2022-2023 Schwartz School of Business Annual Report

THE GERALD SCHWARTZ SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

MESSAGE FROM THE DEAN

Another remarkable year has come and gone at the Gerald Schwartz School of Business. It was a notable year from a variety of perspectives and a number of the highlights are described in the pages that follow.

What stands out most to me, however, is the realization that the graduates of 2023 have come to the end of a long and winding journey that began with the unprecedented disruption caused by COVID 19 near the end of their first academic year. This group endured a great deal during their four years at X, from the cancellation of classes in March 2020, the completion of the 2019-20 year online which included the first of multiple virtual exam periods. They also suffered through “social distancing”, self-isolation periods, the cancellation of international exchange opportunities and a multitude of other pandemic restrictions. Convocation brought to an end this unique and unimaginable undergraduate experience, and these graduates deserve our admiration for their perseverance and resilience. The challenges they faced and the obstacles they had to overcome, one hopes, should imbue in them a confidence that they are well prepared to tackle whatever the “real world” has in store for them next. I could not be more proud of their accomplishments and the indomitable spirit they exhibited over these past four years.

As you read this report on what transpired at Schwartz over the past year, I am confident that you will see just how talented and successful our students, and faculty, are. They continue to shine within, and beyond, the confines of the Schwartz School, and they bring credit and pride to the University community. The future looks bright indeed as we send a new cohort of activists, thinkers, and leaders toward the next phase of their budding careers.

Timothy Hynes PhD

Dean, Gerald Schwartz School of Business St. Francis Xavier University

“I could not be more proud of the accomplishments and the indomitable spirit the graduates of 2023 exhibited over these past four years.”

CELEBRATION OF OUR FACULTY

Congratulations to Yen Nguyen on her appointment as a tenured member of the faculty and promotion to Associate Professor. Yen teaches courses on Financial Management, International Financial Management, and Personal Financial Management. Her research interests include financial institutions, insurance, market microstructure, financial analysts, venture capital and foreign exchange risk. Her works have been published in many journals including International Review of Financial Analysis and Journal of Policy Modeling.

Todd’s research assists Canadian regulatory authorities with defining, implementing, or assessing standards of practice related to continuous quality improvement and medication incident reporting and learning. This continuing enhancement of patient safety in Canadian pharmacies is important in providing the tools and supports needed for pharmacy staff to learn from medication incidents and near misses and plan and implement meaningful changes.

In September, Dr. Todd Boyle, chair of Marketing and Enterprise Systems in the Gerald Schwartz School of Business, was recognized as having a made significant contribution to health research in our communities.

Congratulations to Bhasker Mukerji on his promotion to the Rank of Professor. Bhasker has been teaching various Marketing courses for more than a decade and has published his research in many reputed journals like - International Journal of Production Research, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, International Journal of Information Management and others. He has also presented his research in many National and International conferences.

Katelynn Carter-Rogers joined us this year in the tenure track position for Indigenous Business. She has been involved in research focused on barriers to success, interventions leading to successful transitions, and creating and evaluating inclusive practices within organizations for individuals who are from marginalized populations. Katelynn is a descendant of a Sixties scoop survivor who is Red River Métis and has spent the last several decades reconnecting and learning what it means for her and her family to be Indigenous. Katelynn has multiple publications on student success, with a particular focus on supporting at-risk populations.

Katelynn is actively working on several project topics including Merit in Higher Education, EDIA interventions within organizations, hiring and selection of minorities with criminal records, as well as reconnecting and learning Indigenous Methodologies applicable to social sciences and business education.

CASE COMPETITION STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS:

THESE EVENTS HAVE PROVIDED VALUABLE EXPERIENCES AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES TO OUR STUDENTS AND ALLOW OUR FACULTY TO GET TO KNOW THE STUDENTS ON A DEEPER LEVEL.

JDC CENTRAL BUSINESS CASE COMPETITION

StFX had 42 students from the Schwartz School of Business travel to Ottawa for the JDC Central business case competition. Our team from StFX competed against 11 other business schools in various academic disciplines as well as debate, social and sport. StFX was the only university from Atlantic Canada to attend the competition. Our students represented StFX well and had a memorable experience.

The team captains, Renee MacLeod and Hunter Park, did a fabulous job leading and supporting our team throughout the planning process and at competition.

The Schwartz School of Business received the following awards at the final gala on Sunday evening:

1ST PLACE – ACCOUNTING

Neil Jennings, Sammy Johnson, Stuart White

2ND PLACE – “ALL STARS” COMPETITION

Adnan Coban, Sean Keyes

3RD PLACE – HUMAN RESOURCES

Jonathan Hadwen, Will MacQuarrie, Shannon Ouellette

SECOND-YEAR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CASE COMPETITION

Students in the Schwartz School of Business had a chance to put their knowledge into action as they competed in this internal business case competition held October 28, 2022 in the Schwartz Auditorium.

Hosted and organized by the BSAD 451: Cases in International Business students, four teams competed for $800 in prize money sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Business.

The teams had a week to analyze a business case and provide recommendations to help a small business address

their international business challenges. While each team made several important contributions, the overall winning team was comprised of Victoria Whittemore, Anna Parsons, and Dana Morrison.

“The second-year student teams did a fantastic job analyzing the business case, I am very proud of the BSAD 451 students who organized the event, promoted it on campus, and mentored the student teams. They did an amazing job!” said Dr. Mark Fuller, instructor for the class which organized the event.

SOBEY RETAIL CASE COMPETITION

StFX team won the competition in March 2023!

The judges described them as Bold, Innovative, and Inclusive!! They were impressed that the team acknowledged the land they were on, discussed diversity and inclusion in

job postings, accessibility within the stores, and inclusion with the clothes sizes. Professor Katelynn Carter-Rogers spoke with the David Sobey Centre Director, Ramesh Venkat, who was delighted with how great the team did overall, and that they were so forward thinking!

Shannon Ouellette, Sammy Johnson, Katie Beals-Salovitch, and Neil Jennings

Dr. Jonathan Hood (judge), team members Victoria Whittemore, Anna Parsons and Dana Morrison, and judges Dr. Rhonda McIver and Dr. Neil Maltby

JD IRVING CASE COMPETITION

In August 2022, StFX professors Mary Oxner and Jane Fraser travelled to Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick to meet with Jolene Johnson, the owner of Wabanaki Maple. Wabanaki Maple is a maple syrup company founded in 2018 with a mission to “share and reconnect people and communities with a piece of Indigenous history and culture”. Jane and Mary are in the process of writing a case about Jolene and her business for

publication and use in undergraduate curricula. This case was tested in Jennifer Alex’s BSAD 322 Intermediate Managerial Accounting class in April 2023. In teams of 3-4, students presented their analysis of the case to a panel comprised of Jennifer Alex, Jane Fraser, Mary Oxner and two members from JD Irving. The top three teams were awarded cash prizes sponsored by JD Irving

SCHWARTZ SPRING CASE COMPETITION

The JDCC society in conjunction with the Schwartz Business Society (SBS) hosted a case competition for business students on March 19, 2023. There were twelve teams involved with three students per team and a member of JDCC or SBS assigned as a coach for each one. Students presented their case analysis of a business scenario to a panel of judges, including several members from Deloitte who came to campus to support the event. The panel was impressed with our students’ case presentations and ideas!

ATLANTIC SCHOOLS OF BUSINESS CASE COMPETITION

In October 2022, the StFX team, consisting of Neil Jennings (Fourth-year business student), Dana Morrison, Miko Moraleta, and Zoe MacGregor (all first-year business students), placed second in the Atlantic Schools of Business case competition held at Acadia University. This year, there was a live case for a company that makes a product for those with physical disabilities. Two of the executives from the company sat on the judging panel with one representative from Grant Thornton. Our team provided a well thought out marketing plan and financial analysis for the company and delivered it at an exceptionally high level. These students have a fantastic future ahead of them and StFX is very fortunate to have them in the Business program.

Erin Miller (JDI), Kamryn Morehouse, Emily Bishop, Grace Wilson, Jennifer Alex (missing – Kaitlyn Priddle)

Neil Jennings, Zoe MacGregor, Miko Moraleta and Dana Morrison

WOMEN IN BUSINESS 8TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The 2023 Women in Business Annual Conference’s core theme was “Fundamentally You” which was designed to help delegates find their unique skill set and strive toward reaching their full potential in the business world. This year’s theme focused on conquering business endeavors through the power of self-confidence and authenticity; delegates had the opportunity to explore various perspectives from a variety of workshops and panelists. This conference highlighted the importance of soft skills in a saturated job market, learning the fundamentals of crucial business practices such as networking, leadership, the effective use of social media such as LinkedIn, and helpful tips in the application process. Having grown since the inaugural conference, SWIB has expanded to welcome a multitude of notable professionals alongside over 100 engaged delegates from our St. Francis Xavier community and other post-secondary institutions in Atlantic Canada. Notable speakers at the event were Tia Upshaw Serial Entrepreneur/ Motivational Speaker, Lorraine Peters, and Nikki Robar, CPA, CA, CBV who spoke about their experiences as females in the corporate world.

Nikki Robar

Tia Upshaw

WIB Executive

WIB Conference Gala

Emma Logan, Sarah Murphy, Allison Randall, Katie MacIntyre-Mills, Patti-Anne Tracey

MEETING THE NEEDS OF TODAY’S STUDENTS THROUGH PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND ENHANCEMENTS

The NSCC-StFX Collaborative Program in Business Intelligence and Analytics is a collaboration between NSCC and the Business Faculty at StFX. This offering means students can earn both a BBA with Advanced Major plus a Graduate Certificate in Business Intelligence and Analytics in just four years.

This dual-credential program is designed for students who want to accelerate their education in the innovative and rapidly growing field of business intelligence and analytics. Students in the new program will receive the same training as other business students, with added immersion in the latest data reporting technologies and best practices. In just four years of full-time study, students will graduate with two highly valued credentials to support a future in the technology sector.

5-YEAR, 2 DEGREE BBA ENTREPRENEURSHIP WITH BSC HUMAN NUTRITION OPTION

A unique-in-Canada program offered at StFX that brings together students in the Gerald Schwartz School of Business and the Human Nutrition Department continues to grow. StFX is now offering a five-year, two-degree option that provides an opportunity for students to study both business and nutrition—and to earn two degrees over five years while gaining integrated learning experiences. The program builds on a track record of entrepreneurial collaboration between students in both disciplines. Students will develop knowledge and skills related to new business modelling and innovative design, start-up data analysis, financial analysis, and the dynamic communication needed to launch a start-up or work in a new, growing venture.

NSCC PARTNERSHIP: BBA IN BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYTICS

POST-BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA IN BUSINESS STUDIES

With an increasing number of students in programs other than Business interested in our courses; StFX has developed a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma available to students who have an undergraduate degree but wish to obtain the knowledge, best practices, and hands-on skills needed to start, manage, market, and assess the financial health of businesses. Students will receive a strong foundation in business in the first year of the two-year program. They will have the opportunity to explore the core functional areas of business, entrepreneurship, and international business. In the second year, students will advance their studies in one or more of seven streams. Admissions is now accepting the first applications for a September 2023 start.

POST-BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA IN DIGITAL MARKETING

Answering yet another call from students regarding marketing activities that are performed using information technology (IT), including those that are conducted through the internet, StFX has developed a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Digital Marketing. This PBD provides learners with the knowledge, tools, skills, and best practices needed to develop, implement, and assess digital marketing strategies for organizations. Given the significant usage of social media and other online channels, digital marketing can help improve the competitiveness and positioning of organizations. In this program, learners will complete courses in marketing, digital marketing strategy, social media marketing, branding, data analytics, information technology, enterprise systems, and project management. They will also receive hands-on training on the latest analytics software and IT systems used to better understand customers, undertake digital marketing activities, and assess the success of digital marketing activities and strategies, such as Google Analytics, Tableau, Power BI, MS Project, and SAP S/4HANA. Admissions is now accepting the first applications for a September 2023 start.

OTHER NOTABLE ACTIVITIES

BSAD 111 ENTREPRENEURSHIP EVENT

To wrap up the Fall term, the BSAD 111 instructors organized a “StFX Alumni Entrepreneurship Panel” and had three guests come speak to our first-year business students. The guests were recent graduates and active entrepreneurs Richard Grant, Sharonne King, and Jenny MacDonald. They spoke about their experiences, opportunities, and challenges along their entrepreneurial journey. The event was attended by approximately 200 students from the Schwartz S chool of Business and moderated by two fourth year business students –Allie Avard and Emma Jewkes.

CPA ALUMNI SHOWCASE

In Fall 2022, StFX hosted four alumni from the Schwartz School of Business to discuss their interesting, challenging, and varied careers as CPAs (Chartered Professional Accountants). The alumni who participated in the event were Patrick Carruthers, Mike LeBlanc, Julie Parker and Shauna Peeples. This event was attended by over 200 business students and moderated by two Accounting majors, Charlotte Davis and Richard Miller. Our students enjoyed this experience and loved hearing from these alumni about their time on campus and their paths post-graduation. This event was hosted by Jane Fraser and Jennifer Alex.

Jenny MacDonald, Sharonne King, and Richard Grant

Patrick Carruthers, Mike LeBlanc, Julie Parker and Shauna Peeples.

Emma Jewkes, Allie Avard, Jennie MacDonald, Sharone King, Richard Grant

BSAD 111/112 SCHWARTZ SHOWCASES

The Schwartz Showcase is a first-year experience that is integrated into both of the BSAD 111 and BSAD 112 labs. In this exercise students showcase the skills and knowledge they have built and developed over the term in both the core class and the lab. They are given one case to analyze as a team and provide a visual presentation of their findings. Each team provides an oral presentation to a small audience consisting of one team from the class (presenting the other question of the case), the lab instructor or a course professor, one or more members of the Schwartz School of Business Faculty, and representatives of the Schwartz

student societies. Although this is not a competition, the students are exposed to the idea of presentations and case analysis and are able to apply foundational business concepts to a real-world business scenario through the analysis of a case study. They build and strengthen skills in case analysis, collaboration, communication, time management, oral presentation delivery and more. They are also afforded the experience of delivering a professional business presentation in a board room setting, consistent with what they may expect to encounter in the ‘real-world’ of business.

BSAD 111 PITCH OFF EVENT

In Fall 2022, BSAD 111 students participated in a pitch event. Working in teams, students came up with entrepreneurial ideas to help address the housing crisis in Nova Scotia. The top teams from each section of BSAD 111 class participated in a “pitch off” – with the top three winning cash prizes. This event was organized by 111 instructors (Louise Brennan, KC Rogers, Jane Fraser).

First-year student Shaye Close

STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS

Honours student, residence leader, and top cake maker –Amongst juggling her studies as a fourth year honours accounting student, her duties as a StFX residence student leader, and running ‘Sammy’s Sweets,’ Gerald Schwartz School of Business student Sammy Johnson took on a new challenge this past year—competing to be Canada’s best cake baker. on CTV’s new holiday series, Cross Country Cake Off. Ms. Johnson was one of four from that event to receive their bronze cake stand and advance to the Cross Canada Cake Off Kitchen in Toronto. Although she didn’t advance to the final, Ms. Johnson, the youngest competitor, just 20 years old at the time, says the experience was amazing. She’s always enjoyed watching cooking shows, but never imagined she would be on one.

Black Student Peer Mentor, residence leader, and accounting and actuarial science student: Meet StFX student Richaun Moss a fourth-year accounting and actuarial science student in the Gerald Schwartz School of Business from Nassau, Bahamas. He is looking forward to pursuing a career in actuary science after his graduation from StFX. Along the way in his degree path, Mr. Moss was a first year connector for the Black Student Society. He also served two years with the Discipline and Appeals Committee, and he worked two years with X Patrol. Additionally, he has served on the Quality of Life committee, and was a class notetaker.

Richaun Moss

Sammy Johnson

Lance Bright, a fourth year Schwartz School of Business student from Whycocomagh, NS, majoring in management and leadership and minoring in sociology, has had a very successful four years as a StFX student. Mr. Bright is the recent recipient of the $10,000 CIBC Achievers Award, he has been a research assistant on projects with faculty in the StFX Rankin School of Nursing and with StFX Faculty of Education, and this year he served as an Indigenous Student Mentor to help Indigenous students on campus find the supports that they need to help them succeed.

Based on her prior summer employment which often required working with the refugee population, Kimberly May expressed her interest in researching the financial literacy needs of refugees resettling in Northeastern Nova Scotia. With Norine Verberg and Mary Oxner as faculty supervisors, Kimberly embarked on a research program which required interviewing both resettling refugees and organizations that support them. Based on her research, financial literacy information needs of resettling refugees in this area were uncovered. Additionally, Kimberly recognized that videos could be an effective mechanism for relaying financial literacy information and could remove the hesitancy refugees may face talking about financial matters with others. Kimberly approached her research with academic curiosity but more importantly with empathy and a willingness to improve the experience of resettling refugees in our community. Kimberly’s work demonstrates her commitment to supporting the integration of a vulnerable populations (i.e., newcomers) and improving their new communities.

Lance Bright

Kimberly May

AWARDS

FRANK H SOBEY AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS STUDIES

Hunter Park, a StFX Gerald Schwartz School of Business student from Grand Manan, NB, has received a prestigious award recognizing him as an emerging business leader. The third-year entrepreneurship student is one of eight students from Atlantic Canada business schools to receive a $45,000 Frank H Sobey Award for Excellence in Business Studies. Mr. Park, who is already a business owner, running a geodesic dome rental business in his home community, says for as long as he can remember he has had a passion for entrepreneurship. He says his degree at StFX has allowed him to enroll in the New Venture Development course and all the while developing another business idea, to provide a healthy alternative to traditional alcoholic drinks.

OAK MANOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARD SPONSORED BY BURNSIDE BREWING

This award was created to recognize a student who has persevered over various obstacles and strives to reach their full potential while making a positive difference in the StFX community and is awarded to a first or second-year female student in good standing at the Schwartz School of Business. After much deliberation and reflection over an impressive group of applicants, Dana Morrison from Nassau, Bahamas is the recipient of this inaugural Oak Manor Women in Business Award by Burnside Brewing.

DR. TRUDY EAGAN WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARD

Annually, two fourth-year students, enrolled in the business degree program in the Gerald Schwartz School of Business, are recognized with this award. The award recipients are determined based on high academic performance and a demonstration of determination, perseverance and a positive impact on their classmates and the program. It is made to students who have made a difference at StFX. This year, Dr. Eagan surprised all when she decided to award three such awards at the Women in Business Conference Gala held In March.

Dr. Timothy Hynes, Hunter Park and Mr. Paul Sobey

Dana Morrison

Jillian Hayden, Renee MacLeod, Allie Avard

SCHWARTZ SUCCESS AT GRADUATION 2023

MARY OXNER – OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARD

As an effective and engaged faculty member who enjoys teaching students, Dr. Oxner continuously tries to improve instructional strategies, to provide an engaging and inclusive environment for learning, to layer experiential learning activities into courses, and to encourage transparency in expectations and to challenge students in their learning. “It is clear that she understands and cares about the effect she has on students’ wellbeing and learning,” wrote one student nominator. Students spoke of her ongoing guidance and encouragement, her demonstrated enthusiasm for their learning, and how she inspires trust and simultaneously challenges students to do their best. Dr. Oxner also involves students in her research, including in the field of financial literacy, working with Indigenous people and refugee newcomers with the aim of improving financial literacy resources. Prior to joining the business faculty, Dr. Oxner was the Senior Vice President of Quorum Funding Corporation, and Chief Financial Officer of Quorum Growth Inc., a TSX publicly traded closed end investment fund. Dr. Oxner was also a staff accountant in Ernst & Young’s International audit group. An active volunteer, her efforts have been recognized through StFX’s Outreach Award, as the CA of the Year for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nova Scotia and as the inaugural Terry Milne Volunteer of the Year for the Chartered Financial Analysts’ Atlantic Canada Society.

CONVOCATION AWARD RECIPIENTS:

The Onex gold medal was awarded to Jane Goguen, Salisbury West, NB

The CIBC Wood Gundy Prize in Finance was awarded to Dion Durant, Upper Pomquet, NS.

Dion also received the Argentinean Consulate of Montreal Prize for Spanish

The CPA Award of Excellence was awarded to Brianna Pellerine, Sydney, NS

The East Coast Credit Union Prize in Entrepreneurship was awarded to Kolby Gennoe, Stellarton, NS

The Killam Apartment REIT Prize in Marketing was awarded to Jane Goguen, Salisbury West, NB

The Royer Thompson Prize for Management & Leadership was awarded to Hannah George, St. Johns, NL

The Schwartz Prize in Enterprise Systems was awarded to Emma Hause, Ayr, ON

The Schwartz Prize in International Business was awarded to Claudia Ng Yin Hing, Pereybere, Mauritius

The St Francis Xavier Association of University Teachers Book Prize was awarded to Kimberly May, Espanola, ON The Schwartz School Post Baccalaureate Prize was awarded to Jasitha Eramath, Ramanthali, India

Jane Goguen Kolby Gennoe Emma House

Kimberly May Jasitha Eramath

AT SPRING CONVOCATION, 2023, DR MARY OXNER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE WAS RECOGNIZED WITH THE UNIVERSITY’S OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARD.

The Gerald Schwartz School of Business

St. Francis Xavier University

3090 Martha Drive, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada B2G 2W5 business.stfx.ca • bba@stfx.ca