Schulich Impact Report | Issue #1 | March 2021
A SNAPSHOT OF YOUR SUPPORT
CORNERSTONE Driving Positive Change Dear Schulich Donor Community, It has been almost a year since the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed our lives — both personally and professionally. At Schulich, we have pivoted from in-class instruction to teaching and learning in a virtual environment. In doing so, the School has worked diligently to continue providing a top-notch educational experience for our students. Our utmost priority has been, and continues to be, the safety, health, and wellness of the Schulich community of students, faculty, and staff. What remains constant amid these evolving and challenging times is the loyal support of donors like you. Every dollar that you contribute allows us to continue advancing Schulich’s mission to provide world-class business education. We are excited to kick off our new Schulich Impact Report, Cornerstone, to highlight how the unwavering commitment and passion of the Schulich community enriches the Schulich student learning experience. We will be sharing this snapshot of your support on a regular basis. Thank you.
Detlev Zwick, PhD Interim Dean
To learn how Schulich responded to the growing need for more high-quality teaching and learning support, please click here.
SCHOOL UPDATES Alumni E-Newsletters Read the latest news and events in our Alumni E-Newsletter: March 2021 February 2021 January 2021
DONOR STORIES Leadership Donor: Christopher C. Williams (MBA ’94)
The Gift of Gratitude
“My best Schulich memory is the amazing faculty; most notably, the bond that I had forged with the late Professor Brenda Zimmerman, with whom I worked as a graduate assistant. Brenda provided me with technical and social guidance during my stay in Canada. Her legacy lives on in all of those students, like myself, that she impacted throughout her illustrious teaching career.” CHRISTOPHER C. WILLIAMS (MBA ’94)
Along with the support of his professors, Christopher Williams (MBA ’94) benefitted from student awards and scholarships that helped him sustain his focus and drive during his studies. In the spirit of giving back, Chris has recently joined the Dean’s Society, the School’s premier leadership giving association, with a gift toward student financial aid to help students who are experiencing financial challenges focus more on their studies and goals. “Studying in a foreign country, I’m grateful for the support that I received to help me achieve my dream of attaining an MBA degree. I want to pay it forward for the next generation,” said Chris.
Christopher C. Williams (MBA ’94) Co-Founder and CEO, PROVEN Investments Ltd.
To read the full story, please visit: schulich.yorku.ca/christopher-williams
To learn more about Schulich’s leadership giving society, please visit: schulich.yorku.ca/deans-society
Monthly Donor: Sasha Krstic (IMBA ’03)
Keeping the Circle of Giving Going As a student in the IMBA program, Sasha Krstic (IMBA ’03) engaged with classmates, staff, and faculty from diverse backgrounds, which expanded her horizons while she cultivated a professional network and lifelong connections. She credits Schulich for having contributed immensely to her career trajectory that has taken her across the globe, from Sweden to Singapore, where she connected with the Dean and the alumni team in 2019. Later in 2019, Sasha moved back to Canada to join Mastercard Canada as its new president. Since being back in Canada, Sasha has volunteered as a member of the Dean’s CEO Panel for Launch Week in September 2019, and more recently, as the keynote speaker for the IMBA 2020 virtual convocation. To read the full story, please visit: schulich.yorku.ca/sasha-krstic
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Sasha Krstic (IMBA ’03) President, Mastercard Canada
First-time Donor: Ika Janiszewski (iBBA ’19)
Empowering Next Generation Business Leaders Ika Janiszewski (iBBA ’19) cherished her experiences in the classroom, student government, and social groups while a student in the iBBA program. As Vice President, Operations of the Schulich Undergraduate Business Society, Ika was tasked with planning both Orientation Week and End-of-Year Formal — a role she described as her best Schulich memory. A recipient of the Devin Truax Memorial iBBA Scholarship while a student, Ika was grateful for the recognition and financial support that made her exchange and study experience more affordable — and incredible. This motivated Ika to pay it forward and enable the next generation of undergraduate students to make the most of their Schulich experience, as she did. Ika made her first philanthropic contribution since graduating by donating to Schulich’s first-ever Giving Day last fall. “A community is strongest when all members contribute, however they can and see fit. Being a student at Schulich meant being a part of a supportive and welcoming community, with academic challenges and endless opportunities. Giving time or financial support empowers students like myself to reach their full potential.” IKA JANISZEWSKI (iBBA ’19)
Major Donors: Helen Wong (IMBA ’92), Adrian Chau (MBA ’00), Beatrice Cheung (MBA ’77), and Alan Wen (MBA ’77)
A Gift that Transcends Time and Friendship Crossing generations and graduation years, Schulich alumni and long-time friends Helen Wong (IMBA ’92), Adrian Chau (MBA ’00), Beatrice Cheung (MBA ’77), and Alan Wen (MBA ’77) joined forces last year to give a lasting tribute to Dean Emeritus Dezsö J. Horváth and honour his remarkable 32-year deanship at the Schulich School of Business. Central to that bond is a deep respect, appreciation, and regard for the Dean, which inspired the group to create a special retirement gift. The driving force behind the group’s collective generosity, Helen Wong, reached out to fellow alumni after touring the Rob and Cheryl McEwen Graduate Study & Research Building and proposed the idea of supporting the School in honour of Dean Horváth.
“It’s not about the amount of the gift, but the participation, and our continuing engagement with our alma mater. The value of our degree increases over time, due in part to the tireless efforts of Dean Emeritus Dezsö J. Horváth and the School. Our group’s collective gift, in honour of the Dean, is also a way to commemorate our time at the School and to express our gratitude for our career success.” HELEN WONG (IMBA ’92), Head (Co-Curricular Programs), Dean of Students’ Office, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
To read the full story, click here.
Paying tribute to Dean Emeritus Dezsö J. Horváth at a private dinner hosted by the Hong Kong Alumni Chapter, Hong Kong, May 2019. Pictured front row L to R: Bill Graham (MBA ’86), Beatrice Cheung (MBA ’77), Dean Emeritus Dezsö J. Horváth, Helen Wong (IMBA ’92); back row L to R: Wilbert Luk, Thomas Luk, Adrian Chau (MBA ’00), Alan Wen (MBA ’77), Aloma Gravel. 3
SCHULICH ANNUAL FUND Donors to the Schulich Annual Fund provide the consistent and sustainable funding necessary to accomplish Schulich’s mission. Gifts can go toward providing financial aid through the Schulich Student Support Fund, or donors can support the School’s Highest Priorities, funding for new teaching and learning technologies, innovative program development, and enhanced experiential learning opportunities for students.
Schulich’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Schulich Startup Night 14 Schulich Startup Night is the School’s version of “Dragon’s Den”, attracting over 300 students, staff, faculty, investors, and startup enthusiasts.
Schulich
STARTUP NIGHT
On November 11, 2020, we hosted the 14th edition of this must-attend virtual event that gives students and alumni an opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of top industry professionals for a chance to win a $5,000 cash prize.
Christine Tan (MBA ’13) and her husband Simon Tan received the honour of winning first place in the Schulich Startup Night Alumni Winner category for their business Beeja May, an online consignment store for used baby and kids’ clothes.
Amy Ge (MBA ’21) of Heartcade was announced as the Schulich Startup Night Student Winner for her innovative “blind date” dating app that focuses on building a connection based on personality first, with looks as a secondary factor.
Thank you to our generous sponsors, including our Official Cash Prize Sponsor, Audrey S. Hellyer Charitable Foundation; our Supporting Sponsors, Zeifmans LLP, Wildeboer Dellelce LLP and Bereskin & Parr; and our Prizing Sponsors, BEST Lab, Indochino, and YSpace. We appreciate your support for Schulich student and alumni startups.
TOGETHER 2021 Ignites Student Entrepreneurs in India and Canada During the week of January 4, 2021, the Schulich School of Business and Lassonde School of Engineering partnered with Startup India to kick off TOGETHER 2021, a seven-day virtual Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and Venture Competition. Backed by global organizations, leading entrepreneurs, and top venture capitalists, 250 student entrepreneurs from India and Canada formed teams and were challenged to come up with potential solutions in line with this year’s values of self-reliability, sustainability, and social purpose. Special thanks to the City of Toronto for its partnership and ICICI Bank Canada, Leverage Edu, Apollo Hospitals, the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce, Toronto Global, TiE Toronto, Indochino, YSpace, Tangentia Ventures, Anand and Anand, Auro Pharma Inc., and York University for their support. To read more about TOGETHER 2021, click here.
Schulich Startup Night 14 Student Winner Amy Ge (MBA ’21)
Schulich Startup Night 14 Alumni Winners Christine Tan (MBA ’13) with husband Simon
To watch the pitch competition, click here. To join us for Schulich Startup Night 15 on March 11, register here. 4
TOTAL RAISED:
$65,411
Giving Day
A Resounding Success for Schulich’s First-Ever Giving Day
On November 24, 2020, Schulich launched its first-ever Giving Day, a 24-hour virtual engagement and philanthropic campaign inviting the Schulich community — alumni, students, staff, faculty, and friends from around the world — to come together for a common goal: to support our students. The response was incredible. Our target was to raise $25,000 from the Schulich community and match it dollar-for-dollar thanks to a generous donation from the Katherine Meaney Svec Estate. We surpassed our target and were able to raise a total of $65,411 in support of the School’s Highest Priorities and Student Financial Aid. “Giving Day is an innovative fundraising concept that is simple yet inspiring,” said Interim Dean Detlev Zwick. “The strength of the Schulich community has always been a shared sense of responsibility for the success of the next generation of our alumni and this is demonstrated by the incredible results of Giving Day.”
Leading Change Campaign Moments In 2016, the Leading Change Campaign publicly launched with a goal of raising $50 million to support campus expansion, research and discovery, innovative thinking, and student success, as well as deepen the level of engagement of our more than 32,000 alumni from around the world.
TOTAL RAISED:
$65 M
In June 2020, nearly one year ahead of schedule and during an unprecedented global pandemic, Leading Change concluded after raising an impressive $65 million under the leadership of Dean Emeritus Dezsö J. Horváth and the Leading Change Campaign Cabinet.
THANK YOU! To read the Leading Change Campaign Completion Report, click here.
THE 5 PILLARS OF LEADING CHANGE:
Campus Expansion
Research and Discovery
Innovative Thinking
Student Success
Alumni Engagement
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STUDENT SUCCESS During the past year, we have seen a significant increase in support to establish new scholarships, awards or bursaries that provide much-needed financial relief for students whose lives have been adversely impacted by the pandemic. Your support has enabled our students to not only survive, but thrive, in their studies during these challenging times.
The BentallGreenOak Future Leaders in Real Estate Award BentallGreenOak (BGO), a loyal and supportive corporate partner of the Schulich School of Business, established a new award for Master of Real Estate and Infrastructure (MREI) students in fall 2020. The BentallGreenOak Future Leaders in Real Estate Award will recognize incoming MREI students based on academic excellence and financial need. As part of the company’s commitment to Diversity and Inclusion, BGO is encouraging students from underrepresented and marginalized communities to apply. “A lot of our hires have been an extension of alumni and the School,” said Michael Fraidakis (MBA ’03), Managing Director, Co-Head of Canadian Investments, BentallGreenOak. “In these challenging times we want to be able to provide financial support to young, enterprising students. We want to raise awareness of and exposure to the real estate industry and the great careers you can build in this industry.”
Michael Fraidakis (MBA ’03)
To learn more about BGO’s support, please visit our Donor Stories video.
Impact of Giving Number of scholarships, awards, and bursaries* provided to talented and deserving Schulich students since May 1, 2020:
Financial aid provided to students who have benefitted from Schulich’s Giving Day:
Participating alumni in Schulich’s Giving Day from:
425
$45,000
5 Decades
*Donor-funded 6
A Selection of 2020-2021 Schulich Award and Scholarship Recipients Scholarships, awards, and bursaries are available for both domestic and international students to recognize students whose life journey may have been challenging, as well as those who have shown outstanding academic excellence and endeavour.
“ I am honoured to be presented with this prestigious award. Not only is it a help in funding my MBA program at the Schulich School of Business, but it also makes me proud to have received the recognition of my hard work through this merit-based award. I am extremely thankful to have received this excellent opportunity.” Kunal
Jakhar (MBA ’22) Kamlesh G. Moorjani Entrance Scholarship Recipient (Value: $5,000)
“ All of my future achievements and endeavours will be attributed to KPMG’s generous donation, as it will provide me with the ability to pursue so many new opportunities with less worry about my financial difficulties.”
Catharine Pham (BBA ’21)
KPMG Undergraduate Scholarship Recipient (Value: $7,500)
“ I was honoured to receive this award and am grateful for the opportunities it will provide me. I knew when I chose to attend the Schulich School of Business that I would be getting a great education. This award will help me achieve success and pursue my dreams. I cannot express my gratitude enough, and I want you to know that your generous support will see me achieve my dreams.”
Aaron Yong Shi (MBA ’22)
Thomas Beck MBA Award Recipient (Value: $5,000)
Breakdown of Student Support Bursaries (29%) Scholarships, Awards (67%) Other (4%)
Total value of newly established scholarships, awards, and bursaries* since May 1, 2020:
$1.7+ Million *Term-funded and endowed 7
CONNECT, VOLUNTEER, ENGAGE Over 32,000+ Alumni, 90+ Chapters in 60+ Countries Access Your Global Alumni Network at: schulichalumniconnect.com
Connect with Us @SchulichSchool @SchulichSchool linkedin.com/company/SchulichSchool facebook.com/SchulichSchool youtube.com/user/SchulichSchool
schulich.yorku.ca/donors Global Reach. Innovative Programs. Diverse Perspectives. 8
Questions? Please contact the Office of Development and Alumni Relations: advancement@schulich.yorku.ca or (416) 650-8050 Schulich School of Business Rooms W362N/O York University, 4700 Keele Street Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3 Canada