Schulich School of Business
Pursuing Excellence in Management Education
Our vision is to develop responsible leaders and groundbreaking ideas that reshape business and change the
world
Dear Members of the Schulich Community,
I am proud to share with you this year-end report highlighting the many achievements of the past year and the many ways in which we made an impact.
It was a year in which we:
• Launched new, one-of-a-kind degree programs tied to dynamic and growing industries.
• Created new labs and institutes focused on advancing industry practices through applied and actionable research while developing the next generation of industry leaders.
• Continued to perform well in global rankings, securing the #1 spot in Canada in 3 different rankings as well as placing among the world’s top 100 MBA programs.
• Established many new scholarships thanks to the generosity of our incredible alumni donors and corporate partners.
• Added new corporate partnerships to provide internships, projects and other kinds of real-world learning experiences for our students.
• Attained a record high dollar amount of research grant funding – $1.67 million – and a record high number of grant applications submitted.
This year, for the first time, we’ve structured the year-end report around the four pillars of our new Strategic Plan:
• World-Class Student Experience
• Program Innovation
• Research Impact, and
• Strategic Partnerships & Outreach
These pillars, or key strategic objectives, provide a road map for our school’s continued growth and success in the years ahead. The year-end report therefore serves as an update on the progress we made in each of those four key areas during the 2023–2024 academic year.
And as you’ll see in the sections that follow, we made significant headway in the past year in creating an intellectually challenging and transformative learning experience, developing innovative programs, producing research with impact, and building strategic partnerships that will give our students the
skills and networks they require to succeed. We could never have done this without the dedication and outstanding contributions of our faculty, staff, advisors, donors and corporate partners.
To the worldwide Schulich community, please accept my sincere congratulations and thanks for what was another remarkable year!
I’m excited to be working together with you as we continue to execute our Strategic Plan in the year ahead. The plan, developed with input from all of our stakeholders, contains the building blocks for ensuring our school’s future success.
Sincerely,
Detlev Zwick, PhD Dean & Tanna H. Schulich Chair in Digital Marketing Strategy Professor of Marketing Schulich School of Business York University
Four Pillars of our Strategic Plan
These pillars, or key strategic objectives, provide a road map for our school’s continued growth and success in the years ahead.
World-Class
Student Experience
See page 4
Creating a top-tier student experience that prepares students for career success lies at the heart of our Strategic Plan.
We achieved this key objective over the past year by:
• providing more program internships, job placements and real-world projects
• increasing experiential learning opportunities
• focusing on network building and professional development through alumni mentorships, career coaching and personalized career design
• emphasizing active engagement in extracurricular activities such as student clubs, student-run conferences and national and global case competitions
Program Innovation
See page 12
Ensuring career relevance. Supporting the diverse career aspirations of our students. Responding to the ever-changing needs of industry and an evolving job market.
We achieved this key objective over the past year by:
• adding new degrees and diplomas to our broad portfolio of world-class programs. These degrees and diplomas are designed to attract top-tier students, deliver career-targeted skills and knowledge, and provide working professionals with skills upgrades 2
Research Impact
See page 18
3 Strategic Partnerships & Outreach
One of our key goals at Schulich is to become a global leader in management research.
We achieved this key objective over the past year by:
• developing a supportive, high-performing research culture
• generating ground-breaking research that has real-world impact, advances cutting-edge theory, and provides businesses practical insights
See page 22
Strategic relationships and outreach to alumni, industries and diverse communities shape our global reputation and enrich our academic environment.
We achieved this key objective over the past year by:
• working with corporate partners to recruit our students, provide internships, host and sponsor networking events, fund research chairs and programs, and establish centres and labs
• forging strategic partnerships to drive entrepreneurship and outreach in the innovation economy
• cultivating work-integrated learning partners for experiential learning 4
1 Creating a World-Class Student Experience
The following are some of the many highlights last year associated with the student learning experience.
Advancing Career Success
BOOSTING CAREER READINESS
Career readiness underpins our strategy to improve student employability across all our programs, as well as overall career success and program satisfaction. Our goal is to prepare our students both academically and professionally.
We enhanced career readiness through sessions carried out by our Centre for Career Design (CCD) that focused on:
• Developing a personal brand
• Building a confident and authentic executive presence
• Cultivating a resiliency/ growth mindset
ENHANCING NETWORK BUILDING
We enhanced professional network building through a variety of activities, including:
Networking Events & Industry Mixers
• Nearly 500 students registered for industry mixers to practice their networking skills, and over 200 industry professionals – many of them Schulich alumni – joined us for these events
• Industries covered included: accounting, financial services, real estate and infrastructure, consulting and consumer packaged goods/retail
• Hosted our first-ever MBA/JD Alumni2Student Speed Networking event, which drew 55 alumni and students
Shown above and below: participants at the first-ever MBA/JD Alumni2Student Speed Networking event.
Sustainability Mixer
• The CCD hosted its first in-person sustainability networking mixer for students interested in roles in sustainability, regardless of industry.
• Approximately 50 students and 35 industry professionals attended.
“ There was amazing energy in the room. The students were engaged and prepared with meaningful questions, and our industry guests were generous with their time and insights.
The partnership between the CCD, the Sustainability faculty, and other members of the Schulich community really shows the support for sustainability throughout the school, and the understanding of its importance overall in responsible business practices.”
Nancy Sutherland Associate Director, Centre of Excellence for Responsible Business
INTENSIFIED EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT & STUDENT RECRUITMENT
By the Numbers
1,241 full-time jobs posted
2,304 internships posted
552 unique firms posted employment opportunities for Schulich students
378 recruitment events hosted by 104 firms (both on campus and offsite)
Tech MBA “Collector Cards”
• In November 2023, the Centre for Career Design hosted a Tech MBA Student x Recruiter Meet-and-Greet at Schulich’s downtown campus
• The event provided an opportunity for digitally focused employers to learn more about Schulich’s ground-breaking MBA in Technology Leadership program and to engage in open networking with the inaugural Tech MBA cohort
• As a special offering, the CCD, in collaboration with the students, produced a series of Tech MBA “collector cards” for each class member
• This unique networking aid acted as a memorable informational takeaway about each student, collected by recruiters in attendance
Providing Student Mentorships
We benefitted from the deep expertise and breadth of our alumni network to provide enhanced mentorship opportunities and experiences for our students.
• Our Alumni Affairs & Engagement unit carried out a wide range of industry-based speed networking events, mixers and panels, as well as alumni mentorship programs.
• Schulich Startups Mentorship Program created an exceptional line-up of volunteer industry mentors and alumni mentors.
Tech MBA “Collector Cards”
Recognizing Valued Industry Partners
We recognized vital industry partnerships at the 2023 Employer Appreciation Awards, an annual event honouring outstanding recruiters and companies for their impactful engagement.
Recruitment Fairs
8 specialized on-campus recruitment fairs in Fall 2023 + Winter 2024
• Attended by 50 companies and over 1,000 Schulich students
Showcasing Student Talent
Hosted a Real Assets Area Industry and Talent Showcase that featured:
• Interview preparation support
• A panel discussion with industry professionals related to first impressions, interview insights, and career success
• A “Coach’s Corner” experience with career advisors for students before and after their job interviews
Senior Director, Head of Manufacturing Excellence,
Amelia Aubeeluck, Talent Acquisition Manager Canada, Sanofi Pasteur, and Zviko Mhakayakora, Corporate Relations Specialist, Centre for Career Design at the 2023 Schulich Employer Appreciation Awards where Sanofi Pasteur received the Outstanding New Recruitment Partner award.
Alessia Giuliana, Talent Attraction Specialist, Campus Recruitment for KPMG Canada connects with Schulich students at the Centre for Career Design’s Accounting Recruitment Fair.
From left to right: Amanda Narine (MBA ’97),
Sanofi Pasteur,
Building Professional Skills
SCHULICH STUDENTS SHINE IN CASE COMPETITIONS
Case competitions give students the opportunity to sharpen their skills and put their classroom learning to use. Last year, our student teams went head-to-head against top students from the world’s best business schools, capturing numerous first-place finishes. The following are some of the highlights:
Schulich Places 1st in Global Case Competition
Competing against 60 teams from 7 countries, a team of Schulich Master’s students took top spot at an international case competition hosted by Duke University that focused on energy in emerging markets
“ Case competitions require students to take everything they are learning in their program and apply it to real-life situations.
They are challenged to do this working in teams, under intense time pressure. And through this process, they often discover capabilities that they didn’t even know they had.”
Joe Fayt Case Competition Coach
Schulich Team Wins Reimagining Women in Leadership Competition
Third time Schulich has participated in the competition and the third consecutive time we’ve placed #1
Team Schulich Wins Net Impact Case Competition
Schulich’s first time taking part in this competition
Case Competition Champions at the 2024 MBA Games
Second year in a row that a Schulich team has swept the case competitions at the national MBA Games
Schulich Takes Top Spot in First Sustainable Supply Case Challenge
Schulich won the inaugural Sustainable Supply Chain Case Challenge organized by the George Weston Ltd. Centre for Sustainable Supply Chains in collaboration with Schulich’s Supply Chain and Operations Management Club
Schulich Students Win Top Prize at ASCM Supply Chain Case Competition
The Schulich team of Master of Supply Chain Management students competed against 23 teams
Schulich Team Places First in Impact Investing
Schulich MREI students took first place in the Impact Investing in Commercial Real Estate competition organized by the University of Miami’s Business School
Undergraduate Teams Excel in University Real Estate Case Competition
Two Schulich undergraduate teams captured 1st and 2nd place at the University Real Estate Case Competition
Schulich Team Reaches Semi-Finals of Global Impact Investing Competition
A team of Schulich MBAs and MBA/JDs made it to the semi-finals of the Turner MIINT Impact Investing competition at The Wharton School and also won the Audience Choice Award
Schulich finishes 1st in academics at the 2024 MBA games.
Schulich Team Makes it to Finals of the CASE Global Real Estate Development Competition
Widely regarded as the world’s leading real estate development case competition
Schulich Team Competes in Finals of GenAI Earth Hack Competition
Schulich MMAI team makes it to finals of competition co-hosted by the Digital Data Design (D^3) Institute at Harvard
Schulich Reaches Finals of Kellogg-Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge
Schulich MBA students from the Sustainable Finance & Impact Investing made it to the finals competing against 95 teams from 67 schools in 53 countries.
EMBEDDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INTO DEGREE PROGRAMS
Professional Development courses are now core components in our Master of Marketing and Master of Management degrees as we continue to embed these courses into all programs across our school.
Team Schulich Wins Net Impact Case Competition. Left to right: Abilash Sathyakumar, Shelley Zhang, Disha Mittal and Ian Chang.
Enriching Student Learning
SCHULICH’S GLOBAL CLASSROOM IN ACTION
As part of our ongoing efforts to expand the number of immersive study tours for our students, we established several new global immersion and consulting programs for graduate students in Peru and Costa Rica.
During the Winter 2024 semester, nearly 70 Schulich students and three faculty members from three different classes took part in study tours in Chile, Peru and Costa Rica.
The following is a summary of the tours: Costa Rica – As part of Professor Geoff Kistruck’s Innovating for Sustainable Impact course (SUST 6151), students rolled up their sleeves and did some field work with young Costa Rican entrepreneurs to help build sustainable solutions to social challenges.
Peru – Led by Professor Theo Peridis, students in the Master of Marketing Global Consulting Project (GCP) and the 601 Global Immersive Option (GIO) worked on strategic consulting projects with client companies in Peru.
Chile & Peru – Students involved in the International Study Tour (MGMT 6400) led by Professor Ingo Holzinger and accompanied by Cheryl Stickley participated in a 10-day study tour of Chile and Peru focused on Innovation and Sustainability in the two countries.
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ENHANCES STUDENT LEARNING
Schulich implemented a number of improvements to the learning environment last year – part of our School’s strategy to deploy leadingedge technologies in order to drive enhanced student learning.
Below is a summary of some of the major technology upgrades and additions we made:
• Deployed a voice-activated, intelligent switching, speakertracking HyFlex system, the first of its kind in a Canadian higher education institution
• Completed initial pilot of the Commisso Media Production Centre, a state-of-the-art digital production studio that supports the creation of asynchronous learning materials and the broadcasting of interactive teaching sessions to remote audiences
• Opened new Schulich Startups office space in the Dezsö J. Horváth Executive Learning Centre, including a media room equipped with advanced podcasting technology for hosting podcasts, conducting interviews, and creating multimedia content to enhance the entrepreneurial journey of our students
The School’s strategy is to deploy leadingedge technologies in order to drive enhanced student learning.
Schulich Master of Marketing students at a mango farm in Peru as part of their Global Consulting Project (GCP).
A Culture of Inclusion
Schulich has always been about belonging and building community spirit. During the past year, we made our school even more welcoming.
REFLECTION ROOM
In keeping with our ongoing efforts to foster greater inclusion, we opened a non-denominational space for reflection, meditation and prayer.
INDIGENIZATION OF OUR CAMPUS
We commenced the following activities:
• Renovations started on an undergraduate student lounge to include an Indigenous story-telling mural
• Created an Indigenous garden by planting the Three Sisters Crops (corn, beans, squash) – a staple of Indigenous agriculture – in the McEwen Courtyard
• Began the process of adding plaques to our buildings to honour and explain the “Indigenous Nations Land Acknowledgement” and the meaning of the Medicine Wheel – an important Indigenous symbol – which will be reflected in the McEwen atrium
The Three Sisters crops (corn, beans and squash, traditionally grown together in Indigenous culture) in the McEwen Courtyard.
An Indigenous story-telling mural created by student Zachary Scola-Allison in the Tuchner Student Lounge that blends Anishinaabe designs with modern abstract art.
2 Delivering Program Innovation
The following are some of the many highlights last year associated with delivering program innovation.
Career-Relevant Degree Programs
We successfully introduced two groundbreaking new programs:
MBA IN TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP
The MBA in Technology Leadership –also known as the Tech MBA – is the first of its kind in Canada. The program, which began classes in Fall 2023, is a highly experiential professional program designed to equip students with the leadership and management skills needed to succeed in a business world facing major transformational changes, including the rapid application of artificial intelligence and other technological advances.
Key program features include:
• a guaranteed workplace internship lasting one full term
• direct exposure to industry leaders as part of a small selective class
• career support though the Tech MBA’s Professional Development Hive
• professional development courses focusing on employability skills and career readiness
MASTER OF HEALTH INDUSTRY ADMINISTRATION (MHIA)
The Master of Health Industry Administration (MHIA) degree is designed to help develop the next generation of healthcare leaders for the burgeoning and increasingly complex healthcare industry.
Key program features include:
• One-year, highly applied professional program
• Integrates leadership development with a focus on strategic thinking, systems design, healthcare quality, and value creation
• Designed for an industry facing major transformational changes, including an aging population and the emergence of new delivery models and technologies such as AI, business analytics and virtual care
• Students engage in real-world learning opportunities throughout the curriculum
• During the year, the program was accredited by the Canadian College of Health Leaders, which allows MHIA graduates to work towards the highly regarded Canadian Health Executive (CHE) designation and enhance their professional credentials while receiving lifelong learning and career advancement support
“Healthcare has been undergoing rapid change and innovation, and recent developments have underscored significant challenges and opportunities, particularly the indispensable role of specialized education in providing the next generation of leadership and managers.”
Joseph Mapa Director, Krembil Centre for Health Management & Leadership
SCHULICH CONTINUES TO EXPLORE NEW DEGREE OPTIONS & FORMATS
Career-Targeted Diplomas
• During the year we launched a new Graduate Diploma in Accounting Analytics (GDAN), an industryfocused program aimed at working professionals. The fully remote parttime diploma program lets accounting professionals acquire the latest industry expertise in accounting data analytics and visualization as well as proficiency in AI technologies without interrupting their careers.
• The 8-month program, which starts in Fall 2024, includes a hands-on, real-world consulting project carried out at an organization that will require students to provide data-based, actionable strategic business insights.
• Schulich also worked on the development of a new Advanced Management Diploma, a two-term graduate diploma that features one term of course work on advanced management topics – selected from existing courses in Schulich’s professional master’s programs –followed by a one-term internship.
KEY FEATURES OF DIPLOMA PROGRAMS
• Shorter in duration and more flexible than degrees
• Highly specialized and hyper-focused on careerrelevant skills while still delivering academic rigour
• Typically offer a mix of online and in-person learning
• Provide more intensive experiential learning elements –everything from site visits and residences to internships
• Offers upskilling to working professionals without career interruption
• Often available as a stackable credential to students in a variety of existing programs and also as a standalone option for students who already have a degree
“ These diplomas are the first of many innovative new programs we’re developing to give working professionals the kind of industry-relevant skills they’re hungry for.”
Detlev Zwick
Dean & Tanna H. Schulich Chair in Digital Marketing Strategy
Dual Degrees
DUAL DEGREES OPENING A NEW WORLD OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
In addition to offering students more immersive study tours and international consulting projects, a main element of Schulich’s international strategy is to expand dual degree opportunities with leading global business schools from around the world.
Schulich Signs Dual Degree Agreement With Top School
• During the past year, we signed an agreement to pursue a dual degree with ESSEC in France, a top-rated European business schools
• Schulich’s very first dual degree at the undergraduate level
Dual Degrees at a
Glance
• Allow our students to not only get a degree from Schulich but also from other top global business schools
• Provide students with greater global exposure and immersion
• Enable our school to bring top diverse talent into the classroom to learn alongside our students while promoting cross-cultural understanding and collaboration
• Create linkages with schools in other regions of the world and expand our global networks
Schulich entered into an agreement to pursue a dual degree partnership with one of Europe’s top business schools.
Diploma programs often provide more intensive experiential learning elements.
CREATING INNOVATIVE DEGREE OPTIONS TO BRING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS TO SCHULICH
• Last year, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) and York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering.
• The joint educational collaboration, part of York’s “3+1+1 Program”, will enable engineering students from SUSTech, located in Shenzhen, China, to complete the fourth year of their undergraduate degree at Lassonde and then enrol in the Master of Management program at Schulich in Year Five.
York’s “3+1+1 Program”, will enable engineering students from SUSTech, located in Shenzhen, China, to complete the fourth year at Lassonde and then enrol in the Master of Management program at Schulich in Year Five.
Creating Learning Pathways
CREATING A MORE SEAMLESS EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY FOR OUR STUDENTS
As part of our effort to provide students with greater program flexibility and opportunity, we expanded the pathways for undergraduate students wishing to pursue a Master’s degree at Schulich.
BBA graduates who meet all admission requirements are eligible to receive advanced standing when enrolling in Schulich’s Master of Finance, Master of Marketing, and Master of Supply Chain Management programs.
The three deans at the official signing of the 3+1+1 agreement. From left to right: Lassonde Dean Jane Goodyer; Dean of SUStech’s College of Engineering, Zhenge Xu; and Schulich Dean Detlev Zwick.
Schulich expanded pathways for undergraduate students wishing to pursue a Master’s degree at Schulich.
DEVELOPING EXECUTIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMMING FOR EMERGING INDUSTRY NEEDS
Last year was a record-breaking year for Schulich ExecEd, which delivered 169 programs to top clients like TD Bank, Loblaw, Home Depot and Coca-Cola, and issued over 5,000 micro-credentials to managers and senior leaders from leading organizations.
The following are some of the program highlights from the past year for one of North America’s top-ranked executive education providers:
Emerging Technology & Digital Transformation Initiatives
Schulich ExecEd continued its focus on supporting organizations with technology adoption and navigating through new digital trends. This included training focused on AI adoption to increase productivity, improve service experience and streamline sales.
• Supported digital transformation at TD Bank by training over 160 senior leaders in AI and data
• Trained over 250 leaders at organizations such as York Regional Police and Votorantim in emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, data and digital transformation
“ In Business & Society, we structure the course to complement the benefits of a large lecture with a more intimate small class setting.
We found that the traditional model of one format over 3-hours wasn’t conducive to the variety of content covered and how students learn. We instead start the week with a 90-minute large lecture where up to 300 students are introduced to fundamental concepts and theoretical frameworks.
We draw on sophisticated technology to engage students with the content and ensure comprehension. Later in the same week, students come together in smaller groups for a 90-minute class to apply the material through highly experiential exercises such as case studies or simulations. This structure optimizes delivery modes based on the content covered while using both traditional and modern tools to ensure student comprehension and success.”
NEW LECTURE FORMAT IN ACTION
We introduced a new undergraduate program class format for core courses that features a combination of large lectures together with smaller tutorial lectures and asynchronous learning.
Innovative Healthcare Programs
Schulich ExecEd’s business management health practice continued to grow:
• Delivered three healthcare Mini-MBA programs in 2023 (Dentist, Physician, Clinician)
• Internationally, delivered two Masters Certificate programs for both physician and non-physician leaders across Guyana
• Locally, delivered programs to senior healthcare managers at Circle of Care (Sinai Health) and Brightshores (formerly Grey Bruce Health Services)
Associate Professor of Business & Sustainability Director, MBA Program
Brent Lyons teaching in McEwen Auditorium.
Mike Valente
Introducing Cutting-Edge New Courses
As part of our continuous curricular innovation, Schulich introduced a number of new courses the past year:
THE FUTURE OF MARKETING (MKTG 3000)
• A new tech-based undergraduate course
• First ever university course strictly devoted to “future of marketing” topics
• Covers cyber-age material such as generative artificial intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT, synthetic media, neuromarketing and biometrics, augmented and virtual reality, and the metaverse
SCALING CLIMATE INNOVATIONS (SUST 6152)
• A new, highly experiential projectbased graduate course
• Explores ways in which new technologies and practices aimed at tackling climate change can be adopted and scaled
• Students collaborate directly with stakeholders from multiple sectors, including clean tech start-ups and government, to accelerate climate innovation
• Run in collaboration with the MaRS Discovery District
INNOVATING FOR SUSTAINABLE IMPACT (SUST 6151)
• New project-based graduate course that gives students chance to learn in an immersive international environment
• Provides opportunity to experience first-hand the complexities associated with designing new business models in contexts with significant social and environmental challenges
• Allows students to collaborate with disadvantaged individuals to help generate innovative ideas that can have a sustainable impact on the communities in which they live
Experiential learning engages students in hands-on experiences so they are better able to connect theories and knowledge learned in the classroom to real-world situations.
3 Generating Research Impact
The following are some of the research-related highlights from last year:
A Leading ResearchIntensive School
SCHULICH ESTABLISHES NEW OMERS & OXFORD REAL ASSETS LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
• We launched the new OMERS & Oxford Real Assets Leadership Institute at Schulich and created a new clinical chair in real assets, which will generate applied and actionable research.
• The Real Assets Leadership Institute will further solidify the School’s position as a global thought leader in real estate and infrastructure by becoming a prominent hub for unique insights into emerging trends in the real assets industry.
SCHULICH RESEARCHERS RANK AMONG BEST IN CANADA
Four Schulich researchers ranked among the top 50 in Canada and among the best in the world, highlighting our continued global leadership position in management research. The ranking was published by Research.com, a leading academic platform for researchers. The results were included in the 2024 edition of its annual “Ranking of Best Scientists” in the field of business and management.
RESEARCH INTENSIFICATION AND MOBILIZATION CAMPAIGN
We kicked off a research intensification and mobilization campaign and added a Knowledge Mobilization Specialist in our Research Office. The mobilization campaign includes a new digital strategy to promote Schulich research to a wider audience, the development of a Schulich research newsletter, enhanced social media monitoring, and stronger relationships with faculty to incentivize research promotion.
Four Schulich researchers ranked among the top 50 in Canada and among the best in the world, highlighting our continued global leadership position in management research.
“Ranking of Best Scientists” in the field of business and management Research.com
Guests at the launch of the OMERS & Oxford Real Assets Leadership Institute. Left to right: Joe Ogilvie, OMERS & Oxford Chair in Real Assets; John Knowlton, Senior Managing Director & Business Manager, OMERS Infrastructure; Eileen Fischer, Associate Dean, Research; Jim Clayton, Timothy R. Price Chair in Real Estate and Infrastructure, Schulich School of Business; Blake Hutcheson, President and CEO, OMERS; Paul Tsaparis (MBA ’84), Chair, York University Board of Governors; and Veronica Maggisano (MBA ’07), VP Development, Oxford Properties.
Recognizing Research Achievement & Impact
DEAN’S RESEARCH AWARDS
We paid tribute to two outstanding faculty members at our annual Schulich Research Day:
• Irene Henriques, Professor of Sustainability and Economics, was named recipient of the Dean’s Research Impact award for Lifetime Achievement
• Adam Diamant, Associate Professor of Operations Management and Information Systems and the York Research Chair in Managing AI-Driven Technologies in Health Care, was the recipient of the Dean’s Research Impact award for Emerging Leader
Irene Henriques was named recipient of the Dean’s Research Impact award for Lifetime Achievement and Adam Diamant was the recipient for Emerging Leader
OUTSTANDING GRANT RESULTS FOR OUR FACULTY MEMBERS
Schulich researchers are the recipients of numerous research grants covering a wide range of topics from sustainable agriculture in the global south and collective climate action to longevity risk sharing to Artificial Intelligence innovation and the role of automated bots in financial and consumer markets.
SSHRC Insight Grants Results
Schulich received 5 awards out of 10 applications, posting a 50% success rate versus the national success rate of 34.1%. The following are the Schulich faculty members who received grants:
• Chris Bell: “Fairness Heuristic and Follower Role adoption”
• Nicole Mead: “Belief in the Social Contract and Collective Climate Action”
• Moshe Milevsky: “Longevity Risk Sharing and Pension Equity”
• Ela Veresiu: “Championing Belonging and Inclusion of Ageing Menopausal Consumers in Canada’s Marketplace”
• Luke Zhu: “Helping or Hindering? Understanding Workplace Help Rejection”
SSHRC Insight Development Grants
Schulich received 5 awards out of 7 applications, posting a 71.4% success rate versus the national success rate of 48.1%. The following are the Schulich faculty members who received grants:
• Preetmohinder Aulakh: “Sustainable Agriculture in the Global South”
• Pouyan Foroughi: “Private Equity Sponsors in the Leveraged Loan Market”
• Ambrus Kecskés: “Artificial Intelligence Innovation”
• Guangrui (Kayla) Li: “Welfare Effects of Algorithmic Recommendations”
• Gregory Saxton: “Role of Automated Bots in Financial and Consumer Markets”
Adam Diamant, Associate Professor of Operations Management and Information Systems and the York Research Chair in Managing AI-Driven Technologies in Health Care
Irene Henriques, Professor of Sustainability and Economics
Research Hubs
SCHULICH LABS & CENTRES SERVE AS RESEARCH HUBS
CPA Ontario Centre in Digital Financial Information
Innovative Webinars and Research Projects
• Hosted 10 webinars with over 5,400 attendees, covering topics like fraud detection and social network analysis
• Funded 10 research projects advancing digital accounting research that involve Schulich faculty and PhD students
Sustainable Public Procurement Lab
Schulich’s Newest Lab
• Launched in April 2023, the Lab delivered lectures, developed case studies, and participated in forums to advance sustainable procurement practices
• First research papers are expected in 2024
George Weston Ltd Centre for Sustainable Supply Chains
Supply Chain Research Initiatives
• The third annual supply chain research forum highlighted emerging research in supply chain design and sustainability, with plans to expand to other research institutions in Canada
• Included a doctoral consortium, research presentations, and industry panels
Krembil Centre for Health Management and Leadership Growing Global Centre Of Excellence In AI and Health Sector Strategy
• Launched an AI in Healthcare Seminar Series under the leadership of Krembil Scientific Director Dr. Abi Sriharan, who is also spearheading a global network of AI health management researchers as part of the FORESIGHT AI research program
• Established a Research Trainee Program to help bridge the gap between research and practice
The Future of Marketing Institute Global Think Tank at the Forefront of Marketing Innovation and Research
• Focus on cutting-edge research, teaching, and outreach on emerging marketing topics such as Generative AI (ChatGPT), augmented and virtual reality, Web3, and the Metaverse
• The Institute has published research articles on future-of-marketing topics ranging from neuromarketing and hyper-personalization to the ‘Internetof-Senses’ and advertising in dreams
Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business
A Global Leader in Creating New Knowledge About Responsible Business
• The Centre hosted a number of visiting scholars and visiting PhD students
• Schulich’s new Sustainability Area launched a new PhD in Sustainability and attracted its first Sustainability PhD candidate in Fall 2023
The Brookfield Centre in Real Estate and Infrastructure Global Centre for Real Estate and Infrastructure Outreach, Research & Teaching
• Research activities during the past year focused on everything from the work-from-home trend’s impact on office markets to the market pricing of green buildings and the increased use of green bonds and green mortgagebacked securities
Thought Leadership
CUTTING-EDGE RESEARCH & THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
• Professor Olaf Weber, the newly appointed CIBC Chair in Sustainable Finance, co-edited and contributed to a new book, TheRoutledge Handbook of Green Finance
Described as the “most authoritative overview of green finance to date,” the book includes chapters from leading scholars as well as industry practitioners and shines a light on current best practices and theories.
• Professor Russell Belk , the Kraft Foods Canada Chair in Marketing, received a 2023 Best Film Award from the Association for Consumer Research (ACR), together with Lena Cavusoglu, an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Pacific University in Oregon. The award was given for their movie, “Face Value”, which was described as an “outstanding work with the potential to make a significant impact on the discipline of consumer research.” The film explores what it calls “a last bastion of open discrimination” – facial differences – and seeks to encourage transformative consumer research in this area.
Professor Russell Belk and Lena Cavusoglu’s movie “Face Value”.
4 Expanding Strategic Partnerships & Outreach
Strategic Partnerships
Strategic relationships and outreach to alumni, industries and diverse communities have been a cornerstone of Schulich’s growth and success, shaping our global reputation and enriching our academic environment. As we move forward, building on these strong alliances remains a key priority.
The following are some of the key initiatives that took place during the past year to further that goal:
WORLD-CLASS PARTNERS SEEK TO COLLABORATE WITH SCHULICH
Shown below are some of the many corporate partners who have worked the last several years with Schulich to recruit our students, provide placements and internships, host networking events, sponsor events, fund research chairs and programs, and establish centres and labs.
DRIVING INNOVATION THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
We successfully established a number of new industry partnerships during the year designed to foster entrepreneurship.
• We collaborated with OneEleven, home to Toronto’s most promising tech startups, to form a joint Venture Studio – a key part of our new Tech MBA program.
• We partnered with the Vector Institute to create a FastLane Program to support the growing wave of AI-based companies emerging within the Schulich Startups community.
• Schulich’s Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, together with YSpace, York University’s entrepreneurship hub, and Treefrog Accelerator, partnered with the Regional Municipality of York to launch a new JumpSTART entrepreneurship program to support women entrepreneurs and attract international business to York Region.
• Schulich Startups was named an official supporting partner to YSpace in the launch of the Business Development Bank of Canada’s Thrive Lab, a $100M fund co-investing in ambitious women-led social impact businesses across Canada.
• The Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, in association with Schulich ExecEd, launched the inaugural cohort of the Schulich Venture Academy, providing startup founders, executives, and professionals with advanced learning opportunities.
Corporate partners who have worked the last several years with Schulich to recruit our students, provide placements and internships, host networking events, sponsor events, fund research chairs and programs, and establish centres and labs.
From left to right: Abdel Ali (MBA ’21), founder of Kiwi Charge; Pauline Shum Nolan, Professor of Finance at Schulich; Claudia Krywiak, President & CEO of the Ontario Centre of Innovation; and Chris Carder, Executive Director, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the launch of the Tech MBA.
ESTABLISHING NEW SCHOLARSHIPS TO HELP OUR STUDENTS
$5.15 M
During the past year, Schulich raised over $5.15 million that went primarily to scholarships and student-focused initiatives
462
students received privately donorfunded scholarships and awards, with a significant amount of these funds coming from alumni donors
2023--2024
Schulich recorded an all-time high in number of donors in 2024
75 students over the next five years will receive scholarships provided through generous donations from corporations who stepped forward with strong financial support, including KPMG
EXPANDING EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
• Schulich’s Professional Development & Experiential Education Office is focused on career-engaged learning, community engagement and outreach, and experiential education programs.
• The Office successfully obtained funding last year from the Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada initiative.
• The funding went to support consulting projects and work placements for 173 Schulich students in various programs, including the Master of Management, the Master of Marketing, the Master of Health Industry Administration, and the Tech MBA.
SCHULICH EXECED ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIPS & INDUSTRY COLLABORATIONS
During the past year, Schulich ExecEd added a record number of industry, sector, academic and association partners to its growing network of clients:
• Partnered with Skills Canada, which is dedicated to promoting skilled careers in trades and technologies to young Canadians
• Official Training Partner of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), one of the most prestigious and largest publicly attended film festivals in the world
• Partnered with leading public sector associations such as the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC), Ontario Municipal Administrators Association (OMAA), and Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators (CAMA)
• Continued commitment to social innovation by adding Immigrant Women in Business (IWB) to its partner network
• Introduced cleantech to its broad industry portfolio by partnering with the Canada Cleantech Alliance
• Partnered with York’s School of Arts, Media, Performance & Design to offer joint programming and Production Accounting
• Partnered with the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (OIE) in launching the inaugural Schulich Venture Academy
• Now partnered with 173 clients across Canada, Europe and South America, representing 12 industries, including high growth sectors such as energy, finance, healthcare and mining
Schulich ExecEd added a number of strategic partnerships during the year.
FORGING CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS TO ADVANCE THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
We came together during the year with high-impact partners to strengthen our thought leadership in emerging and vital new areas of business.
• Schulich’s Master of Management in Artificial Intelligence and Master of Business Analytics programs partnered with Schulich graduate Anferny Chen (MBA ’12), co-founder and CEO of DotsLive and an advisor with the Schulich AI & Analytics Society, to host a forum on Innovating for a Sustainable Future with GenAI
- Panel sessions featured speakers from companies such as Loblaw, Microsoft Reactor, Scotiabank and Manulife as well as the Harvard Business Analytics Program.
• The Krembil Centre for Health Management and Leadership, in collaboration with The Conference Board of Canada, hosted a leadership summit on “Value-Based Healthcare in Action”.
• Schulich and CI Financial hosted a networking event and panel discussion titled From Pixels to Profits–ADeepDiveintoGenerative AITechnology
- More than 200 people attended the event and heard speakers from CI Financial and Google Cloud discuss the ways in which AI is transforming the world of work and unlocking incredible opportunities in the decade ahead.
• Schulich ExecEd organized Schulich ForesightLive, an exclusive private event for 50+ senior leaders from various sectors and industries focused on the future of leadership.
- The event featured a lecture from futurist Alexander Manu and senior leaders from sectors such as energy, policing, health and government.
We came together during the year with high-impact partners to strengthen our thought leadership in emerging and vital new areas of business.
DEVELOPING A NEW CORPORATE ENGAGEMENT COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE
Schulich began development of a new Corporate Engagement Community of Practice, a collaboration between the School’s Centre for Career Design, Advancement & Alumni Engagement, and the Professional Development and Experiential Education offices to enhance interactions between Schulich and external stakeholders through strategic partnerships and outreach.
Fostering Community Outreach, Inclusion
& Opportunity
We continued to make significant strides during the past year in regard to forming new alliances and partnerships designed to create opportunities for underserved and under-represented communities.
FOCUS ON NETWORKING & SKILLS BUILDING
The Schulich Black Students Association successfully hosted the Afropolitan Case Competition & Conference at KPMG’s Toronto office as part of their recognition and celebration of Black History Month. Afropolitan featured workshops, networking opportunities, a keynote address from Nigela Purboo, co-founder of Onyx Initiative, and a case competition.
Schulich began development
of
a new Corporate Engagement Community of Practice to enhance interactions between Schulich and external stakeholders
The 2023–2024 Schulich Black Students Association Executive Team.
Nigela Purboo, Co-founder, Onyx Initiative
Ramla Elmi and Yousif Arbab, Schulich Black Students Association Co-Presidents
SCHULICH BUSINESS EXCELLENCE ACADEMY HELPING STUDENTS PURSUE BUSINESS CAREERS
The Schulich Business Excellence Academy – an annual summer business education and mentorship program led by the Office of Strategic Initiatives & Engagement – supports approximately 60 Grade 10, 11, or 12 high school students across Ontario. The program is open to students from under-represented groups with a focus on Black and Indigenous communities and is designed to provide high school students in need with resources to become tomorrow’s leaders.
The goal of the program is to help participants build soft skills, gain business knowledge, and become competitive applicants for postsecondary education opportunities. Sessions include prominent guest speakers, Schulich faculty, and a case competition that enables students to exercise the skills they have learned in their groups with their student leaders. Participants who complete all of the required modules receive a Certificate of Completion at the closing ceremony.
The program held its third academy session in July 2023 with the corporate support of Lead Partner Scotiabank.
The Schulich Business Excellence Academy is a business education and mentorship program for Black and Indigenous Ontario high school students considering a business degree
CREATING A MORE INCLUSIVE ECONOMY
Schulich ExecEd continued to deliver accessible and high-quality education to underserved communities:
Launched 15 social innovation projects for underserved communities, including:
• the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies
• Black Entrepreneurship Alliance
• Newcomer Women Services
• The Canadian Council of Indigenous Business Women
• The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business to offer the Schulich Mini-MBA for Indigenous Leaders
The Schulich Business Excellence Academy is designed to create opportunities for underserved and under-represented communities.
Lead Partner
Global Rankings & Reports
Global rankings remain an important measure of a school’s international reputation and standing, enabling the school to forge alliances with other top-tier organizations.
Schulich continued to perform well in various rankings, placing #1 in Canada in three different rankings while also finishing among the world’s top 100 MBA programs in the annual QS ranking.
The following are some of the highlights from the past year:
Financial Times Ranks
Schulich Executive Education Among World’s Top 30
• Schulich ExecEd ranked 27th in the world in Open Enrolment programs in the Financial Times’ 2024 ranking –our highest ever rank in the annual FT survey.
• Among North American executive education providers, Schulich ExecEd ranked 3rd in the Open Enrolment category and 6th in the Custom programs category
• Schulich ExecEd also ranked #1 in Canada for customer satisfaction in the Custom programs category.
Financial Times Ranks
Kellogg-Schulich EMBA #1 in Canada
• The Kellogg-Schulich EMBA program was ranked 37th globally and placed 12 th among programs based in North America.
• The program ranked 3rd in the world in the Career Progress category.
Schulich’s Master of Marketing Ranked #1 in Canada and top 10 in North America
• As one-year professional Masters degrees continue to grow in popularity, an increasing number of students are turning to global Masters’ rankings for guidance in determining which programs to select.
• For the first time ever, Schulich participated in one of these global rankings, with the School’s Master of Marketing program placing #1 in Canada and 10th overall in North America in the 2023 QS Master of Marketing ranking.
• The program also ranked 10th in the world in the category of Alumni Outcomes – the extent to which the school’s graduates have gone on to pursue highly successful careers.
Schulich Rated One of World’s Top MBA Programs in Responsible Business
• Schulich’s MBA Program was ranked # 1 in Canada and among the top 15 in the world in the 2023 global responsible business survey conducted by CorporateKnights
Schulich Report on Responsible Business Posted on UN Site
• Schulich submitted our 2022 – 2023 United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) Report – a comprehensive summary of our teaching, learning and outreach activities and accomplishments in the field of responsible business over the past two years. The report is posted on our Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business web page and on the United Nations PRME site.
The Power of Our Global Alumni Network
A key factor in boosting our School’s global competitiveness is our engaged, loyal and enthusiastic alumni network. During the past year, we continued to benefit from their support to forge new partnerships, enhance programs, enrich student experiences, and create more career opportunities for our graduates.
ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT AND SUCCESS
This past year, we reconnected with our alumni community through the following initiatives:
• the What’s Next tour
• the GTA Alumni Ambassador Program designed to strengthen alumni connections and promote frequent and meaningful engagement opportunities
• Alumni on the Move, a monthly alumni engagement initiative established to recognize achievements of our global alumni community
A key factor in boosting our School’s global competitiveness is our engaged, loyal and enthusiastic alumni network.
Global Alumni Network Strategy Building on last year’s momentum, we continued to strengthen and nurture our global alumni community, with 30 Chapter Ambassadors from 21 cities participating in our strategy sessions and hosting 25 Global Alumni Network Chapter Events in 16 cities.
By the Numbers
2,233+
alumni engaged in events
759 donors
700+
alumni volunteers helped provide internships, mentorships, and guest speaking engagements
86 events hosted
Schulich alumni at CONNECT ’24, our School’s annual alumni forum.
Paying Tribute to Dean Emeritus Horváth
In September 2023, Schulich hosted a milestone celebration event that featured the renaming of the School’s Executive Learning Centre in honour of Dean Emeritus Dezsö J. Horváth.
Horváth, who led the School for 32 years and is the longest serving Dean of any major business school in the world, was praised for his “visionary leadership and distinguished service”. As Dean, Dr. Horváth helped Schulich attain international prominence and renown.
He transformed Schulich into a global business school and expanded its reach and influence around the world. He also spearheaded the development of innovative degrees and pioneering programs, and helped make Schulich a world leader in the field of responsible business.
The naming was the latest honour for the former Dean. Other awards and recognitions he received over the course of his career include being named International Dean of the Year in 2004 by the Academy of International Business in recognition of his “outstanding leadership in various aspects of internationalization” and being appointed to the Order of Canada in 2008 for his academic leadership and sustained commitment to business education.
“ Serving as Dean of the Schulich School of Business was the greatest accomplishment of my career – and also the most satisfying and enriching.
Throughout my career, I was fortunate to be surrounded by incredibly talented and capable people. I had a strong faculty. Tremendous advisory boards. A loyal and successful alumni network. And most of all, a dedicated and highly professional team of staff members.”
Dean Emeritus Horváth in his keynote address
Left to right: Paul Tsaparis (MBA ’84), Leslie Dan, CM, O.Ont (Hon LLD ’10), Seymour Schulich, OC (Hon LLD ’03), Dean Emeritus Dezsö Horváth, CM, Cheryl McEwen (Hon LLD ’19), Rob McEwen, CM, (MBA ’78, Hon LLD ’05), Dean Detlev Zwick, Lisa Phillips, former Provost and Vice-President, Academic, York University, Robert Krembil, CM (MBA ’71, Hon LLD ’00)
He concluded his remarks by addressing the members of the Schulich global community and said: “You cared about our School. You believed in what we were trying to achieve. And you made us successful! Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Schulich Dean Detlev Zwick presented him with a replica plaque in recognition of the honorific naming, describing it “as a proclamation of the high esteem in which you are held by the Schulich and York communities and as a sign of the sincere gratitude we share for all that you have done.”
The building naming was made possible thanks to the generous support provided by Seymour Schulich and the Schulich Foundation, Robert Krembil and the Krembil Foundation, Rob and Cheryl McEwen, and Leslie Dan, among others. Seymour Schulich’s address and presentation of a gift to Dean Emeritus Horváth was one of the highlights of the naming ceremony.
Schulich Dean Detlev Zwick presents Dean Emeritus Dezsö Horváth with a replica plaque in recognition of the honorific naming.
The Dezsö J. Horváth Executive Learning Centre
Other Events from the Past Year
Here’s a look back at some memorable moments from the past year at Schulich – everything from Convocation and alumni gatherings to special school events. These highlights capture the energy, connections, and achievements that define our community.
Convocation, Spring 2024
HK PreEaster Gathering
UAE Chapter Meet
Convocation, Spring 2024
Dallas Chapter Meet, June 2024
2023 Alumni Recognition Awards
CONNECT ’24
Fireside Chat with Kishore Moorjani
Day on Bay
A2S Speed Networking Event
SCAN New Year Celebration
SRPAA Golf Classic
YU Awards Perspectives Lecture
Andrew Wu Lecture
Calgary Chapter Meet
Montreal
Schulich School of Business Driving Our Strategic Plan Forward
Vision
Developing responsible leaders and groundbreaking ideas that reshape business and change the world
Mission
Provide an intellectually challenging and transformative learning experience that prepares students for success in a diverse and dynamic business environment
Strategic Priorities
World-Class Student Experience Program Innovation Research Impact Strategic Partnerships & Outreach 1 2 3 4
Unit Specific Annual Business Plans