Fred Withers (BCom 1977).

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“We plan events, bring ideas to the table and connect fellow alumni and students. By helping each other succeed, we prove to employers and the global communities that we work in the quality of a Sauder education.”

TARA NOELLE

DON ERHARDT

Alumni mingle at the volunteer program launch reception in Vancouver.

program to engage the Sauder community through a variety of activities and initiatives that help connect alumni and students. “There are a great number of initiatives that alumni can get involved in and volunteer their talent and time. We are hoping to double the number of alumni engaged by 2015,” said Martina Valkovicova, Manager, Volunteer Program. Officially launched on November 15, 2012 at receptions attended by a total of more than 150 alumni in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary and Hong Kong, the volunteer program is the result of a year of planning and development. It gives alumni more than 40 ways to get involved, including mentoring or coaching students, speaking in classes, organizing reunions, participating in Sauder Business Clubs and regional networks, and

Alumni mingle at the Volunteer Program launch in Toronto.

TARA NOELLE

Alice Chacon (MBA 2010) talks to fellow alumni at the Volunteer Program launch in Toronto.

DON ERHARDT

partnering in community and international development initiatives. “Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Sauder brand, keeping our networks strong and connected,” said Alice Chacon, MBA 2010, President of the Sauder Business Club of Toronto. “We plan events, bring ideas to the table and connect fellow alumni and students. By helping each other succeed, we prove to employers, and the global communities that we work in, the quality of a Sauder education.” ■

Alumni mingle at the volunteer program launch reception in Vancouver. Centre: Martina Valkovicova, Manager, Volunteer Program.

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of the Sauder brand, keeping our networks strong and connected.”

To learn more and get involved, please visit: www.sauder.ubc.ca/Alumni/Get_Involved

You are now connected! The Sauder Global Alumni Directory is open for business. EXCLUSIVELY FOR SAUDER GRADUATES, THE SECURE AND SEARCHABLE

Anu Khanna (BCom 1987), receives his prize, a 256 GB MacBook Air computer, from Teresa Faulkner, Associate Director of Alumni Engagement. Khanna completed his profile on the Sauder Global Alumni Directory and entered the login to win contest.

online directory makes it easier for alumni to connect and support one another around the globe. The directory lists every Sauder graduate with a UBC Senate-recognized degree or diploma, and is the first of its kind for UBC. “We are excited to watch the directory develop into a valuable resource for the entire alumni community,” says Teresa Faulkner, Associate Director of Alumni Engagement, who encourages alumni to login, update and publish their profiles to start connecting with fellow Sauder alumni worldwide. So far, more than 4,000 alumni are participating in the directory. The tool is part of a larger package of benefits offered to Sauder alumni, which includes the Sauder Business Club network (Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, London and Greater China—Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing), career services and access to the Factiva news and information database, among others. Alumni can access the directory on the Sauder Global Alumni Network website at www.sauderalumni.ca and from all Sauder Business Club websites. The Sauder School has more than 34,000 alumni in 77 countries around the world. ■ VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

GLOBAL ALUMNI NETWORK

Sauder Business Clubs announce new leadership Sauder Business Clubs serve the business, social and professional development interests of the School’s alumni communities. Three dynamic and energetic alumni have recently assumed leadership roles with Sauder Business Clubs of Toronto, Vancouver, and Greater China—Hong Kong. investment activities in Hong Kong and currently has investments in several companies based in Hong Kong and China.

lifelong community among current and future Sauder alumni by promoting connections and professional development and enhancing pride in Sauder.

Yassaman Nouri, BCom 2010 (Finance), President, Sauder Business Club of Vancouver

Peter Lee, BCom 1989 (Finance), Leslie Wong Fellow, President, Sauder Business Club of Greater China—Hong Kong

Born in Hong Kong, Lee moved to Vancouver with his family at the age of 8. He was educated in Vancouver and entered UBC in 1984. During his third year of Commerce, he was accepted into the Portfolio Management Society (now known as PMF), and he majored in Finance, Portfolio Management. During those two years at Sauder, he held internship positions with Merrill Lynch in Toronto and Citigroup in Hong Kong. Lee graduated from UBC in 1989, and in 1990 he became a principal of a Vancouver based investment firm (recently founded by a group of investment industry executives and local prominent investors) specializing in trading and venture capital investments. He worked in the corporate finance department until 2001, when he sold his interest back to the firm to pursue outside investment interests. During his years at the firm, he assisted numerous entrepreneurs in small to medium-sized businesses raising capital, restructuring, and mergers and acquisitions. Since 2001, Lee has been an investor in various companies in technology, oil and gas, mineral extraction, and real estate developments. His roles in these companies range from passive investment to advisory as a principal to controlling shareholder. He has continued his 44

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Nouri is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal for contributions to communities in Canada and internationally. She has worked in Iran, UK, China, Malawi, Tajikistan and Canada in diverse sectors including manufacturing, post-secondary education, international trade, international development, social finance, credit unions, non-profits and government organizations. In 2010, while on a seven-month Canadian International Development Agency internship, Nouri was placed by Canadian Co-operative Association in Malawi, where she served as credit union development officer for Malawi’s central credit union and three community-based credit unions. In 2011-2012, Nouri did an eight-month micro-finance, micro-enterprise fellowship with the Aga Khan Foundation of Canada, where she was placed with the Aga Khan Development Network’s First MicroFinance Bank in Tajikistan. Integrating the SMART Campaign’s client protection principles into the culture and practices of the bank, she piloted the first business-lending program for Afghan refugees in Tajikistan. In 2012, Nouri joined Ernst & Young’s Advisory team in Vancouver in the Performance Improvement work stream, working on a variety of projects from governance, strategic planning, and transformation management to financial institution advising. As the new President of the Sauder Business Club of Vancouver, Nouri leads a team of about 30 members dedicated to fostering a

Alice Chacon, MBA 2010 (Marketing), President, Sauder Business Club of Toronto

Chacon completed her Sauder MBA in 2010, specializing in Marketing. Her keen interest in mobile technology and marketing led her to become one of the few MBA students from top US and Canadian business schools to be selected as interns for Research in Motion’s Product and Management Development Program in 2009. After graduating, she used her strong marketing and communications skills in roles in the Cards Marketing teams at American Express and most recently at CIBC, where she is a Marketing Manager heading Loyalty Rewards programs. Before her MBA, Chacon worked in the media industry and at PepsiCo South America Foods in her native city of Caracas, Venezuela. She is passionate about mobile innovation, blogging and community involvement, currently mentoring Sauder alumni and new immigrants to Canada. As President of the Sauder Business Club of Toronto, Chacon aims to give back to the alumni community by increasing alumni engagement and contributing to their career success with events and tools offered through the club. ■

Alumni Career Services As part of the reimagined Sauder Global Alumni Network, the Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre launched Alumni Career Services—an enhanced resource offering Sauder alumni a lifetime of access to career management services including personal coaching services, an online site and community rich with resources, live events, webinars, and a job posting board. FORMALLY LAUNCHED IN SEPTEMBER 2011, THE

program bolsters the Career Centre’s effectiveness by providing employers with meaningful opportunities to connect with highly qualified candidates who offer a wide range of experience.

“At the Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre, we care passionately about our students’ and alumni’s careers—their goals, satisfaction and successes,” says Assistant Dean Denise Baker, adding, “Whether our alumni find themselves

looking for a new challenge, for an opportunity in another city, or want to change industries, we are here to help.” Sauder alumna Merryl Edington-Hryb, BCom 2009 (Finance), welcomed the opportunity to work with the Centre’s alumni career coaches, who helped her manage her new-found career and the relocation from Vancouver to Calgary. “They helped me realize what works best for me in terms of management styles and work environment,” she says. “They helped me understand what makes me tick.” Edington-Hryb notes that many graduates need help navigating challenging job markets, or finding their calling. “If only they had someone who could help them realize what they’re looking for and what’s out there,” she says. “I highly recommend Sauder Alumni Career Services.” The Career Centre relies heavily on participation from alumni, who volunteer as mentors, panellists and speakers, and offer support through student employment opportunities. “As alumni advance in their career, they also have a unique opportunity to make a difference,” says Sauder School of Business Dean Robert Helsley. “By advocating for their alma mater in the community and looking out for students and fellow alumni who share the Sauder experience as a common bond, they can both support the mission of the School and add value to their degree.” Since the program’s launch, there have been more than 1,000 interactions between alumni and the Career Centre’s career coaches, in person or over the phone or e-mail. A record number of alumni have registered for career-related webinars hosted by Alumni Career Services. ■

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT www.sauderalumnicareers.ca.

VIEWPOINTS SPRING G 2013

CLASS NOTES

Dear alumni, From Vancouver to Hong Kong and from London to Karachi, the Sauder community includes more than 34,000 alumni in 77 countries. Each of our alumni holds a piece of the School’s history as well as its future. The connections that hold our community together are our School’s most meaningful strength. We want to hear from you! So tell us your story, share your news, and send us your photos. Whether you just got the job of your dreams or are still finding your way, took a trip around the world or have been enjoying the comforts of home, got married or became a parent—fill us in on your family and career, accomplishments and interests. We’ll print your news in the Class Notes section of Viewpoints Magazine, which is consistently ranked as one of the most popular segments of our publication. Through the Class Notes, you will share your story with fellow alumni and current students, reconnect with old classmates, and stay connected as a vital part of the Sauder community. We’re looking forward to hearing from you! Viewpoints Magazine

1940S

1950S

Don Chutter BCom 1944 Was honoured with the awarding of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal for services to the Canadian construction community and to the Ottawa community throughout the 60 years of her reign. The presentation was made by Hon. Mauril Belanger on Parliament Hill in November 2012.

Joined the Hudson’s Bay Company Sept. 1949 as a Management Trainee. 1955 married and promoted to Department Manager transferred to The Bay store in Saskatoon. 1961 transferred to The Bay store as a Department Manager at The Bay Calgary. Retired Dec. 1988.

Ernest Anastasiou BCom 1949 Following WW2 service as a Navigator in the RCAF I took my first year at Victoria College in 1946-47. 1947 UBC Faculty of Commerce Graduated BCom fall 1949 Convocation. 46

SPRING 2013 VIEWPOINTS

JJohn h Willi Williams BC BCom 1958 Retire? That word is not in my vocabulary. Going to the office or travelling to clients is way too much fun—like having a different puzzle to solve each day. My company, J.C. Williams Group, continues to grow its retail and shopping centre consulting-related work from our offices

in Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, and Ann Arbor, Michigan. And we have joint ventures in Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Brazil, which take us to interesting places like Tehran, Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, Saint Petersburg and Tunisia. Part of the enjoyment is trying (but not succeeding) to keep up with the technological advances that our young professionals treat as just normal. On the academic side, I’ve just completed my third book. It’s an e-book entitled “The Strategic Compass Model—Your Guide to Creating a Legendary Business” and is available on www.jcwg.com. But life is not all with clients. Maureen (York University, 1975) and I enjoy a lot of major travel as well as visiting the two sons/daughtersin-law and family (three grandkids) in New York and Brookland, a daughter/son-in-law (two granddaughters) in Rome and daughter/sonin-law (three granddaughters) just three blocks from us in Toronto. And daily life is terrific, enjoying the local cultural and culinary sites, getting to the “Y” daily, and staying in touch with friends—especially the Class of 1958!

SHARE YOUR NEWS Class Notes are easier than ever to submit. Simply fill out the online form at www.sauder.ubc. ca/alumni/classnotes.

1970S

Brian Coldwells BCom 1972 As a mature student, I towed three children through my years of learning and even had my preschooler sit in with me in one law class when other arrangements did not work out. The downside of my last year was getting hit with viral pneumonia during that winter. Bouncing back, while not easy, was accomplished with the much-appreciated understanding that I found with my professors. My trip through Commerce was probably as different from the average student as could be, not just because of age difference, but because of being a family man with wellentrenched responsibilities that most would not come to know for some years afterward. Nevertheless, I enjoyed campus life as well as the involvement with our children in the various things they joined such as cubs, Kindercare, hockey, soccer and other sports. I went on to become a Chartered Accountant in 1974 and maintained a varied career path through until my retirement in 1999. Those three children, by the way, are all married and produced grandchildren for Anna and I... seven in total. Lloyd Aasen MBA 1974 After 38 years of legal practice in the areas of corporation law and real estate development, I have decided to start a new life and have retired. Priority will be given to obtaining a part-time teaching position, travel and adult education in areas not previously explored such as history and cosmology, and spending more time with my wife Virginia and daughter Laurel, as she pursues her master’s degree in counseling psychology.

Alan Clarke BCom 1978 After being laid off in July 2004 from a controllership position, I have been living the life of an amateur athlete—training for and entering running races (5kms – marathons) and triathlons (sprint/Olympic/half-iron/and ironman distances), based in Penticton, BC. I have also become an amateur missionary, taking God’s gospel and end-time message to the Philippines with officials of the Seventh-day Adventist Church once per year. In 2008, I married a nice woman from the Philippines, and was able to bring her to Canada in 2009.

1980S Derek Wiens BCom 1981 After earning my BCom and then my LLB at UBC, I entered the publishing business at Commerce Clearing House (CCH) in Vancouver and Toronto and eventually at Real Estate Weekly in Vancouver. I practiced law for about 10 years, and thanks to a few good real estate investments, I recently retired. I enjoy the freedom of early retirement, thanks to my education at UBC and various business pursuits.

Don Nataros MBA 1981 Always an adventure. And this may be the year where I combine the life sciences with business!

John Clark BCom 1979 John S. Clark was named a “Five Star Wealth Manager” for the second consecutive year. To earn this award, wealth managers had to meet ten objective eligibility and evaluation criteria associated with outstanding client service. The evaluation process included a survey of 1 in 12 households who would use wealth management services. This is only the second time that this award has been given in Vancouver.

SHARE YOUR NEWS Class Notes are easier than ever to submit. Simply fill out the online form at www.sauder.ubc. ca/alumni/classnotes.

Douglas Querns MBA 1982 Have just started a new job as CFO of Family Services of Greater Vancouver. Dan Bednar BCom 1987 In May I was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Eurofins Scientific Group, and moved to Brussels to take up my new job. With revenues of over one billion dollars and 12,000 staff in more than 170 laboratories across 32 countries, Eurofins is the world leader in food and pharmaceutical products testing and environmental laboratory services. Eurofins is listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris stock exchange, and is part of the SBF 120 index. Amyn Khimji Bcom 1988 Amyn Khimji, CMA, has been appointed to the position of Assistant Director, Financial Accounting at JTB International (Canada) Ltd. Amyn has been with JTB since 1994 and previously held the position of Manager, Financial Accounting. VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

CLASS NOTES

1990S

Teddy Lai DULE 1990 This year marks over 20 years that our firm, GHL Consultants Ltd., has been providing specialist advisory services in building codes and fire sciences in the construction industry. We develop alternative solutions to code compliance and facilitate regulatory coordination in fire and life safety aspects for construction projects. We look forward to another 20 years of success.

Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), working with publicly listed entities on internal controls compliance and internal audit projects in Western Canada. Steven Chan MBA 1994 Was bemused to receive a Lifetime Service Award from the Oracle Applications User Group recently. This seems awfully premature but humbling, nonetheless. I’m still living in a mountain resort town in Central Oregon but will be spending March–July 2013 in Manhattan. Would love to catch up with any fellow alums in the city. Saw 22 Broadway shows during a three-week NYC trip last year, and would be interested in connecting with fellow arts lovers, too.

Anjili Bahadoorsingh BCom 1990 The District of West Vancouver has appointed Anjili I. Bahadoorsingh as a Board Trustee of the West Vancouver Memorial Library for a two-year term.

Jan Masek BCom 1995 In late 2011 we moved from Frankfurt, Germany, to Zurich, in Switzerland, where I head J.P. Morgan’s corporate finance and M&A business. After 20 years abroad, including four in Canada at UBC in the early 90s, it was a homecoming at last. In April last year, our third child, Julius, was born, so life is hectic all around: at work, and equally at home. Although I miss Vancouver, being close to the Alps and the lakes again feels good. Cheers!

Morgan Tam BCom 1991 Photo stop on Mount John Laurie in Alberta, December 2012 shows Morgan enjoying her new hobby of winter scrambling. Professionally she continues to build on her experience as a Certified General Accountant (CGA) and 48

SPRING 2013 VIEWPOINTS

Richard Stackman PhD 1995 Became Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs in the School of Management at the University of San Francisco in September 2012.

Eugen Klein BCom 1997 In 2012, Eugen Klein became President of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver, the professional association of 11,500 REALTORS®. Recently, the National Quality Institute awarded REBGV (rebgv.org) the Canada Award of Excellence, their highest award of continued excellence. Eugen is privileged to be the youngest President of the Board in its 93-year history. As principal of Klein Group, Royal LePage City Centre (kleingroup.com), a real estate brokerage firm specializing in commercial, project marketing and residential real estate, his firm achieved Royal LePage’s National Chairman’s Club (Top 100) in Canada and Top Ten Provincial. Eugen became a member of the Institute of Corporate Directors (icd.ca) in 2012 and completed the ICD.D designation through the Directors Education Program (DEP). This program is jointly developed by the Institute of Corporate Directors and the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto and is the only professional designation for Canadian directors. The personal highlight of this past year was spending time traveling through India and the UAE.

Sophia Fu BCom 1997 Worked as an Internal Project Manager at Sogeti US LLC in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Became familiar with the MIA, Walker Museum, music culture, and history of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Went to the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitors Center in Wisconsin and a Wisconsin winery. Worked on some exciting application upgrade migration projects with some computer hardware clients. Spent a few years in Silicon Valley, California as a Project Manager and worked with telecommunications, internet service provider, network service provider, retail, and ecommerce clients. Obtained a second degree (BSc) and worked in clinical roles and as a consultant in healthcare software projects. In my spare time, I enjoy skiing, cooking, reading, wine, and travelling. I enjoy my carefree lifestyle and exposure to different cultures, food and people.

house in Lynn Valley, we found a condo in New Westminster. After a complete renovation, we moved in June of 2012. I continue to teach at Douglas College in the Marketing Department and I have a ten minute walk to work. I sit on the New Westminster Economic Development Advisory Committee with fellow DMSM grad Gregus, who has opened his own local wineryâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; Pacific Breeze. Our daughter Sophia (also a UBC grad) is living with her husband Noah Phillips (UBC grad) in Fredericton, NB as he pursues a MA in geology. Our youngest will graduate in the spring from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops. Marian is pursuing her Interior Design degree at BCIT.

2000S

B.J. Turner BCom 2000 In 2012 my wife Laurel, son Watson and I, welcomed another boy to the family: Bowen Penn Turner, born October 19, 2012. I work with a real estate private equity firm in Los Angeles where we had a successful 2012 by closing on six hotel and office transactions in a market that is gaining solid momentum. While we love the California weather, we certainly miss Vancouver and look forward to our regular trips back throughout the year.

SHARE YOUR NEWS David Moulton DMSM 1999 My spouse Marian Toft and I have successfully transitioned to empty nesters. After selling our

James Chang MBA 2005 The two biggest highlights are that I am engaged to be married to the love of my life, Jennifer, and that we have relocated back to Vancouver! Jennifer will be practicing optometry in the Lower Mainland and I will be opening an office for my software company, Mapagogo. We are both looking forward to reconnecting with all of our friends and classmates!

Jeremy Cook BCom 2006 2012 was a busy year for us... my oldest started kindergarten, my youngest started ballet and couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be cuter at it, and my wife is running her own business (luvinthemommyhood.com)... all I did was pass the UFE... not a bad year. Looking forward to 2013.

Class Notes are easier than ever to submit. Simply fill out the online form at www.sauder.ubc. ca/alumni/classnotes.

VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

CLASS NOTES

Abby Ong-Villeneuve BCom 2006 2012 was an eventful year with a major life change. I celebrated six years with TELUS as a Senior Marketing Manager, using the 4P’s from Marketing Strategy to look after the Atlantic region and the very small business customer segment. In November, we welcomed Xavier into our lives and have been enjoying my new career as a mom! Any parenting tips welcome!

Peter Rasquinha MBA 2006 With much delight, my wife and I welcomed our new baby girl Ruth Komal Rasquinha.

SHARE YOUR NEWS Class Notes are easier than ever to submit. Simply fill out the online form at www.sauder.ubc. ca/alumni/classnotes.

SPRING 2013 VIEWPOINTS

Lena Ding BCom 2007 After receiving a BCom in Accounting from UBC, Lena started to work towards her CGA designation in a public accounting practice in Vancouver. In 2009, she moved to Toronto and pursued her MBA at the University of Toronto. Lena has received her MBA from the Rotman School of Management and obtained her CGA designation in 2011. Lena is working as a Senior Finance Analyst in CIBC in Toronto now.

Bernard Lau BCom 2007 Bernard Lau recently celebrated the first anniversary of the law firm that he cofounded, Chak Lau and Co. LLP. After graduating from Sauder, Bernard completed a law degree and earned his Juris Doctor at UBC in 2010. He is pleased to welcome the addition of Sophia Xu, UBC Law alumna from 2010, to the firm. Bernard practises in civil litigation with an emphasis on real estate and construction law.

Amar Kulkarni MBA 2008 Our Honeymoon in Africa My wife and I, newly married, set out on an adventure of a lifetime to celebrate our journey together. As if a destination wedding in gorgeous Punta Cana for seven days was not enough, we decided to explore Africa for five weeks—it turned out to be the most amazing time of our lives as we started in Cairo and ended in Johannesburg. First stop: Egypt Ever since I was a child, I have dreamed of seeing the pyramids. Although I am well traveled (visited over 20 countries), Egypt has always been at the top of my list. Regardless of the political uprising that was taking place, we decided to “take a chance” to experience Egypt. After bringing in the New Year (literally) under the pyramids, it was in fact many of the other sights outside of Cairo that impressed us the most. In many temples, tombs and libraries there were inscriptions that mapped out highly advanced science and engineering, such as medicines, remedies and architectural design. A tribute to the Ancient Library of Alexandria that was destroyed, this information is now accessible in the modern museum of Alexandria, the largest and most advanced library I have seen. Aside from taking my breath away, sites such as Abu Simbel, Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Luxor really brought attention to the value of life. The ancient Egyptians lived preparing

for the afterlife. I purchased a painting of The Final Judgment that emphasized this point, as the gods weigh a human heart versus a feather to evaluate the good and helpful deeds he/she has brought to this world in order to determine his/her fate. Second stop: Tanzania One of my biggest passions is wildlife, and there is no better place in the world to experience it in its natural state than Tanzania. We had the privilege of driving through the bush (Serengeti, Ngorogoro crater and Manyara) and seeing the big five (lions, cheetahs, leopards, wildebeest and black rhinos) and other species such as ostriches, flamingos, hawks, vultures, monkeys and baboons. One of the most thrilling rides was viewing the wildebeest migration—millions of wildebeest dashing through Lake Ndutu. In order to get to the other side of the reserve, we had to cross the migration, and as we did, the wildebeest literally stopped in their tracks and started to form a new path around our vehicle, while the rest of the herd waited patiently. The sheer determination and cooperation to travel to their intended destination was remarkable. In addition to the safari, we drove past the earliest findings of our human ancestors near Arusha—human footprints nearly 3.6 million years old. Next, we flew to Zanzibar, also referred to as “spice town.” As a huge food enthusiast, tasting fresh fruits and tropical spices was a treat, along with the array of international fusion dishes. In addition to the spice life, we were exhilarated to swim in the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean at Kizimkazi, with wild dolphins and giant sea turtles. Third stop: South Africa The last country we visited was South Africa, which was a much more relaxing segment. The highlights included a wine tasting tour at a variety of farms near Cape Town in Paarl, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, which really opened my eyes about the South African wine industry. We traveled to Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was held during the Apartheid and learned about the hardship and racial barriers that the country has recently overcome. Aside from visiting penguins, seals and sharks, Table Mountain (new natural

wonder of the world) was a great spectacle and the views from the top were outstanding! Near Jo-burg, we had the opportunity to go to a private wildlife farm where the trainer innovated a new way of training animals—through love and positive reinforcement (milk as a reward). I got to run with a cheetah, hang out with lion cubs and interact with snakes! Attending the international exchange program at Sauder really instilled the importance of traveling as an educational tool and I regularly integrate travel as a critical component of knowledge development. Subjects of politics, culture, history, commerce, geography, biology and anthropology were constantly revealed. Aside from immersing ourselves in this natural utopia of Africa, our experience presented many opportunities to apply cost-conscious thinking and technology leapfrogging, such as agriculture, natural resource trade and mobile payments that could enable Africa as a highly emerging economy.

Brandon Jang BCom 2008 Every year after graduation has been rigorous, yet rewarding. I graduated in 2008 when everyone was entering the market crash and I did not think I could secure a position at a CA training office with my sub-par academic average. However, I was offered a position immediately after convocation and I began to thrive after starting my life as a CA student. I managed to obtain my CA in April 2011 and shortly began facilitating and marking

Modules 5 and 6 for the CA School of Business. This year in 2013, I have begun running my own accounting practice and pursuing my own business venture. I could not have done it without learning these essential skills at the Sauder School of Business—especially those from accounting, tax and New Venture Design. The sky is the limit—for all of us.

Daniel Eby BCom 2009 I completed my third yoga teacher training course along with my group cycle course, and began teaching yoga and group cycle on a full time basis. In addition to this, I co-hosted my first yoga retreat with a group of 14 on Gambier Island. This gave way to the creation of my first international yoga retreat I held at the beginning of 2013 in Maui.

Mike Ford MBA 2009 This past year (2012) I started consulting for one of BC’s largest, vertically integrated, producer, processor and retailer of organic beef. My last project for this firm was developing a business case for a new restaurant/retail concept in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast region of BC. VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

CLASS NOTES

2010S

Ryan Fetterly BCom 2009 In early 2012 I quit my job to travel around the world and intern at social ventures in emerging markets. To date I’ve spent nine months in Africa and completed three projects traveling by land down the continent on public transit. I left for Asia in February 2013 and alums can follow my adventures at 1yearentrepreneur.com.

CharlesVoon Charles Voon BCom 2009 It has been a crazy few years after graduation. I am very excited to join fellow Sauder alumni as I relocate to Shanghai! I have the honour of helping my advertising agency, Blast Radius, open up their first Asia Pacific office. Please come to Shanghai to visit—I cannot wait to show you around!

SHARE YOUR NEWS Class Notes are easier than ever to submit. Simply fill out the online form at www.sauder.ubc. ca/alumni/classnotes.

SPRING 2013 VIEWPOINTS

Preeti Adhikary MBA 2010 After three years, we decided to settle here in Singapore. I started my new job and love it! I also finished my first half-marathon in December.

Evelina Mannarino DULE 2010 In 2012, I finally published my first book, “Profits in Real Estate Rentals.” This was challenging to do as I was running my company, luxurycorporatesuites.com along with attending the Oprah show in Toronto in April (front row) and having a baby in June. In October, I started my first build with my husband, a two-story residential home. It was a pretty busy 2012 for me with things looking up in 2013!

Manoj Singh MBA 2010 I was a part of a business delegation from Canada to India during a weeklong eventful time in India in November 2012. Apart from several satisfying business meetings and high-level corporate interactions, the most satisfying was a oneon-one meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to share my perspective as to how we can enhance our business with Indian companies.

JJenny Zh Zhu DAP 2012 After completing the DAP program, I started working for the consulting firm Quantum Advisory Partners LLP where I am currently pursuing my CGA designation. The highlight for the year was my trip to Europe. I discovered my love for traveling when I first visited Europe in 2011. Since then I decided to make it an annual tradition to discover a new place every year; this year I went to Nuremberg for Christmas, spent a week in Paris, and celebrated the New Year in Zurich. The picture was taken at the capital of Switzerland, Bern.

CLASS NOTES Justin Giroux BCom 2011 Upon graduating in 2012 and starting my career as a Market Analyst in the beautiful Okanagan, I have found my true passion: Top Shelf Autographs. I work my “career” job during the day, and when I come home, it’s all Top Shelf: quotes, sales, updating the website, and ensuring customers are happy. The most rewarding part of the business is working with fundraiser groups and providing items that will greatly help benefit society, especially children. Whether it’s raising money for minor hockey associations or children with illness, it feels great to give back and help a worthy cause. The education I received from UBC helps me on a daily basis, both for Top Shelf Autographs and my day job.

in memoriam Prof. George Gorelik MBA 1960 George Gorelik, Sauder alumnus and Emeritus Associate Professor of Accounting, died on December 22, 2012 at age 86. George, a Byelorussian émigré born in Poland, worked as CGA-BC’s first full-time employee and went on to become its president in 1976. He earned his CGA certification and subsequently an MBA from the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration in 1960. George left CGA-BC in 1963 to follow

his love of teaching and accounting as a lecturer in UBC’s Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration. His academic ambition then took him stateside to the University of California, Berkeley for his doctorate, which he received in 1970. He wrote many papers, including research on management accounting, financial decision-making, international comparative accounting and organizational science, while studying and teaching as an Associate in Berkeley. His connection to the University of British Columbia would last 30 years. George earned many awards and distinctions over the years. He was a FCGA, and a Life Member; in 2008, CGA-Canada named him one of Canada’s top 100 CGAs of the past 100 years. George spent 28 years teaching at UBC. Upon his retirement in 1991, the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration honoured him with an annual prize in his name. The George Gorelik Prize is awarded to the student obtaining the highest standing in financial accounting. His other great passion was his abiding love of the classical guitar and singing. George Gorelik was born in Sienno, Nowogrodek, Poland on May 5, 1926. Besides his loving wife Peggy, he is survived by his children Katherine, Peter, Stephen and Elizabeth,

and six grandchildren, all of whom live in BC Funeral services were held at Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver on Friday, December 28. David Woodman BCom 1959 David Woodman passed away in July 2012, from Alzheimer’s disease. He leaves behind his wife Roxanne of 53 years, three children and 11 grandchildren. ■

Become a Sauder School of Business alumni contact Be a contact for Sauder School of Business and fellow alumni in your city, country or region. Help counsel prospective students, advise new graduates, welcome summer interns and arrange alumni events. To volunteer, contact us today!

We can be reached at: Tel: 604-822-6801 Fax: 604-822-0592 e-mail: alumni@sauder.ubc.ca We always appreciate your feedback on events and programs in support of alumni activities.

Come back to Sauder! Mark your calendars for May, when Sauder alumni are invited to return to campus for UBC Alumni Weekend 2013 and a number of BCom and MBA class reunions.

For the first time, many of this year’s Sauder class reunions will coincide with Alumni Weekend to give alumni even more opportunities to renew old friendships, make new connections and have fun!

UBC Alumni Weekend, set for May 25, is a magnet for the fun-loving, the curious and those who secretly wish they were still students. It’s a “boot camp” for your brain, a place to find your muse, and an occasion to celebrate community and relive some of the best years of your life. This is the one weekend where faculties and departments from across UBC come together to create a day of exciting programming no matter what your interests. This year’s event features Rick Mercer performing his hilarious talk “A Nation Worth Ranting About.”

The Sauder School and its Robert H. Lee Graduate School will host Beyond the Briefcase, an entertaining, family-friendly festival for alumni and friends. The two-hour event will showcase the innovative ways in which the School and our graduates are rewriting the rules of business. Come meet and be inspired by some of our dynamic alumni—innovators, entrepreneurs, creative decision makers, problem solvers and global citizens—who are challenging accepted conventions and finding intriguing ways to combine their passion and business.

Beyond the Briefcase, May 25, 2013, 1:15 pm - 3:15 pm, CA Hall, Henry Angus Building, 2053 Main Mall All alumni from this year’s reunion classes – BCom 1948, BCom 1953, BCom 1958, BCom 1963, BCom 2008, MBA/MSc 1998, MBA 2003, and MBA 2008 – are invited to kick off Alumni Weekend with an exclusive pancake breakfast at 9 am at the Big 4 Conference Centre, 9th Floor, Henry Angus Building. For more information and a complete schedule for Alumni Weekend, please visit www.alumni.ubc.ca/ events/alumniweekend/

VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

POINTS OF VIEW

Sauder—yours Once upon a time (and some of you may remember these days), the last contact a business school had with its students was on graduation day. Many of you, I fear, took one last look at Henry Angus, and left to make your way, without any sense that your alma mater cared much where you landed.

THESE DAYS, UBC’S MOTTO, “IT IS YOURS,”

“After all, a school is no more than the sum of the people who learn, and are inspired, there.The Sauder School of Business is yours.”

SPRING 2013 VIEWPOINTS

means something quite different. After all, a school is no more than the sum of the people who learn, and are inspired, there. The Sauder School of Business is yours. That’s why we recently set out to create an alumni and development strategy that would set us apart from other business schools. Over a 12-month period, a task force comprised of alumni, staff and faculty worked on a strategic framework for the Sauder team that supports you. Our vision is simple: “Sauder for Life.” To us, this means giving you the opportunity to cultivate a life-long relationship with fellow graduates and your alma mater, based on shared interests and genuine engagement for the rest of your life. As a graduate of the Sauder School of Business or the Robert H. Lee Graduate School, you can expect you will be provided with: • Access to your global alumni network, • Access to relevant and unique knowledge, and

•

Opportunities to build your relationships with the Sauder Community.

What does this mean to you if you are a student? Alumni network: As a student you will have access to alumni and business leaders as mentors, guest lecturers and role models throughout your educational experience. Alumni will be on campus to greet you on your first day of school, inspire you as you pass milestones and see you cross the stage at graduation. Knowledge: You will learn from leaders in their fields and world-class researchers in an environment that accommodates and uses the newest and best technologies and methods. Sauder community: You will have unique opportunities to develop deep connections with fellow students, alumni, faculty and staff by joining clubs, participating in case competitions, participating in student exchanges, or volunteering in the Alumni Student Ambassador Program.

now; yours for life What does this mean to you if you are a recent graduate? Alumni network: You will have all the rights and privileges of being a Sauder alum. You will have full membership privileges in the Sauder Global Alumni Network with access to the alumni directory (just launched in November, so if you haven’t signed up, please do!) and alumni career services, including helpful webinars. Knowledge: You are eligible for discounts for executive education courses, have access to our alumni career program, and, as an MBA alum, you have access to MBA courses for life. Sauder community: You can participate in activities organized by the Sauder Business Clubs in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, London, Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong. You can attend or even help plan your five-year reunion. You can participate in student orientation or volunteer in other ways. What does this mean to you as an alum? Alumni network: You can find your fellow alumni on the Sauder Business Directory and search by location, industry, specialization, or graduation year. You can hire co-op students or interns from your alma mater. You can recruit graduates to fill your organization’s human resource needs.

Knowledge: You have all the benefits of UBC and Sauder alumni, including a discount for executive education programs, career management support, and—if you are an MBA graduate—access to MBA courses for life. You have access to a constant source of new and relevant knowledge that is generated by the best research faculty in the world. Sauder community: You can participate in one of the Sauder Business Clubs. You can attend or even plan your reunion. You can participate in student orientation or graduation. You can mentor or speak to students. Tuum Est. This is your school. And if we do our job, your relationship with Sauder will continue to provide value to you at all stages of your life. Our hope is you will wish to stay in touch, become involved and help support those who graduate behind you. Over this past year, the school managed to connect with more than 7,800 alumni around the world—25 per cent of you. If you would like to add yourself to the list of involved Sauder graduates, please reach out to us via any of the contacts listed on this page. I look forward to crossing paths with you soon, as well-served and engaged alumni of the Sauder School of Business. ■

Sheila Biggers ASSOCIATE DEAN, DEVELOPMENT AND ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

“If we do our job, your relationship with Sauder will continue to provide value to you at all stages of your life.”

Other helpful contacts are: Associate Director, Alumni Teresa Faulkner teresa.faulkner@sauder.ubc.ca Clubs and Regions Bryan Ide bryan.ide@sauder.ubc.ca Students and Young Alumni Program Sharlene Cheu sharlene.cheu@sauder.ubc.ca Volunteer Program or Reunions Martina Valkovicova martina.valkovicova@sauder.ubcca Alumni Career Services Kristine Thody alumnicareers@sauder.ubc.ca www.sauderalumnicareers.ca Donations Simone LeBlanc, Associate Director simone.leblanc@sauder.ubc.ca

VIEWPOINTS SPRING 2013

ALUMNI IN FOCUS

Gain insight into fellow members of the alumni community

Jason Ng Degree and Grad Year: BCom 2011 Current home city: New York, USA Sauder volunteer role: Commerce Undergraduate Society Student Council, International Business Club President

Professional ID: Morgan Stanley, High Yield Credit Strategist

Business motto or philosophy:

Greatest achievement to date:

Most listened to:

“Actions speak louder than words”–anyone can

Being a part of the UBC Portfolio Management

Coldplay–saw them for the first time in concert

say they will do something, but those who follow

Foundation, as a student and now a Leslie Wong

this past New Year’s at the new Barclays Center

through with actions will be the most successful

Fellow.

in Brooklyn.

Greatest extravagance: Sony Google TV

Gadget of choice:

over time.

In business today, it’s important to…

Nexus 7 tablet. It’s great for playing video and

listen to as many perspectives as possible. While

Person you admire most and why (living or

surfing the Internet, and portable enough to

you won’t agree with everything you hear, there’s

historical figure):

carry around comfortably.

something to gain from listening to each person’s

Milton Wong. He was an extremely generous

unique experiences.

person who made a significant impact in the

Your best-kept secret (what most people don’t

Vancouver community. Our PMF class had the

know about you):

Most valuable thing learned since graduation:

opportunity to meet him a few years ago and

Recently started running in organized races—

Learn on your feet and adapt quickly to changing

he reminded us of the importance of ethics to a

especially around Central Park.

situations.

sustainable career in finance. Favourite journey:

Eureka moment:

Trait you admire most in others:

Travelling throughout Europe after graduation.

In COMM 486R, learning how to analyze business

Empathy–being able to understand the other

Went to London and Barcelona for the first time.

challenges holistically and working with talented

person’s perspective is essential in business.

peers from different disciplines.

Biggest risk you’ve ever taken:

Where will you be in 10 years? Talent you would most like to have:

Working in finance in a more senior role, probably

Better singing ability (working on this).

in New York.

Moving to the other side of the continent, and learning to get out of my comfort zone in a city

Last book you couldn’t put down:

where I didn’t know many people at first.

The Signal and the Noise by Nate Silver.

WANT TO BE PROFILED IN OUR ALUMNI IN FOCUS FEATURE? Please contact us at alumni@sauder. ubc.ca and we’ll be in touch.

SPRING 2013 VIEWPOINTS

Hire Smarter. Hire Sauder.

WWW.SAUDER.UBC.CA/TALENT

Recruit the brightest MBA minds from the Robert H. Lee Graduate School at UBCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sauder School of Business. Recruitment and selection start now for summer internships and permanent hires. Connect with our most exceptional MBA talentâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;quickly, effectively and without cost. Contact the Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre today at 604.822.8545 or talent@sauder.ubc.ca. To learn more about our services, visit www.sauder.ubc.ca/talent.

TAKE YOUR CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Alumni Career Services Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre

WWW.SAUDERALUMNICAREERS.CA

The Hari B. Varshney Business Career Centre offers lifelong career services to Sauder alumni. Whether you are a recent grad looking to kick-start your career or a senior alum wanting to change career paths, we can help. Visit www.sauderalumnicareers.ca to access a wide range of resources, tools and services designed to enhance your career.