advertising fe ature
New Leadership Joseph Doucet is committed to training leaders from Alberta for the world at the Alberta School of Business When Dr. Doucet talks about his vision of “Leaders from
London. And Doucet knows the rich history of the school.
Alberta for the World,” he says it with an understandable sense
Approaching its centennial, the Alberta School of Business
of confidence. Doucet knows as well as anyone the potential
was the first business school in Canada to receive accreditation
the Alberta School of Business has moving forward. That much
from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
was evidenced when the school was recently named among the
(AACSB). More recently, the school began offering the University
top research institutions on the planet by The Financial Times of
of Alberta’s first international degree – the Master of Financial
Management (MFM) – in China. Doucet knows the faculty
Alberta School of Business alumni and has gone on to raise nearly
members, too, and he grows animated as he lists off the inter-
$1 million for Youth Empowerment & Support Services. “Involve-
nationally-renowned professors in the various departments
ment goes a lot further than a handshake,” he says. His respon-
that make the school a key player in the provincial, national and
sibilities transcend academia as his various roles on numerous
global economies. And he knows the alumni, many of whom
boards and committees across the province allow him to speak
have fulfilled his vision and gone on to become leaders around
as a contributing voice on public policies to both the provincial
the globe. But, when Doucet talks about leadership, it’s not just in
and federal governments. Still, Doucet wants students to receive
the business world. It’s leading academic innovation, community
as much applied experience as possible and he never hesitates to
leadership within the student body, and the school’s role as a
lead student groups on trips to other cities to give them first-hand
leading institution in the world. “I’m talking about leadership at
knowledge of different business environments and to meet both
all levels,” Doucet explains.
business and community leaders outside Alberta.
As the new leader of the Alberta School of Business, officially
Doucet believes that real-world interaction and networking,
becoming dean this summer, Doucet will rely on his own academic
blended with academic integrity makes the Alberta School of
background and experience to further establish the school’s vital
Business a flagship faculty of the University of Alberta. He also
role in the business community.
attributes the school’s connection to the outstanding university, and its various disciplines, as one of its greatest assets. And while students benefit from external relationships set up
Gay Mitchell, deputy chairman, RBC Wealth Management, alumna
through the Alberta School of Business the school itself uses its
My involvement with the Alberta School of Business has been rewarding.
strong foundations to stay connected and relevant with the business
My career as a senior executive in the financial services industry has been
world. Doucet is quick to praise initiatives like the Business Advisory
enhanced through my MBA and my engagement on the Business Advisory
Council (BAC), which offers leadership and advice to the Alberta
Council. I’ve benefitted from a deeper understanding of the Western
School of Business and its leaders. BAC members are respected
Canadian economic and political strengths and being part of a powerful
members of the North American and international business commu-
network of business and academic leaders.
nities and their efforts are invaluable in helping the school establish and maintain strong connections to the wider community. It’s this external network along with the school’s powerful
Doucet came to the Alberta School of Business 13 years
alumni that helps attract world-class faculty members. “We have
ago after spending a decade teaching at Université Laval. In
amazing teachers and researchers at the school whom we are
Alberta he helped grow and champion the MBA specialization
able to attract internationally because of our fabulous (economic)
in Natural Resources, Energy and Environment as well as
environment, and that translates into our successful programs,”
the Centre for Applied Business Research in Energy and the
Doucet says.
Environment. He was also the first director of the University of
Doucet speaks highly of all the programs throughout the school;
Alberta’s School of Energy and the Environment, which – along
Alberta BCom, Alberta MBA, PhD, Executive Education, and the
with entrepreneurship and international business – is one of
MFM, which is now offered in China and Calgary. The same goes
the three main focuses he’s identified for the school moving
for the faculty members.
forward. He obtained his bachelor of management science in
One who comes to mind is David McLean. McLean, who
his hometown at the University of Ottawa before achieving his
teaches in the BCom, MBA and PhD programs, has had his
master’s and PhD from the University of California at Berkeley.
research published in The Financial Times, The New York Times and
Today, Doucet doesn’t teach as much as he used to but he still
taught at MIT before returning to the Alberta School of Business.
takes on one course, a leadership class as part of the new Leader-
McLean is also the Dianne and Irving Kipnes Chair in Finance and
ship Certificate in the undergrad program. He still makes a point
Development where he develops effective policy options for raising
to connect with students, whether it’s by speaking French with
living standards in low income countries. This position came after
students in the bilingual BCom program or participating in the Five
a substantial donation from the Kipnes Foundation and is just one
Days for the Homeless funding event, which was kick started by
example of how the school is able to use its strong reputation and
advertising fe ature
deep connections to secure private funding and further the school’s
Markets in Ottawa; Jared Smith, co-founder of Incite Marketing
vision. Donation plays a large role in the school’s operating budget
in Edmonton; Janet Wood, executive vice president of SAP in Van-
and is one of the reasons that the Alberta School of Business
couver – the list goes on. These alumni returned to speak this past
operates on nearly 50 per cent own-source funding. With a PhD in
year for the 25th anniversary of the Business Alumni Association.
finance from Boston College and a master’s degree in economics
“When you combine leadership and excellence, then you get
from Arizona State University, McLean, like most faculty members,
relevance,” Doucet says. These alumni demonstrate the school’s
has an academic history that speaks for itself, but Doucet says he
excellence as it expands its programming and relevance at home
always hears from students how outstanding the school’s profes-
and around the world, with leaders from the Alberta School of
sors are in the classroom, too.
Business paving the way.
“I always tell our new students that they are students for a few
As he says, it’s about leadership at all levels – including the top.
years, but they are alumni for life,” Doucet says. “And no matter where they’re from, whether it’s Shanghai or Mumbai, or where life takes them post-graduation, they are Alberta’s ambassadors for life, too.” The Alberta School of Business is fortunate to have
DAVE LEDE of Ledcor TO RECEIVE LEADERSHIP AWARD ON MARCH 12, 2014
an alumni body of 24,489 that remains involved in the school’s global alumni network. Many alumni come back and contribute
On March 12, 2014 Dave Lede, ’70 BCom, will be in Edmonton to accept the
as guest lecturers or allow students to take part in strategy ses-
Alberta School of Business’ 33rd Canadian Business Leader Award (CBLA).
sions within their organizations. “Since becoming dean,” Doucet
Lede is the long-time chairman and CEO of Leduc-founded Ledcor Group
says, “meeting as many alumni as possible has been one of my
of Companies, a leading construction company, now headquartered in
top priorities and this will not change.” Doucet can easily list the
Vancouver. The CBLA Dinner, the School’s signature event, is attended by
school’s alumni. There’s Greg Abel, president and CEO of MidAm-
over 800 members of Alberta’s business community.
erican Energy Holding Company in Iowa who recently received the University of Alberta’s highest honour earning the Distinguished Alumni Award and has a strong business relationship with Warren Buffett; Scott Gilmore, CEO and founder of Building
To purchase a table, contact: susan.robertson@ualberta.ca
EXECUTIVE TRAINING Innovative and Customized
Executive Education is tied to world-renowned research presented by internationally-recognized business leaders like Dr. Marvin Washington.
Reading Room
Before joining the Alberta School of Business he was a strategy professor at
Successful Organizational
Texas Tech University. Prior to that, he was an operations manager at Procter
Transformation: The Five Critical
& Gamble. Washington was attracted to the Alberta School of Business to
Elements
teach in the MBA program, where he’s received the MBA teaching award
Marvin Washington, Steven Hacker and
two years running. But, after missing some of the immediacy that comes
Marla Hacker
with working in the business world, he added Executive Education courses to round out his schedule. It has been the perfect fit. “These are people coming to us to solve real problems,” Washington says of his learners. “They come to become more effective and more successful.” Executive Education students are as diverse as the program’s courses,
Dr. Marvin Washington
The Alberta School of Business has once again been recognized as one of the world’s Top 100 business schools by the Financial Times of London rankings of publicly-funded universities: 9th place – Research 35th place – PhD 56th place – MBA
EXECUTIVE PROGRAMS
but Washington says one constant is that the information is practical. “I’m
Organizational Transformation
always focusing strategy and research on how it pertains to the people
March 11, 2014
in the program – it’s a partnership,” he says. “It’s also my job to coordinate the program and bring in other professors and external experts,”
Governance Program for Small
he says. Thanks to the Alberta School of Business’ international network
and Medium Sized Enterprises
and active alumni body, finding the right speakers is never a problem;
March 28, 2014
neither is finding relevant research. Washington focuses on leadership and change, drawing in part on his 12 years as an advisor to the Government
The Executive Program
of Botswana.
March 31 - April 2, 2014
GLOBAL research
PROGRAM DATES
RIGOROUS AND RELEVANT
BCom Application Deadline
To Dr. Michael Lounsbury, principal investigator at the National Institute
March 1, 2014
of Nanotechnology at the University of Alberta and the Alberta School of Business’ associate dean of research, effective research involves
MBA Information Sessions
Reading Room
building connections and translating theory into practice. “With regard
Jan. 15, Feb. 26 and Mar. 19, 2014
The Retail Value Proposition:
to entrepreneurship, we reach out to students in all faculties – whether it’s
Crafting Unique Experiences
science, medicine, engineering, arts – and we connect them with our business
at Compelling Prices
students to form entrepreneurial teams to get products to market,” he says.
Upcoming EVENTS
Kyle Murray
Lounsbury, who received his PhD from Northwestern University, believes
Canadian Business Leader Award
that the Alberta School of Business’ world-renowned research contributes to
Dave Lede, CEO & Chairman, Ledcor
Markets on Trial: The
the school’s entrepreneurial spirit.“We’ve worked to build bridges between
March 12, 2014
Economic Sociology of the
business and science. It allows us to leverage our research and contribute to the
U.S. Financial Crisis
development of a more vibrant entrepreneurial culture.”
Michael Lounsbury
Other examples include bridges to market, innovative course offerings and top researchers. The Technology Commercialization Centre and eHub bridges
Global Women’s
young and experienced entrepreneurs, accelerating Alberta’s entrepreneurial
Entrepreneurship Research
capacity. Capitalizing on this momentum, the school will be offering
Jennifer Jennings and
Entrepreneurship 101 to all undergraduates, further connecting various faculties
Karen Hughes
on campus with the Alberta School of Business. This spirit is paying off for alumni as a recent report by professors Tony Briggs and Jennifer Jennings found that
Capitalizing China
there are currently more than 70,000 organizations founded by University of
Randall Morck
Alberta alumni, contributing $348 annually to the global economy.
VISIT US ONLINE business.ualberta.ca.