Black History Month is an opportunity for Canada to celebrate the great contributions and achievements of Black Canadians throughout history and how they have made our country more prosperous, culturally-diverse, and inclusive. The theme for this year’s Black History Month in Canada is February and Forever: Celebrating Black History today and every day, which recognizes the importance of celebrating Black Canadians beyond just the month of February.
At the Telfer School of Management, we value the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion in our student body, programs and initiatives. As such, we wanted to celebrate this history in Canada and highlight useful resources for the Black community during the month of February.
Black History Month in Canada
Black Canadians and their communities have shaped our country dating back to the 1600s, when navigator and interpreter, Mathieu Da Costa, first arrived in the place we now call Canada. Since then, the celebration of Black history in Canada dates back to the 1920s, starting as a week-long celebration, which then evolved into one month. In 1995, Black History Month became an official celebration at the House of Commons, introduced by Canada’s first African-Canadian woman in Parliament, the Honourable Jean Augustine. The Motion to Recognize Contributions of Black Canadians and February as Black History Month was unanimously approved by the Senate of Canada in 2008, brought up by Senator Donald Oliver, the first Black man appointed to the Senate of Canada.
Some of Canada’s first Black Canadian business professionals and entrepreneurs include Thornton Blackburn, who started Toronto’s first cab company in the 1830s; Mary Ann Shadd Cary, the first Black woman editor in Canada working for a Canadian Underground Railway newspaper called the Provincial Freeman; and Carrie Best, the founder of the first Black-owned newspaper in Nova Scotia, The Clarion.
Resources to Help You Achieve Your Goals
Along with the Canadian traditions, the Telfer School of Management values and fosters an environment for all talents to thrive, through both professional growth and personal development. In turn, these values will help create a community that truly reflects who we are. Through different initiatives and partnerships, the School continues to evolve and strive to make significant contributions in the life of its members.
Why Scholarships Are Important
To ensure our program is home to exceptionally talented and ambitious business leaders in the making, we offer access to a wide variety of financial support, including scholarships. Without assistance from an outside source, students may have trouble paying for a university degree. Scholarships thus help students have more time to focus on their studies, rather than needing a part-time job to earn money for their studies, which can take up more than 15 hours per week and become an obstacle to academic success.
Thankfully, generous donors have and continue to enable Telfer students to redefine business practice for the better as well as decrease the number and amount of loans students need in order to complete their degree. Among the different scholarships offered to our students, you can find many that are awarded to students who are part of a Black, Indigenous or Racialized community. Per example, the KPMG Scholarships for Accounting Students, created by KPMG LLP, is offered each year to two second year students of the BCom in Accounting program and who have demonstrated academic excellence. The Marlene King Patrick Admission Scholarship, generously created by Markene King Patrick, is another scholarship exclusive to Telfer students and is awared to a woman from a Black, Indigenous or Racialized community who is newly admitted into an undergraduate program.
To learn more about these scholarships and see if you are eligible, the Online Scholarships and Bursaries is an online tool that gives you access to the directory of scholarships and bursaries offered at the University of Ottawa.
The Onyx Initiative
Historically, business schools have always established themselves as a strong networking hub, uniting the scholars and corporate world of today to foster the leaders of tomorrow. While the number of Black members on the boards of the 100 largest companies on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) has more than tripled over the past year, they currently account for only 2.35% of board members as of January 2021. Regarding the current labour market, Black Canadians in the core age group of 25- to 54-year-olds were more likely to hold a bachelor's degree or higher (42.8%) than Canadians in the same age group who were not a visible minority (33.6%). However, Black Canadians with a university degree had a lower employment rate (86.1%) than their non-visible minority counterparts (91.1%).
The systemic gap in the recruiting and selection of Black university and college students and recent graduates for roles in corporate Canada remains a big challenge. This is why the Onyx Initiative aspires to be a catalyst for the professional growth and development of Black Canadians as they launch their careers after university or college, helping them through access to placements, mentorships, coaching, and professional development.
This early intervention will facilitate a measurable increase in Black students and recent graduates securing internships and full-time employment in their chosen fields while serving the needs of corporations in sourcing qualified and diversified employees. How? First, by aggregating supply through the recruitment, preparation, and exposure of Black talent. This preparation includes career coaching and professional development through online learning, and, more importantly, mentorship. Afterwards, it is their main goal to help these highly prepared and talented individuals to get the exposure and awareness they need to accelerate their careers.
Their second mandate is thus to foster and nurture demand. Onyx can support corporate Canada and facilitate demand for talent. As they work with a wide range of organizations, their partners contribute with more than just financial aid. They can share ideas and in-kind support in helping grow and build the initiative.
Should you be interested in joining this group of Black students and recent graduates who are seeking support to enhance their personal and professional skills and gain access to meaningful career opportunities, you could apply to the 2022 scholar applications before the deadline on April 1st.
Black Entrepreneurship Program
For those who have an entrepreneurial fibre, it is within Telfer core values to enable students to develop the skills necessary to or launch a new venture creation, contribute to a high growth enterprise, or drive innovation at an existing organization. Whether you want to lead your own enterprise, work in a family business, or manage growth in an established company, our goal is to stimulate, inspire and prepare students to do so. Whether at Telfer or through the University of Ottawa, we offer a wide variety of entrepreneurship courses and programs (i.e. entrepreneurship option, Entrepreneurship Foundry, the Telfer Entrepreneurs' Club or Enactus), and the uOttawa Entrepreneurship Hub, that aim to propel careers in the entrepreneurship world.
There are also interesting opportunities through government-funded programs. For example, the Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) is a partnership between the Government of Canada, Black-led business organizations, and financial institutions to help Black Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs grow their businesses and achieve their goals. Along with a Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, driven by The Federation of African Canadian Economics (FACE), a National Ecosystem Fund and a Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, up to $265 million over four years has been invested in this program led by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). These investments will help thousands of Black Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs by providing them with access to financing, mentorship opportunities, financial planning services, business training and more.
Mental Health Support Groups at uOttawa
The University of Ottawa has created specific support groups including a BIPOC (Black Indigenous and People of Colour), Black students support group, and international students support group to provide provides a safe space for those who identify with each of these groups to find strength, friendship, and expression of unfiltered feelings among peers. Each of these groups focus on building community, discussing any faced challenges, and connecting in a supportive space.
Students Supporting Students
Beyond academic resources, many of the most enriching experiences at Telfer take place outside the classroom, thanks to a close-knit student community. Among many student clubs and associations at Telfer and uOttawa, the Black Student Leaders Association (BSLA) will serve to assist and enhance the academic, social and philanthropic aspects of black students’ journeys at the University of Ottawa. They aim to represent the members of the community in a way that positively and truly reflects who they are and their potential to be leaders. BSLA extends open arms to all students and faculty who share their values to join the association.
“Count Me In” Initiative
After a long process of research, consultations and data analysis, the uOttawa Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDIC) has launched a critical initiative to identify barriers to inclusion and to propose initiatives to bring traditionally excluded persons into research, teaching and administrative communities at the university. The initiative slogan, “Count me in / Comptez moi,” invites students, faculty and staff to self-identify in terms of gender, indigeneity, racialization, accommodation/disability, LGBTQIA2S+ preference, language preference and proficiency in Canada’s official languages in an anonymous and confidential questionnaire. By doing so, it will enable uOttawa to spot barriers and uncover systemic roadblocks to equity, diversification inclusion. When you count yourself in, you’re leading by example and making your presence known so that others may follow in your footsteps.
The questionnaire is accessible through uoZone. The Human Rights Office is responsible for confidentiality, ensuring only disaggregated data is used by the University community to inform and prioritize EDI initiatives and enable the creation of more of them.
Moreover, by simply counting yourself in, you enable inclusion. With each survey completion, the Office of the Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs, will donate $1 to a scholarship fund for uOttawa students incorporating the principles of EDI into their academic and research projects.
Telfer and the University of Ottawa celebrate Black History Month
Black History Month is a time to learn more about the contributions Black Canadians have made to the settlement, growth and development of Canada and their importance to the history of the Telfer School. Follow us on our social media to learn more about virtual and on-campus events and celebrate the contribution of our community throughout the month of February and beyond.
If you know of a member of Telfer Nation that deserves recognition for their actions and accomplishments or you are leading an initiative for Black Canadians, we invite you to share this story with us.
At the Telfer School of Management, we have formally named seven prominent Canadian business leaders to the School’s Strategic Leadership Cabinet to work with Dean Stéphane Brutus in order to advance the School’s Vision for a Better Canada. Each member of the cabinet brings years of experience to the table, leading some of the biggest and most influential businesses in Canada. Their first inaugural meeting takes place today, October 6th in the Desmarais building.
The Strategic Leadership Cabinet’s mandate is to advise the Telfer School with regard to its strategic choices and to provide information that will permit the evaluation of the relevance, quality, and effectiveness of its current and upcoming programs. The Cabinet also assists in identifying the ways in which the business community and the public sector can contribute to the strengthening of the School.
Meet the Cabinet
Rob Ashe - Chair of the Strategic Leadership Cabinet (Telfer BCom ‘82) joined Ottawa-based firm Cognos in 1984 and served as President and CEO from 2004 to 2012. He transformed the company into a world-renowned producer of business intelligence software and grew it to become Canada’s first billion-dollar software company. Ashe stayed on as general manager of business analytics after the organization's acquisition by IBM in 2008. With an avid interest in advancing the technology sector in Ottawa, Ashe has been the Lead Independent Director at Shopify since May 2015. He’s a 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, an award from the Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Board of Trade. He was also the former Lead Director of Halogen, until its sale to Saba Software in 2017. Ashe is currently an Executive Partner at Bridge Growth Partners, the Lead Director of MSCI, a Director of ServiceSource International, and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario.
Louis Gagnon (Telfer MBA ‘97) has been with Intact Financial Corporation, the largest provider of Property & Casualty Insurance in Canada, since January 2007. Mr. Gagnon has served in many key executive roles beginning with Senior Vice President, Quebec, and including President, Intact Insurance; President and Chief Operating Officer; President, Service & Distribution; and, President, Canadian Operations. In June 2021, Mr. Gagnon was appointed Chief Executive Officer, Canada. In his current role, Mr. Gagnon is responsible for all Canadian-based business entities and operations including Intact Insurance, belairdirect, BrokerLink and Johnson Insurance. Prior to joining Intact, Mr. Gagnon headed a successful Insurance Brokerage with offices in Quebec and Ontario and was very active in provincial and national brokers associations. Mr. Gagnon is a member of the Board of Directors of the Insurance Bureau of Canada, member of the Telfer School of Management Dean’s Strategic Leadership Cabinet, member of the “Comité Consultatif International du recteur de l’Université de Montréal” and member of the Board of Directors of the CD Howe Institute. He has been an active board member and volunteer of many charitable organizations and is specifically very proud to have been involved with United Way for over 30 years.
Justine Hendricks (Telfer MBA ‘04) has a demonstrated history of working in the financial services sector and has been a critical member of the Canadian export community since 2006 at the start of her career with Export Development Canada (EDC). She took on the role of Senior Vice-President, Sustainable Business and Enablement in 2019, and added the role of Chief Corporate Sustainability Officer (CCSO) in May 2021. Hendricks has worked closely with EDC’s banking partners and is a key component of the business development group. She received a Trudeau Medal in 2017 from Telfer in recognition of her leadership, initiative and contributions to the business world.
Patricia Saputo is the Co-Founder and Executive Chairperson of CRYSALIA, which supports Enterprising Families to succeed multi-generationally by creating and delivering deliberate learning journeys for their family members. She is a role model for female leaders in male-dominated industries, the business world, and the community. After her career at Deloitte in the Tax Department, she was asked to join the Board of Directors at Saputo once they went public in 1997. As a lifelong learner and a believer that education is a never-ending process - a process for the betterment of oneself, one’s family and for continued improvement of communities around us - she truly enjoys educating others.
Macky Tall (Telfer MBA ‘92) is the Co-Chair of Carlyle Infrastructure Group, which includes efforts across transportation, renewables, energy, water & waste water and digital infrastructure. Before joining Carlyle, Mr. Tall served in a series of leadership positions at Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), one of the world’s largest infrastructure investors and the second-largest pension fund in Canada. He also served on CDPQ’s Executive Committee and Investment-Risk Committee and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ivanhoé Cambridge.
Ian Telfer (Telfer MBA ’76), the Telfer School’s namesake, is a Canadian executive and philanthropist who is known for his strategic business success in the mining and resource sector. Telfer is the former chairman of Goldcorp Inc., a Vancouver-based gold mining company, and former chairman of the World Gold Council. Telfer led Goldcorp Inc. since 2005, first serving as Goldcorp’s President and Chief Executive Officer before being appointed Chairman of the Board in 2006. Telfer has earned the reputation of being a ‘visionary mining entrepreneur’ for his ability to grow multiple mining companies. His 30 years of success in the resource sector can be attributed to an intrinsic aptitude for strategically timed acquisitions and value-driven mergers. In 2015, Ian’s career in the mining sector earned him induction into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame 2015, and the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2018. Telfer was also awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Ottawa in 2015.
Kathryn Tremblay (Telfer BCom ‘95) is the CEO and Co-Founder of excelHR, Altis Recruitment, Altis Technology and excelITR, with over 30 years specializing in the human aspect of human resources. She has dedicated her career to the betterment of the staffing process, launching her entrepreneurial journey at the age of 21 when she launched a small staffing firm in the Outaouais region. Tremblay paved the way for a new way of qualified job sectors with prospective employers particularly when it comes to filling executive roles. With its affiliated companies, excelHR has become a recognized leader in the delivery of recruitment and staffing services in Canada. Tremblay is an avid mentor for women in the workforce and encourages young people to pursue a career in entrepreneurship. She was also named the 2021 CEO of the year by the Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Board of Trade.
Stéphane Brutus is currently the Dean of the Telfer School of Management. Between 2006 and 2017, Dr. Brutus served as Dean (Interim), Associate Dean Graduate Professional Programs, Chair of the Management Department and Director at the Bell Research Center for Business Process Innovation at the John Molson School of Business, Concordia University. Previously, Dr. Brutus worked as a Visiting Professor at Universidade Federal da Bahia, in Brazil and Universidad Pablo de Olavide and Instituto de Empresa, in Spain.
James Price - Secretary of the Strategic Leadership Cabinet, is the Executive Director of Development and Community Engagement at the Telfer School of Management and is responsible for leading the school’s external outreach vision, development, and community engagement initiatives. Driven by a desire to make a positive impact on society, he takes great personal pride in building sustainable relationships and partnerships to advance higher education, research, innovation, and economic development. Prior to joining the School in 2019, James led Canada’s national stem cell advocacy and strategic funding efforts as President and CEO of the Canadian Stem Cell Foundation.
On June 23rd, the Telfer School of Management held its Annual Excellence Recognition Assembly. Hosted for the first time by Dean Stéphane Brutus, this annual summer meeting is an opportunity to highlight the efforts and exceptional work of the Telfer faculty and staff members with awards assigned through votes by their colleagues and peers.
Revamped Telfer Awards
The Telfer Awards (“Telfie”) recipients include staff and faculty members who have distinguished themselves through excellence in service and dedication to their work, while showing leadership and initiative that has greatly benefitted the Telfer community. For the first time since its creation, the Telfer Awards ballot was open to part-time faculty members, creating 3 additional awards recognizing the contribution of part-time professors. The 2021 Telfer Awards winners are:
Nathalie Paré, Specialist, Academic Success and Student Experience, Graduate programs
Full-Time Faculty Members
Wojtek Michalowski, Full Professor Health Informatics and Decision Support and former Interim Dean
Jane O'Reilly, Associate Professor and Telfer Fellow in Workplace Wellbeing
Shantanu Dutta, Vice-Dean (Research) and Telfer Fellow in Global Finance
Part-Time Faculty Members
Jasmin Manseau, Parti-Time Professor on Long-Term Assignement, PhD Candidate
Marc Tassé, Corporate Ethics and Financial Crimes Expert & Part-Time Professor
Dorra Jlouli, Founder and CEO, Green & Smart Alternatives & Part-Time Professor
Patricia Ann O’Rourke Award for Excellence in Service
Created in 2014, this award honours Patricia Ann O’Rourke, an individual who provided exceptional service to one and all over the course of her career, for the greater benefit of the Telfer School and its stakeholders. She personified service excellence and was an inspiration to each of her colleagues, faculty and support staff alike. Patricia retired the same year after 32 years of service.
This annual award recognizes an employee (either faculty or administrative staff) who has demonstrated a strong desire and ability to help others, and in doing so, advance the interests of the School and contribute to the development of a culture of service excellence.
Congratulations to all 2021 winners who, in their own and unique way, embrace the Telfer vision in building a Better Canada through their work and dedication to our School!
The Principles of Responsible Management Education (PRME) is a UN-supported initiative whose mission is to transform management education, research, and thought education leadership globally by providing the PRME framework, developing learning communities, and promoting awareness about the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In 2020, the Telfer School of Management joined over 800 leading business and management schools from around the world that are committed to building a more sustainable future by implementing the Six Principles and striving to achieve the SDGs.
Ultimately, it is PRME’s vision to have the UN Sustainable Development Goals realized through responsible management education. The Six Principles of PRME are based on internationally-accepted values endorsed by UN Member States and provide an engagement framework for higher education institutions to embed responsibility and sustainability in education, research, and campus practices through a process of continuous improvement. Higher education institutions that become signatories to PRME make a public commitment to knowledge creation and education that supports and develops leaders capable of managing the complex challenges faced by businesses and society in the 21st century. PRME is a multi-stakeholder platform with a dynamic network of local and global learning communities, including thematic Working Groups and regional Chapters, which collaborate on projects and events. Since its official launch in 2007 by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the PRME initiative has grown to more than 800 leading business schools and management-related academic institutions from over 80 countries across the world.
As a PRME Signatory, Telfer is committed to investing in our world’s future and doing what we can to ensure the planet is here to stay. As part of Globalization, Governance, And Sustainability area of strategic impact, the Telfer Institute for Sustainable Business is putting sustainability at the centre of decision-making, influencing a new era of business thinking.
Strategic planning with sustainability in mind, renewable business practices, and greener values have a positive impact on our global environment and enables us to build a better Canada. In order to build a solid foundation for our future, we need to completely rethink and reorient the way our economy does business. If Canadian businesses invest in technologies and practices that foster a green economy, then over time, we can make progress towards a sustainable world.
On January 18th 2021, Telfer Nation celebrated an important milestone in the young history of its Doctorate in Management program when Vusal Babashov successfully defended his thesis and became the first PhD graduate of the School. Like the challenges of a candidate’s doctorate journey, the celebrations were well in order as it took a lot of effort, research, and the work of a whole team of faculty and staff members to finally create what is now the renowned PhD program at the Telfer School of Management.
History of the Telfer PhD
Developing a new degree program, especially a doctorate program, is a long process and an exciting challenge for any academic team. Telfer’s executive team, faculty members, and graduate office came together to create a program that reflects the vision of the School, value of a PhD and cutting-edge, valuable learning experiences for students. The program’s evolution also exemplifies the leadership of women faculty and staff in all phases of development, including inception, design, implementation and evaluation.
The School had been in discussions about creating a PhD program for nearly 40 years.
Telfer’s former Dean, François Julien, shared the challenges that come along with creating a new program: “The most credible and reputable PhD Programs are anchored in research excellence. The prerequisite to creating a PhD Program was to build a research culture within the School, and to develop faculty members in graduate supervision. The School-wide research culture was built over the past twenty years through various incentives to stimulate research productivity and excellence, and through the recruitment of professors who were not only excellent in education and teaching, but who were also actively engaged in influential and impactful research programs.”
At least four previous attempts to develop and launch Telfer’s PhD program were initiated in 1995, 1999, 2004 with Clarkson University, and 2008 with Babson College, respectively. The creation of a PhD program is truly a lengthy ordeal, as a lot of important facets need to be in place before anything official can happen.
Progress towards elevating research excellence at the School in hopes to eventually launch the PhD was well underway when the School created two research-based M.Sc. programs. The creation of the M.Sc. in Management in 2007 was directed by Professor Ajax Persaud who led colleagues in the Innovation and Entrepreneurship fields. The M.Sc. in Health Systems was launched in 2008 with Professor Wojtek Michalowski who led colleagues in the Health Systems Management field.
Dean Julien reflected on his involvement in these programs as Associate Dean of Programs and as the School’s Vice-Dean between the years of 2005 and 2010: “I had the pleasure of participating in faculty recruitment, and to work with colleagues in the creation of the School’s first research-based programs. Later, as Dean, I supported Professor Barbara Orser in the development of the PhD program, and Professors Silvia Bonaccio, Mirou Jaana, and Samia Chreim who successively became PhD Program Directors.”
In 2009, Telfer established a Graduate Studies Taskforce to consider a ‘built-in-Telfer’ doctorate, and in 2010 the Telfer PhD Committee was formed to establish standards for the program and conduct research into existing Canadian and international doctoral degrees.
Subsequently, 2011 and 2012 were the years when program details such as curricula, disciplines, and structure were established. These decisions were made collaboratively through consultations with faculty members and various stakeholders, benchmarking with and market research of competing programs. Many lengthy proposals were written, including plans for new faculty positions. Professor Barbara Orser served as the Chair of the Telfer PhD Committee from 2010 to 2013 and worked on setting up these program details alongside Danielle Bennett, the Executive Administrator of Telfer’s Graduate Programs at the time.
In 2013, approvals were reached with the University of Ottawa’s Senate and a number of its committees, the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities, and the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance.
This then led to an evolving discussion on cross-disciplinary studies, and to bringing on new hires to doctoral students. Five key fields of study were created within the program: Accounting and Control, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Health Systems, and Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources. Each PhD candidate would choose one of these fields in which to specialize through their research and seminars.
Prior to 2016, the Telfer School was already offering several programs targeting different audiences: a bachelor’s degree for young professionals starting their careers, professional masters' programs for early to mid-career managers and emerging leaders, research-based masters programs for aspiring analysts, management researchers and consultants, and executive programs for experienced professionals.
In 2016, the program was officially opened for business when Professor Silvia Bonaccio led the program as the first PhD Program Director. Professor Bonaccio was glad to see the PhD program added to our portfolio: “this was the next step in the growth of the Telfer School; we had a roster of world-class professors who were eager for the opportunity to work alongside doctoral students and train the next generation of researchers. I was thrilled to earn the responsibility of being the first director.”
Former Vice-Dean of Research and former Interim Dean, Wojtek Michalowski, shared that the program was truly a result of hard work: “The program was created because of Dean Francois Julien’s leadership and because of the hard work and dedication of Professor Barbara Orser.”
Dean Julien reflected on the value added to Telfer once the doors were opened up to PhD in Management students: “Adding a PhD Program to our roster allowed us to complete our program portfolio. The program puts the Telfer School in a different league. It speaks to the academic rigour and excellence of its faculty members and allows us to attract and recruit talented professors, and students alike.”
Now that the program was set up for success, all it took was the right leader to steer the ship that is the Telfer PhD. Professor Silvia Bonaccio was up for the task.
Launching the Program
Silvia Bonaccio, Ian Telfer Professor of Workplace Psychology, was named the first director of the PhD program and has been instrumental in making the program what it is today. She led the program for five years from 2013 to 2018 and worked behind-the-scenes for more than 2 years on building the program prior to its official launch in 2016. Having the chance to finally welcome the first cohort of Telfer doctoral students is still a fresh memory for Professor Bonaccio: “The first weeks were some of the most thrilling ones of my close to 15 years at Telfer. Admitting the first cohort so that they could work alongside our professors on essential, impactful, and exciting research was my biggest accomplishment as director.”
The addition of the PhD to our research-based graduate programs portfolio is the most significant change at the School in the past decade, according to Professor Bonaccio: “This addition shifted us into a new group of institutional peers, as doctoral-granting institutions are a select group.”
Thanks to her leadership, the program has continued to grow and improve since its launch. As applicant and admission numbers keep increasing each year, the School has been able to maintain the highest standards for its diverse group of admitted students.
By the time Professor Mirou Jaana, current Telfer MHA Program Director, took over as PhD Program Director, Telfer had also welcomed a considerable number of new faculty members who were active researchers from various management areas.
This growth as well as the successful research performance of Telfer’s students (e.g., publications, presentations in conferences or meetings, recipient of awards or grants), attests to the successful evolution and maturity of the program. “Since its launch, the PhD had gained growing visibility and developed a strong reputation, which allowed it to attract an increasing number of diverse applicants from all around the world,” reflected Professor Jaana.
Above all, what makes the success of the program, according to Professor Jaana, is the support offered to students throughout their academic curriculum as well as the quality of the teaching experience. “The program provides attractive funding and support for students over a period of 4 years,” said Professor Jaana. “During their studies, PhD students can specialize in what have now become six fields of study, led by experienced, world-class and dedicated faculty.”
Professor Jaana’s mandate as Director was marked by a program revision: “The biggest accomplishment during my tenure was launching the first revision of the PhD Program, which resulted, among other changes, in the addition of a new field in Organization and Strategy,” noted Professor Jaana. “This new field will present research opportunities for PhD students who are interested in specializing in this area. The program revision also led to improvements and changes, which strengthened the experience of students and added more flexibility in relation to the program delivery.”
The third and current PhD Program Director as of July 2020, Professor Samia Chreim, Ian Telfer Professorship in Organization Studies, shares the same enthusiasm as her predecessor on these changes: “We have recently conducted a program revision based on the feedback we had received over the first four years of the program from various groups, including the students and the faculty members. As part of this revision, we have provided more flexibility to students in the choice of their courses. The addition of a 6th area of specialization, is giving students interested in our PhD program more choices.”
Professor Chreim also wanted to celebrate the efforts of her predecessors and all people implicated in the creation of the Telfer doctoral program. “The launch of the PhD program in 2016 was the culmination of the dedicated efforts of many people who were consulted extensively, both internally and externally,” added Professor Chreim. “The program has grown over the years and is now the program of choice for nearly 40 PhD students, who are working with accomplished researchers as their supervisors. The students have established a strong sense of community. They have also been very engaged in research, participating actively in conference presentations and journal publications.”
According to Professor Chreim, a testament to the sense of community and engagement in research is the Thesis Competition event, which the Telfer PhD and M.Sc. students organize and host each year with the help of Telfer’s Research Office.
The Echoes of the Program
As Interim Dean, Professor Michalowski was one of the first to congratulate Vusal and celebrate this important milestone of the program. “It was a great privilege and honour for me to announce our first PhD graduate. This program was long in the making and graduating a student seems like ‘reaching a destination’.” He continued: “Telfer’s PhD is our program, and I would like to thank all of my faculty colleagues, and staff in the Graduate and Research Offices for their hard work and commitment. Last but not least, I am very proud of our doctoral students. They will be Telfer’s ambassadors and will make us proud.”
Professor Michalowski, emphasized that the work is not yet done: “We need to work hard to ensure that the quality of the program meets students’ expectations, in order to attract the best and the brightest, and to ensure that the program contributes to Telfer’s research enterprise. The launch of the program strengthened our path towards research excellence - a catalyst of academic and intellectual debates at Telfer,” he concluded.
For Dean Julien, the success of the doctorate program is undeniable: “There is no doubt that the Program allowed us to recruit excellent, research-intensive faculty members who were attracted by the prospect of working with our researchers and supervising PhD candidates. The quality of the students we have recruited at the PhD level, and also in our research-based masters programs, has been excellent.”
This is only the beginning according to him: “Over time I expect the reputation of the PhD and, therefore, of the School will be confirmed by the excellence and reputation of the organizations where the graduates of this program will be hired and the impact of their work. We will track and promote the career of our PhD graduates with great interest!”
Since being involved in the program’s inception, Professor Barbara Orser shared where she hopes to see the PhD evolve in the future: “It would be great to see more PhD disciplines added, further integration of doctoral degree candidates in multi-disciplinary research portfolios, the creation of centres to support doctoral students, and Telfer to become the ‘go to’ School for prospective hires.”
The PhD program will be linked forever to Dean Julien’s legacy long after he stepped out of his 10-year tenure in 2020. The most important takeaway for him is that the institution will gain several benefits in the years to come. “I am happy I have been involved in some way in the process since the beginning,” he humbly added.
“I truly believe this program brings Telfer to a new level of excellence and that this program and its graduates will contribute in no small way in strengthening Telfer’s reputation as a leading business school in Canada and in the world!” he proudly concluded.
As Telfer is committed and united by a shared belief that better business means a better Canada, the PhD program and its contribution to the academic world will more than ever foster a greener, healthier, happier, and wealthier Canada for all.
This Francophonie Month, Telfer is highlighting the inclusion of the French language and Francophone culture in our community.
The Telfer Student Services Centre (SSC) is at the heart of the student experience at the School. The role of the SSC is to guide students throughout their studies, from the time of admission to Telfer through to graduation. With the French community representing close to 30% of our student body and after receiving 2,500 applicants this year to the French BCom program only, French services is an important component of the Centre’s offer.
Since the beginning, in 1969, our School has provided bilingual services to our students. In addition to the availability of bilingualism, the Centre offers services and programs that are adapted to the both the local and international members of our French community through the Undergraduate Office, the International Exchange Program and Scholarship Program, and the Telfer Career Centre.
One of the main goals of the Centre is to make sure that students feel comfortable as soon as they start their journey at Telfer. The Peer Mentoring Program is doing just that.
Student Mentorship Programs
Peer Mentorship Program
The main purpose of the peer mentoring program at Telfer is to facilitate the integration of first-year BCom students by ensuring that they are accompanied by a mentor, for domestic students, or by an international guide, for international students: “Each student is matched with a student mentor or guide, according to a series of priority criteria, the first being the language of correspondence,” explains Marilou Charbonneau, Student Experience & Event Assistant at the Telfer Career Centre. “In this way, we ensure that each French-speaking first-year student is matched with a French-speaking mentor or guide to ask questions and obtain a variety of resources in French,” she added.
In addition, French is one of the most important criteria in the annual selection process of guides and mentors. It is essential that most of the team members can support French-speaking students.
Fourth-year Accounting student, Priyesh Sarju, is one of the program’s international coaches. Coming from Île Maurice, Priyesh is a good representative of the French diversity at the School: “French is certainly one of my main assets as an International Coach at Telfer,” shares Priyesh. “That being said, many of the international students come from French-speaking countries around the world, so being able to interact effectively in French with them is essential to ensuring they have a successful student experience,” he added. Furthermore, as an international guide, Priyesh can not only help international students with their studies through revision sessions, but also moderate various Telfer events in French.
Camély Gendron is another student mentor in her fourth year at Telfer, completing the Commerce and Juris Doctor program. She shared her experience guiding members of the French community at the School: “When I think of my experience as a Francophone mentor, I immediately think of the word community,” she proudly said. “The students I work with are happy to be able to speak in French to someone who has been through a similar journey. It is also nice to see how united and supportive the Francophone mentors are on a daily basis!”
Executive Mentorship Program
Another mentoring opportunity offered by the SSC is the Executive Mentoring Program. This program connects senior students, usually third- or fourth-year, with industry executives and entrepreneurs. The program establishes a relationship between a student and a professional so they can exchange ideas, provide informal guidance, and grow their network. This is a way for a student to learn in a one-on-one setting from a business professional.
Isabelle Décarie, Manager, Student Experience at the SSC explains how unique this experience can be for a French Telfer student: “Students can be matched to different successful French leaders in the community. For example, we have a student in the BCom/JD program that is matched with the President of the Réseau des gens d’affaires (RGA).” The experience is also quite unique for the mentors, as it is a wonderful opportunity to meet students interested in their field of work, have great conversations, and learn about the exciting new things happening at Telfer.
Reaching out to the French Community and Beyond
This year, Telfer received 2,500 student applications to its BCom French program. One of the key reasons of this success is the freedom of choice in the program. “We want students to know that they can study in the language of their choice whether it’s in French, in English or in both languages,” stated Émilie Desrosiers, Marketing and Liaison Coordinator of Telfer’s Undergraduate Programs. “We’re really proud of the fact that uOttawa is a bilingual institution,” she added.
The Telfer French community also counts in its rank English-speaking students who also speak French as a second language, or who are working on practicing their French through the various opportunities offered at Telfer. This includes the French Immersion Stream, which is eligible to the French Studies Bursary.
International students coming from French speaking countries can also benefit from the bilingualism environment offered at the University and in the city of Ottawa. “Our international student population likes the fact that they can study in French, experience life in a Canadian city, and that we have a generous scholarship for them”, explains Émilie. Another key factor that appeals to our international population and more broadly is the Co-op program. “Students can gain real work experience and receive a salary during their co-op placement”, she concluded.
There are several scholarship and bursary opportunities offered to French-speaking students, those who study in French Immersion, and International students alike:
The Bernard and Valérie Marcil Scholarship is offered to BCom Accounting students who demonstrate financial need. The scholarship is named after Telfer graduate and co-founder of Marcil Lavallée, Bernard Marcil.
The Legico-CHP Fleur de lys scholarship is available to a francophone Telfer student who is from Quebec with an excellent academic record, but who is unable to take on the cost of tuition fees. The scholarship is named after Legico-CHP, an organization that is an amalgamation of two who companies were major players in international and local construction projects.
The Fleur de Lys Admission Scholarship Fund of the Telfer School of Management was created to provide financial aid to francophone students who wish to join the Telfer BCom program, but for whom the higher tuition fees pose a challenge. The scholarship was created through a generous donation by Mr. Ian Telfer, Telfer’s namesake, and it is designed to help students coming to Ontario and facing higher tuition fees.
The Marcil Lavallée Accounting Scholarship is awarded to a Francophone student registered to the accounting program who has demonstrated community involvement. The fund was generously created by Ottawa accounting firm, Marcil Lavallée.
The French Studies Bursary is a $1,000 admission bursary awarded to full-time students in the French Immersion Stream who are taking at least 2 courses (6 units) each term that are taught in French (including French-as-a-second-language courses). This bursary can be renewed for the three following years and reaching up to $4,000 in total.
The Differential Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship is offered to an international Francophone and Francophile student who is enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s program as of September 2021. This significant contribution means that tuition fees paid by these international students will be nearly the same as those paid by Canadian students.
The ninth of March marked the first day of Dean Brutus’ journey at the Telfer School of Management. Despite all classes being held online, the new Dean couldn’t wait to get in touch with his new environment: “When I signed my contract I was in Montréal and something was a bit off. The first thing I did on my first day was drive to Ottawa, get the key to my office, and worked from there,” Dean Brutus confessed. “It was important for me to be present and ‘touch’ Telfer and really incarnate the role from day 1. The next step is to get everybody else on campus and get the real feel, give some ‘high fives’ to everybody when it will be allowed, but it was a start,” he added.
Upon officially starting his mandate a week ago, Dean Stéphane Brutus has been looking forward to meeting with the student body at the Fireside Conversation: “I enjoyed the opportunity to talk with the students”, he said. “With the lockdown, it is difficult for me to get the pulse of the School and this meeting allowed me to do so. Some of the questions were direct and I appreciate the fact that the students had the courage to ask me.’'
The conversation occurred Monday morning, March 15th, on Zoom with students in various programs and our staff.
Do You Know Your Dean?
Hosted by Isabelle Décarie, Student Experience Manager at the Student Services Centre, the Fireside Conversation event was a great opportunity for any students to ask questions to the Dean and get his honest opinion on important topics at Telfer.
To start the event, Stéphane Brutus had prepared a special video entitled “Do You Know Your Dean?” where he was put to the test and answered general questions about his vision for the School, and even some trivia questions about Telfer and uOttawa. His performance on the latter section was nothing to be shy about. He also had the chance to tell us a bit more about himself through rapid-fire questions about his hobbies and interests.
Getting to Know Dean Brutus’ Vision
Prior to the Q&A portion of the event with the students, Dean Brutus had the chance to talk a bit more about his objectives for the School in the short and long-term: “I want to augment visibility of the School by reinforcing the Better Canada pillars as mentioned in the video (Editor’s note: Greener, Healthier, Happier, Wealthier) through continued support of our research,” he stated. “I want to improve the student experience, that is already excellent, and focus on engagement with Alumni as their involvement is really important just as for any business school.”
Dean Brutus had the chance to talk more about his plan regarding student experience: “The Case competitions are really important for the overall student experience. Having worked for 23 years at John Molson School of Business (JMSB), the case competition was a big part of the student experience and I’m a big fan.” He added on the subject by describing the ‘win-win' value he sees in the case competition: “It gives a chance to the students to perform when ‘put on hot fire.’ The Faculty also benefits from the visibility by participating, but also by hosting. The Telfer community can also benefit by being involved as judges or sponsors. It’s a good way to involve everybody,” he explained.
Questions from Telfer Nation Students
Within the last third of the event, Dean Brutus had the chance to answer the questions received through the registration form and some additional ones asked directly in the session chat.
Many subjects were brought up by the participating students, including global recognition of our School, online teaching, the presence of equity, diversity and inclusion in the vision of the Dean, as well as the future of research opportunities for students at the School.
Dean Brutus showed quickly that he is open to listening to any feedback, suggestions and comments from the student population: “The Dean seemed very motivated and excited to join Telfer,” noted Saida Sambour, a third-year BCom Marketing student. “His answers were always well thought out, and it sounds like he has done his research on the School! Hearing about his experiences at JMSB and his skills, the Dean seemed more than ready to take on his role at Telfer. During the conversation, he had no trouble answering questions. Some were more difficult than others, but he always found a way to answer honestly and conscientiously,” she concluded.
We look forward to the next years with Dean Brutus, and his development of our Vision for a Better Canada.
You can still watch the recorded “Fireside conversation with the Dean” session, in case you missed it. (MS Stream links are available to the uOttawa community only)
As part of the University of Ottawa, the Telfer School of Management prides itself in offering bilingual opportunities in countless ways within the world’s largest English and French university. Nine out of the eleven Bachelor of Commerce programs are offered in the French language, which means a student proficient in English and French can choose to study in English and in French, or in one of these two languages.
Other opportunities and incentives are offered for students to sharpen their skills in a second language. For English speakers who want to work on their French skills but still take most classes in English can take advantage of the French Immersion Stream. This stream allows students to take some of their regular content courses in French, while having the chance to benefit from a $1,000 scholarship for each year they participate in this stream if they fit the eligibility criteria. In their first two years, students have the option to take accompanying language courses to build a strong base in French. In their third and fourth years, students move on to more advanced classes related to oral and written communication.
This Francophonie Month, Telfer is highlighting four clubs and committees who value the inclusion of the French language and Francophone culture in the Telfer community.
Telfer Competitions Committee
Each year, Telfer undergraduate students compete at several case competitions where French speakers can speak in their mother tongue, including Jeux du commerce (JDC), Happening Marketing (HM), HR Symposium, and Omnium Financier (OF). The Telfer Competitions Committee (TCCT) recruits and organizes the teams from Telfer who will represent the School at these competitions. “The Telfer Competitions Committee allows students the possibility to use what they learned in class in a real-life consulting situation,” mentions TCCT President, Elias Azzi. TCCT participants can develop their analytical, problem solving, and communication skills in both French and English by solving real-world business problems in a case crack.
JDC is a large student competition offered to Canadians in their undergraduate studies located in Eastern Canada, usually attracting 1,300 participants from 13 different schools each year. The competition is predominantly conducted in French, although academic case cracks can be presented in each of the student groups’ language of choice. On the other hand, Happening Marketing is the largest marketing inter-university competition in Eastern Canada with 10 competing ten universities. HM consists of 6 academic cases, 1 quiz and 3 components: social, participation and sports. Lastly, Omnium Financier is the largest academic competition in finance and accounting in Eastern Canada. The event aims to promote careers in both fields, regroup students from different universities, and allow them to network with industry experts.
These competitions, overseen by Regroupement étudiant des facultés d’administration de l’Est du Canada (RÉFAEC), are fully bilingual, but mostly conducted in French due to the demographic of competing universities. “A proper operating proficiency in French allows students to better interact with sponsors and delegates from other universities”, states Elias. He also enjoys these competitions because of the opportunity to expand his network: “As a bilingual student, it's nice to participate in an event where French takes precedence. It's also nice to meet new people and to network in the language of your choice.”
Francophone club members largely contribute to the advancement of the Telfer Competitions Committee. “French executives bring so much to the table,”believes Elias. Some case competitions are hosted in French in different regions of Canada and Quebec. Therefore, the team must have representatives who can communicate with other committees in French. “We truly need a bilingual executive team to properly judge and serve every student on an even playing field,” says Elias. The French language also holds importance in the recruitment process for the competitions.
As a former student of the French Catholic School Board (CECCE), Elias chose to study mostly in French at Telfer. “It was close to home, but more importantly it was completely bilingual,” shares Elias. In 2020, he became president of the Telfer Competitions Committee and is proud to be a part of it: “TCCT is what I would think is the most bilingual club/committee Telfer has to offer as most of our competitions are held in Quebec. TCCT is fully inclusive and attracts unilingual and bilingual students to be part of its competitions and executive committee.”
Place à la jeunesse
Jeux du commerce also founded the Place à la jeunesse (PALJ) initiative in 2004. The francophone event consists of a university-level case competition only offered to Franco-Ontarian high school students. PALJ not only promotes the French language, but it allows students to get familiar with the business world and get the chance to win scholarships to study at the University of Ottawa. “We also believe that it is important to have the opportunity to study in one's mother tongue in post-secondary education,” mentions Émilie Desrosiers, faculty coordinator of Place à la jeunesse. The competition is the perfect opportunity to meet new people: “You can also make good connections and sharpen your networking skills with members of other schools, students from uOttawa, and our guest judges.”
The competition starts with a preliminary round in which over 90 Franco-Ontarian high school students resolve cases in 3 academic subjects: marketing, entrepreneurship and accounting. The principal committee then chooses 24 teams, 8 per academic subject, to go on to the final round. Similarly to JDC, the teams in each of the three academic categories receive the same case to crack. Despite the event being held entirely in French, teams can present in the language of their choice. A panel of academics and business experts evaluates each team’s work to determine a winner.
Place à la jeunesse is one of the few clubs on campus where French is predominant on the organizing committee. President of Place à la jeunesse, Catherine Gringas, shared her experience and motivations for being part of the club: “It makes me really proud to say that every year, our chosen organizing committee is comprised of students who study in French, appreciate the language, and believe in the importance of post-secondary education in French.” Catherine has been involved with PALJ since 2019 and became president in 2021. “I started to get involved with Place à la jeunesse as a volunteer in 2019 and I loved the concept of the competition, the club's mandate, and the people who were a part of it.”
Despite the challenge of an inevitably virtual setting this year, it was important to the group to make sure PALJ still happened so students could have the opportunity to surpass themselves. “We are all very proud to host this competition year after year even if we have to adjust it,” mentions Émilie. Place à la Jeunesse will hold two competitions this year, in April and November, and begin recruitment for their committee in the summer. “We are always looking for passionate people who have at heart education, entrepreneurship, and French, to help us organize the event,” shared Catherine.
CASCO Charity Organization
Every year, Telfer’s student-run charity organization CASCO raises money for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and highlights students and their talents at the annual Gala show. The event includes different forms of art such as dance, music and fashion. CASCO brings together students, the business community and Ottawa locals for the common cause of raising funds to support CHEO. Just last year, the organization was able to raise over $53,000 for the Recreational Therapy program at CHEO.
The CASCO team recruits members on social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook. Within their team, the organization encourages members to speak the language of their choice: “This will hopefully make our French members feel more at ease while asking questions and know that they can express themselves in the language that they are most comfortable with,” mentions Danika Dumoulin, VP Development at CASCO. The team also reaches their French audience through Q&As on Instagram, in which the questions are answered in English and in French so any student can feel comfortable to participate.
Students involved in the CASCO Charity Organization can expect to “build interpersonal skills by working as a team and collaborating with others.” In fact, the club works together for the common objective of helping those in need. “CASCO also teaches students the importance of helping others and demonstrating that anyone can make a difference if they put their mind to it,” says Danika. As a Francophone VP and student, Danika joined CASCO and had the objective of making it a bilingual club: “When I joined CASCO and met all of these other people studying in business, I felt as if the French program was in a bubble.”
Students who join CASCO have an opportunity to meet people outside of their program and make connections that can last a lifetime. Danika shared her advice for future students interested in joining the club: “I definitely encourage French students to join CASCO, it's a great way to meet new people that study in the same field as you. The French program does not include all the students at Telfer, and I think that's very important to remember! I could not imagine a better way to remember my university experience. Not only was I introduced to some of my best friends, but they gave me a second family that I could rely on.”
Telfer Student Council
The Telfer Student Council (CéTSC) represents over 4,000 undergraduate students enrolled in Telfer’s Bachelor of Commerce. The team, comprised of around 25 representatives from different backgrounds, organizes annual events dedicated to the Telfer community and helps other Telfer clubs to fund and run their various events. They welcome each new round of first year BCom students to the school, organize a celebration for each graduating class, and hold an event recognizing the countless achievements of the Telfer Clubs community.
The CéTSC team values both the francophone and anglophone communities, but they are working to establish more French-focused initiatives in the club: “We have the responsibility to ensure that our communications material and services are offered in both official languages,” shared Nick Gratton, VP Marketing at CéTSC. Nick also added that he hopes to see more francophones get involved with CéTSC in the future: “Students who are seeking to build on francophone culture and francophone pride at Telfer should undoubtedly get involved with CéTSC. If you are passionate about something, whether its general change or a specific topic or cause, join CéTSC and/or get involved with Telfer Clubs. It's truly the best way to shape student culture and the student experience at Telfer.”
Each year, students can apply to be a part of the annual election, then Telfer students vote for the individuals they wish to see take on each role in CéTSC after the campaigning has concluded. Some roles on the team do require bilingualism as VP Marketing and VP Academic both require the completion of a language competency evaluation to ensure French and English proficiency, so that they can make sure to communicate to the student body in both official languages.
A number of Telfer clubs make sure to give Francophone students the opportunity to get involved in academic, professional, and social activities. The diversity brought by students fluent in French allows the clubs to compete at competitions on a larger scale, host events in French, network in English and in French, and recruit students who grew up with French as their first language. We look forward to continuing to see French-centric initiatives and opportunities for Francophone students to get involved in the student experience at Telfer.
Congratulations to Telfer PhD graduate Vusal Babashov on the successful completion of his PhD in Management. He defended his thesis on practical problems in healthcare analytics just a few weeks ago.
First of many PhD graduates
The thesis defense was conducted on January 18th as Vusal presented a quick overview of his thesis followed by two rounds of questioning by the examiners. Satisfied with his answers, they unanimously agreed that he had successfully defended his thesis. He will be the first student to have officially completed his doctoral degree at the Telfer School of Management.
Vusal began his health systems research in 2016 when the Telfer PhD in Management was first created. Upon reflection of his time at Telfer, Vusal shared: “It has been an incredible four years of PhD that was challenging and somewhat stressful at times. It's a long, but unique experience you draw upon not only to become a domain expert in your area of research, but also to become a better person who is self-motivated and who develops problem-solving and leadership skills. There is certainly a lot to learn from this experience. I'm deeply grateful to everyone including my supervisors for the support and guidance along this journey. I'm glad that I've been able to reach the finish line in this marathon, and I wish the best of luck to other doctoral candidates.”
The Finish Line
Vusal worked closely with his supervisors, Dr. Jonathan Patrick, Telfer Full Professor and Vice-Dean of the Faculty, and Assistant Professor Dr. Antoine Sauré, throughout his thesis journey. Dr. Patrick, shared his thoughts about his collaboration with Vusal: “It was a source of great satisfaction to watch Vusal defend his thesis. The development of a thesis worthy of defense is a long, hard process. Every research endeavour has its roadblocks - promising avenues that go nowhere, puzzling components that take months to figure out - and I know that there were many times along the way where Vusal was tempted to call it quits. It is a testament to his character that he persevered and is now able to reap the benefits of that determination. So congratulations Vusal on becoming the first graduate of Telfer's PhD program!”
Dr. Sauré described his pride for Vusal’s accomplishment: “Vusal’s experience, dedication, and determination to master new concepts, and desire to make a positive difference with his work will make him an excellent professional in his chosen career path. I expect him to continue contributing to our field in many different and valuable ways.”
Vusal has until February 18th to complete the revisions he received at the thesis presentation, which will then be approved by his supervisors before official submission to the University of Ottawa’s Library.
Monday, January 18th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (EST)
Vusal is the first of many PhD students that will be completing their doctoral studies starting this year at Telfer. We are extremely proud of all of our PhD candidates, and look forward to their continued success.
Stay tuned for more to come on this amazing milestone. Congratulations to all faculty, staff, and students who helped Vusal throughout his candidacy and made this journey possible.
By Dorra Jlouli, Ing, Agr, MBA
Part-Time Professor at the Telfer School of Management, uOttawa
Telfer School of management MBA’s students in the course Leadership & Management - MBA5636 – felt proud this semester about experiencing an interactive online simulation to acquire leadership skills preparing them to successfully lead change management process in their organisation!
« We are very proud to have been part of the first group in North America to complete Wallbreakers Leadership online simulation.! » said Vickie L. , Mireille N., Cherlande R and Charlotte K., candidates to MBA 2022, Telfer School of management. I warmly thank the University of Ottawa and Professor Dorra Jlouli for providing us with this rich experience as part of our MBA journey", added Mireille N.
Who had not faced challenges while managing one’s team resistance caused by a major process of organisation’s change ? Our recent context of COVID-19 is the best shared example.
Innovate in our way of teaching
The recent move to the online training in our Ottawa University was itself a significant change that had a major impact on the teaching methods we have been using. That said, this context was also a great opportunity forcing us to lead with innovative ways of teaching. The Funding Program for Pedagogical Innovation of Telfer School of Management supported our initiatives to innovate in our way of teaching. My certification for using and facilitating a workshop with Wallbreakers leadership simulation was supported by this innovation Fund. It’s an excellent example proving the efficiency of learning by action where the students enjoy the game while learning leadership skills.
"And honestly, I would r'ank this method at the top of the list for learning change management and leadership in general! ”, said Arlette G.
How does it work?
Prior to the two day simulation workshop, the students learnt the different theory related to leadership and change management that they need to practice during the simulation. We went especially through the Gauleman leadership styles, disc® 8 dimensions of leadership , Ungian-Inspired Personality Types, Rick Maurer approach to change management, Jand ohn Kotter’s Eight Accelerators.
During the workshop, the students are divided into 4 teams where every team represents the manager of one of the major four departments of the company who have to lead the change and overcome the resistance of their 10 employee who have recently heard about a fusion between their company and an unknown one. The buses, the game’s metaphor for the department, are presented with different colours (green, red, yellow and violet).
The students are competing and every team see simultaneously the way the other teams are managing their change process. What you see inside the buses are not pieces of Lego game, but the employee. The students have to move forward the buses from the first phase of the change process (The Start-up phase) to the last one (the anchoring one). They are challenged to keep as many employees as inside the bus during the hole process of change. That’s a continued challenge as the “virtual employee” resist all along the three phases of the change process.
The students have to manage both the gear they decide to use to move the buses forward (the speed of managing the change) and to take the suitable leadership action to manage their employee’s resistance. They immediately see the effect of their decision in terms of employee resistance as shown below.The only way to overcome their employee resistance is to choose the suitable leadership decision to bring their employee back to the bus “their department”.
“Through a practical case on managing a merger of two companies, I had fun using the Wallbreakers tool. This allowed our team to have real-time feedback from employees on our various decisions and to regularly adjust our actions in order to get everyone on board ” Said Pierre C.H.
The debriefing session following the simulation is as important, if not even more important than the simulation itself, as the students synthetize on their experience, share their lessons learned, realize and understand the consequences of their leadership decisions and comment on their own leadership style and how it affects the team dynamic. They make the connection between the theory and their active learning experience.
How does it benefit MBA students?
“The Wallbreakers simulation allowed us to exercise our different styles of leadership and to understand that the situational leadership was the one that best suited team mobilization and goal achievement. “ Said Charlotte K., candidate to MBA 2022.
For MBA Students, who have already an experience in management, the active learning methods such using simulations is suitable. Indeed, it offers them a similar environment of a real professional situation they might had experienced. This stimulates their learning capacity by helping them to make some connections with their own experience. They learn from their mistakes and capitalise on their success.
"The Wallbreakers experience allowed me to put the theoretical concepts I learned in the course into action immediately. We had the opportunity to have several important team discussions on change management and leadership that will be useful throughout my career path.", said Justin Thibault, candidate to MBA 2022.
“Wallbreaker simulation give us the opportunity to practice the concepts learned in class. We really experienced it as a real business situation, sometimes forgetting that it was just a simulation, so heated were the debates to reach a consensual decision within the group!”, said Arlette G.
To learn more about Wallbreakers simulation, the recording of one of the debriefing sessions following the simulation of the course MBA5636 is available here.
Telfer School of Management MBA alumni, Soumi Sarkar, Anjaney Agashe, and Arun Subramanian performed excellently at the 8th annual Schlesinger Global Family Enterprise Case Competition (SG-FECC), placing second on the podium in the Graduate Studies category. SG-FECC is a case competition hosted by the University of Vermont, in order to prepare participants for unique and troublesome issues related to Family Enterprise. Participants are expected to solve complex cases as well as present their solutions over the course of four rounds of competition. The competition was exceptionally held online this year.
According to the team’s coach and Telfer Full Professor of Family Business and Entrepreneurship, Peter Jaskiewicz, despite Telfer’s first time competing in the SG-FECC, they were held in very high regards by the organizers of the event, stating that “our team rocked although we lacked the experience of prior SG-FECC competitions and the track record of a long-standing family business curriculum at Telfer.”
Moreover, business owners and consultants who worked as judges at SG-FECC, highlighted on many occasions how well the Telfer former students performed, which Professor Jaskiewicz believes is a good indication that the MBA program is performing well.
“It has been very rewarding for me to coach them because they are smart, hard-working, and fun”, stated Jaskiewicz. “I enjoyed seeing them excel at analyzing complex family business problems and offering intriguing solutions to address these problems.”
“Moreover, they have shown a great team spirit from the time they took my class ‘Advising Family Business’ to their final presentation at the case competition: they always worked smoothly as a team, behaved very professionally, supported each other, and had lots of fun along the way. Well done & chapeau!”, added Professor Jaskiewicz.
See the full recording of the award ceremony here.
For more information on the Schlesinger Global Family Enterprise Case Competition click here.
Represented by 60 students from its BCom program, Telfer obtained outstanding results during the 33rd edition of Jeux Du Commerce (JDC), which took place earlier this month.
This multidisciplinary annual competition involving over a thousand students from 13 universities is the biggest inter-university competition of its kind in Eastern Canada.
The team excitedly competed online and shared their exciting results throughout the weekend across social media. Congratulations to each team for their remarkable work!
VIP Cards
VIP card holders are students who have distinguished themselves throughout the weekend:
Catherine Gingras
Alex Dalcourt
Ayaan Virani
Rosemary Ashlie
Charles Doray
Aman Sidhu
Marie-Madeleine Kabupu
Emily Chiazza
Emma Rankin
Competition results
Human Resources Management
First place: Emily Chiazza, Marie Madeleine Kabupu and Robyn Moke
Debate
First place: Ayaan Virani, Justin Abraham, Alex Dalcourt and Martina On
OPS (Operations Management)
Second place: Aadi Koundal, Vicky Laliberté and Emma Rankin
Entrepreneurship
Second place: Aman Sidhu, Kristelle Rivard and Daniela Diaz
Men’s formula 1 racing
Second place: Rajeev Chansingh and Abderrahmane El Bakkali
Marketing
Third place: Liz Tran, Charles Doray and Nicole Sauvé
Interactive
Third Place: Jean-Simon Lavoie-Albert, Clarissa Tremblay-Filion and Catherine Gingras
Accounting
Third place: Haya Alshaer, Ali Hassan and Rosemary Ashlie
The Telfer School of Management team also came in second place for the Academic Cup and first place for Best Improvement. Our Telfer Nation students have a lot to be proud of this year after representing their school with a presence on 10 podiums!
Looking for a fresh perspective on a new or special business project or simply interested in working with highly motivated and qualified MBA students? The Telfer School is seeking organizations to engage our MBA talent in hands-on business challenges.
Telfer's MBA students are equipped with an average of 6-7 years of full-time work experience. This ensures a quality base of theory and technical skills that our students can utilize for success in an internship. All of our MBA students are supervised by a faculty member, and they have access to cutting-edge data to resolve even the most complex of problems that your organization may encounter.
There is no doubt that the experience will be valuable for both your organization and our students. The MBA Internship Program provides businesses with the chance to find qualified individuals and evaluate potential fit within your workplace without going through the traditional lengthy hiring process.
The MBA Internship Program Experience
In previous years, our business partners who have hired MBA students on their team have been pleased with what they were able to gain.
“The MBA internship program helped successfully fulfill a niche project role in our Finance department. Ultimately, we hired our intern into a full-time role, which speaks volumes on the quality of the program and the students” - Paul Richards, Director of Business Development and Commercial at The Ottawa Hospital.
"Happy Goat Coffee Company is a big fan of Telfer's "MBA Consulting Project"! The project helps us to find answers to questions and solutions to problems that we usually don't have the time or staff - or both - to deal with. The high qualification of the participants and the quality of the results of the projects carried out so far is self-evident. Happy Goat Coffee Company can do nothing but highly recommend this project!" - Dr. Hans-Juergen Langenbahn, Head Roaster at Happy Goat Coffee Company.
"I would like to offer my entire support for the internship program offered by the Telfer School. It is a tremendous opportunity for students to obtain knowledge of a more practical nature that will assist in their job search. The organization itself also benefits, not only from a mentorship perspective, but also in acquiring additional expert advice and counsel." - Elizabeth Kingston, President of the Canadian International Council, National Capital Branch.
Here’s how you can benefit from our program:
What constitutes an acceptable internship?
A challenging project that provides meaningful results for you. For example, current internships include market development, process improvement, and strategy process review.
How many hours can interns work?
There are two delivery options: part-time or full-time internships. The part-time internship represents 15 to 20 hours per week for a period of 6 months, starting in January. The full-time internship consists of 40 hours per week of work from September to December. The exact number of hours depends on whether the internship is sponsored by Mitacs* or OCE** or if the internship is directly funded by the organization.
What will it cost my organization?
The average hourly salary paid to the MBA intern ranges from $20 to $25 per hour. The total salary paid depends on whether the internship is supported by Mitacs or OCE or if it is paid directly by your organization. It is possible to offer an unpaid internship opportunity, but offering a salary increases your chances of a student ultimately selecting your organization for their internship.
What do I have to provide to the intern?
A motivating and challenging project.
Organizational and technical orientation as required.
Time to discuss issues with the student, and to provide feedback on progress reports.
Find the Right Telfer MBA Intern For Your Organization
Contact the Telfer Academic Success and Student Experience Team:
Telfer MBA Internship Program
Phone: (613) 562-5884
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Visit the MBA Internship Program page on our website.
* Mitacs is a not-for-profit organization that provides matching funding to companies that hire full-time student interns.
** The Ontario Centres of Excellence Talent Edge program provides matching funding for companies who hire graduate students.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Executive Mentorship Program at the Telfer School, a program connecting our alumni and senior undergraduate students.
Third and fourth-year Bachelor of Commerce students have the opportunity to hear advice from industry executives and entrepreneurs in the program meetings, and gain a mentor during their studies. Students establish a relationship with a professional who provides informal guidance, networking opportunities, and shared ideas. It provides students a chance to learn on a one-on-one basis from a professional, who has also attended the Telfer School before launching their career.
For the mentors, the Executive Mentorship Program is a wonderful opportunity to meet students interested in their field of work, have a great conversation with the next generation of business professionals, and also learn about the exciting events and opportunities happening year-round at Telfer.
After applications came in this summer, 38 students are participating in the program during the 10th anniversary year. On October 1st, the 2020-2021 group gathered together online on Zoom, allowing each of them to see as many faces on the screen as possible during social distancing measures. One of the alumni mentors, Mark Farrell, shared what he is looking forward to this year after five years of participating in the program. He feels it is a “breath of fresh air” hearing from the newest generation of business students.
To learn more about the program and application deadlines for next year, reach out to Isabelle Décarie, the Student Experience Manager at the Telfer undergraduate office.
It is with great sadness that the family of Professor William (Bill) Rentz announces his recent passing.
Esteemed professor and member of the Telfer family since July 1st, 1975, Bill has influenced 3 different generations of young minds mainly through Financial & Portfolio Management classes and acted as Coordinator for the Accounting and Finance section at the School. Over the years, he has welcomed and helped numerous finance faculty members as they joined Telfer, and he was considered a mentor to his students.
"Bill contributed so much to the University and especially to the Accounting and Finance section. He sat on the University’s pension committee for many years and we enjoyed the benefits of his expertise. He would always ask the tough questions at committee level or School Council. He had a wonderful sense of humour that will be sadly missed. When I arrived at Telfer, Bill was always there with a smile to give me advice whether I wanted it or not. His door was always open if you just wanted to shoot the breeze or discuss a more pressing topic. Office 7106 will seem very empty in the months to come. The Telfer community has lost a beloved colleague whose compassionate and endearing manner will be greatly missed."
- Professor Philip McIlkenny
"Bill was a respectful and supportive colleague, always ready to provide his time, input, and ideas. His research insights and teaching expertise provided many of us with novel ways to approach our own work. While Bill would not always agree with you, he would always listen, and end the conversation on a positive note. We will dearly miss his counsel and advice."
- Professor Samir Saadi
"Sharing the 7th-floor hallway with Bill encouraged many late-afternoon chats. His door was always open to seek his opinion, trade news on research and teaching, debate politics, and to learn about his vibrant love of family. Bill's students raved about his classes; the long lines outside his door were a testament to his rapport with them. Working with Bill on the School Council and the APUO offered us the opportunity to observe his enviable skill for saying little and much at the same time. Bill was a kind and dear colleague, who understood and fostered community and collegiality. We were blessed to have known him."
- Professor Cheryl S. McWatters
Bill will be missed by all of us. Given the current public health measures, his family has announced that there will be no public funeral. A private ceremony with close relatives will be held in his memory.
Any additional details about the condolences will be communicated in time.
On June 24th, Telfer's Annual Excellence Recognition Assembly was held. Hosted by Dean François Julien, this annual summer meeting is an opportunity to highlight the efforts and exceptional work of the professors and administrative staff with awards assigned through votes by their peers.
Telfer Awards
Awarded to administrative staff and faculty members who have distinguished themselves through excellence in service and dedication to their work, the 2020 Telfer Awards winners are (from left to right in the top image):
Administrative staff:
Alexandre Bélanger
Geneviève Séguin
Tina Albert
Faculty members:
Daina Mazutis
Jonathan Patrick
Mirou Jaana
Muriel Mignerat
Patricia Ann O’Rourke Award for Excellence in Service
Created in 2014, it honours Patricia Ann O’Rourke, an individual who, over the course of her remarkable career, provided exceptional service to one and all, for the greater benefit of the Telfer School and its stakeholders. She personified “service excellence” and was an inspiration to all of her colleagues, faculty and support staff alike. Patricia retired the same year after 32 years of service.
This annual award will recognize those employees (either faculty or administrative staff) who demonstrate a strong desire and ability to help others, and in so doing, advance the interests of the School and contribute to the development of a culture of service excellence.
This year the Patricia Ann O’Rourke Award winners are:
Abdul Kane (picture not available)
Dean François Julien, as a recognition of his legacy as outgoing Dean
After two mandates and ten years as the Dean of the Telfer School of Management, François Julien is stepping down on June 30th, 2020. In his time as Dean, he oversaw the creation of the PHD in Management Program, the expansion of our research capabilities, the development and expansion of the Financial Research and Learning Laboratory, the growth of the Centre for Executive Leadership, including the move to larger and more modern facilities in the Ottawa downtown core, the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the School, and he hired a new generation of diverse faculty and staff to lead the School into the future. He also leaves the School with a lasting legacy for a vision of a Better Canada. A vision for the School to work towards making Canada a greener, happier, healthier, and wealthier place for all.
Current Vice-Dean Research Wojtek Michalowski will take over the role of Interim Dean on July 1st, 2020. Wojtek is a Full Professor of Health Informatics and he has spent over 20 years at the School. He will serve in the interim dean capacity until June 30th, 2021, or until such time as a new Dean of the Telfer School is installed. During Wojtek’s tenure as Vice-Dean Research, he has been a strong advocate for research excellence, led the creation of the School’s four Areas of Strategic Impact, the expansion of the SMRG funding program (Telfer Funding) for research support, and oversaw increasing success rates for tri-council competition grants.
A search committee chaired by President Jacques Frémont has been formed and the anticipated date for having the next Dean of the Telfer School of Management in place is on or before July 1st, 2021.
The pressure of going back to school and managing your time for a new year and semester after the holidays can feel overwhelming. It is important to take the time to ensure that you’re staying healthy and organized to avoid major stress and exhaustion.
Here are some management tips for success this semester:
1. Take care of yourself: Self-care is more than a weekly face mask! Taking care of your mental and physical health is key to success in every facet of your life:
Sleep: You’ve probably heard it a hundred times, but the importance of sleep cannot be stressed enough. Get at least 7 hours per night to have a well-functioning brain by the morning. Read the benefits of a good night’s rest in this Medical News Today article.
Hydrate: When you’re thirsty, drink water. When you’re bored, drink water. When you’re tired, drink water. There is never a bad time to drink water! Try to always have a reusable water bottle with you, which you can refill at our many water stations across campus.
Mental health: Be sure to prioritize your mental health, because a healthy mind makes a healthy you. The University of Ottawa offers a variety of mental health counselling services including therapy, workshops, and group sessions. Check the uOttawa Mental Health and Wellness website to keep up with their schedule of free events such as yoga, reiki, and pet therapy.
Exercise: You already know this, but exercise is essential for a healthy body and mind. Here’s a list of super easy ways to stay active throughout the busy semester, like taking the stairs over elevators.
Eat well: The key to a nutritious diet is variety. Be sure to have a ton of colours on your plate from vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and proteins. Get more information on eating well and tips for a balanced diet from the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
2.Get organized: Organization is more than colour-coding your accounting notes. There are simple tasks and tools to keep you on track for success.
Set goals: Set short and long-term goals for your personal and professional development. Take it a step further by writing down and tracking the little steps that will lead you to achieve your bigger goals.
Use a planner: Whether it’s a hand-held agenda or a digital calendar, it can be super helpful to have a visual representation of your upcoming deadlines, meetings, and events. Check out this list of some of the top calendar apps for 2020.
Prioritize and reprioritize: Now that you have your scheduled planned, you can figure out what are the most important things to work on every day. Even after you’ve decided these priorities, situations might change and you might need to reprioritize - that’s okay! The ability to be flexible enough to adapt your to-do list when needed is a great skill that you will use throughout your career.
3. Meet with an Academic Specialist: As a Telfer student, you have access to professionals who specialize in helping you plan your BCom degree and career path afterwards.
Changing your course sequence: Don’t worry if you need to make changes to your course sequence. Whether you want to ensure you have all the credits to graduate on time or faster, change your specialization, or go on international exchange, our Academic Specialists can help you to plan all your semesters so that you take the right courses at the right time.
Sign up for a meeting: Set up a chat with a Telfer Academic Specialist at the Student Services Centre to discuss your academic progress. Visit the offices at DMS1100, give them a call at (613) 562-5805, or send them an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Whether you want to adopt a new lifestyle or simply implement baby steps towards change, we wish you all the best with your growth and learning in 2020!
Over the last few weeks, the Bachelor of Commerce 4th-year students completed their respective capstone courses. As a team, students must conduct a live case study on a specific issue related to a real company. The finalists of each discipline must then present their work in front of a panel of professionals and classmates.
Intopia From November 8 to 10, 4th-year students participated in the Intopia Strategy Simulation, as part of their Strategic Management class. The aim of the simulation is for students to apply strategic management concepts in an online-simulated world, where they are required to make quick decisions in a determined period and negotiate with their peers in order to grow their business over the weekend.
Congratulations to the members of the winning team: Katya Berezovskaia, Robert Mackenzie Duncan, Patrick Kaminski, Tsoi Yuen Lau and Evan Naylor
Michel Cloutier Marketing Competition On December 3, the Telfer School of Management hosted the Michel Cloutier Marketing Competition, a live case competition, where fourth-year marketing students are required to present a marketing plan which aims to solve a real-life issue. This year's cohort created marketing strategies for the University of Ottawa's Alumni Engagement team.
Congratulations to the winning team: Jia Zi Chen, Jiana Bandojo, Kyenshak Zakka, Will Vincent, Michael Vice and Fiona Ing.
Finance Capstone All finance students must take the Equity Valuation course in which they undertake a case analysis to estimate the value of a real company and elaborate an action plan to enhance the company’s economic performance. On December 4, finalists presented their results in front of a panel while other students created posters explaining the company’s financial value. This semester's teams analyzed a case on Canopy Growth.
Congratulations to the winning team of the case competition: Tsoi (Jack) Lau and Mackenzie Duncan.
Congratulations to the winning team of the poster competition: Rushika Khatkar, Nourhan Mohamed and Pierre-Andre Smith.
Accounting Capstones On December 4and November 25, the finalists of the accounting competition presented their analysis of a company and report on related accounting issues.
Congratulations to the winning team of the English accounting section: Robin Cheung, Adib Hossain, Kushalsingh Romooah, Ziyad Zeidan, Yasr Said and Leah Salzman.
Congratulations to the winning team of the French accounting section: Laurence Vaillancourt, Alexandre Plouffe, Tina Samaha and Myriam Joanisse.
Job shadowing is cool, but in honour of Telfer’s 50th birthday, we thought it would be more fun to try a “reverse job shadow”.
Earlier in 2019, Telfer accounting alumna of 1980, Marlene Patrick spent a day with current finance student, Nourhan Mohamed. Throughout the day, they learned just how dramatically the school has changed in the 43 years since Marlene attended the university!
When Marlene walked through the doors of the Desmarais building, she immediately loved the bright sunlight shining through the large lobby windows. This was a pleasant surprise given the historical building on Wilbrod Street that used to be home to the Faculty of Commerce.
The ladies started their day by attending Nourhan’s Operations Management lecture. While many of the course names have changed - Operations Management was called Production back in the 1970s - they discovered that the first and second-year courses back then still exist in today’s Telfer curriculum. Marlene also noticed that female students made up over 50% of the class. Her graduating class only had 17 women out of 57 graduates.
Walking through campus after class, Marlene felt nostalgic seeing her old University of Ottawa buildings like Morisset and Montpetit, where Telfer students still have classes today. However, there was nothing nostalgic about exploring the new STEM and CRX buildings that opened in 2018. The bright colours and innovative design gave Marlene a warm welcome, but she was especially in awe of the Richard L’Abbé Makerspace in the STEM building, where students can design, build, or 3D print their creations.
At the end of their day, Marlene shared some of her photos from her time living in uOttawa’s Thompson residence, on campus, and at graduation with Nourhan. What they realized is that despite the immense changes in technology, appearance, and even school name that have happened at Telfer over the last 43 years, one thing certainly has not changed - the kind and innovative community that students contribute to #TelferNation every single day.
The Gee-Gees celebrated the 2018-19 class of Academic All-Canadians on Wednesday, November 20. The annual reception celebrates the student-athletes on varsity, varsity club, and competitive club teams who competed for uOttawa while also achieving an annual GPA of 8.00 or higher, or studying at the graduate level.
In 2018-19, over 220 student-athletes achieved this prestigious recognition. Each one represents a story of commitment, dedication, and passion for athletic and academic success. For Brendan Jacome, a Finance major on the men’s hockey team, it’s a story of hard work and recognizing one’s strengths.
Brendan Jacome is a 24-year old from Caledon, Ont. Now in his fourth year at uOttawa, Brendan is a key player for the Garnet and Grey on the ice and brings his competitive spirit to his course-work as well.
“Roughly half of my classes are math-based and that is one of my strengths. If I don’t get a question I have a desire and a drive to find the right answer, so I’ll sit and I’ll work on it until I get it,” explains Jacome. “I have to make sure I fully understand that before I move on. You don’t treat it as a chore, you treat it as something that’s going to make you better.”
Getting better is a process that happens academically and on the ice. “If you work really hard at something, and you have a goal set out, there’s a good chance that you’ll be able to achieve it. I think that’s a very valuable outlook that can carry over to many situations.”
At Telfer, Brendan enjoys interacting with his classmates while also having his hockey teammates to support him. “I have people in my group from all over the world. It’s cool to see how we do things differently sometimes but at the end of the day, everyone is focused and wanting to do well. I also have some great professors with good real-world experience and they are very engaging.”
“Lots of guys on our teamwork really hard on their school and a lot of my roommates are in finance too. Our coaches also want to make sure that we succeed. If we have to miss something because of a conflict with the school they are understanding.” There are eight members of the men’s hockey team who earned Academic All-Canadian status in 2018-19.
On the ice, Brendan achieved an interesting statistic last season: he did not take a single penalty. Partly in recognition of that, but also as a nod to his overall quality of play (Brendan was fourth on the Gee-Gees in points and third in goals scored and is an excellent penalty kill player), he won the national award for Most Sportsmanlike men’s hockey player.
“My role is to go out and score points, not to agitate guys. I’m more useful for my team on the ice than in the penalty box! But I like to work hard and make sure I play a good game in all facets.”
That ability to be multifaceted has also been recognized on campus. Brendan won the Gee-Gees President’s award for outstanding commitment to academics and community involvement in addition to athletic performance. With an AGPA of 8.38, he is also active in team efforts to help the local hockey community with clinics and is a visible advocate for the Movember, Hockey Gives Blood, Do it for Daron, and Pride activities that the Gee-Gees take part in.
Brendan anticipates completing his studies at uOttawa this spring. Both the hockey world and the world of finance have opportunities awaiting.
“I’d like to go on and play pro hockey next year. More than anything though I just want to help the team win this year. Right now I am taking it one year at a time and I’ll see what happens. I have had some good internships in the last couple of summers with good firms in the commercial real estate field. I left on good terms and have good relationships, so those doors are open for the future for sure.”
On November 9th, 2019, 90 students from francophone high schools across Ontario came to Ottawa to participate in the business case competition, Place à la jeunesse at the Telfer School of Management.
Each year, Place à la jeunesse is organized by Telfer students to introduce high school students to the business world, and prepare them for university. At this year’s 16th competition, 30 teams were selected from 90 schools to test their business case skills. The students competed in one of four categories; marketing, accounting, entrepreneurship, or debate.
The event started the evening before the competition, where Telfer students led workshops on PowerPoint, problem-solving, and presentation skills to coach the high school students who had never been in a business environment before. The next day, the teams received their business cases, created solutions, and presented to the judges. Winners received scholarships to the University of Ottawa from sponsors that added up to $82,500.
Telfer is thrilled to congratulate the winners of each category:
Marketing
1st place: Emma Iusan, Vanessa St-Denis et Julianne Lacelle from ÉSC L’Escale
2nd place: Ashley Edouard, Elyse-Anne Bordeleau et Saïma Altimo from CC Samuel-Genest
3rd place: Kara D’Arcangelo, Chloé Emery et Christian Ricard from ÉSC Thériault
Accounting
1st place: Marika Brunet, Emma Phillips and Annabel Clément from ÉSC L’Escale
2nd place: Mélodie Chartrand, Jade Poirier and Julien Lemieux from ÉSCR de Hawkesbury
3rd place: Alexa Caron, Keenan Roy and Emma Bertrand from ÉSC Thériault
Standout competitor: Marika Brunet
Entrepreneurship
1st place: Lyra Sheldon, Cameron Chevalier and Mathias Lazure from ÉSC. E.J. Lajenesse
2nd place: Alexis Jeaurond, Laurie Boucher and Maxim Sauvé-Rozon from ÉSP Le Sommet
3rd place: Patrick Ibrahim, Simon Willemsma and Cyril Fayek from ÉS Père-René-De-Galinée
Debate
1st place: Lia Charleois, Cassandra Joly and Catherine Vaillant from ÉSCR de Hawkesbury
2nd place: Nathalie Shuh, Sarah Clouston amd Anne-Sophie Autale from ÉSP. Le Sommet
3rd place: Delhia Mainville, Kassandra Marleau and Marie Luciani-Grimaldi from ÉSC de Plantagenet
Best Presenters
Marketing: Kara D’Arcangelo
Accounting: Mélodie Chartrand
Entrepreneurship: Maxim Sauvé-Rozon
Debate: Marie Luciani-Grimaldi
Entrepreneurship is about more than just starting a business. Entrepreneurship is also a mindset and lifestyle. Before the week starts, you don’t have to go far to find the entrepreneurial spirit in our community! Our university is home to many budding innovators. Here is some advice that some student-entrepreneurs want to share with students interested in entrepreneurship:
While completing her degree in Management Information Systems and Analytics (now renamed Business Technology Management) at Telfer, Alina started HireFast, a SaaS company that reads through millions of data points on Github to source top developer talent for recruiters within seconds.
Alina shares, “starting your own business is an exciting process that leaves you tangled in tons of information about the best next step to take for your business. As a result, tons of great entrepreneurs get stuck in the quicksand known as analysis paralysis. The best way to stop yourself from sinking further is to get ‘out of the building’ and talk to your users about your idea and about your competition.
Two years ago, Management and Entrepreneurship student, Logan launched his startup, Point3D Commercial Imaging, a B2B company that creates media experiences to allow audiences to digitally navigate a space as if they were actually there.
Logan adds that “everyone wants to be successful, but only a few are willing to put in the work to make it happen. From my experience, failing is a key part of the process, but more importantly, it is how you learn from failure that determines your success."
Marketing alumnus, Andres started his own digital agency, Noetic Marketer while he was studying Marketing at Telfer. Now he runs his company from Toronto.
Andres shared some meaningful advice: “entrepreneurship is about adding value to people’s lives through a business or an organization. Is your business making people’s life easier, more enjoyable, more affordable, or profitable? You don’t need a ground-breaking idea or a lot of money to achieve this, all you need to do is care, think critically about this question, and continue to push that agenda. So, don’t overcomplicate entrepreneurship, and put your energy into nurturing your mindset and learning new skills. The idea will come to you as you become passionate about starting your business.”
Check out the uOttawa Global Entrepreneurship Week event schedule to register and connect with some of the brightest and most creative people in Ottawa!
The Telfer Impact goes beyond the classroom. There are countless stories of students and alumni who have truly made a difference through their involvement, community engagement, entrepreneurial vision, and hard work. Over the last 6 weeks, we’ve shared some incredible stories of Telfer students developing into the next generation of leaders:
The CASCO Impact
20 years ago, two inspired Telfer students founded the non-profit organization, CASCO. Every year, Telfer students team up to host spectacular events that raise money for families at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). CASCO has donated over $560,000 to the cause ever since.
The Growcer Impact
After visiting communities challenged with food insecurity in Northern Canada, two Telfer BCom alumni, Alida Burke and Corey Ellis created a hydroponic system that grows produce in controlled shipping containers. From there, the business, The Growcer Inc. was born. Today, the company is part of Invest Ottawa’s accelerator program, and its systems are being sold across Canada, empowering communities around the globe to grow their own produce.
The PhD Impact
Telfer PhD candidate, Alex Chung researches the design of wearable technology that influences human behaviour change. As a result of the balanced program, Alex has been able to lead an active and fulfilling life, while impacting the future of wearable technology.
The Unscented Company Impact
BCom alumna, Anie Rouleau is living her dream, running her own eco-sustainable, B Corp certified cleaning product business, The Unscented Company (TUC). Through her innovative business model, Anie has caught the attention of the public with her Dragons’ Den deal to sell TUC products in 500 Canadian Tire stores across Canada.
The MBA Impact
After discovering the world of administration while working at Montfort Hospital, Mélanie Potvin decided to elevate her experience with an MBA in French at Telfer. Now she has the crucial knowledge and confidence in her leadership role as Project Manager for the Orléans Health Hub at the hospital.
These are just a few stories of the meaningful change that Telfer Students are creating. What will be YOUR impact?
The Telfer MBA was a huge catalyst for change in the career of our graduate Mélanie Potvin, who is now project manager of the Orléans Health Hub at Montfort Hospital.
After graduating from the University of Ottawa with a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy, Mélanie began her career in the health care system. Following several years working in clinical services at the Montfort Hospital and in the Ottawa community, she landed a job in the field of occupational health and safety. This position exposed her to the administrative side of the health care system, sparking a desire to learn more about management. That’s when she decided that an MBA was what she needed to boost her career.
During the application process, the Telfer School of Management contacted Mélanie to determine whether she was interested in completing her MBA in French. The opportunity to benefit from scholarships for this program, but especially to use her mother tongue, really appealed to her and she jumped at the opportunity to do her graduate degree in French.
Thanks to her experience in the healthcare system, and Telfer’s MBA and MHA (master’s degree in health administration) courses, Mélanie has learned how to work on the system and its various challenges. Her educational and practical experiences have provided her with the skills needed to manage complex projects.
Beyond project management, Mélanie has also developed her skills in oral presentation, leadership, human resources, and other management disciplines that are important in her new role.
Mélanie can now proudly say she has what it takes to make an impact at work and in her daily life.
Much more than just a company selling soaps and household products, TUC is trying to redefine the very concept of cleanliness by focusing on innovation and eco-design.
For Anie, sustainable development is not only a fundamental value, it is in the DNA of Unscented Co. From research and development, to minimalist, recyclable and plastic-free packaging, to re-filling stations at local retail partners, to the very furniture of its offices made from recycled materials, every decision is guided by this eco-responsible corporate philosophy.
Her innovative re-definition of the consumption model was not an immediate success, but her patience and strong convictions will have finally paid off in a market where until recently, the environment was not considered an issue."It will have taken a video of a turtle with a straw stuck in its nose for people to wake up," she told us during our interview. "Now we are seeing a real willingness on the part of people to change their consumption habits, and business is starting to move," Anie concluded.
On that note, her business is definitely moving. On October 10, 2019, Canadian Tire announced on a CBC episode of Dragons’ Den, that they would bring TUC products into their 500 stores across Canada. Although Anie was already seeing some craze for her products in local markets, a national distributor such as Canadian Tire will allow her to amplify her message, and together, they will have a real opportunity to change the country's consumption habits.
Her story is an inspiration for the business community that proves that when you have strong convictions, you can make your dreams come true. Once again Anie, congratulations, and we are very proud to have a graduate among us who has such a great impact on our world! #TELFERNATION
The Telfer Financial Research and Learning Lab located in the Desmarais building at the University of Ottawa is used as a key tool to educate students about capital markets.
This lab is recognizable with its real-time stock exchange ticker tape, multiple televisions displaying world news, and 11 Bloomberg terminals available for students. The lab is open to all University of Ottawa students daily from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Each Bachelor of Commerce student in the Finance specialization requires the use of Bloomberg technology in capstone and mandatory finance classes as well as in extra-curricular programs, workshops and competitions.
The Bloomberg terminals provide students with the ability to retrieve past historical pricing data, review past financial statements of publicly listed companies, acquire in-depth industry analysis, and track macro-economic trends.
Students are able to enhance their resumes by taking the Bloomberg Market Concepts Certification, an 8-hour self-paced e-learning course that provides a visual introduction to the financial markets. This course covers economics, currencies, fixed income and equities, and retails for $249 USD, but is FREE to all students with a valid University of Ottawa ID.
Also, the Financial Research and Learning Lab is the first of its kind in Canada to be recognized as a Bloomberg Experiential Learning Partner (ELP). This means the lab hosts a number of workshops such as “Financial Literacy”, “Key Functions in Bloomberg”, “FactSet Overview” and an “Introduction to Capital Markets”. This is a four-part series that helps students learn and practice technical skills in finance.
Recently, this lab has become part of the University Affiliation Program (UAP) from the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Institute. They are a global association of investment professionals that offer the CFA designation, the Certificate in Investment Performance Measurement designation, and the Investment Foundation Certificate.
As a result of joining the UAP, 10 new scholarships will be awarded this year to select Telfer students. The Manager of the Financial Research and Learning Lab shared that “the scholarship for the CFA designation will be awarded to students who demonstrate excellent academic standing, who have a passion for finance, and have strong career aspirations for capital markets.” Students who are interested in getting their CFA designation and who would like to receive a scholarship are encouraged to talk with the lab manager if they have any questions or if they demonstrate a strong interest in the tools that the Financial Research and Learning Lab has to offer.
In addition, to the variety of opportunities and scholarships offered with access to the lab, there is also a variety of ongoing workshops available throughout the year, led by industry professionals such as Vice Presidents, Portfolio Managers, and Asset Management professionals from leading institutions.
This lab also enables students to compete in an annual Telfer Simulation Trading Competition. Top competitors of the simulation are invited to compete at the Roman International Trading Competition (RITC) in Toronto, where students compete against schools from around the world. The simulation is effective in providing students with real-life experience in a financial trading environment. Last year, Telfer’s team placed third at the RITC.
Alexander is a PhD candidate at the Telfer School of Management, in the Health Systems specialization. His research interests lie in applying analytics and management information systems methods to health-related issues, more specifically to the area of mobile health technologies.
He holds a Master’s degree in Systems Science with a specialization in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Ottawa, and an undergraduate degree in Biology from Carleton University. His master’s thesis focused on the formal definition, measurement, and simulation of coastal community preparedness for severe environmental events.
Following his Master’s degree, Alex worked as an independent management consultant and researcher while also teaching part-time at the Telfer School of Management. He has had the opportunity to work on topics that include: applying real-options analysis and financial modelling to the solar energy industry in Ontario and modelling how organizations use social media in order for them to anticipate problems that may arise later on. Alex also has an interest in fisheries management and has been involved in several projects with government and private industry on the management of Canadian fisheries and coastal areas.
Alex is a member of the Canadian Association of Management Consultants’ Eastern Ontario Chapter Council where he is responsible for marketing and social media. During his free time, he enjoys travelling, playing volleyball, and riding and restoring his many bicycles.
Alex holds the Lilian and Swee Chua Goh Doctoral Scholarship, the first admission scholarship created by donors for PhD candidates at the Telfer School of Management.
Find out more about the Telfer PhD program.
At the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa, we believe that it is through hands-on learning experiences and community support that we can help our students reach their goals, accelerate their careers and make a positive impact on our collective future.
This is the case for The Growcer Inc. - an Ottawa-based social enterprise co-founded by Corey Ellis and Alida Burke, two Telfer BCom Alumni. The pair came up with the idea for their modular hydroponic growing systems after having visited remote communities who face food insecurity in Northern Canada.
The plug-and-play hydroponic system gives produce everything it needs to grow in a controlled environment, built inside retrofitted shipping containers. These enable northern communities, schools, Indigenous and regional governments, as well as other businesses and non-profit organizations to develop more self-reliant and sustainable local food systems.
Through Telfer opportunities and extra-curricular activities such as the E-Foundry course and Enactus, Corey and Alida were able to travel the world, understand the challenges communities face, and build their business. Enactus is a student-led organization that uses the power of entrepreneurship and business, to help solve social problems. In 2017, the University of Ottawa became one of The Grower's first customers and acquired one of the systems to grow local food that’s now being served in our own cafeteria.
Now, The Growcer has over 15 employees and operates out of Invest Ottawa’s accelerator program at Bayview Yards.
As a leading Canadian Management School focused on creating the world's next generation of leaders and influencing sustainable organization performance through the leadership of our graduates and the impact of our research, we believe it is our duty to stand in solidarity with the global climate strike movement.
The Telfer School of Management is organizing a delegation of staff members and students to participate in the activities planned on the day of the global climate strike happening this Friday, September 27th.
The Telfer delegation will leave the Desmarais building at 10:20 am on Friday, to join the thousands of Canadians who will march in solidarity to demand action on climate change from our world leaders.
Students will not be penalized in any way and are invited to participate in the march. While classes are not cancelled, professors are being asked to make available online, all class material that is to be covered and to push assignment deadlines for any assignment due on September 27. Tests or exams will not be rescheduled and students who wish to join the Telfer Delegation are asked to contact their professor to find out the special arrangements planned for missing the test or exam.
#TELFERNATION is proud to be part of this global movement. Join us tomorrow and take a stand for the future.
Best,
Dean François Julien
SCHEDULE FOR TOMORROW:
Friday, September 27th
10:00 a.m. - Gather in the DMS lobby (Creation of signs for march)
10:20 a.m. - Walk to Tabaret Lawn (University of Ottawa)
10:30 a.m. - Gather at Tabaret Lawn (University of Ottawa)
11:00 a.m. - Gather in Confederation Park
11:30 a.m. - Leave Confederation Park
12:30 p.m. - Arrive at Parliament Hill #ClimateStrike (Approximate time)
Over the past 20 years, CASCO, a Telfer student non-profit organization, has inspired the Ottawa community to give back to the families at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Every year, a hundred students from the Telfer School of Management come together to host events to support and fundraise for CHEO. Through the hard work and dedication of the uOttawa CASCO team, over $500,000 has been raised for CHEO.
The CASCO non-profit organization was founded by two students in the BCom program at the Telfer School of Management in 1998. Their mission was to raise money for their friend who had passed away from Leukemia. Today, a fourth-year BCom student, Michaela McLoughlin, is running CASCO as this year’s president, with the help of 51 students on the executive team. Michaela joined CASCO three years ago when she discovered that the daughter of a family at work was being treated for brain cancer at CHEO. Since CASCO was an initiative that fundraises for CHEO, she decided to join so that she could make a direct impact.
CASCO’s mission for this year is to grow its presence in the Ottawa community. The executive team is working with CHEO to create more events to support the families at CHEO. The non-profit’s main event, the CASCO gala, features students from the Telfer School of Management in an evening of song, dance, and fashion. Telfer students, business professionals, and community members come together to support CHEO and see a year’s work come together on stage.
Find out more about the involvement of Telfer students in the student club CASCO, their impact on CHEO, and their pursuit of making an impact in the Ottawa community:
The Legacy Conference 2019 organized and hosted by a group of University of Ottawa students is Canada's largest entrepreneur conference. On March 29 and 30th, 2019, the Legacy Conference will bring together over 800 entrepreneurially-minded students in Ottawa at the Shaw Centre. In collaboration with high-growth startup companies and top-tier speakers, the Legacy Conference is the only event in Canada dedicated to hosting the nation’s top student entrepreneurs.
Over the course of two days, the conference will feature keynote speeches delivered by entrepreneurs and industry pioneers, expert panel discussions, mentorship sessions, a startup exposition showcasing some of the nation’s hottest startups, and interactive workshops for startups and attendees. Run by a group of student volunteers at the University of Ottawa, 800 + students from 30 campuses across Canada will get a chance to connect throughout the conference. With a fun and welcoming environment, attendees will learn tactical and actionable advice and join an amazing community of hustlers, innovators and doers.
The Telfer School of Management, in partnership with EDC and Deloitte, is proud to announce the university teams participating in the third annual Diversity and Inclusion MBA Case Competition.
On March 1 and 2, eight teams of MBA students from universities across the country will be converging on our nation’s capital to compete in Canada’s only MBA case competition of this type:
Beedie School of Business — Simon Fraser University
DeGroote School of Business — McMaster University
John Molson School of Business — Concordia University
Lazaridis School of Business and Economics — Wilfrid Laurier University
Rotman School of Management — University of Toronto
Rowe School of Business — Dalhousie University
Ted Rogers School of Management — Ryerson University
Telfer School of Management — University of Ottawa
During the competition, the teams will examine emerging issues and propose solutions related to the topics of diversity and inclusion in organizations.
Co-sponsors EDC and Deloitte hope to shed light on the importance and benefits of a diverse, inclusive workforce. “Our research shows that highly inclusive companies achieve superior results and are more innovative, more adaptable and faster-growing than less inclusive ones,” says Kate Morican, partner and national lead for strategic transformation and change services at Deloitte.
“Our broader goal is developing a culture open to diversity of thought, where thinking is shaped by our culture, background, experiences and personalities,” says Justine Hendricks, vice president of working capital solutions at EDC. “Only then can our customers and employees alike can reach their fullest potential.”
Through the competition, participants will gain a better appreciation of the strategic advantages of having a diverse workforce. We wish our students good luck and look forward to seeing everyone on our campus.
Media Inquiries:
Karyne Vienneau
Media Relations Officer
Cell: 613-762-2908 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
On behalf of the Telfer School of Management, I am deeply saddened to announce Professor Emeritus and our former Dean, Gilles Paquet, passed away at age 82 on January 17th, 2019.
Professor Paquet, member of the Order of Canada, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and of the Royal Society of Arts of London, was the Dean of the Faculty of Administration (now Telfer School of Management) from 1981 to 1988. He had a clear vision for the School and understood the importance of strengthening our relationships in the community and the value of research and the impact it can have on the world of business and management.
We will remember Professor Paquet as a one of a kind character who wasn’t afraid to take risks and speak his mind. He was a prolific economist, communicator, researcher and journalist who impacted not only this school but our community on a local and national level. His legacy will be forever linked to the excellence of this school and the University of Ottawa as a whole.
His research here at the Telfer School of Management focused on industrial economics, governance, and public policy and management. Throughout his career he has authored or edited over 60 books and written over 500 reports, scientific papers or chapters in books on issues pertaining to the economic history of Canada, urban and regional studies, industrial organization, public management, knowledge management, and governance.
As we celebrate the life of this incredible academic icon, the Telfer School of Management Staff, Professors, Students, and Alumni join the family in mourning this truly impactful individual.
Please keep the family of Professor Paquet in your thoughts during this difficult time.
Dean François Julien, PhD
Telfer School of Management
We are proud of our #TelferNation student-athletes for their National Championship wins this year. The Gee-Gees Women’s Soccer and Rugby Teams competed in U SPORTS Canada’s annual National Championships.
We are proud to celebrate five of our female Telfer students, four undergraduate and one graduate student, for their remarkable accomplishments on the field:
Katerine Delev, Soccer player in Management
Cooper Lee, Soccer player in Management Information Systems and Analytics
Taylor Donato, Rugby player in Accounting
Katie Geddes, Rugby player in Management Information Systems and Analytics
Paulina Karwowski, Rugby player taking her Graduate Diploma in CPA (not pictured)
On December 5, both teams were honoured in the University Centre building at a celebration for their accomplishments this year. The Associate Vice-President of Student Life, Michel Guilbeault, described the teams as “amazing, fierce leaders” and “magical to watch”.
The rugby team had a fantastic season going undefeated in the regular season to capture their fifth consecutive RSEQ championship banner. The team moved on to play three exciting and hard games at the U SPORTS National Championship, held at Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and captured the Bronze Medal. No team has as many national championship medals over the last 5 years as uOttawa Women’s Rugby.
The soccer team finished the regular season with the best record in the OUA, and they followed that up in the playoffs by winning the OUA title. Come time for the Nationals, held right here at the Gee-Gees Field, the team defeated the Calgary Dinos, the McMaster Marauders in the semis, and then defeated the Trinity Western Spartans (the first seeded team in Canada), to capture the U SPORTS GOLD medal and the Gunn Baldursson Memorial Trophy.
The Gee-Gees Women’s Soccer Team attended the City Council meeting in the morning on December 5, where Mayor Jim Watson officially declared the day University of Ottawa Gee-Gees Women’s Soccer Team Day. The Head Coach of the Soccer team, Steve Johnston, said “it has been so rewarding working alongside them for the last 6 years” and described his team as positive role models on campus who “kick all the time!”. Head Coach Johnston has just been hired a full-time position to spend even more time with the athletes, and help to further move women's sports forward at the University of Ottawa.
We look forward to watching the team in the new year, and we are excited that the University of Ottawa is hosting the 2019 USPORTS Women’s Rugby Championships.
Thank you to all of those who attended the 2018 Gala of Excellence on October 20. With over 330 guests in attendance, we celebrated the achievements and outstanding contributions that our alumni make to the world of business, health-care, the community and their alma mater. It was also a chance for us to celebrate the milestone anniversaries of the graduates of 1968, 1978, 1993 and 2008.
You can find photos from the evening on our Flickr page. Feel free to download and share with your friends!
To help us improve the event, please fill out a quick survey. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Did you graduate in 1969, 1979, 1994 or 2009? We are looking for class champions for Gala of Excellence 2019 that will be held on October 19, 2019. Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you are interested in being a class champion and helping your classmates reconnect after all these years!
The University of Ottawa is part of the Ontario postsecondary system. It became a public university on July 1, 1965 with enactment by the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario (Canada) of the University of Ottawa Act, 1965. Degree programs in business at the University of Ottawa are offered by the Telfer School of Management.
Ontario universities are authorized to offer Undergraduate Programs leading to a bachelor degree, Graduate Programs leading to master's and doctorate degrees, Continuing Education programs and certificates, including distance and part-time programs. Degree programs must be approved and are periodically appraised by the Ministry of Education. The Ministry does not impose specific admissions criteria: universities themselves have specific requirements for admission. The province funds universities and dictates conditions for tuition fees and increases.
The University of Ottawa is a member of the Council of Ontario Universities (COU), an association of all authorized academic institutions in the Province of Ontario. It also belongs to the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), which is usually considered in Canada as the equivalent of an accrediting body.
The University of Ottawa is a bilingual institution offering programs in English and in French. The Telfer School of Management adheres to the university’s linguistic mission: students can complete their Honors Bachelor’s of Commerce in English or in French, and can take courses in either language. The School also offers its MBA program in both official languages. The EMBA, MHA and M.Sc. programs are offered in English. Student services are offered in both languages and active knowledge of either French or English, with passive knowledge of the second official language is a tenure condition for faculty members. While the bilingual nature of the School provides a rich cultural environment for students, it does impose additional constraints compared to other competing business schools.
THE TELFER SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
Our Purpose
To develop influential leaders and create relevant management knowledge that transform lives, organizations and communities.
Our Vision
The Telfer School is the space in which you create your future through the competencies, confidence and convictions we help you develop and the knowledge, connections and support we provide.
Our Mission
To launch and accelerate management careers and influence sustainable organizational performance through the leadership of our graduates and the impact of our researchers.
The Telfer School of Management is a member of the Canadian Federation of Business School Deans (CFBSD) which is a lobby group for Canadian Schools of Business. There are 61 university-based business schools in Canada that are members of the Canadian Federation of Business School Deans. Eighteen are in the province of Ontario and they all offer graduate and undergraduate programs; nine of them currently offer Ph.D. programs.
All of the Telfer School programs are subsidized by the Province of Ontario, except the EMBA and Master of Business in Complex Project Leadership programs which are funded by tuition fees.
The Telfer School is one of only three schools in Canada with the triple accreditation. It is one of twenty-two AACSB accredited business schools and one of three that has received AMBA accreditation. Nine other Canadian business schools currently (October 2017) have EQUIS accreditation.
While it attracts students from across Canada and around the world, the Telfer School largely competes in two regional markets: Ontario and Quebec. In the Quebec market, its major competitors are HEC Montreal and Laval for French programs and McGill and Concordia for programs in English. In the Ontario market, the major competitors are Queens, McMaster, Laurier and Carleton.
Over the past decade, the Telfer School invested time, energy and resources in establishing solid foundations. We have hired research intensive new professors and developed our research capacity and profile. Our program revisions have focused on learning outcomes and improvement of the student learning experience. We have invested in external relations and fundraising, generated significant engagement with alumni and numerous corporations, and raised the School’s endowment to $43M. We have expanded our Executive Education portfolio. During our most recent strategic planning exercise, we realized that the next stage in the School’s evolution is to consolidate its activities and become more visible internationally. As such, the School’s strategy has been centered on the idea of building reputation and this will drive our strategic initiatives.
The Telfer School has seen a dramatic increase in its competitive position and reputation. Its new name, new building and its fundraising success have increased applications to its programmes from students locally, regionally and nationally. The School has seen a marked rise in the quality of incoming undergraduate students. Having increased entrance requirements and put forward programs to enhance program success, the school is also observing an increase in 1st year student success and retention. The School has also seen a marked improvement in the quality and productivity of the faculty’s research. It has also been making major efforts to increase its international student recruitment through participation in various international recruitment fairs and has been seeing success in this area.
As the School look ahead to the next decade, our direction will be to continue to focus on building the Telfer brand and reputation, nationally and globally, by promoting the leadership and influence of our graduates, the relevance and impact of our research, the quality of the School’s work and the value it creates for others. Such a focus was consistent with much of the input received by the Strategic Planning Team during the consultative phase of the process.
Furthermore, considering how competitive the business school landscape has become, it became even more imperative to differentiate the School, both nationally and globally. To do this, we will continue to build the Telfer brand around a strong student experience, our distinctive competencies (for example, our Strategic Areas of Expertise (SAEs) and our various research communities of interest), our unique location in a G7 Capital and the benefits of our location in Canada, our association with The University of Ottawa, our bilingual heritage and our broad, multi-cultural heritage.
The Telfer MBA Program
The Telfer MBA is designed to provide participants with grounded knowledge and skills related to management of business, with a focus on preparing graduates to lead high-performing organizations. This concept of leading high performance organizations represents a differentiating theme of the program in comparison with its competitors. The MBA program structure provides participants with increased knowledge of their own personal, interpersonal and professional skill profiles as well as knowledge and skills related to the world of business practice.
Position Description
Under the general direction of the Vice-Dean Programs, the Director of the MBA Program is responsible for providing strategic leadership, management and oversight for Telfer MBA Program. Responsibilities include community engagement, recruiting, admissions, program management and delivery.
Lead the School’s MBA Program in line with its mission and goals.
Represent the Telfer School of Management in interactions with other UOttawa campus units, the corporate community, alumni and to current and prospective MBA students.
Drive program recruitment and enrollment of qualified students for the program to achieve annual goals as established by the Vice-Dean's office.
Collaborate with the Administrator Graduate Office on the recruitment and admission of MBA students. Conduct open houses, meet with prospective students and serve as spokesperson for recruitment activities.
Oversee faculty, budgets, operations, and manage financial performance of the program.
Administer of the MBA program; lead efforts in policy development and execution that enrich the MBA experience.
Collaborate with the School’s Accreditation Officer in the provincial assessment and external accreditation processes of the MBA Program. Support the officer in all rankings activities and work to strategically identify and use those metrics that will enhance our program’s reputation.
Oversee and direct program management and deliver an outstanding MBA-level student experience from orientation through graduation.
Collaborate with the Vice-Dean Programs and MBA faculty to facilitate curriculum and course development in the MBA program.
Collaborate with Vice-Dean Programs, Graduate Office Administrator, directors of the School's other Masters Programs, faculty, members of the marketing group, Career Center staff to identify, develop and implement key initiatives and programs.
Develop and lead the delivery of a comprehensive academic advising strategy that supports all MBA students’ personal and professional goals
Lead collaborative efforts to provide experiential learning and international programs for MBA students
Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge of MBA markets, rankings, leading practices, and accreditation standards.
Highly effective communicator, both in writing and speaking in English and French, with an ability to inspire students, faculty, and business partners.
Proven marketing and networking ability.
Ability to work collaboratively in teams with faculty, and staff, as well as with colleagues across the campus community and business community.
Financial management knowledge desirable, as is experience in a highly dynamic and competitive environment.
Ability to focus on actions and outcomes, with a strong level of energy and drive.
Ability to work independently, multi‐task, and prioritize responsibilities.
Minimum Qualifications
Master’s Degree required. Minimum of three (3) years of related MBA program experience with an AACSB‐accredited program –OR—five (5) years of business experience in senior management or consulting positions.
Preferred Qualifications
MBA or other relevant post graduate degree and/or a combination of academic and senior program management experience such that the individual will have recognition and credibility with students, faculty, alumni, and the general business community.
A minimum of three (3) years of experience in program development and administration preferably within a graduate business school/university environment.
A strategic thinker with evidence of successful implementation.
Proven marketing and networking talents.
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
Salary and Other Considerations
Commensurate with experience
Requires ability to work frequent weekends and evenings
Requires periodic regional, national and international travel.
THE PROCESS
The Telfer School welcomes those who are excited by the prospect of building a world-class MBA Program in Ottawa, based on the following ambitions:
To build the School’s competitive advantage around our most unique attributes: our location in a G7 Capital, our close proximity to Canadian decision makers, our association with uOttawa, our bilingual heritage and our broad, multi-cultural diversity
To be a business school that is known for the impact of our programs, research and community engagement
Our research drivers are truly strategic and drive the School - they provide distinctive, world class discovery and learning platforms, and they continue to strengthen the School’s international reputation;
Our programs deliver a world-class, real-life, hands-on and relevant learning experience that is inspired by the research we do and supported by our engagement with the community;
Our engagement with Canadian and International leaders drives our programs and research, and the relationships we have created with our community enable us to better understand the challenges they face and the value we can offer; and
We are commitment to global standards of quality and excellence, and we achieve this through the process of continuous organizational improvement.
The search committee will begin considering potential candidates immediately and will continue until the position is successfully filled. A complete application which includes a letter of introduction, no longer than two pages in length, outlining the reasons why this position is of interest to you, your vision for the School’s MBA program and any initiatives you would like to put forward and undertake should you be selected, your curriculum vitae, and the name of three references (who will not be contacted without your consent) should be submitted electronically to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The University Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management is an Equal Opportunity Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UOttawa non-discrimination policy.
The Telfer School of Management’s undergraduate office is thrilled to announce the official launch of its second year of the Telfer Workshop Initiative! This initiative offers an overview of post-secondary education in management, as well as professional development training to students in grades 10 to 12, in secondary 4 and 5, and in cégep.
Offered free of charge during the school year (October – June), this initiative is organized in collaboration with our School’s dynamic professors, our current Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) students and alumni, our industry partners, and our Student Services Centre. The workshops have been designed to complement students’ curriculum, while allowing them to experience a taste of university studies.
We are convinced that these workshops offer an unparalleled opportunity for students to discover commerce, and for teachers to enrich their course content. If you are a teacher or guidance counselor and would like your class or school to participate in this innovative program, please contact the Telfer School of Management at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., for further information!
Photos of Telfer Students Showing Pride at Panda Game
Show your school pride and we might send you to the 50th Panda Game between the @uottawageegees and the Carleton Ravens.
Here's how to win:
1. Post a picture of yourself and another Telfer student on Instagram wearing Telfer gear or showing school pride.
2. Use the hashtags #telfernation & #geegeesnation and tag the Telfer friend you would take with you.
Hurry up, contest ends September 25th at 4 pm. *Contest open to all current Telfer students. Student ID required when claiming prize.
All our grads would agree: internships and consulting projects are defining moments in their Telfer experience. Help us give the next cohort of students the same opportunity. Telfer is currently seeking organizations to engage MBA talent in real-life challenges.
There is no doubt that the experience will be valuable for both you and our students. All MBA interns and consulting teams are supported by a faculty member and have access to cutting edge data in order to resolve even the most complex problems that your organization may encounter. Equipped with, on average, 7 years of pre-MBA work experience, these future leaders will give you a fresh perspective thus helping you reach your goals. Sample projects include (but are not limited to), market development, process improvement, and strategic process review.
Beyond the scope of a specific project, if you are looking for new talent, this is your chance to find qualified individuals and evaluate their potential fit within your workplace without the hassle of painful interviews!
You think you might have a project for our students? Contact Nathalie Paré by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 613-562-5800 ext. 4714. She will walk you through the process and explore the many possibilities our experiential learning initiatives can offer.
For the 5th year in a row, Telfer is proud to sponsor the APEX Award of Excellence in Leadership that was presented at the APEX Leadership Symposium, held May 29-30, 2018 in Ottawa. The Leadership Award recognizes an executive in the Public Service that has demonstrated outstanding leadership and that presents a role model for leadership. This year’s recipient is Mr. Michel Doiron, Assistant Deputy Minister at Veterans Affairs Canada; Mr. Doiron received the award in front of over 800 attendees at the symposium. The award was presented by Mr. Michael Wernick, the Clerk of the Privy Council, Mr. Michel Vermette, CEO of APEX, and Glen Orsak, Director of Telfer Executive Programs.
“We are proud to work with public service executives and welcome over 200 participants from the public service into our leadership programs every year.” says Glen Orsak. “Telfer is mission-focused on providing learning and development that transforms the leadership capacity across the Federal Public Service and we are proud to sponsor an award that recognizes leadership excellence in the FPS”.
About Telfer Executive Programs
Telfer Executive Programs is the premiere provider of executive & leadership development programs across the National Capital Region, with a reach across Canada and internationally. More info: Telfer Executive Programs.
About APEX
Established in 1984, APEX is governed by a board of directors made up of fifteen executives representing the National Capital Region and every other region of Canada. The wide range of APEX activities and initiatives is designed to provide executives with opportunities to develop a strong community of practice, promote their physical and mental well-being, and support excellence in leadership.
We are pleased to announce the winners of the very first Telfer International Exchange Video Contest!
The Telfer International Exchange Video Contest was for Telfer students who had participated in an international exchange during the 2017-2018 academic year or before that. The competition’s objective was to promote our exchange destinations and to reward our students’ creative talent.
With an ever increasing population and an aging workforce, the complexity of our healthcare system becomes all the more apparent. Margins for hospitals are under increasing scrutiny, whereby the incentive to perform at a higher level, to improve efficiencies, and to provide better quality care for patients is of the utmost importance.
Fortunately, the creation of our option in Healthcare Analytics seeks to fill that need, understanding that healthcare systems are undergoing unprecedented transformation fuelled by the digitization of services and investments in health information technologies.
Launching in September 2018, our BCom option in Healthcare Analytics is a field built on the crucial role that data, systems engineering, management, and organizational innovation play in improving the quality and timeliness of service delivery in a high performing healthcare system. This field answers a need to develop expertise to create the research and training capabilities required for transforming healthcare into a system that adheres to the principles of patient-centered care and participatory medicine.
According to Jonathan Patrick, Associate Professor and Program Director of the School’s MSc in Health Systems, this program is the perfect opportunity for high school students to pursue their undergraduate program in business and to forge a path toward making a social impact. While the program focuses on subjects such as quantitative analysis and data management, it introduces the challenges of applying these to the human factor of the healthcare field: patients with will and mind.
With the integration of a 4th year honours project, where students must solve a healthcare systems issue using business analytics tools, graduates of this option are left with a competitive advantage. Career opportunities are boundless, whether with local healthcare integration networks (LHIN), accrediting bodies, hospital administration, or analytics consulting firms. Alternatively, students interested in research can pursue their MSc in Health Systems.
As one of the only institutions in Canada to offer this type of program at the undergraduate level, our option in Healthcare Analytics is a differentiator at the School and one we see growing exponentially over the next few years.
After a 14 year tenure at the Telfer School of Management, Alain Doucet, Assistant Dean (External Relations), will be leaving his position at the University of Ottawa to pursue new challenges. He was appointed as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian College of Health Leaders.
Alain’s last day at Telfer with be on June 30 and he will commence his role with the College on August 20, 2018.
During his mandate at the Telfer School, Alain had a tremendous impact on marketing, engagement, fundraising and development. Among his many accomplishments, we should highlight the negotiation of Ian Telfer’s transformative gift and 80 other major gifts, over $70 million raised for the school’s priorities, and increased engagement with alumni across Canada and in several global markets.
“His commitment, dedication and outstanding contributions over the past 14 years speak for his passion for his alma mater, as well as his great talent and leadership,” said François Julien, Dean at the Telfer School. “We wish him good luck with his new challenges and look forward to working with him in his new role.”
TORONTO, May 7, 2018 - With its continued focus on maintaining the highest ethical standards, CFA Societies Canada has named a group of four students from Telfer School of Management as winners of the 2018 CFA Societies Canada Ethics Challenge at a reception at Terminal City Club in Vancouver, BC. The Ethics Challenge asked participants to analyze and evaluate a case study identifying ethical dilemmas based on the CFA Institute Code of Ethics & Standards of Professional Conduct with the goal of increasing knowledge and professionalism among future finance professionals.
Finalist teams were announced in March, and on May 3, 2018, they gathered in Vancouver for the final round of the competition. The winning team earned its title by providing the best analysis of a new case study to a judging panel of CFA charterholders and participating in a question and answer period. They, along with their competitors from four other schools, had three hours to complete the analysis.
"The CFA Societies Canada Ethics Challenge was a great opportunity to put what we've learned in school into practice," said Aamena Chatoo, part of the winning Telfer School of Management team along with James Beaudoin, Christian Cotroneo and Natalie Dokmajian. "Learning more about the CFA Institute mandate to uphold the highest ethical standards and accessing mentors helped our team accelerate our learning and make connections as we start our own careers in the finance industry. Winning was truly just the icing on the cake."
The winning team members each won $500 in addition to a commemorative award from CFA Societies Canada. All participants received a certificate of participation in the National Round. For more information about the CFA Societies Canada Ethics Challenge, please visit CFA Societies Canada online.
About CFA Societies Canada
CFA Societies Canada is a collaboration of CFA Institute and the 12 Canadian member societies, whose mission is to build brand awareness of the CFA designation and to advocate for the highest standards of integrity and ethics for the ultimate benefit of Canadian investors. For more information, please refer to www.cfasociety.org/canada.
Almost every person knows of someone who has experienced sexual harassment in the workplace. It is not uncommon for the victims of sexual harassment to feel ashamed and afraid of social retaliation if they speak out. As a result, many people keep their experiences as a secret locked in a box.
But this is slowly changing. Following the recent wake of allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace, an increasing number of women from all over the world has found the courage to unlock these burdensome boxes.
As prominent Hollywood actors, golden-medal winning athletes, and female members of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have come forward to share their stories, we finally began to grasp the extent of the problem.
What seems to be different this time is that these women are finding the safe space to be heard.
“I believe the #metoomovement and the fact that more people are supporting and listening to the victims have really encouraged a lot of women to siege this opportunity to voice their own experiences of sexual harassment in their everyday lives, including at work,” explains Telfer School of Management Professor Jane O’Reilly. Professor O’Reilly is doing research on interpersonal mistreatment in organizations, including sexual harassment.
Click here if you would like to learn why organizations should take even subtle forms of sexual harassment seriously in order to create a respectful workplace environment.
The 27th Annual Toast to Success Business Dinner, organized by the Entrepreneurs' Club (TECDE), is a networking event celebrating entrepreneurial success within uOttawa and the local community. The event, held at the Chateau Laurier on February 1, 2018, is one of the largest networking events organized by Telfer School students. As keynote speaker, Terry Davis, CEO of Home Hardware presented several key aspects of his career as well as tips for future entrepreneurs in the room.
DECA is a professional development club that transforms students into case cracking masters. Delegates participate in multiple case study competitions Canada-wide, particularly in Ontario, to showcase their expertise in a variety of fields such as accounting, finance, marketing, and business law. Held once yearly, the DECA provincial competition is a two-day event in downtown Toronto and consists of 17 different case categories, featuring over 1300 students from 23 participating universities and colleges across the country.
On January 20-21, 63 delegates went on to face the DECA challenge and won a total of ten awards:
William King – 1st place and won $1,000 in the Start-up pitch Competition;
Christina Wong and Kelsey Baguley – Overall 2nd place in Marketing Management;
Tingi Gurung – 1st place in case #1 and 3rd place overall in Corporate Finance;
Vanessa Kelly – 2nd place in case #1 and 1st place overall in Human Resource Management;
Jason Luo – 1st place in case #2 and 1st place overall in Management Consulting;
Michelle Tam and Rula Al Halbouni – won Leaders in diversity award.
The executive team would like to thank all its delegates for their tireless work and remarkable accomplishments to help make the uOttawa chapter shine!
[What’s next for DECA uOttawa?]
Next for DECA is hosting their inaugural invitational conference called Momentum, held February 9 – 11. Open to all Telfer students, this event will include several networking opportunities with companies such as Narcity, RBC, TMX, Burgers & Fries Forever, and more.
Thereafter, stay tuned for DECA’s year-end event, where they will have their last case study activity and introduce their new executive team and President.
The 2018 MBA Games have officially come to a close but the legacy of this 3-day event will live on with the 600 MBA candidates who travelled to Ottawa from coast-to-coast to participate from January 5th to 7th.
This year marked the 30th anniversary of the student-run MBA Games. For the first time ever, they were held in Ottawa, hosted by the Telfer School of Management.
“Meeting all of the passionate and talented competitors was so rewarding,” says Emma Azzi, Telfer MBA student and chair of the 2018 MBA Games. “It was amazing to see the months of planning come together.”
Despite the cold weather, all 17 participating schools brought a warm display of energy and skills to the academic, athletic and spirit events. Participants even braved an outdoor scavenger hunt in -20°C weather.
In total, $45,311 was raised in support of the Moose Hide Campaign, a grassroots Indigenous-led movement of men standing up against violence towards women and children.
Paul and Raven Lacerte, co-founders of the Moose Hide Campaign, said they were so grateful for all the efforts of the MBA delegations in raising funds for their organization and in spreading the message across university campuses.
Competition results:
Schulich School of Business (York University) was awarded the Queen’s Cup as the overall MBA Games winner.
Our own Telfer School of Management (University of Ottawa) took home the Schulich Cup for their top scores in Academics which included Finance, Marketing, Strategy, and Diversity & Inclusion case competitions.
Beedie School of Business (Simon Fraser University) was the Titi Watul Spirit Overall Winner for their strong showing in the spirit components which included fundraising, social media, a video competition, a scavenger hunt and a case developed with the Moose Hide Campaign.
DeGroote School of Business (McMaster University) took home the newly minted Telfer Cup for their top overall scores in Athletics which included volleyball, basketball, dodgeball and curling tournaments.
In addition, four teams took home $10,000 grants from the Moose Hide Campaign to fund the on-campus initiatives they presented to address violence towards women.
Here are Telfer’s academic rankings:
1st place Strategy case: Shariq Akhlaq, Akil Manasia, Kyle Ferguson and Laurine Avallone.
1st place Finance case: Rohan Vaidya, Kuntal Shah, Peter Narbaitz and Eric Goneau.
2nd place Diversity and Inclusion case: Tanya Roy, Jujhar Singh, John Wins-Purdy and Chinmaya Mohapatro.
In addition, a special mention to our coaches Germain Aoun and Hantz Prosper who helped to drive these students to success.
The Right Honourable David Johnson, former Governor General and Executive Advisor to Deloitte Canada helped launch the event as the keynote speaker at the Opening Ceremonies Gala.
Congratulations to all participants! The 2018 MBA Games proved yet again that we really are #MoreTogether!
From January 5th to 7th, 2018, nearly 130 students represented the Telfer School of Management at two of Canada's largest inter-university competitions. The teams participated in academic, sporting and social events.
The first competition, Jeux du commerce (JDC), brought together 13 universities at Concordia University in Montreal, home of the John Molson School of Business, as the bilingual competition celebrated its 30th year.
Unfortunately, the second competition, Jeux du Commerce Central (JDCC) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions.
Congratulations to Telfer BCom students for winning the following in academic and sporting events:
1st place – Finance Case: Dmitry Shorikov, Katya Berez and Xing Zang.
Coaches: Michael Reynolds and Professor Allan Riding.
1st place – Tax Case: Dominic Piscopo, Julie-Anne Given and Nikita Gupta
Coach: Dominic Franchi
2nd place – Netball: Sean Lumney, Curtis Lu, Santiago Pinzo, Tamara Roy-Stang, Emily Potvin, Jordan Earls, Marisha Sesto, Michael Shaheen and Maxime Frost
Coaches: Fadi Azzi and Emily Ryan
3rd place - Human Ressources Case: Marie-Claude Monette, Isabelle D'Aoust and Deanna Carter.
Coaches: Maral Elliot and Matt Archibald.
3rd place – Project Operation Management Case: Austin St. Pierre, Dylan Budimir-Hussey and Cherise Naidu.
Coaches: Professor Jasmin Manseau and Aghilas Chebini.
With a successful year for the Telfer Alumni Association (TAA) in the books, the Annual General Meeting sparked interest from Telfer alumni to join the growing association. This year, the TAA Board broadened with Iskandar Alex Nasrallah (BCom 2017) as the Director of Marketing, and Nader Rustom (BCom 2016) as the Director of Communications.
Alex, a 2017 accounting graduate, obtained a gold medal for winning the CPA Ontario Case Competition and is the founder of a student tax prep start up company. He brings an entrepreneurial background to the board, as well as a large network to help grow the Telfer Alumni Association.
Nader has been an actively involved alumni since graduating in early 2016. He has been a judge for the Equity Valuation live case competition for 4th year Finance students and a volunteer for Junior Achievement Canada.
Returning members include Director of Events – Arianna Farley, Director of Finance & Strategic Partnerships – Lucas Ghosn, Director of Operations & Engagements – Sushil Dahiya, and President - Diana Kolesarova.
We also want to thank Alexandra Batchelor, Carl Lafleur and Aproov Chawla for serving on the 2016-2017 TAA Board.
“The growth of the TAA is not only very exciting for the Telfer alumni in the Ottawa region, but also those across the world. We’re looking forward to another year of connecting alumni to what matters.” - Diana Kolesarova, TAA President
To get in touch with with the TAA:
Email - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Facebook - facebook.com/telferalumni
Medium - medium.com/@telferalumn
On November 7, we had the honour of welcoming Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada and Chancellor of the University of Ottawa, to the Chancellor's Master Class. This class brought together all Telfer School MBA and Executive MBA candidates. Mr. Rovinescu shared his experience at Air Canada and discussed its turnaround in the global market.
As Telfer Executive MBA Director Sophia Leong explains, we have to learn from our successes, but especially from the successes of our Canadian companies.
“Air Canada’s transformation from near death to market success is a perfect example of active learning from M. Rovinescu” stated Ms. Leong. “He led the financial and commercial turnaround by making bold and risky moves to transform Air Canada to a global player. Air Canada is a live case of ‘The Art of the Possible’ and M. Rovinescu brought that reality to both the Executive MBA and MBA candidates.”
In his presentation, Mr. Rovinescu discussed the role of a president and CEO, who must make bold decisions when standard practices fail. He likened this approach to solving a Rubik's Cube. “To move to more sustainable business outcomes, Air Canada had to let go of former business strategies or practises despite the associated risks and difficulties” said Mr. Rovinescu.
“This created significant change management for Air Canada personnel and stakeholders. In addition to frequent and mindful communication, we had to emphasize on the importance of ‘symbols’ to instill pride in the workforce and stakeholders. By leveraging the maple leaf symbol, Air Canada is mindful it is branding ‘Canada’ by proxy.”
The Telfer School of Management has once again been recognized as an outstanding business school by The Princeton Review. The organization has featured 267 leading business schools internationally. This recognition highlights the Telfer School’s international outreach and its strong world-wide reputation.
Thank you to all of those who attended the 2017 Gala of Excellence on October 21. With over 340 guests in attendance, we celebrated the achievements and outstanding contributions that our alumni make to the world of business, health-care, the community and their alma mater. It was also a chance for us to celebrate the milestone anniversaries of the graduates of 1967, 1977, 1992 and 2007.
You can find photos from the evening on our Flickr page. Feel free to download and share with your friends!
Did you graduate in 1968, 1978, 1993 or 2008? We are looking for class champions for Gala of Excellence 2018 that will be held on October 20, 2018. Please contact Kim Duthie if you are interested in being a class champion and helping your classmates reconnect after all these years!
To view the official grand opening reception click here!
You can find photos from the evening on our Flickr page. Feel free to download and share with your friends!
After 25 years at the World Exchange Plaza, our dynamic and expanding Centre for Executive Leadership (CEL) has now moved to a brand new, world-class executive learning facility at 99 Bank Street.
The new CEL facilities overlook the renovated atrium and feature bright and spacious classrooms. In addition, participants and instructors will also be able to utilize several boardrooms as well as networking areas.
The CEL is home to Telfer’s growing executive leadership programs:
The Executive MBA, which was recently ranked #1 in the Tier One Global Executive MBA Ranking by CEO Magazine, accelerates value in three distinct ways: business leadership, organizational impact and value to community. A Global, Practical and Relevant program, anchored by the Signature Series of Six Business Consulting Projects, is for professionals focusing on international market and leadership experience to excel in today’s global economy.
Our Master of Business in Complex Project Leadership, which was launched in 2016, is a specialized program designed to equip participants with advanced skills and confidence to be an effective leader and deliver successful program outcomes. Broad areas of learning can be applied to fields such as complex capital procurement projects, program development, business transformation, information technology initiatives and R&D commercialization.
Our vast array of Executive Leadership Programs—developed with our accomplished faculty members, Telfer executives-in-residence, expert industry practitioners and global thought leaders from partner institutions—enable emerging leaders to gain advanced knowledge and skills they can apply immediately and directly to their own practice of leadership.
CEO Magazine (London, UK) has just released its 2017 ranking of the top Global Executive MBA programs and has ranked the Telfer School of Management’s Executive MBA program #1 in the world.
Using a ranking system entirely geared and weighted to fact-based criteria, CEO Magazine aims to cut through the noise and provide potential students with a performance benchmark for those schools under review.
“Our program is honoured to be recognized by CEO Magazine. The Telfer Executive MBA focuses on a 'Global, Practical, Relevant' platform that accentuates 'Responsible and Effective’ leadership for optimal business impact in an increasingly competitive global market”, said Sophia Leong, Executive Director of the Telfer Executive MBA. “To be tapped by CEO Magazine as the premier Global Executive MBA program underlines the program’s value proposition and impact on the candidates’ transformation.”
“I would like to acknowledge the outstanding work of the entire Executive MBA team, led by Sophia Leong, and all the faculty members who have taught in this program”, said François Julien, Dean of the University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management. “In addition, our EMBA candidates and alumni, through their professional successes and impact within their organizations and communities, are making a tremendous contribution to their program and to the Telfer School. I congratulate them sincerely on this remarkable achievement and encourage them to continue their excellent work.”
The Telfer Executive MBA Program accelerates value in three distinct ways: business leadership, organizational impact and value to the community. Our program offers professionals a ‘live’ and transformative learning environment, focusing on international market and leadership experience to excel in today’s global economy. The curriculum is anchored by the Signature Series of Six Business Consulting Projects, of which two are global in focus and involve two international business trips.
About CEO Magazine
CEO Magazine has been showcasing top business schools from around the globe since it first launched in 2008. In 2012, the publication launched its annual Global MBA Rankings, profiling MBA, Executive MBA and Online MBA programs.
This year CEO Magazine reached out to business schools across North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the BRICS, and received responses from over 160 institutions – a 20 per cent increase in submissions from 2016.
Samia Chreim has been named the Ian Telfer Professor in Health Organization Studies. Her research provides new insights into the dynamics of organizational change, integration across organizations, and collaboration among professionals. Professor Chreim recently sat down to discuss the evolution of healthcare organizations and noted that transformation will increasingly require coalitions of professionals, with complementary skills and resources.
What sets healthcare organizations apart from other types of organizations?
SC: The healthcare system is currently under a lot of pressure to perform better. Healthcare professionals are frequently asked to adjust or modify the way they work in order to provide better care to patients. But healthcare professionals need to meet different professional goals; they have different roles, cultures and interests. Conflicts are inevitable.
Suppose a health authority grants one group responsibility for a particular procedure, and it was previously the sole responsibility of another group. Any side that perceives a loss of autonomy or authority is likely to strongly resist the change.
But other kinds of changes may encounter opposition simply because they disrupt the normal and accepted way of performing a given task. Take the example of incident reporting for patient safety. If the primary care unit in a hospital has implemented an effective incident reporting system, the hospital might wish to have another unit, for example the mental-health team, adopt that system. However, differences in the culture and professional practices may be incompatible with the new reporting system and prevent its adoption by the mental-health team.
What can managers do to ensure that the required change can be implemented?
SC: One of my studies concerned a collaboration across healthcare organizations in a primary care context. The study showed that to be successful in implementing the change, managers needed to build a winning coalition of professionals and staff who have complementary skills and resources. But to build such a coalition, time needs to be invested in finding common ground across professionals and staff, in putting together trust between professionals and staff involved, and in building the credibility of the change process.
Therefore, there needs to be somebody whose job is to manage the change process. That approach is ultimately going to bring more success than asking busy healthcare practitioners to take on additional change-management tasks. When you don’t have a person that owns and manages the change process, you are likely to see a dilution of change focus and a loss of momentum.
What type of management style or approach should be encouraged, given the need for professionals and staff to coalesce around significant change?
SC: The research provides evidence about the benefits of having a small number of individuals (e.g., managers, professionals) with complementary competencies and resources in bringing important organizational changes to fruition. But this approach might create a lack of clarity. There might be ambiguity about who is responsible for what, which can lead to duplication of efforts or to one or more tasks falling through the cracks. I have also studied situations in which intractable conflicts developed among the members of a management group, and the teams working under them deteriorated as a result.
The risks of these scenarios are at the heart of a big debate about how leadership should be organized. In particular, when and how to share or distribute leadership. Shared leadership happens at different levels, for example, within teams, organizations, and inter-organizational collaborations. Change-management processes, such as the need for integration between healthcare teams, sometimes point to the need for shared leadership. On the other hand, for the reasons I mentioned, shared leadership isn’t necessarily a panacea. Without doubt, understanding when and how leadership can be shared, and what type of collective leadership is appropriate in different change-management settings, will continue to be a hot topic for any healthcare organization for the foreseeable future.
The Telfer School welcomes professor Mohamed Chelli as a new professor in accounting. His teaching areas include financial accounting and his research interests include topics related to socio-environmental performance indicators. He obtained his PhD in accounting from Université Laval and Université Paris-Dauphine and he was previously a professor of accounting at Toulouse Business School in France.
Professor Chelli said governments, policy-makers, stakeholders, and companies are keeping close watch on the development of socio-environmental performance indicators. CDP, formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project, has operated for the past 15 years, while more recently the Financial Stability Board (FSB), chaired by Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, created the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Chelli noted. Led by Michael Bloomberg, the task force is working on developing more effective climate-related financial disclosures for use by companies; the group’s members include the head of sustainable investing at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. In a separate step, France last year introduced mandatory climate change-related reporting for institutional investors, a move which ESG Magazine called “one of the world’s most comprehensive shifts to public sustainable finance data.”
Professor Chelli noted: “There are many efforts underway to improve and standardize climate change and environmental disclosures, and my particular focus is on the legitimization practices of socio-environmental performance measurement bodies that oversee corporations. My work also provides analysis of the way the measurements produced exercise a certain pressure both over the corporations under scrutiny and the stakeholders.”
The Telfer School of Management is proud to announce that it has been ranked 31st of the Top 40 MBAs in the Corporate Knights 2016 Better World MBA Ranking, and is one of only 9 Canadian schools to make the ranking.
The Corporate Knights Better World MBA Ranking is the only major global ranking to evaluate graduate business programs on their integration of sustainability into the education of future business leaders.
“We’re very pleased to be ranked by Corporate Knights for our efforts to infuse social responsibility into our program”, says Greg Richards, MBA Director. “The Canadian MBA Oath that was developed here by our MBA students and the fact that we continually integrate material on governance and sustainability into our courses attest to the work we’ve been doing. The objective is to raise awareness that managerial decisions should place equal emphasis on people and on the planet, as well as on organizational success.”
Compared to traditional MBA rankings, the Better World MBA ranking is designed to help students and corporate leaders identify solid programs that have the infrastructure to support sustainability skills and knowledge. The rules-based ranking also recognizes those programs which best prepare graduates to solve business problems that intersect with larger social problems, such as climate change and inequality. The Better World MBA ranking evaluates the top 100 programs on the 2016 FT Global MBA ranking, and invites all other accredited (AMBA, AACSB, EQUIS) programs to opt-in. This year, Corporate Knights evaluated 123 programs in total.
The University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management has received EQUIS re-accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). The Telfer School remains one of only two business school in Canada to achieve the triple crown of business school accreditations. There are only 73 schools worldwide, as of September 2015, that have obtained this prestigious recognition.
The Telfer School of Management was initially awarded the accreditation in November 2009 and it was renewed in December 2015 for a period of 5 years.
“As Dean of the Telfer School of Management, I am delighted and proud that our School has been conferred the EQUIS accreditation label for a further period of five years. This is a remarkable achievement which confirms that our triple-accredited School meets the highest international standards of excellence,” said François Julien, Dean of the Telfer School. “I am grateful to EFMD for the advice and guidance they have provided since we were first accredited in 2009 and which allowed us to develop and improve.”
“We owe this success to the outstanding work of our professors, the dedication of our academic leaders and administrative personnel as well as the quality of our students and the commitment of our alumni and members of the community at large who have supported the School on its path towards continuous improvement and excellence,” he adds. “Congratulations and thank you to all for this accomplishment!”
EQUIS is the leading international system of quality assessment, improvement and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration. EQUIS is managed and run by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and its fundamental objective, linked to the mission of the EFMD, is to raise the standard of management education worldwide.
Institutions that are accredited by EQUIS must demonstrate not only high general quality in all dimensions of their activities, but also a high degree of internationalisation. With companies recruiting worldwide, with students choosing to get their education outside their home countries, and with Schools building alliances across borders and continents, there is a rapidly growing need for them to be able to identify those institutions in other countries that deliver high quality education in international management.
The Telfer School of Management and the Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE) Junior Achievement (JA) program have signed an agreement for the promotion of youth entrepreneurship. The objective of the agreement includes fostering community engagement and enhancing the offering of experiential learning in Ottawa schools.
The JA program inspires youth to start a business, make better financial decisions and chart a career path, while engaging community volunteers from local businesses and post-secondary institutions to provide hands-on learning opportunities for Grade 5-12 students. The program is offered free of charge to local area schools with the support of volunteers, community partners and sponsors.
“JA has been a pillar of this community and many like it across the country for several years”, says Matt Archibald, Assistant Director of the Student Services Centre at the Telfer School. “We are pleased to be connecting students with this organization to assist in the development of skills in the areas of entrepreneurship, career planning, and financial literacy.” He adds: “This is a great experiential learning opportunity for our Telfer students as it allows them to give back in a meaningful way and teach other younger students about the skills that they have developed over their academic post-secondary careers.”
One of the benefits of the JA programs is that it gives students opportunities to get access to help and funding for launching their own business. A great example of this reach is Guillaume Auger of Garneau High School, who was one of two recipients of the 2015 JA Next Generation Leadership Forum scholarship at the JA Company Celebration in June of this year, for which the Telfer School was one of the presenting sponsors. Guillaume is the president of the Tie or Dye JA Company, a business with which his team placed second in the 2014 Enactus uOttawa Perfect Pitch competition, a Dragon’s Den-style competition which gives students the opportunity to join a day full of workshops on entrepreneurship-related topics and to experience a pitch simulation first-hand.
“What better way to inspire our young leaders of tomorrow with our young leaders of today?” says Albert B. Wong, Director of JA Ottawa. “JA Ottawa inspires young people to startup businesses, make better financial decisions and chart a career path, and Telfer JA Volunteers are enthusiastic, positive role models for our next generation. Junior Achievers, like Guillaume Auger, develop soft skills and an entrepreneurial mindset which lift the trajectory of their career paths. The Telfer JA partnership is a win-win for Telfer students and Junior Achievers, some of whom aspire to attend Telfer like Guillaume.”
The partnership with the JA Ottawa program is just one of the many initiatives supported by the Telfer School to connect with high school students; other examples include the Perfect Pitch competition, hosted by Enactus uOttawa, which provides students with an opportunity to practice their entrepreneurship skills in a fast paced pitch event based on Enactus-led training, and the Place à la jeunesse academic competition, an initiative from the University of Ottawa’s Jeux du Commerce (JDC) delegation, which give high school students a taste of the business world and promotes post-secondary education in French.
PHOTO (from left to right): François Julien, Dean, Telfer School of Management Kathy McKinlay, President and CEO, Ottawa Network for Education Albert Wong, Director, JA Ottawa
The Directors Education Program (DEP), flagship course of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) and the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management, is now being offered in Ottawa at the Telfer School of Management.
The first module will begin on April 24, 2016 and the application deadline is February 4, 2016.
"We are proud to host the DEP Program to help better equip directors serving on the boards of corporations and community institutions in Ottawa," said François Julien, Dean of the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa. "This partnership with the ICD offers us an invaluable opportunity to support Ottawa's economy through building strong governance and leadership."
The Telfer MBA has been ranked in second place in the 2016 Canadian Business Value Ranking, which ranks the ten best MBAs in the country on the value they offer and the return on investment they provide. Programs included in the ranking combine a few key traits: a recognizable brand name on your degree; a diverse mix of bright people in the classroom; affordable tuition; and a shorter duration so that you're not out of the workforce for long.
“This ranking attests to the hard work of a lot of people at Telfer who are focused on delivering exceptional value to our MBA students. We’ll continue this tradition as we add even more features to our program over the next few years,” says Greg Richards, Director of the Telfer MBA.
The Canadian Business Value Ranking’s methodology is based on a point system that awards points to schools based on a weighted ranking, including: 33.5% reputation, 20.5% classroom experience, 13% average GMAT scores, 13% tuition, 13% required work experience and 7% program length. The ranking only includes full-time MBA programs.
The Telfer School of Management has once again been recognized as an outstanding business school by The Princeton Review. The organization has featured 295 leading business schools internationally. This recognition highlights the Telfer School’s international outreach and its strong world-wide reputation.
Read the 2-page profile of the Telfer school in The Best 295 Business Schools [This link is no longer available]
Gilles LeVasseur was awarded the Ordre du mérite des caisses populaires de l’Ontario 2015, which recognizes the remarquable contributions of an individual to the franco-ontarian cooperative movement.
« I am very happy to have received this prize. Especially since I have had a passion for the cooperative system for a long time! », Professor LeVasseur said when receiving his prize. « [Cooperatives] are vital to the Canadian development.»
Thursday, September 17th marked a very important day for the 2015-2016 academic year. Telfer launched its newly expanded Financial Research and Learning Lab as well as its new student-managed fund entitled the Telfer Capital Fund. Faculty, alumni, industry partners and students, totalling over 70, gathered in the new space in order to kick-off both initiatives. The new lab is triple the size of the original and is a fully enabled teaching and learning facility with all the top financial research tools and databases, including Bloomberg, as well as new technologically advanced interactive learning tools. The lab has been integrated into many Telfer classes which will use its resources for assignments, and bridging the gap from theory to practice. These classes include Equity Valuation, Portfolio Management, Marketing Management and Finance, Ethics and Social Responsibility. The manager of the space, Pouya Safi, acted as the event’s emcee and introduced Francois Julien (Dean of Telfer), Leslie Weir (University Librarian), and Tyson Rigg (TCF Portfolio Manager Leader) to say a word about the lab and its impact for the University, Telfer and the students. The lab expansion was as a result of the very successful collaboration between the Library and the Telfer School of Management. Marc Albert and Pouya Safi planned and oversaw the project but everything was collaborated with Faculty, uOttawa Library, the Career Centre, AV, IT, Physical Resources, Facilities, Protection and the school’s Project Manager, Sylvio Miron. Everyone played an integral goal in making sure the project was completed in time for the school year. The goal of the space has always been to bridge the gap between theory and practice and provide the students with an avenue to excel.
The Telfer Capital Fund (TCF), which also launched, will manage a real value based investment portfolio and will also call the lab their home for their weekly stock pitches, sector updates, and portfolio and company analysis. The fund will start with an initial seed capital of $50,000 to $100,000 and will aim to grow to $500,000 in principal within the next 5 to 10 years, so that each incoming year of students can continue to invest with new capital. The TCF will allow students to gain real hands-on experience in order to help them land internships and eventual employment with major firms in the capital markets. Students will be part of the program for 3 years and start as Analysts and work their way to Portfolio Managers all while completing their CSC and first level of the CFA. Tyson Rigg, one of the Portfolio Manager Leaders for this years’ cohort said “This program and lab have given me opportunities to grow and develop my skills in finance that I would have not otherwise known or been privy to had it not been here. I’ve used this lab to its fullest, and spent much of the last two years learning through my peers and courses. Now I’m really seeing the results through better internships and job opportunities.” The TCF has been something that has buzzed around students’ ears for many years. With the help of the International Dean’s Advisory Board and Pension and Treasuries group of uOttawa, Pouya Safi was able to develop the details of the fund and the governing Terms of Reference and Investment Policy and help ensure that it finally launched alongside the new lab. Alumni Jean Desgagné, President and CEO of Global Enterprises Services at TMX, was also present for the launch and made a generous donation to the fund.
Professor Silvia Bonaccio is the new Chair of the executive committee of the Canadian Society for Industrial & Organizational Psychology (CSIOP). The Canadian Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology is an official section of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). Members consist of faculty from both Psychology departments and Business schools, consultants from various organizations, and students from numerous universities.
Professor Bonaccio earned a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Purdue University. She also holds a M.Sc. from Concordia University's John Molson School of Business and a B.A. in Psychology from McGill University. Professor Bonaccio is an expert on advice giving and taking during decision-making. Her research focuses on the factors that promote positive advising interactions, such as characteristics of advisors, decision-makers, and the framing of advice. She also studies the consequences of taking (or not taking) advice. Her other research interests lie in the investigation of individual differences commonly used in employee selection. She is specifically interested in whether and, if so, how non-cognitive individual differences (e.g., personality, test anxiety, emotions) influence the assessment process and outcomes. She has previously served as the Organizational Behaviour Division Chair, Program Chair and Academic Reviewer for the Administrative Sciences Association of Canada.
The Entrepreneurship Foundry is a new Telfer-led initiative that brings together collaborators from across campus to build, manage and deliver a semester-long, for-credit course that sees undergraduate participants apply for entry in order to start a venture over 13 weeks.
The Entrepreneurship Foundry Course will focus on helping students move beyond the discovery and planning stages of starting a company to the possible launch of an actual venture in a structured, for-credit learning environment.
"The course is open to all Faculties" said Stephen Daze, Dom Herrick Entrepreneur in Residence. Basically, "students will have the option to either pitch an idea and build a team around their concept or enter the course simply willing to contribute as a team member to another business concept".
An interview and acceptance process will ensure only those most committed to real entrepreneurship will be accepted.
The course will run this fall on Mondays from 7-10 p.m. and space is limited to 25 students.
Construction has already started in the Financial and Learning Lab located on the 2nd floor of the Desmarais Building. When the expansion is complete, the lab will be a state-of-the-art facility, better equipped to meet the increasing demands for its learning, research, and teaching resources. The expanded lab will be about three times the size of the original, contain seating for 64 students in the main room, with additional capacity for 10 students in two enclosed private-study rooms. This new space will allow for full classes to be taught in the lab.
From May 1st, Bloomberg terminals will be accessible in DMS 2130 until the construction is over.
Nominations are welcome for students who demonstrate outstanding Social Responsibility Leadership. This award is open to BCom students who will be returning to complete their 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of study as a full-time student.
The prize consists of $2,000 towards the recipient’s tuition fees.
Social responsibility projects undertaken by nominees do not have to be associated with the Telfer School of Management and can be pursued at large in the community. Nominations can come from staff, faculty, alumni and members of the business and local community. Nominations can be made by completing the Nomination form and sending it via email to Susan Redmond at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Nominations are due May 15, 2015. The selection committee will make a choice by May 28. The award will be presented at the Telfer School of Management Post-Convocation Awards Lunch on June 14, 2015.
The Telfer School of Management is now accepting nominations for its alumni awards: the Trudeau Medal and the Young Achiever's award.
These honours are awarded to alumni in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the world of business and health care, their communities and their alma mater. These recognitions will be awarded at the next Gala of Excellence on October 21, 2017.
Established in honour of Reverend Father Roland Trudeau, OMI, and former director of the University's commerce department from 1950 to 1965, the Trudeau Medal is the highest honour given by the Telfer School of Management to its alumni.
The Young Achiever's Award honours young Telfer School of Management alumni (under the age of 40) who have been able to achieve greatness in their lives within an exceptional period of time.
The awards selection committee is composed of representatives from the Telfer School, the Telfer School of Management Alumni Association, the MBA Alumni Association, the MHA Alumni Association and the Executive MBA Alumni Association.
Please fill out the following nomination form for the Young Achiever's Award and the Trudeau Medals. The deadline for nominations is April 14, 2017 at 5 p.m.
On February 6, 2015, we welcomed more than 300 students, staff, professors, alumni and members of the community as they came together to share what matters to them and how that relates with their involvement with the Telfer School of Management.
Through interactions with ambassadors of the School and themed tables, we featured some of our greatest accomplishments and strengths. Participants particularly enjoyed being given the opportunity to talk about what matters to them in short videos and sharing pictures on social media.
This event marked the launch of an updated tagline for the School: “Connects you to what matters”. This new brand is a reflection of the fact that not only is the world changing, but so is the world of business. At the Telfer School, we’ve understood that what matters isn’t always what you can count. Our mission is to maintain a network of high-quality connections, and what matters to us is to put you – students, alumni, professors, staff and our partners – at the centre of everything. Whatever it is that matters to you, we provide you with all the means to make an impact.
Given our commitment to our legacy “Linked with Leadership” brand and what we have done over the past decade to develop it, a steering committee was established in January 2014 to complete a brand enhancement exercise. The committee, comprised of staff, faculty and alumni, worked diligently to ensure that we are aligned, going forward, with the current context of the Telfer School’s strategic plan, the upcoming fundraising campaign and the emergence of our Strategic Areas of Excellence.
As witnessed through the multiple interactions during the event, we believe that “Connects you to what matters” represents a natural evolution of the brand and builds on the solid foundation developed under the previous brand tagline.
Congratulations to the winner of the Telfer Brand Launch "Putt and Win" contest
Rohan Kumar is the winner of one free registration to the 22nd Annual Telfer Scholarship Golf Tournament to be held on Sept 18, 2015 at the Meadows Golf and Country Club. This prize also includes a Telfer Swag Pack - a Telfer gym bag, mug and water bottle!
The three winners of a Telfer Swag Pack are Emily Short, Danielle Gagnon, and Stéphanie Beaulac. Congratulations to our winners and a great big thank you to everyone who participated.
Don't forget to mark your calendar and join us on September 18 for the Telfer Golf Tournament. All proceeds to will go directly to the Laurie Strano Memorial MHA Scholarship.
Five outstanding alumni have been recognized for their contributions to the world of business, the community and their alma mater. The Trudeau Medals, the Young Achiever's Award and the Dean's Philos Award were presented at the 2014 Telfer School of Management Alumni Association Gala of Excellence, which was held at the Ottawa Convention Centre on October 18, 2014.
Trudeau Medals
Established in honour of Reverend Father Roland Trudeau, OMI, former director of the University's Commerce department from 1950 to 1965, the Trudeau Medal is the highest honour given by the Telfer School of Management to its alumni. It recognizes leadership, initiative and contributions to the business world, the community and their alma mater. This year's recipients are:
The Young Achiever's Award
The Young Achiever's award was created to honour the individuals (under 40) who have been able to achieve greatness in their lives within an exceptional period of time. This year's recipient is:
The Dean's Philos Award
The Dean’s Philos Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding philanthropic achievement and social commitment. This award was established in 2004 on the Telfer School of Management’s 35th Anniversary. This year's recipient is:
2014 Enterprise
$2,500 Female Entrepreneur and Leadership Award
Enterprise Rent-A-Car invites you to nominate an extraordinary female student to be considered for the 2014 Female Enterprise Entrepreneur and Leadership Award. Nominees should have a personal record of entrepreneurial spirit, leadership skills and be a positive role model for past, current, and future students. The winner will receive a $2,500 prize to be applied to their tuition.
Nominations
Nominations for this award will be accepted from students, faculty, alumni, and members of the local business community. Self nominations are also permitted. Criteria for nominating and evaluating honorees include the following:
Nominees should be full-time female students in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4thyear of their BCom program at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa.
Demonstrate exceptional entrepreneurial spirit through innovative approaches to business and show exemplary leadership skills in their work, social and academic lives.
Entrepreneurial projects do not have to be associated with the Telfer School of Management.
Nominations can be made by completing the Nomination form and sending it via email to Susan Redmond at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or dropping it off to room DMS 7130B.
Nominations for the 2014 Female Enterprise Entrepreneur and Leadership Award must be received no later than Friday January 9, 2015. Download a nomination form.
Selection
Committee members will review all nominations and develop a list of finalists who best meet the above criteria. Members will select the award winner based on the submission and a short personal interview. This award will be presented at the 24th Annual Entrepreneurs’ Club Toast to Success - Business Dinner on Thursday, January 29, 2015.
We’re proud to announce that the Telfer School of Management will offer a PhD in Management, as of fall 2016. The anticipated application deadline will be January 15, 2016.
The new PhD Program will complete our portfolio of research-based graduate programs.
The program is developed around five key fields:
Entrepreneurship
Health Systems
Accounting and Control
Finance
Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources Management
Doctoral candidates will benefit from the research expertise of leading scholars in each of these fields. We encourage students to learn more about the research conducted by Telfer faculty members.
The Telfer PhD program reflects a growing demand for multi-disciplinary research that encompasses traditional management disciplines. In all fields, students will push beyond the boundaries of traditional disciplinary knowledge and incorporate a thorough economic, financial, organizational, psychological or sociological knowledge in their work.
The program philosophy is one of holistic doctoral development. In addition to thorough academic training, doctoral candidates will benefit from several workshops and activities focused on personal and professional development.
Shaping tomorrow’s health care service leaders for the past 50 years
Read more › [This link is no longer available]
On May 3, 2014, the Telfer School of Management and the Telfer MHA Alumni Association held a gala at the Château Laurier to highlight the 50th anniversary of the Master of Health Administration (MHA) program.
The Gala was host to some of the elite in health care management and policy in Canada. More than 300 alumni, professors, preceptors, professionals and members of the community were present, representing 39 of the 50 years of the program.
“I have been extremely privileged to be part of this health care system and like many graduates, it all started for me with this MHA program.” said Cameron Love, MHA 1997. “I will always remember my times as a student and resident. During the first 50 years, the program has seen many great moments and has resulted in many great leaders in our health care system and I am sure it will continue to strengthen and evolve to be a key health leader training program over the next 50.”
“I want to extend, on behalf of the classes of 1985 to 1989, a large measure of thanks to our professors, the Telfer School and the University of Ottawa for providing us with a solid foundation upon which to build our careers and, in many respects, our lives,” said Donald Sanderson, MHA 1989.
Dean François Julien took this opportunity to announce the creation of the Telfer Health Transformation Exchange thanks to an initial $1 million investment from the School. The main purpose of the Telfer Health Transformation Exchange will be to contribute - through the exchange of ideas and best practices, and through research and education - to the transformation of health care delivery with the long-term objective of improving the quality of patient care while providing efficient and effective health services.
Several other great events were organized throughout the weekend, including professional development sessions.
Nominations are invited for students who deserve to be recognized for outstanding Social Responsibility Leadership. This award is open to BCom students who will be returning to complete their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of study as a full-time student.
The prize consists of $2,000 towards the recipient’s 4th year tuition fees.
Nominations can be made by completing the nomination form and sending it via email to Susan Redmond at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Social responsibility projects undertaken by nominees do not have to be associated with the Telfer School of Management and can be pursued at large in the community.
Nominations can come from staff, faculty, alumni and members of the business and local community.
Nominations are due May 16, 2014. The selection committee will make a decision by May 26. The award will be presented at the Telfer School of Management Pre-Convocation Awards Brunch on June 15, 2014.
The Telfer School of Management is very pleased to welcome Ivy Lynn Bourgeault, new faculty member and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Chair in Gender, Work and Health Human Resources.
“Professor Bourgeault is a tremendous addition to the Telfer School, a researcher who has garnered an international reputation for her work on health professions, health policy and women's health,” said Dean François Julien. “Her appointment enables us to contribute valuable knowledge on the links between gender, work and health and to deepen our research and teaching expertise in health systems management.”
Professor Bourgeault had been with the Faculty of Heath Sciences where she became a prolific researcher and leader in her field. She held the CIHR/Health Canada Chair in Health Human Resource Policy from 2009-2014. “Ms. Bourgeault has been a model applied chair - a key and respected leader in the community and champion of applied health policy research,” said Dr. Robyn Tamblyn, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Health Services and Policy Research.
The new Chair awarded to Ms. Bourgeault is one of nine chairs in gender, work and health established by CIHR. “This new CIHR Chair will support research focusing on addressing critical knowledge gaps in the area of health human resources,” said Dr. Joy Johnson, Scientific Director of the CIHR Institute of Gender, Work and Health. “Ms. Bourgeault’s studies will increase our understanding of how gender influences quality of work, the types of task that are assigned to different health workers, and the movement of health professionals both within Canada and internationally.”
Ms. Bourgeault is the Scientific Director of the pan-Ontario Population Health Improvement Research Network, the Ontario Health Human Resource Research Network and the pan Canadian Health Human Resources Network. She has also developed active research collaborations with faculty at Telfer and she supervises students in the Master of Science in Health Systems Program.
Health systems management at the Telfer School
Long standing relationships with the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Health Sciences (including among others the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences and the School of Nursing), the Institute for Population Health and hospitals in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec have enabled the Telfer School of Management to position itself as a leading centre for expertise in health systems. The Telfer School offers two dedicated graduate-level programs in this area, the MSc (Health Systems) and (celebrating 50 years this May) the Master of Health Administration (MHA).
Photo: Cecilia Van Egmond, Assistant Director, Institute of Health Services and Policy Research, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); Professor Ivy Bourgeault; François Julien, Dean of the Telfer School of Management
The first Telfer Trading Competition took place March 22, 2014 and consisted of an all-day event hosted by Pouya Safi, the Manager of the Financial Research and Learning lab and one of his Lab Assistants, Alex Tyutyunnik. Twenty plus students registered for the event which consisted of a Social Outcry using a proprietary excel macro created by Alex Tyutyunnik of Telfer, and two simulation based cases using the Rotman Interactive Trader software which was recently acquired to complement the Financial Research and Learning Lab. Competitors could either choose to compete individually or in pairs. Upon registration students would receive details on how to download the software and how to access a sample case in order to familiarize themselves with the system. Tutorials were provided in advance of the competition to any students that were interested. The two actual cases, one on arbitrate trading and one on commodities went live on Wednesday before the competition. Competitors were encouraged to formulate a strategy and modify the VBA based spreadsheet to suit their needs and create their buy and sell signals.
The event kicked-off by a brief intro and outline of the day and quickly moved onto the Social Outcry competition. In this portion, students competed individually to gain the highest profit based on the Telfer-500 index, a highly volatile index which simulated 30 days of trading in 20 minutes. The price moved based on news releases that would appear on screen alongside the candle-stick chart. Competitors would yell their bid and ask prices and trade between themselves. The atmosphere was quite exciting as students ran around and mimicked a stock trading floor of old times. Following this event, lunch was served and the competitors moved onto the case based section of the competition. The two cases consisted of an Arbitrage case and a Commodities case. The Arbitrage case consisted of 5 rounds of 5 minutes each and students were required to find arbitrage opportunities due to mispricing between two securities and an index consisting of only these two securities. The commodities case consisted of 2 rounds of 30 minutes each and competitors were required to trade natural gas futures based on news and economic news releases. Many students created their own excel spreadsheet which would calculate inherent mispricing for the arbitrage case and pricing of the futures contracts based on inputs from the news.
Overall winners of the competition were determined using a ranking system in order to minimize speculation profits and encourage those who underperformed in one round. For example, a student who consistently placed in the top five would fare much better overall than a student ranking first in one round and last in the next.
Students were able to see theoretical concepts they've been learning in their finance courses and how they apply in a simulation environment. Adding experiential learning opportunities like these really help strengthen core understanding of our students, better prepare them for real-life scenarios as they enter the job market and give them the best possible student experience while attending the University of Ottawa. The common feedback from students was to see more simulation based cases related to their courses, and to continue to have events like these while opening registration up to students from around the Ottawa region. The Financial Research and Learning Lab is quite excited to start organizing our second Telfer Trading Competition, one that is much bigger and also helps start our preparation for the largest trading competition in the world, the Rotman International Trading Competition.
The student experience has always been a priority for the University of Ottawa. It has been a priority as well for the Micheál J. Kelly Fund, established in 2010 by the Telfer School of Management. The fund seeks to enhance student learning by enabling students to have unforgettable experiences while demonstrating the expertise they’ve developed during their studies.
Since its establishment, the Micheál J. Kelly Fund has allowed numerous Telfer students to take part in competitions held each year in Canada, such as the Jeux du Commerce (JDC), Happening Marketing and Symposium GRH.
Read the full article in the uOttawa Gazette [This link is no longer available]
The Telfer School of Management has launched a new website design.
In addition to the new and improved look, the new website layout is now responsive, which means that the website will automatically adjust to fit any screen size.
More and more people are using our website on mobile devices. These users will now be able to view the entire website on their smartphones.
Users with large displays will also benefit from this new design. The website expands to take up more space on their monitors so they will not be limited to using a small portion of their screen.
The new website is also compliant with the WCAG 2.0 guidelines. By complying with these guidelines, we are ensuring that users with disabilities will be able to access the information.
For the best possible experience, we encourage users to upgrade to the latest version of their browser.
The Telfer School of Management is delighted to announce a new partnership for its International Exchange Program with the University of Hong Kong Faculty of Business Economics.
The University of Hong Kong is Hong Kong’s oldest university and one of the world’s top 30 universities*. It has been educating leaders and producing important research since 1911. The Faculty of Business and Economics has been closely involved in this endeavor. The Faculty of Business and Economics, comprising the School of Business and the School of Economics and Finance, offers a full range of high quality degree programs and serves different business and community needs. Their goal is to educate responsible business leaders for Hong Kong, China and the world.
Their position at the East-West pivot is highly attractive to students from around the world. The faculty boasts:
International joint programs with Fudan University, London Business School and Columbia Business School
Growing numbers of non-local students – almost half of the total non-local student intake of the University of Hong Kong
Nearly half of the academic staff members are international
International accreditation by EQUIS and AACSB
*According to the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2013, the University of Hong Kong ranked 26th in the world.
For more information, please visit www.fbe.hku.hk or the Student Services Centre in DMS 1100.
When Telfer School of Management student George Khalife leaves for the prestigious Rotman International Trading Competition taking place in Toronto February 20 to 22, to compete with five top uOttawa finance students against 50 universities worldwide, he will be better prepared thanks to the school’s new Financial Research and Learning Lab, a joint initiative between Telfer and the uOttawa library.
With the Bloomberg Professional financial network available on nine computer terminals, news and business TV channels on three other screens and a host of seminars, training sessions and workshops, the lab is designed to emulate a professional trading lab, with real-time industry-standard products used in public and private sector financial work environments.
But while physical resources like the lab are useful in their own right, the added support of lab manager Pouya Safi, a Telfer MBA grad himself, further boosts students’ learning. In fact, Khalife credits Safi with his involvement in the upcoming competition. “Pouya does a fantastic job in managing the lab and keeping the students up to date with important competitions, seminars and events.”
For Safi, “The atmosphere and buzz in the lab is truly what makes it special. It really feels like a trading floor, with students shooting ideas around each other, talking about what’s happening in the market and creating new like-minded friends. This is by no means a quiet lab!” He added, “With all the tools available, students can really gain an edge when entering the job market. I’m honoured to be a part of the growth of these bright students as they transform into the leaders of the future and to be continuing to help develop our finance and accounting program into one of the top in country!”
“The terminals are extremely innovative and robust. They enable the user to conduct extensive research on any financial segment, as well as keep up to date with recent news and events,” added Khalife, whose grades and course material comprehension have improved since he started using the lab. “I am very passionate about my field of study and the lab has expanded my enjoyment in ways I cannot describe. I urge all business students to pass by and see what these terminals have to offer us!”
Read the full article online [This link is no longer available]
Telfer students took part in their first JDC Central academic competition on January 24-26. Telfer students placed first overall out of the 5 schools that had only sent a half delegation. The students brought back a third place trophy in the Human Resources Academic Case.
Congratulations to:
Carley Clouthier
Kalina Tsaneva
Brooke Runions
as well as their coaches: David Delcorde, Linda Mouhamou and Matt Archibald.
This success follows shortly on the heels of a tremendous success at les Jeux du Commerce earlier in January. Then, The full delegation of students took home 3rd place overall as well as the Academic Cup for the 6th time in 7 years.
JDC Central is Central Canada’s largest business competition, bringing together over 600 delegates from Canadian business schools in Ontario, Québec and the Maritimes. It was hosted by the University of Guelph, in Guelph, Ontario.
Over 500 students participated in this year’s Telfer Networking Convention on January 21, 2014. This event gives Telfer undergraduate students the opportunity to build their network and connect with potential employers from 25 leading organizations.
Many great connections were made between students and the professionals from the following organizations:
We invite you to participate in this placement process so you can benefit from tomorrow’s future leaders. Telfer Students are available for a placement lasting 15 to 17 weeks between May to August 2014.
The job-posting deadline for the first round of interviews (which runs from February 3 to 14). Postings received after January 31 will be kept for the second round period, which will begin on February 24.
Key Dates can be found at: CO-OP Summer 2014 key dates [This link is no longer available].
For more information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 613-562-5741.
QS Top MBA released its 2013-14 Business School Report. To create this ranking, QS surveyed top employers and asked them from what schools they would like to recruit MBA graduates. The Telfer School of Management emerged as one of the elite regional schools and earned a spot among the top 15 best MBA programs in the nation.
The International Career Mentorship Program is a career mentorship program for Telfer School of Management international students in their 3rd and 4th year of study. This program is designed to help international students make the transition into careers in Canada after graduation. Mentors work with students on a variety of topics in professional development such as, but not limited to, job search tools and strategies, resume building, interview techniques, workplace culture, professional terminology and communication skills, leadership and confidence building, etc.
The program was launched on October 29, 2013, with a meet and greet event which allowed students and mentors to network. The event was a great success.
The Telfer School of Management is actively seeking new mentors for the 2014-2015 academic year. If you are interested in being a mentor, please contact Kimberley Barclay, Relationship Manager, Career Centre at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Sophia Leong, Director of the Telfer Executive MBA program, represented the Telfer School at Startup Canada Day on the Hill on November 21, 2013. The theme of Startup Canada Day on the Hill - Entrepreneurship Empowers Everyone – was amplified by the line-up of prominent speakers at yesterday’s event. This event was hosted in partnership with Minister of State for Small Business, the Honorable Maxime Bernier, and drew closed to 800 attendees throughout the day. The day started with Sir Terry Matthews and punctuated throughout the event with discussions on all aspects of entrepreneurship by leaders from three main pillars of entrepreneurship – government, industries and academia. The evening culminated with lessons from Brett Wilson, one of the dragons from the CBC’s hit series ‘Dragons’ Den’. Three words unified the ideas throughout an intense day of activities - movement, collaboration, and culture.
“Entrepreneurship needs to be a movement”, and reinforced by Telfer Executive MBA Director Sophia Leong during the afternoon panel. She emphasized a call to action, “Let’s stop just talking and let’s start doing”.
Entrepreneurship needs collaboration. The focus of Startup Canada is to bring together all innovative activities and innovative hubs to collaborate on an unified platform with a focus on creating an effective entrepreneurial ecosystems where entrepreneurial activities are well supported and promoted by the three main pillars of entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship needs to be a culture. Start Up Canada is a step in the right direction for getting the movement started. In order to promote the culture, conversations on entrepreneurship needs to start at a young age. Children need to be empowered with an entrepreneurial mindsets at school and around dinner tables. Furthermore, children need to see entrepreneurship as a viable ‘occupation’ as they grow into young adults.
Professor Sandra Schillo’s collaboration with the research organization Fraunhofer is translating into new opportunities for knowledge exchange between Canada and Germany on science and innovation systems. Schillo, assistant professor in innovation and entrepreneurship at the Telfer School of Management, and her counterpart Rainer Frietsch of the Fraunhofer ISI, were co-organizers of the workshop “Science Systems in Canada and Germany: Structures, Policies and Changes” in Berlin on November 29. It was hosted by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research and held at the Canadian Embassy in connection with the 22nd Meeting of the German – Canadian Commission for Scientific and Technological Cooperation.
Workshop participants heard presentations from, among others, Mona Nemer, Vice-Dean Research at the University of Ottawa; Elizabeth Dowdeswell. O.C., President and CEO of the Council of Canadian Academies, Mo Elbestawi, VP Research and International Affairs at McMaster University; and experts from the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft and the German Science Council. The panel discussions led to valuable dialogue on what makes Canada and Germany similar or different – or even distinctive – with regard to research environments, science in universities, assessment of science and innovation, science and technology priorities and science policy, and technology transfer. Also on the agenda were the models of collaboration that Canada and other countries have developed with the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft – Europe’s largest applied-research organization, with institutes spread throughout Germany.
The workshop identified the paramount importance of internationalization strategies and joint programs; framework conditions for research organizations; optimization of existing partnerships; adaptation to new frameworks for innovation within the academic system, and new approaches to the assessment of science and innovation. The opportunity to share knowledge on these issues and to further develop the Fraunhofer-Telfer School of Management-University of Ottawa partnership will be explored in a follow up workshop planned for spring 2014 in Ottawa.
Sandra Schillo joined the Telfer School in 2012 and her work focuses on the challenges of public research systems. She completed her doctoral studies at the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, University of Kiel, Germany. She obtained her Masters' degree in Engineering Management from the University of Karlsruhe, Germany.
The International Youth Fellowship Program, sponsored by AKFC in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), is designed to develop leadership and management skills and promote learning for outstanding young Canadians who have a desire and an aptitude to work effectively in a global environment. The International Youth Fellowship Program builds on twenty-four years of success in which more than 250 university graduates have received focused study and practical experience that has enabled them to pursue leadership positions in their chosen fields. The program, designed as a stepping stone for careers in international development, has proven attractive to young Canadians from a wide variety of disciplines—including law, engineering, journalism, education, business and public administration, and development studies—wishing to embark on global careers. Each Fellow will spend eight months in a country in Africa or Asia working with agencies and partners of the Aga Khan Development Network, one of the world’s largest and most respected international development agencies. Potential host countries include Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Egypt, India, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Deadline for applications to the program is February 1, 2014.
Professor Doug Angus participated last month in a workshop on “Franchising in Health” at the Centre for Innovation in Health Management (CIHM) at Leeds University in the U.K. The complexity and variety of services offered within a health organisation point to the need for business models to support them effectively. This workshop is part of a new program of work exploring the potential of franchising – an idea mostly experienced in the retail sector –as a model for ensuring quality and spreading innovation. A follow-up workshop is planned for spring 2014.
Full Professor at the Telfer School of Management with expertise in health economics and health policy, Doug Angus teaches in the M.H.A. and M.Sc. Health Systems programs. He has research activities at the international, national, provincial and regional levels in areas related to health economics, health policy, program evaluation and health care management.
There was a buzz in the air on November 5, 2013 when close to 100 business professionals, MBA students and alumni gathered for the fourth annual MBA Networking Reception. This event gives MBA students the opportunity to build their network and connect with potential employers.
Many great connections were made between students and professionals from the following organizations:
A Hundred Answers
Avison Young
BMO – Bank of Montreal
Canada Post
CGI
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Deloitte
Ernst & Young, LLP
Export Development Canada
Gartner, Inc.
IBM
Independent Planning Group
International Datacasting
Nordicity
Office of the Comptroller General of Canada
PPP Canada
RBC – Royal Bank of Canada
Scotiabank
Shopify
TD Bank Group
Telfer School of Management MBA Alumni Association
A unique initiative to develop and make use of our francophone MBA students’ marketing know-how to support the economic growth of developing countries has recently led to the presentation of an export marketing plan for a Honduran company. Members of the Honduran embassy, including Her Excellency the Ambassador, Sofia Cerrato, Consul Hector Ramirez and the Ambassador’s spouse, Mr. Alfonso Fonseka, honoured us with their presence during the presentation of the marketing plan for the Honduran company Fabrica Especias Don Julio, developed by the MBA team tasked with studying the potential of their spicy sauces in Canada.
Over the last twenty years, students taking part in the strategic marketing course of the francophone MBA program have contributed their skills to job creation and poverty relief in developing countries, applying advanced marketing concepts to real business situations. Initiated in 1993 by Professor Georges Hénault, now Professor Emeritus at the Telfer School of Management, a collaborative partnership was established between the strategic marketing course offered as part of the francophone MBA at the Telfer School of Management of the University of Ottawa and TFO Canada (This non-governmental non-profit organization facilitates access to the Canadian market and shares Canadian business expertise to benefit small exporters in developing countries).
Providing appropriate Canadian market penetration strategies
This unique collaborative venture presents students with cases of real businesses operating in developing and emerging economies that wish to export to Canada. As part of their term project, students develop an export marketing plan that consists of: 1) acquiring a good understanding of the company’s skills and context; 2) preparing a thorough analysis of the Canadian market for the targeted goods and services through a study of relevant documents and interviews with importers, wholesalers and retailers; 3) developing a Canadian market penetration plan for the company that includes a segmentation, targeting and positioning strategy appropriate for the goods or services as well as tactics of the marketing mix; 4) proposing an implementation plan and control measures.
Taken over in 2006 by Professor Martine Spence after the retirement of Professor Hénault, this partnership has existed for two decades thanks to the vision of TFO Canada representatives, especially Lidia Karamaoun who has been involved since the very beginning as a project manager, and of professors who saw it as both as a unique learning opportunity and as a way for students to gain experience while at the same time contributing to the economic and social development of these countries. Although there has not always been systematic follow-up with the companies involved, some have clearly benefited from implementing the students’ recommendations.
Over the years, various goods and services from a number of Latin American, Asian and African countries have been studied. This year, marketing plans have focused on spicy sauces from Honduras, honey from Indonesia, handmade embroidered bead bags from Haiti and cut roses from Ecuador.
Photo: Mr. Alfonso Fonseka, Professor Martine Spence, Geneviève Boudreau, Her Excellency Sofia Cerrato Ambassador of Honduras, Judith Ferreira Cunha, André Breault, Esther Brice, Christian Beaulé, Mr. Hector Ramirez, Consul of Honduras.
It’s not just business as usual for the Telfer BCom program this fall. Our first year students will be given the opportunity to get great practical insight from leaders, and to meet CEOs as part of their studies. The Telfer School is pleased to welcome the following 7 CEO’s in Residence:
On Wednesday, October 2, 2013, the Telfer School of Management, in partnership with the Association des MBA du Québec (AMBAQ) and the Regroupement des gens d’affaires (RGA), welcomed François Lambert, President of Impulse Capital, for a lunchtime lecture. A successful businessman, Lambert has become known not only for his many entrepreneurial ventures, but also for his role on the Radio-Canada show “Dans l’oeil du dragon”, where he meets with aspiring entrepreneurs hoping to receive financing for their business ideas.
During his presentation, Lambert described his journey to success through perseverance. He left his audience with some of his key secrets for getting ahead in business.
Early risers are often more successful: having a plan for your day will allow you to be productive. Know what your day has in store and make checklists.
Focus: know what needs to be done and be ready to drop everything to focus on your business.
Seize the opportunities: someone else may also have the same idea. When an opportunity presents itself, don’t be afraid to commit. It's important to think big, but start small.
Learn when to say no: if you don’t have the time, say no. You can and will say yes the other 97% of the time.
Be transparent: treat your clients with respect, be open with them and make sure that they know what they should know.
This presentation on Key Success Factors in Business was the first in the 2013-14 series of Telfer MBA Conferences, which is open to students, faculty, staff and alumni from all faculties and to members of the Ottawa business community.
It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Paul Desmarais, a great friend of the University of Ottawa and one of our most illustrious alumni.
A true giant of Canadian business and Canadian society, Mr. Desmarais was deeply committed to giving back to his country and community. He will be missed.
Paul Desmarais maintained a strong personal relationship with his alma mater. He was honourary chair of the University’s first capital campaign and supported several professorships at the Telfer School of Management. His contribution to the Desmarais Building is a tribute to his generous and innovative spirit.
Mr. Desmarais always spoke proudly of the family’s strong ties to the university where his father, wife, siblings and grandchildren also studied. On behalf of the entire University of Ottawa community, I am joined by our Chancellor, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, in expressing our most heartfelt condolences to the Desmarais family in this sad time.
Sincerely,
Allan Rock
President and Vice-Chancellor
The University’s flags are being flown at half-mast in honour of Mr. Desmarais.
The 2013-14 MHA class recently had is its first Bear Pit session with Deputy Minister Saäd Rafi. This presentation, from the perspective of the highest organizational level of our health system, provided students with insights into these foundation competencies through a better understanding of the vision of the Ontario Government for Health and the challenges it faces in implementation. It aimed not only to create a better understanding of our healthcare system and its future but also to allow students to refine their knowledge and better focus their own career plans and professional development activities in Health Leadership and Management.
About Deputy Minister Saäd Rafi
Saäd Rafi was appointed Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, effective Feb. 16, 2010. Most recently, Mr. Rafi was Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. Previously, he was National Infrastructure Advisory and Project Finance Practice Leader at Deloitte & Touche LLP. Mr. Rafi formerly served the Ontario Government as the Deputy Minister of Transportation and the Deputy Minister of Community Safety. He was seconded to the Ontario SuperBuild Corporation, Ministry of Finance, as Vice President, Public/Private Partnerships. He has held a number of senior management positions in the Ministry of Transportation, Cabinet Office, and the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism.
On September 19th, Telfer’s Centre for Executive Leadership successfully hosted the launching event for the Ottawa Chapter of the Latin American MBA Alumni network (LAMBA).
The event congregated distinguished panelists such as: Sylvain Fabi, Director of North American Relations & Policy Division for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development; Alvaro Pombo, MBA (Telfer), CEO & Founder of Pronto Forms, Nadia Avila Lopez, Senior Associate, International Business Development Group, South America for Export Development Canada (EDC) and Sophia Leong, Director of the Telfer Executive MBA Program. The panel was moderated by the Telfer School's Executive in Residence and Professor, Marvin Hough, MBA.
The conference was organized by the MBA team leading the Ottawa Chapter of LAMBA: Angela Valdes, Ana Cerrato, David Serpa, Diego Aguirre Orué and Rodrigo Delgado. Besides that, two of LAMBA’s Vice Presidents were present at the event to supporting the launch of the first chapter of the association in Canada.
The occasion brought together approximately 70 guests from various educational, professional and cultural backgrounds with an interest in learning about Canada-Latin America commercial relations. The subsequent networking session allowed participants to meet each other and interchange perspectives on career success in Canada and potential trade opportunities in Latin America.
This event was kindly sponsored by Telfer’s Centre for Executive Leadership, Telfer’s EMBA program, CIBC, TD, KPMG, RBC, as well as Scotiabank.
About LAMBA: The Latin American MBA Alumni Network (LAMBA), based out of Toronto, is a professional association seeking to connect Latin American MBA graduates with one another and with corporations in Canada. Its focus is to integrate and provide networking opportunities among Latin American MBA graduates in Canada; to provide assistance to Latin American MBA graduates in their professional and career development; and to foster relationships between leading Canadian companies and Latin American MBA graduates.
About LAMBA Ottawa Chapter: The newly organized LAMBA Ottawa Chapter follows the mission of LAMBA while leveraging the resources and networks found in Canada’s capital. It is the goal of the Chapter to provide value to its members by supporting their career development efforts and by supporting the promotion of Latin American-Canada trade relationships.
Professor Umar Ruhi was the Keynote Speaker at the International Research Conference on E-Business Management (IRCEBM 2013) held in Dubai, UAE. Professor Ruhi is currently on an international research trip delivering keynote lectures and plenary talks at various conferences in the Middle East and Europe.
His talk in Dubai was titled “Unraveling the Next Generation Enterprise: Emergent Operating Models & Technology Architectures”.
Professor Ruhi’s talk focused on the current reality for Next-Generation Enterprises that comprise a sophisticated landscape of post-digital technologies such as social computing, mobile technologies, cloud infrastructures, and advanced analytics applications.
His presentation provided a synopsis of the evolution of these technologies and guiding principles for their effective implementation in organizations. During his talk, he also highlighted the strategic and tactical impact of these technologies on business models, workflow processes and technology architectures. Professor Ruhi highlighted his own perspectives on the subject matter and also talked about objectives and outcomes of related research initiatives currently in-progress. Industry examples and vignettes were used to demonstrate compelling benefits and results from various organizations and to underscore key takeaways for various business functions and management practices.
The presentation concluded with a proposed agenda for academic research. A preliminary list of key research questions pertaining to the purposeful prioritization, implementation and sustainability of new technologies were outlined.
Dean Francois Julien is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Dan Moorcroft as Chair of the Telfer Dean’s Advisory Board. Dan is a graduate of the EMBA program and the founder and CEO of QMR Consulting and Professional Staffing. Outgoing Chair Michael McFaul, a partner at Deloitte, ended his mandate in May 2013.
In addition, Warren Bell, a graduate of the School’s BCom program and Executive Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer at OMERS has been appointed Chair of the Toronto Regional Advisory Board. The Toronto Board welcomes new member Audrey Robinson, Chief Investment Officer, WaterStreet Family Capital Counsel Inc. In Montreal, Frederic Michel, MBA graduate and Director, Risk Assessment and Operational Audit, Yellow Media Inc. will be Chair of the Montreal Regional Advisory Board. In Montreal, we welcome three new members of the Board, Darcy Ferron, Vice-President, Trade Finance, BMO Capital Markets, Mathieu Cloutier, Vice-President & General Manager, TANK and Suzanne Benoit, President, Aéro Montréal.
Our recently created Hong Kong Advisory Board is comprised of three initial members, Chair Joe Attrux, CEO, Harris Fraser, Joseph Lau, Director, Rockhound Limited and William Chan, Managing Director, ScotWork.
Professor Richard Clayman is the host of a new TV series, that he designed himself, as part of the Rogers-TV 22 new Fall 2013 line-up community programming. The series, entitled “Unlocking the Leadership Door”, features interviews with some of Ottawa’s most respected leaders from all walks of life focusing on leadership success in medicine, education, family-owned business, sports & entertainment, governance and high-tech innovation. It was designed on the concept that effective leadership – regardless of whether the organization is private business, not-for-profit or other – is fueled by certain essential ingredients. Utilizing interviews with successful Ottawa leaders, the goal of the series to showcase a wide array of those leadership behaviors and attitudes, and present them in such a way as to make them transferable lessons for any viewer.
Professor Clayman first started to contemplate launching his TV show when he heard about Rogers’ MyShow project, which invited member of the audience to submit ideas for new shows. He understood this would enable him to go beyond his usual classroom setting and reach a wider audience. He decided to do some research on TV proposals and got in touch with Rogers to discuss his idea.
When asked about what he is hoping to achieve with this new initiative, he admits that “too often these days, we hear disparaging news about leaders of all types. Rogers-TV believed in a project that not only teaches, but showcases the many successful leadership stories that are right here in our community. Hopefully, it will inspire leaders of all stripes to recommit to what it takes to demonstrate effective, sustainable leadership”.
The series started on September 26 with guests from the Ottawa Heart Institute.
Award-winning columnist and author Roy MacGregor shared his perspectives and stories on Canada and the multi-faceted Canadian identity as a special guest in the Father Edgar Thivierge Speaker Series on September 10. Mr. MacGregor provided an insightful and entertaining presentation on Canada based on his experiences of Canada, its contradictions and identity and his many years of visiting, reporting on and learning about Canada from coast to coast to coast. Mr. MacGregor focused on “resourcefulness” as a key aspect of Canadian identity, and also the notion that we are more Canadian – and united – when away from home.
The lecture was followed by a lively question-and-answer session with the audience. In response to a question, Mr. MacGregor, who is also an acclaimed sportswriter who has received many awards for his hockey books, gave his prediction on which countries would reach the medal podium in hockey at the Sochi Olympics: Russia, U.S.A, and Canada.
About the speaker:
Author of nearly 40 books, Mr. MacGregor was made an Officer in the Order of Canada in 2005. The Order of Canada citation called him “one of our most gifted storytellers… renowned for evoking the subtle nuances of our Canadian identity in his columns and books.” Mr. MacGregor’s many books include A Life in the Bush, winner of the U.S. Rutstrum Award for Best Wilderness Book and the CAA Award for Biography, and the best-seller, Canadians: A Portrait of A Country and Its People. His highly-praised political book, Chief, examines the James Bay Cree’s struggle against the James Bay hydro-electric project.
Mr. MacGregor has won numerous awards for his journalism. He is a regular columnist with the The Globe and Mail who has also worked for the National Post, the Ottawa Citizen, Maclean’s, and the Toronto Star, including many years covering Parliament Hill.
About the Father Edgar Thivierge Speaker Series:
The series provides an opportunity to learn about the historic contexts that shape Canada with the support of the Father Edgar Thivierge Chair in Business History at the Telfer School of Management held by Professor Cheryl S. McWatters. Past speakers in the series were the Right Honourable Paul Martin, Dr. Dilfuza Kasimova of Hitotsubashi University, Tokyo and Dr. Frank Tough of the University of Alberta.
The Thivierge Chair was created in 2011 thanks to an anonymous donation to the Telfer School. The Chair has enabled Dr. McWatters to develop of new curricula for students to add historical context to their exploration of management and to lead a research program in Canadian business history as it applies to management in the private, public and non-profit sectors.
The Telfer School is proud to be the lead sponsor for the Best Ottawa Business Awards. The event is organised by the Ottawa Business Journal and the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce and will take place on November 21, 2013 at the Ottawa Convention Centre.
Each year, companies are nominated for their contributions to Ottawa’s success. Companies from all sectors are honoured. Recipients are linked by their innovation, drive, creativity and their passion for doing business in Ottawa. Over 500 awards have been presented so far, in the proud presence of peers and senior political leaders representing Ottawa
The IBM Centre for Business Analytics and Performance (CBAP) at the Telfer School of Management and IQAnalytics host an evening of discussion on the topic of analytics on September 11. This event offers a forum for anyone interested in applying analytics in organizations to discuss ideas, present solutions, and receive feedback and advice.
Professor Greg Richards, Director, IBM Centre for Business Analytics and Performance (CBAP) and Eduardo Rodriguez Taborda, Principal, IQAnalytics will lead off the evening with their introduction, “What Is Analytics? An Amorphous Monster.”
This will be followed by a presentation by Albert Simard, “Competitive Intelligence: An Island of Structure in an Unstructured Ocean.” Dr. Simard is Knowledge Manager for the Centre for Security Science in Defence Research & Development Canada. His previous roles have included Director - Modeling Framework at Canadian Food Inspection Agency; Director, Knowledge Strategies Natural Resources Canada; and Director, Knowledge Management and NRCan Science Advisor.
CBAP, a collaboration of the University of Ottawa and IBM, supports research and curriculum development in the domains of Business Analytics (BA), Business Intelligence (BI), and Performance Management (PM).
Time and location: Wednesday, September 11, 2013, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. | Telfer School of Management, Desmarais Building, DMS 7170. Please register online by September 9.
Canadian companies were encouraged to route through Hong Kong to the vibrant and rapidly growing Chinese and Asian markets at the 2013 National Hong Kong Canada Business Forum held in Ottawa on June 14th.
About 300 people attended the “Think Asia, Think Hong Kong” business forum organized by the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA) and supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO). Participants included delegates from the eight sections of the HKCBA, from Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax and Ottawa as well as visiting officials from Hong Kong and Mainland China.
The Telfer School was a prominent participant as one of the Forum’s sponsors and collaborators. Marvin Hough, Executive in Residence and HKCBA Ottawa’s Vice President spearheaded the Telfer School’s participation by assisting in organizing the Forum and moderating one of the Panels. Sophia Leong, Director of the Executive MBA program and Mike Miles, Director of the MBA program each played key roles as panelists at the Forum underscoring that the Telfer School is closely monitoring and engaging in the Hong Kong and Mainland China markets.
The Telfer School’s participation also included attendance by 18 of our first year Executive MBA class who will undertake their international business consulting projects in Guangzhou next spring. The Forum served as an excellent window into the opportunities and challenges in doing business in Hong Kong and the broader Pearl River Delta region encompassing Guangzhou As Marvin Hough noted “our key messages at the Telfer Executive MBA is that our program is global, practical and relevant. Hong Kong exemplifies all of these factors as we look ahead for our students, graduates and Canadian executives and therefore we are very excited about being engaged with Hong Kong”
At the Forum, Alain Doucet, Assistant Dean, External Relations also carried the message that Hong Kong represents an important destination for the Telfer School’s experiential learning initiatives and that growing opportunities for student placements and exchanges are materializing as the School continues to leverage key alumni and other relationships in Hong Kong.
Over the past two decades, the Hong Kong economy has more than doubled in size with the GDP growing at an average of 4.5 per cent for the past 10 years in real terms.
A key message at the Forum was that Hong Kong is the right platform to access the fast growing markets in Mainland China and other parts of Asia, as well as a gateway for Mainland enterprises to go global. There are now 737 Mainland companies listed on Hong Kong stock exchange, while more than 800 Mainland companies have set up regional operations or local offices in Hong Kong.
Marvin Hough emphasized that Hong Kong “is a world city in Asia and a hub for trading, logistics and financial services in the region. It is not just a trade middleman, but a multiplier for capital and services in the region.”
The Forum also highlighted the advantages of Hong Kong including – common law legal system, independent judiciary, financial system, clean government, independent anti-corruption authority, level playing field, simple and low tax regime, as well as strong protection of intellectual property rights.
Canadian businesses were urged not to miss the boat with the rapidly growing wealth in Asia. By 2025, it is projected that the Asian consuming class will increase to more than two billion people who will account for one third of global consumption.
The messages at the Forum were endorsed by Chinese Ambassador Zhang Junsai in his speech at the business forum. The Ambassador said that the Canadian Government has made Asia a “key priority” in its trade and economic diversification strategy. “Hong Kong has naturally attracted greater attention here as a financial, trade and shipping centre,” he said.
The Ambassador said Hong Kong is expected to play a bigger part in China-Canada Strategic Partnership. “The increasing market integration between Hong Kong and the Mainland has provided good opportunities for Canadian companies targeting the Mainland,” said Ambassador Zhang. “Canada can team up better with Hong Kong in participating in the economic transformation of Mainland China.”
The Telfer School was very pleased to play a prominent and multi-faceted role at the Forum and will continue to recognize and draw on the pivotal role that Hong Kong plays in the Asian region’s continued economic development.
It is with immense sadness that the Telfer School of Management announces that Professor Peter Koppel passed away on Sunday, June 9, 2013 leaving his wife Ann Koppel to honour his legacy.
The Telfer School hosted a Memorial Service on Monday, June 24. We would like to thank all those who attended the service and who shared their many fond memories of Professor Koppel.
In 1984 Professor Koppel entered the teaching profession on a full-time basis after thirteen years in the financial services industry. Having taught on a part-time basis prior to 1984, he began to realize that his true passion in life was not sitting in an office, but rather in the academic community where he felt he could truly make a difference in peoples’ lives. He left his senior management role and entered academia. For twenty-seven years, Professor Koppel taught in the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa. He has instructed over 60,000 students, consistently maintaining one of the highest evaluation rankings from students in the School and has, in fact, been named by McLean’s Magazine as one of the University’s best liked professors for eight consecutive years. In 2007, he was named one of the finalists in TV Ontario’s Lecturer of the Year Award Competition in the Province of Ontario.
In addition to his full-time teaching, Professor Koppel has served as the Director of the Undergraduate Program at the Telfer School of Management for thirteen years and also served as the School’s Assistant Dean of Student Services during the last eight years before his retirement. He is remembered for establishing the Telfer School’s Mentorship Program for first-year students, designed to ease the transition into university life, creating a Teaching Assistant Program to assist students in first and second year Management courses, being one of the founders of the local chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, the honour society of AACSB accredited management schools, the Mindtrust Leadership Program held in partnership with Carleton University, and the National Leadership Challenge.
In addition to the above programs, he founded and was the visionary behind the Telfer School of Management’s student funded Career Centre, which has been actively assisting students in the development of their careers for more than a decade. This Centre now employs ten professionals and is recognized as one of the most successful and innovative University Career Centres in all of Canada.
Professor Koppel felt strongly about developing a well-rounded management graduate. He stressed the need for the manager to understand the dynamic environment within which he/she will do business. Ethics and social responsibility, honour, integrity, and trust are values he professed. While encouraging his students to be involved in community and social issues, he himself was actively involved both on the stage and behind the scenes while participating in the management students’ charitable organization, CASCO in its annual fund-raising show for CHEO. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Ottawa Youth Centre, has sat on the Province of Ontario’s Courts Management Board and was a member of the selection committee for Justices of the Peace. He was active in teaching senior police administrators from all over the world for fifteen years at the Canadian Police College.
Professor Koppel retired in 2011 after twenty-seven years of devoted service to the University of Ottawa.
United Way Ottawa and partners with the Employment Accessibility Resource Network (EARN) announced that they secured a $142,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The grant, to be distributed over three years, will support EARN’s work that brings employers and service providers together with the goal of increasing employment opportunities for people with disabilities in Ottawa. The funding will build EARN’s capacity to reach out to more employers, provide additional networking sessions, enhance EARN’s annual conference and support the creation of assessment tools to measure the results of EARN’s work.
“The Ontario Trillium Foundation provides grants that have a direct impact on communities across the province and I’m pleased to see that these funds will support such important work here in Ottawa,” said Madeleine Meilleur, Ontario's Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs and the Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier. “I would like to thank United Way and the partners of EARN for working so hard to make a difference in the lives of people in our community. It is truly important work that is making our city a better place for everyone.”
Already, EARN has more than 30 partners, in the public, private and non-profit sectors, that have worked together to connect more than 85 people with disabilities with a job in Ottawa.
Through EARN, organizations that provide employment supports for people with disabilities link employers with this often untapped pool of talent. Employers gain the benefits of fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, while enabling people with disabilities to fully participate in their community.
“The work we are doing through EARN is invaluable. It is changing how people view disability in our community,” said Kelly Mertl, Chair of EARN Employer Group, and Specialist, Talent Management, Hydro Ottawa. “With this new funding, we will open more doors for people with disabilities in workplaces across Ottawa.”
“Many employers are not aware of the resources available to help them to hire, accommodate and retain employees with disabilities,” said Brian Carriere, Chair of EARN Steering Committee and Relationship Manager, Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa. “There are also many myths and misconceptions about the costs of accommodating people with disabilities. But thanks to EARN, workplaces come to realize that people with disabilities are talented and dedicated employees. In many cases, they are among the best employees.
Only 43 percent of people with disabilities in Ottawa participate in the labour market – compared with 70 percent of the general population. In addition, one in six people with disabilities live below the poverty line. By providing employment opportunities, EARN provides a pathway out of poverty for people with disabilities.
“United Way strives to bring the right people, organizations and skills to the table to tackle our city’s most pressing problems,” said Jamie McCracken, Chair, Board of Directors, United Way. “Today, the Ontario Trillium Foundation joined us and our partners in supporting EARN’s important work. Together, we will build on the success of this community-wide initiative aimed at removing all the obstacles that stand in the way of people with disabilities finding jobs in our community.”
About EARN:
Launched in 2011, the Employment Accessibility Resource Network (EARN) is a United Way-led community-wide initiative that brings together employers and service providers with a goal of increasing opportunities for meaningful employment for people with disabilities. To achieve this goal, EARN is implementing three key strategies: to increase service provider coordination, to engage employers and to create a system that matches talented people with employers. EARN’s partners include: Access Infinity Management; Algonquin College; Canadian Mental Health Association; Canadian Security Intelligence Service; City of Ottawa; Causeway Work Centre; Enterprise Holdings, Graybridge Malkam; LiveWorkPlay; Ministry of Community and Social Services; Ottawa Independent Living Resource Centre; Performance Plus Rehabilitative Care Inc.; ScotiaBank; Service Canada; TD Canada Trust; Telfer School of Management, the University of Ottawa and United Way Ottawa.
About United Way:
United Way Ottawa’s mission is to bring people and resources together to build a strong, healthy, safe community for all. We are best known for our work raising and distributing funds to community agencies that help people. But our true business is engagement, providing ways for contributors — be they donors, partners or others — to achieve their aspirations for our community through United Way. Our purpose is to improve people’s lives today and to create enduring, measurable and meaningful social change in our community.
About 0ntario Trillium Foundation:
A leading grantmaker in Canada, the Ontario Trillium Foundation strengthens the capacity of the voluntary sector through investments in community-based initiatives. An agency of the Government of Ontario, OTF builds healthy and vibrant communities. For more information about the Ontario Trillium Foundation, visit www.otf.ca
For more information, please contact:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Manager, Media Relations, United Way Ottawa
Mobile: 613-294-8128.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Communications Officer, Event Planning, Ontario Trillium Foundation
Phone: 1-800-263-2887 ext. 213; E-mail.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Executive Assistant, Madeleine Meilleur, MPP for Ottawa-Vanier
Phone: 613-744-4484.
Read the full press release [This link is no longer available] from United Way for more details.
Professor Frank Tough delivered the May 2013 Father Edgar Thivierge Speaker Series Lecture to a packed audience of students and professors from the University of Ottawa — the Telfer School of Management, the Department of History, the School of Political Studies, and the Faculty of Law — and guests from the Federal Government. Professor of Native Studies and adjunct professor with the Department of Rural Economy at the University of Alberta, Professor Tough provided a fascinating historical perspective on the Supreme Court of Canada’s landmark ruling in Manitoba Metis Federation Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General), 2013. Tough discussed how the historical background can be examined to assess the “honour of the Crown” in reconciling the assertion of Canadian sovereignty/the settlement of the prairie west with Métis entitlements. The lecture was followed by a lively question-and-answer session with the audience.
Professor Cheryl S. McWatters is the Father Edgar Thivierge Chair in Business History at the Telfer School of Management (cross-appointment to the Department of History, Faculty of Arts). The Father Edgar Thivierge Speaker Series provides an opportunity to learn about the historic contexts that shape Canada’s economy and society. The first speaker in the series was the Right Honourable Paul Martin, who in April 2012 spoke to students in Dr. McWatters’s MBA course, The Global Context of Business: Merchants, Traders, Capitalists and Profit Seekers.
We are pleased to announce a new and improved version of our Linked with Leadership Portal, our web site dedicated to the Telfer School of Management’s brand. We’ve merged the portal with the myTelfer.ca microsite concept that was launched a couple of years ago to further young alumni engagement.
Now simply renamed "myTelfer.ca", the Linked with Leadership web portal showcases our school’s brand in a dynamic and interactive fashion, and allows alumni to reconnect with the Telfer School.
Alumni can browse recent news segmented by categories, get information on upcoming events, update their contact information, submit their "leader" profile for the Leaders@Telfer interactive map and find out how they can get involved and donate to the Telfer school.
Visitors to the site can also see where our alumni are located around the world and find out more about the Telfer brand through videos and social media.
Telfer’s Centre for Executive Leadership is pleased to announce that it is now accepting registrations for its third cohort of “Improving Quality and Patient Safety: The Physician Leadership Program”. The Centre will be celebrating the second cohort of graduates in May of 2013 and is very pleased with the success of the program and the feedback received from past graduates. The program is the result of a partnership between the Telfer School of Management and The Ottawa Hospital.
The Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa has maintained its business accreditation by AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Founded in 1916, AACSB International is the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools that offer undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in business and accounting. AACSB Accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education, and has been earned by less than five percent of the world's business programs. Today, there are 650 business schools in 50 countries and territories that maintain AACSB Accreditation.
"This is absolutely fantastic news and I and thrilled and very proud! On behalf of the Telfer School of Management, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the AACSB re-accreditation process and to this success." said François Julien, Dean of the Telfer School. "Maintaining our AACSB accreditation confirms that the Telfer School of Management meets the highest international standards of excellence and continuous improvement. Successfully maintaining our triple crown of international business school accreditations – AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA – is also a clear demonstration of our passion for excellence and of the commitment of all the members of the Telfer community."
"It takes a great deal of commitment and determination to earn and maintain AACSB Accreditation," said Robert D. Reid, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. "Business schools must not only meet specific standards of excellence, but their deans, faculty, and professional staff must make a commitment to ongoing continuous improvement to ensure that the institution will continue to deliver the highest quality of education to students."
Having also successfully maintained the EQUIS accreditation last December 2012, the Telfer School remains one of only two business school in Canada to have achieved the triple crown of business school accreditations. There are only 50 schools worldwide that have obtained this prestigious recognition.
The Telfer School of Management was initially awarded AACSB accreditation in 2003.
The Telfer Career Centre was created in 2003. It is dedicated to providing career development support to students and alumni at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The career development programs are tailored to each group as well as the additional services offered to enhance their personal and professional growth.
On Tuesday, March 19, 2013, the Telfer Career Centre celebrated its 10th year anniversary with 196 employers, alumni, faculty and staff and current students of the Telfer School of Management that participated in several programs of the Career Centre.
During this event, Dean Julien highlighted the hard work and enthusiasm of a dedicated Career Centre team, including the founder of the Career Centre, Peter Koppel, who retired two years ago.
The Career Centre Commitment Award were also presented to six alumni who have made a meaningful contribution over the last 10 years by participating in a combination of activities such as the Career Centre Advisory Board, Telfer conventions, mock interviews, résumé critiques, workshops, as well as mentoring students and contributing to the development of unique initiatives like the Capital Markets Mentorship program
The Career Centre Commitment Award recipients were:
Sébastien Dignard, Xerox Canada
Tuan Nguyen, Health Genie Group
Greg Tarasco, Blue Print Energy
Angela Vanikiotis, Pêches et Océans Canada/ Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Gene Villeneuve, IBM
François Villeneuve, Exportation et développement Canada/Export Development Canada
A special thank you was given to all employers that actively participate every year in various activities as part of the Career Development Program such as information sessions, workshops, career conventions, mentoring, and other recruiting activities.
The twenty-five dynamic and motivated students that volunteer at the Career Centre, the students who have successfully completed the Career Development Program, the Connexions Program, the Internship Program and Capital Market Mentor Program were also highlighted.
The presentations ended by blowing the candles of a three-tier Anniversary cake and presenting Sylvie Séguin-Jak, the Director of the Student Services Centre/Career Centre with a bouquet of flowers and a commemorative frame.
The rest of the evening was reserved for networking among guests.
The Telfer School of Management is happy to announce a new partnership for its International Exchange Program with the:
The University of South Australia (UniSA) is the largest university in South Australia with over 34,000 students. Approximately a third of these students are from international locations. UniSA offers the most diverse educational menu in South Australia. The City West campus on North Terrace is located at the western edge of Adelaide’s central business district, an area famous for its hip cafes, eclectic live music venues, alternative fashion, and bookstores.
The Division of Business offers programs across business and management disciplines and houses five schools: Commerce, Law, Management, Marketing and the International Graduate School of Business.
It is also one of only eight business schools in Australia accredited by the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS) and is home to UniSA’s prestigious five-star ranked MBA program.
For more information, please visit www.unisa.edu.au/Business and the Student Services Centre, DMS 1100.
The Telfer School of Management is happy to announce a new partnership for its International Exchange Program with:
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) is the third-largest university in New Zealand and the fastest growing located in Auckland, considered one of the best cities in the world to live in. AUT is a contemporary university, with a distinctive approach to teaching and learning, focused on providing student-centred, innovative and responsive learning experiences.
The Bachelor of Business is designed to turn today’s students into tomorrow’s sought-after business professionals, and prepares graduates well for further study. Students can spend a semester studying one of 14 majors, including: Advertising, Design, Economics, International Business and Employment Relations, Retailing, Sales and Tourism.
The AUT Business School is placed in the top 5% of business schools globally for having received the AACSB (The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) accreditation.
For more information, please visit www.aut.ac.nz and the Student Services Centre, DMS 1100.
The University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management has received EQUIS re-accreditation from the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD). The Telfer School remains one of only two business school in Canada to achieve the triple crown of business school accreditations. There are only 50 schools worldwide that have obtained this prestigious recognition.
The Telfer School of Management was initially awarded the accreditation in November 2009 and it was renewed in December 2012 for a period of 3 years.
“Obtaining an international accreditation confirms that the Telfer School of Management meets the highest international standards of excellence and continuous improvement. This achievement contributes to strengthening the School’s reputation as a world-class institution. I am particularly proud of this accomplishment and of this recognition”, said François Julien, Dean of the Telfer School. “Successfully maintaining our triple crown of international business school accreditations is also a clear demonstration of our passion for excellence and of the commitment of all the members of the Telfer community. On behalf of the Telfer School of Management, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the EQUIS re-accreditation process and to this success!”
EQUIS is the leading international system of quality assessment, improvement and accreditation of higher education institutions in management and business administration. EQUIS is run by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and its fundamental objective, linked to the mission of the EFMD, is to raise the standard of management education worldwide.
Institutions that are accredited by EQUIS must demonstrate not only high general quality in all dimensions of their activities, but also a high degree of internationalisation. With companies recruiting worldwide, with students choosing to get their education outside their home countries, and with schools building alliances across borders and continents, there is a rapidly growing need for them to be able to identify those institutions in other countries that deliver high quality education in international management.
On November 28th 2012, the MHA Alumni Association held its annual AGM, which includes a presentation of its annual report and a keynote presentation from healthcare leaders. This year, the topic for discussion was: New Leadership, New Opportunity: Your Career Path.
The format was revised. The atmosphere was intimate, yet the participation exceeded our expectations with over 50 alumni registered. Held in the early evening as a wine and cheese/café style, the event showcased four inspiring leaders with diverse healthcare backgrounds as part of a panel discussion on the opportunities that lie ahead for emerging and experienced leaders. Our panelists were Alex Munter, President and CEO of CHEO; Jennifer Proulx, Acting Director of Quality Patient Experience at the Ottawa Hospital; Wendy Muckle, Executive Director at Ottawa Inner City Health; and Michael Naufal, Managing Partner at Odgers Brendtson.
The insights and advice shared by the panelists resonated with the audience who was engaged and kept asking poignant questions back to our panelists. When it was time to wrap up, most of the audience stayed to network amongst themselves and some took advantage of the opportunity to squeeze a couple more pearls of wisdom out of our panelists.
All and all, it was a wonderful event that kept the audience buzzing right until the very end.
We are pleased to announce that the Telfer School of Management has agreed to be a business school partner with the Latin American MBA Alumni Network (LAMBA). LAMBA is a professional association seeking to connect Latin American MBA graduates with one another and with corporations in Canada.
The network was born in response to the need of corporations, business schools, students and graduates to connect with a growing community of MBA professionals with a Latin American background living in Canada. What started in late 2009 as networking events among Spanish speakers who share culture, MBA degrees and successful careers, became a platform for multiple organizations to connect with business professionals with Latin American roots. Since its launch in 2010, LAMBA has welcomed more than 400 members.
The Telfer School has chosen to partner with LAMBA in support of our MBA’s, past, present and future. This professional network has already proven to be beneficial in connecting our recent MBA graduates with other business professionals. As it continues to build, it will no doubt serve as a great business network.
We invite you to visit LAMBA’s website to learn more about this organization and how to take advantage of this partnership.
The Telfer School of Management is pleased to announce that it has partnered with Kaplan to provide candidates with discountedGMAT prep classes and free GMAT practice tests. Telfer candidates are now eligible to receive 10% off the price of a Kaplan prep class and are provided with the full GMAT test day experience.
Each prep class includes 13 sessions with Kaplan GMAT’s top faculty featuring Flex Sessions, revised GMAT materials prepared for each exam and free make-up sessions—in person and through their video-based Lessons-on-Demand. It offers the most Integrated Reasoning preparation of any major GMAT prep provider, with a dedicated teaching session, a Lesson-on-Demand, and full-length, scored Integrated Reasoning sections in all 9 CATs. On top of this, you will receive over 160 hours of instruction and practice, including over 5,000 practice items and 9 full-length computer adaptive tests (CATs) in the format of the GMAT.
Kaplan encompasses three pillars in which it was founded on:
Proven Leader in GMAT prep: More people get into business schools after taking a Kaplan prep class than any other prep course.
Personalized Learning: Kaplan uses Smart Reports and Flex-Sessions to provide students with customized recommendations and added convenience.
High Score Guarantee: Kaplan has the most comprehensive guarantee in the industry. – Satisfaction, Readiness, or your money back!
The following GMAT Classes are starting soon at University of Ottawa:
GMOT13002 - January 12 – March 9, 2012 – Saturdays 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Desmarais Building)
GMOT13001A – February 9 – April 6, 2012 – Saturdays 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
For more information or to register for the prep classes, please contact Suzanne Wiseman by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at 647-631-7465 and mention Telfer School
The name of the University of Ottawa is synonymous with that of Father Roger Guindon. A man of commitment and vision, Father Guindon gave a new meaning to altruism. But altruism doesn’t just happen; it is born of love. Love of people. Love of the challenge of opening up new horizons.
Father Guindon, OMI, CC, first came to the University of Ottawa as a student, in 1933, when he enrolled to complete his high school studies. In 1942, he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, and three years later, a degree in theology. He was ordained a priest in 1946 and taught from 1947 to 1964 in the theology faculty, where he also served as dean for four years.
During his term as the University’s president (then known as “rector”) from 1964 to 1984, Father Guindon witnessed profound change not only in society but also in this small Oblate institution that became a flourishing provincially funded university during his time here. Father Guindon, in office during the transition, became the first official head of the University of Ottawa.
With the desire to improve services for students, Father Guindon played a key role in obtaining provincial funding to build the health sciences complex on Smyth Road. This 80-acre site, which today bears his name, is now home to the General Campus of the Ottawa Hospital, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario CHEO), the Rehabilitation Centre as well as the University of Ottawa’s faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Father Guindon’s affection for the University was infectious. Having spent more than 70 years of his life with the University, he gave selflessly of himself. And for this reason, all those who knew him returned this affection for our institution and truly appreciated Father Guindon—especially the students, who held him in the highest regard.
Just as Father Guigues is considered the founder of the University and Father Tabaret its builder, Father Guindon is recognized as the catalyst responsible for profound institutional change, the driving force that saw the University ushered into modern times. As the leader of the University, he brought about dramatic transformation. He laid the foundation that has allowed us to become one of the Canada’s leading public universities. Today, students continue to reap the benefits of Father Guindon’s work, his love of life, his vision and his perseverance.
Awarded eight honorary doctorates and two fellowships from postsecondary institutions in Ontario and Quebec, Father Roger Guindon is an example of exceptional commitment to public service as well as a passionate advocate of bilingualism and French culture. He will be greatly missed, but he has left behind a valuable legacy for the entire University community and for the generations after him.The name of the University of Ottawa is synonymous with that of Father Roger Guindon. A man of commitment and vision, Father Guindon gave a new meaning to altruism. But altruism doesn’t just happen; it is born of love. Love of people. Love of the challenge of opening up new horizons.
Father Guindon, OMI, CC, first came to the University of Ottawa as a student, in 1933, when he enrolled to complete his high school studies. In 1942, he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, and three years later, a degree in theology. He was ordained a priest in 1946 and taught from 1947 to 1964 in the theology faculty, where he also served as dean for four years.
During his term as the University’s president (then known as “rector”) from 1964 to 1984, Father Guindon witnessed profound change not only in society but also in this small Oblate institution that became a flourishing provincially funded university during his time here. Father Guindon, in office during the transition, became the first official head of the University of Ottawa.
With the desire to improve services for students, Father Guindon played a key role in obtaining provincial funding to build the health sciences complex on Smyth Road. This 80-acre site, which today bears his name, is now home to the General Campus of the Ottawa Hospital, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario CHEO), the Rehabilitation Centre as well as the University of Ottawa’s faculties of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Father Guindon’s affection for the University was infectious. Having spent more than 70 years of his life with the University, he gave selflessly of himself. And for this reason, all those who knew him returned this affection for our institution and truly appreciated Father Guindon—especially the students, who held him in the highest regard.
Just as Father Guigues is considered the founder of the University and Father Tabaret its builder, Father Guindon is recognized as the catalyst responsible for profound institutional change, the driving force that saw the University ushered into modern times. As the leader of the University, he brought about dramatic transformatiAon. He laid the foundation that has allowed us to become one of the Canada’s leading public universities. Today, students continue to reap the benefits of Father Guindon’s work, his love of life, his vision and his perseverance.
Awarded eight honorary doctorates and two fellowships from postsecondary institutions in Ontario and Quebec, Father Roger Guindon is an example of exceptional commitment to public service as well as a passionate advocate of bilingualism and French culture. He will be greatly missed, but he has left behind a valuable legacy for the entire University community and for the generations after him.
On October 27 and 28, Enactus uOttawa welcomed Enactus teams from all across Eastern Ontario and Quebec to the organization’s annual leadership retreat. In close partnership with the Telfer Student Council, the University of Ottawa was granted the chance to host this weekend event because of the rapid increase in the team’s growth and success within the past year. This was an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the Telfer School of Management to students from all over Ontario and our neighboring province Quebec.
As a result, ACE (Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurs) and over 60 participants were brought to our campus and city. This allowed ACE to teach and provide Enactus members with tools, knowledge, and training to better create and run effective projects that help improve the quality of life for the less fortunate in the community. Erin Sheel, from College Pro, was also present to do a seminar about leadership and how to manage a team successfully.
The retreat allowed for attendees to network, share ideas, and socialize with the other Enactus teams. Most importantly, it was an opportunity for participants to receive useful training that would allow them to enhance their local program and thoroughly incorporate the triple bottom line: create projects that have an economic, social, and environmental impact on our local community.
Queen’s University Archives is pleased to announce that Dr. Cheryl McWatters will be presenting the 30th Annual Queen’s University Archives Lecture, entitled, “The news of our failure is almost in every child’s mouth: Accounts, tales, and travels through the archives.”
This year’s lecture will take place:
When: Wednesday, November 7, 2012, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Room 202, Robert Sutherland Hall (formerly known as the Policy Studies Building), located on Union Street, Kingston, ON.
Parking is available, above ground, off of Union Street, next to the playing field.
Dr. McWatters, who is currently the Father Edgar Thivierge Chair in Business History (with cross appointment with the Department of History), at the University of Ottawa, will be basing her lecture largely on her doctoral research, which was carried out in the Reading Room of Queen’s University Archives, and which involved the records of the Calvin Company, located on Garden Island though the 19th and early 20th centuries.
All are welcome, and refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the Lecture.
More information: http://archives.queensu.ca/news/30thlecture.html [This link is no longer available]
On October 23 2012, Enactus uOttawa hosted its second annual Dragons’ Den competition for 75 high school business students. This event gave high school students in the National Capital Region the opportunity to compete in an academic university-level competition, where they pitched business ideas to a panel of judges. In addition to the competition, students enjoyed hearing from guest speakers including Angella Goran from Jokwear and Brennan Loh from Shopify. The students were also able to network with Telfer students and professionals from the community.
Deakin University joins the Yale School of Management, Nanyang Polytechnic University in Singapore and the Telfer School of Management as the fourth university in an academic alliance to establish a global Centre of Excellence. Professor Richards and Professor Yeoh (Deakin University) have been collaborating for the past two years on business analytics research projects and they are working on building joint cases where Australian and Canadian students would collaborate.
The Telfer School of Management has been recognized as an outstanding business school by The Princeton Review. In fact, the organization featured 296 leading business schools out of which only 16 are located outside of the United States. As a result, this recognition highlights the Telfer School international outreach and its strong world-wide reputation. Read more about the Telfer School’s accreditations and its position in the latest rankings.
We recently celebrated some of our outstanding alumni by awarding them Trudeau medals, the Young Achiever's Award and the Dean's Philos Award who made a difference in their community. The 2012 Gala of Excellence was held at the Ottawa Convention Centre on September 29, 2012. This was also an opportunity to collectively celebrate our alma mater and highlight the graduation anniversary of the classes of 1962, 1972, 1987 and 2002.
Trudeau Medals
The Trudeau Medal is the highest honour given by the Telfer School of Management to its alumni. It recognizes leadership, initiative and contributions to the business world, the community and their alma mater.
John King, MHA 1979 [This link is no longer available] Janet LeBlanc, MBA 1990 [This link is no longer available] Charles-Antoine St-Jean, BAdm 1975, BCom 1976 [This link is no longer available]
The Young Achiever's Award
The Young Achiever's award was created to honour the individuals (under 40) who have been able to achieve greatness in their lives within an exceptional period of time.
Frédéric Michel, MBA 2004 [This link is no longer available]
The Dean's Philos Award
The Dean’s Philos Award recognized individuals who have demonstrated outstanding philanthropic achievement and social commitment.
Brian Radburn, BAdm 1981, BCom 1982 [This link is no longer available]
Photo: Brian Radburn, Charles-Antoine St-Jean, Janet LeBlanc, Dean François Julien, John King and Frédéric Michel
MSc Health Systems candidates Emmanuel Kabura and Seyed Izadshenas on Friday gave presentations describing the valuable hands-on experience they gained as research interns at the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Accreditation Canada, respectively. The three-month internship component of the MSc enables students to apply their knowledge of innovative research methodologies and tools while working with experts on leading-edge research projects. This prepares students to be meaningful contributors to health systems delivery after graduation while promoting linkages between research and practice.
Emmanuel developed a geostatistical tool at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) capable of converting health data into geo-spatial intelligence for use in specific projects. Seyed delved into Accreditation Canada data to analyse possible relationships between governance in healthcare organizations and specific patient safety outcomes.
Among those who attended the presentations on August 17 were the students’ mentors at CBSA and Accreditation Canada, and Craig Kuziemsky, Director of the MSc Program in Health Systems.
The Certified General Accountants Association of Canada (CGA-Canada) has signed a gift agreement with the Telfer School of Management to support research development by a Telfer School research centre. The grant is provided to the CGA-Canada Accounting and Governance Research Centre (CGA-AGRC) for the year 2012-13 to fund current and upcoming research activities in the area of corporate governance, risk management, business and finance.
“CGA-Canada values research development and is known for our leading edge research on broad accounting, social and economic issues of the day,” says Anthony Ariganello, president and CEO of CGA-Canada. “We are proud to support the Telfer School’s research centre as part of our ongoing commitment to advancement of research that increases public awareness and adds value to the existing body of knowledge.”
“The Telfer School is very grateful to CGA-Canada for their generous gift. Their contribution demonstrates the association’s desire to invest in relevant, timely and influential research” said Dean François Julien. “We are proud to work with CGA-Canada to support our professors’ research and we look forward to continuing our mutually beneficial relationship in the years ahead”.
Through the CGA-AGRC, CGA-Canada will continue to support and work collaboratively with the Telfer School of Management.
Founded in 1908, the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada serves 75,000 Certified General Accountants and students in Canada and more than 90 countries. Respected accounting and financial management professionals, CGAs work in industry, finance, government and public practice. CGA-Canada establishes the designation’s certification requirements and professional standards, offers professional development, conducts research and advocacy, and represents CGAs nationally and internationally.
May 27, 2012, marked the beginning of the 8th Annual Canadian Leadership Orientation Program hosted by the Telfer School of Management. This initiative is a week long program on Canada for top MBA students from across the U.S. and Mexico. Also, 14 Telfer MBA students and 4 uOttawa Political Science Students will be participating.
Funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and TD Bank Financial, this year's program will examine current North American economic, business, and political linkages from a Canadian perspective and explore some of the challenges and issues on the horizon. The program will feature a number of senior officials, diplomats, politicians and academic experts from Canada, the U.S. and Mexico, as well as senior executives from Canadian companies doing business in North America.
This year's program will include sessions by Senator Pamela Wallin, Dr. Jeff Turnbull, Chief of Staff, Ottawa Hospital, Harley Finkelstein, Shopify, Francis Bailett, UBISOFT Montreal, Rob White of IBM and Louise Wendling of COSTCO Wholesale Canada.
Some of the schools represented in the program are:
United States
Harvard Business School, Harvard University
Yale School of Management, Yale University
Haas School of Business, University of California-Berkley
The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
Thunderbird School of Global Management
Georgia Tech College of Management, The Goerogia Institute of Technology
Poole College of Management, North Carolina State University
SMU COX School of Business, Southern Methodist University
Broad College of Business, Michigan State University
Mexico
ITESM, Monterrey Institute of technology and Higher Education
EGADE Business School, Monterrey Institute of technology and Higher Education
Professors Jonathan Calof and Gregory Richards will both act as panelist during the “Wrangling the Future: Strategic Foresight and Competitive Intelligence” open discussion on May 30 at the Annual APEX Symposium hosted at the National Arts Centre. Click here to see the two-day event's complete program.
About Professor Calof
Professor Calof is recognized as one of the leaders in intelligence and foresight. An associate professor of International Business and Strategy at the Telfer School of Management at University of Ottawa, Dr. Calof combines research and consulting in competitive intelligence, technical foresight and business analytics. As well, he is a Board member for CASIS (Canadian Association of Security and Intelligence Studies, co-director of the Foresight Synergy Network and Co-director of Telfer’s performance management/business analytics strategic area group.
About Professor Richards
Professor Richards is currently Professor of Performance Management at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa. In this role, he is conducting research into best practices related to the use of performance information systems and processes. He is also developing Corporate Performance Management courses which integrate the use of Business Intelligence tools.
This series of articles focuses on the University of Ottawa's Telfer School of Management Executive MBA class trip to Brazil. The trip is part of the EMBA curriculum and included a consulting project and holding meetings with various stakeholders.
Greg Matthews, maryam Awan, Mirella Athanassiadis and Peter Georgariou are EMBA participants and they wrote blog entries about their experiences.
[These articles are no longer available]
Mission Accomplished in Brazil By: Greg Matthews, Telfer EMBA Candidate
Brazil Is a Major Global Economic Player By: Maryam Awan, Telfer EMBA candidate
Niche Market Intelligence in the Medical Industry By: Mirella Athanassiadis, Telfer EMBA candidate
It’s All About Human Relationships By: Peter Georgariou, Telfer EMBA candidate
Our University is a key driver for business, innovation and investment in the region and contributes to the reputation, growth and high quality of like in our region, our province and our country.
Since 1848, the University of Ottawa has been Canada's university: a reflection, an observatory and a catalyst of the Canadian experience in all its complexity and diversity. Located in the heart of the National Capital Region, our university makes three major contributions to the local economy:
We are an engine of job creation and a major purchaser of goods and services.
Our graduates earn more thanks to their postsecondary education and
As a major research engine, and source of innovation, the University contributes to productivity gains in the Ottawa-Gatineau economy.
This year’s Bromley Memorial Event was a huge success. Hosted by the Institute for Science, Society and Policy (ISSP) at the University of Ottawa, the event welcomed as its keynote speaker one of North America’s leading thinkers on science policy. It laid the groundwork for a new science, technology and innovation community with its secretariat at ISSP, the Ingenuity G20 + network. And it brought together almost 30 international visitors including faculty and graduate students from 14 countries for three packed days of research enrichment, policy discussion, and networking.
The team behind the conference, May 14-16, included Jonathan Linton, Power Corporation Professor in the Management of Technological Enterprises at the Telfer School of Management and an ISSP Core Member, Nicholas Vonortas, Professor of Economics and International Affairs and Director of the Center for International Science and Technology Policy at George Washington University, and Marc Saner, Director of the ISSP.
The centrepiece of the event was the D. Allan Bromley Memorial Lecture presented by William Bonvillian, “Bringing Advanced Innovation to The Manufacturing Sector.” Bonvillian is director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Washington, D.C. office, where he works to support MIT’s strong and historic relations with federal R&D agencies and its role in national science policy.
On May 14, Dr. Howard Alper, chairman of the Science, Technology and Innovation Council, and the Hon. Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, addressed the conference and there were also discussions of science and technology policy in Canada, Israel, and Turkey. Policy dialogue on May 15 centred on China, France, U.K. and the U.S. May 16 featured presentations by Gilles Patry, President of the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, and Margaret McCuaig-Johnston, Executive Vice-President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, as well as policy talks on Germany, India, Taiwan, Mexico, Russia and South Africa.
Providing another focal point was the Ingenuity G20 + network. Faculty discussed how this new initiative based at the Institute for Science, Society and Policy will be used to promote international collaboration and advance relationships between universities and national government policymakers.
About the Bromley Memorial Lectures
Since 2005 the University of Ottawa has collaborated with George Washington University in holding a series of annual lectures in memory of Dr. D. Allan Bromley.
Photo:
Nicholas Vonortas of George Washington University
William Bonvillian of MIT
Jonathan Linton of the Telfer School
Marc Saner of the Institute for Science, Society and Policy
Historians have begun to make inroads into business schools, demonstrating that past business decisions can offer valuable lessons for the present. Their research is proving that businesspeople face the same fundamental challenges as their historical counterparts – finding partners, establishing commercial networks, making investments, generating profits. In that vein the Telfer School welcomes Dr. Dilfuza Kasimova, who is interested in both the history of accounting practices and Japanese management accounting.
An assistant professor at Hitotsubashi University’s Graduate School of Commerce and Management, Dr. Kasimova presented her research titled “Early Management Accounting Practices in Japan – the Case of the Mitsubishi Mail Steamship Company” on May 16. Dr. Kasimova is here on a two-month research stay at the invitation of Cheryl S. McWatters, Father Edgar Thivierge Chair in Business History, and Daniel Zéghal of the CGA Accounting Research Centre.
This series of articles focuses on the University of Ottawa's Telfer School of Management Executive MBA class trip to the Silicon Valley. The trip is part of the EMBA curriculum on "Innovation and Entrepreneurship," which includes a consulting project and holding meetings with Valley firms on behalf of client organizations, as well as special events and discussions at key Valley innovation centres, such as the San Jose BioCenter, US Market Access Centre, IBM Almaden Research Center, Cisco, Google, Oracle and Stanford University.
Anthony P. Sheehan, Ejibola Adetokunbo-Taiwo, Martin Lacelle, Rodrigo Delgado and Thanh Nguyen are EMBA participants and they will be writing daily updates to share their experiences and lessons learned in the Silicon Valley.
The Telfer MBA program focuses particular attention on high performance organizations. The trip to Europe is designed to provide MBA students with a perspective on what high performance organizations look like in a European environment. With this in mind, the Telfer School has arranged for the MBA students to travel to Brussels, Antwerpen, Leuven and Paris to meet with executives from Nike, Google, Accenture, l’Oréal, Sodexo, Deloitte, Alcatel Lucent and Ivanhoe Cambridge Europe. Students from the Telfer MBA program will be blogging about their experience on this trip.
[These articles are no longer available.]
Arriving in Leuven and Touring AB Inbev By Karim Sultan, PMP, CPIM, Telfer MBA candidate
Telfer MBA Students visit Nike and the Vlerick Leuven Gent Management School By Pier Martin, Telfer MBA Candidate
Learning more about Alcatel-Lucent, Deloitte and Accenture By Sabaah Choudhary, Banreet Garcha and Marco Tascona
The Importance of Brands and Self-Reflection By Maria McKay and Ashley Walker, Telfer MBA candidates
Telfer MBA Students Visit Google France and Ivanhoé Cambridge By Constance Robertson, Telfer MBA Candidate
Visite de L'Oréal Paris, Sodexo et l'ESCP (in French only)
By Kim Benoît, Telfer MBA candidate
On April 16th, Professor Cheryl S. McWatters launched the Father Edgar Thivierge Speaker Series with an engaging and wide-ranging dialogue with the Right Honourable Mr. Martin. It was a rare opportunity for students to meet informally with Mr. Martin to discuss Aboriginal education, business, and entrepreneurship.
Mr. Martin served as Canada’s 21st Prime Minister from 2003 to 2006; our Minister of Finance from 1993 to 2002, and represented Lasalle-Émard, Quebec as its Member of Parliament from 1988 until his retirement from politics in 2008. Since his retirement from politics, he has devoted his energies, through the Martin Aboriginal Initiative, to working with our First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples to enhance their quality of life, educational and economic outcomes, while respecting and protecting their identity and traditions. Beyond our borders, Mr. Martin co-chairs the Congo Basin Rainforest Fund, sits on the advisory council of the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa, and is a member of the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Regional Advisory Group.
Discussions of post-colonial legacies in Dr. McWatters’ MBA course,The Global Context of Business: Merchants, Traders, Capitalists and Profit Seekers, provided the impetus to invite Mr. Martin to meet with her students to share his insights into one of the most critical challenges facing our nation – and future business leaders – how to ensure our Aboriginal peoples reap the social and economic benefits enjoyed by other Canadians. We were honoured to have our University President, Mr. Allan Rock, in attendance to introduce Mr. Martin and to participate in the discussions.
Mr. Martin opened with comments on the importance of business history, and linked understanding of the past with many of the issues we presently face around the globe and within Canada. For the next 90 minutes, he spoke passionately about the UN’s mandate on The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and how we, as Canadians, need to reflect on its meaning with respect to our own treatment of Aboriginal peoples. He offered wisdom in terms of how we might move ahead with our Aboriginal communities to ensure their participation as equal partners, recognising, embracing and celebrating their cultures. Mr. Martin also spoke on very practical terms of the need for education, funds for entrepreneurial activities, and specifics such as set-asides for procurement for Aboriginal businesses.
Those in attendance came from many parts of the globe, which played to Mr. Martin’s vast experience and work with global agencies and governments. We could have extended the discussion much longer; yet when we had to bring it to a close, we did so leaving much enriched for the experience.
This year marks the 5-year anniversary of the Telfer School’s transformative naming gift. A reception will be held on May 12, 2012 at the Château Laurier in Ottawa to celebrate the occasion with special guests Ian Telfer and his wife Nancy Burke.
On May 8, 2007, the University of Ottawa announced that Ian Telfer, Chairman of Goldcorp Inc. and a 1976 graduate of the school’s MBA program, had pledged a $25-million naming gift to the School of Management. In recognition of his donation, the school was renamed in his honour.
“The reason I am so proud to support the School of Management at the University of Ottawa is because I have experienced firsthand the positive impact the School can have on the lives of its alumni. Over 30 years ago the School of Management made an investment in me ─ now it's my turn to return the favour and make an investment in the School” said Mr. Telfer at the time of the donation.
To this day, Mr. Telfer’s donation is the largest gift in University of Ottawa history, the most generous donation ever granted in the National Capital Region and the biggest private gift ever made to name a Canadian business school.
"It is hard to believe it has been five years since I re-connected with the University of Ottawa” said Mr. Telfer. “I am very fortunate to have this wonderful association with the incredible students, faculty, and staff that make the Telfer School of Management such a great institution."
Since Ian Telfer’s unprecedented gift and the move to the Desmarais Building in 2007, the Telfer School has celebrated many accomplishments.
In 2009, the Telfer School of Management receives EQUIS accreditation, thus achieving the triple crown of international accreditations. Today, the Telfer School is one of only 2 business schools in Canada and one of about 50 in the world to have achieved this.
In 2010, the Telfer School, in collaboration with IBM, created the IBM Centre for Business Analytics and Performance. As of today, the total investment by IBM to close to $12 million.
In the past 5 years, students from the Telfer School have excelled in student competitions:
· Champions for three consecutive years at the HRM Symposium case competition
· MBA TATA Cup Champions in 2008 and 2011
· Happening Marketing Champions in 2010
· Jeux du commerce Champions in 2009 and 2012
· Winners of the Academic Cup at the Jeux du commerce for 5 consecutive years, from 2008 to 2012
“We are indeed celebrating 5 years of success” said Dean François Julien. “We are celebrating the success of our innovative programs, our professors’ research and the outstanding student experience that we offer.”
Students, alumni and friends of the Telfer School are invited to attend a special reception to celebration of this milestone event.
· Saturday, May 12, 2012
· 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
· Château Laurier – the Laurier Room (1 Rideau Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 8S7)
Tickets are $ 35 and can be purchase online at the Telfer Store.
The Telfer School of Management is pleased to announce that it will launch a renewed formula for its French MBA program in the Fall of 2012. The Telfer School is also working on the creation of two new Management graduate diplomas in French.
The MBA program (en français) offers flexibility that will enable candidates to maintain a balance between their personal and professional activities and their studies. Hence, they will be able to complete the program while working.
Prospective students should contact our team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. promptly to know more about specific deadlines.
The Telfer School of Management, already considered an internationally known “TOP Business School / 4 Palmes” by Eduniversal, has now reached a new level of excellence. In fact, Eduniversal recently created an innovative ranking system that carefully assesses each individual program rather than business schools’ overall performance. Because of its programs’ strong reputation, the superior salary during first employment of its alumni and its high student satisfaction, the Telfer School stood out as one of the most competitive business schools not only in Canada, but in North America as well, in the new ranking system.
More precisely, The Telfer M.Sc. in Management stood out as one of Canada’s top 5 graduate General Management programs and secured a place in North America’s top 10, among other world leading business schools from Canada and the United States.
Furthermore, the Engineering Management Program (MEng) an interdisciplinary program combining Engineering and Information Technology Project Management jointly offered through the Telfer School and the Faculty of Engineering was recognized as the best graduate program in the Engineering and Project Management category in Ontario, 2nd in Canada and it placed in the 11thposition in North America, making this innovative program a reference in the country.
To find out more about the Telfer School of Management accreditations and rankings, please click here.
The Management Library and the Telfer School of Management have partnered in order to offer you Bloomberg Professional. Two dedicated workstations are located in the Management Library (DMS 2141) and are available on a sign-up basis.
This powerful multi-functional tool is used by market mavens around the world and now you too can have access to current and historical financial information. Bloomberg is the world's best-known interactive, financial information network. The service seamlessly integrates live, up to the minute data, news, analytics and multimedia reports into a single platform.
Get familiar with this resource and get ahead of the competition!
Take the Bloomberg Essentials Online Training Program which will signal to prospective employers that you have attained a standard level of competency in using the Bloomberg Professional Service. Four Bloomberg Core videos will familiarize you with basic Bloomberg functionality, while supplemental Market Sector videos will introduce you to major market fundamentals. Test your knowledge by taking the Core Exam along with any of the Market Sector exams, and earn an Acknowledgement of Completion with an 75% grade or better (1 retake of each exam will be allowed).
Stay tuned for further announcements about workshops and training dates!
This online simulation tool was designed to help give prospective and current students a snapshot of their personal Telfer BCom Experience. At the end of the Telfer BCom Experience they are able to share their individual maps with friends and family.
The three components that make up the Telfer BCom Experience:
Academic development - Shows prospective and current students how different course and activities can contribute to their overall academic experience.
Professional development – Shows prospective and current students the different programs that are offered at the Telfer School that are specifically designed to help them excel at a professional level.
Personal development – Shows prospective and current students the different clubs, association and activities that will enhance their personal development at the Telfer School.
The Telfer School of Management, with the support of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and Michel’s colleagues, is proud to create the Michel Bilodeau MHA Award for excellence in the Master’s of Health Administration (MHA) Program, in recognition of Michel’s outstanding career in healthcare.
India, of course, represents a multi-faceted opportunity for Canada: a huge export and investment market, a cost effective outsourcing destination, an investor into Canada and a partner for third country projects.
At the start of a new year, many of us set resolutions for the months ahead. With Recyclomania 2012 on its way, the Telfer School of Management and the Faculty of Social Sciences have come together to adopt a “Waste Watchers” pledge: trimming the Desmarais Building’s waste line! And with the help of the Office of Campus Sustainability, both faculties have the perfect plan to make it happen.
Students, faculty and alumni of the MHA Program are asked to submit nominations for the 2012 Preceptor’s Award. This award, joint between the Program and the Alumni Association, was inaugurated last year when Michel Bilodeau was honoured as the first recipient. At the same time, Garry Cardiff was honoured for his work in the past as a preceptor.
For 2012, we are asking you to nominate a current preceptor who has demonstrated excellence and has provided residents will exceptional learning opportunities, both within the residency program and in the classrooms during special presentations. Please send your nomination to MHA Program Director Brian Malcolmson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We will be receiving nominations until June 2, 2012 and the award will be given in the fall.
Nominations for the award will be reviewed by a Selection Committee chaired by Brian Malcolmson and with representation from the Alumni Association Board. The Selection Committee will then make a recommendation to the MHAAA Board to ratify a winner.
The Telfer School of Management has been ranked in the category “Top Business School / 4 Palmes” by Eduniversal, recognizing the school as “internationally known”.
The Eduniversal Ranking is described as a unique service providing students, professionals, HR executives and academic officers with a panorama of the best educational opportunities worldwide.
The Telfer School of Management is happy to announce a new partnership for its International Exchange Program with BEM Management School, Bordeaux.
BEM was founded by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1874, and is one of the oldest “Grandes Ecoles” in France. The school is a member of the “Conférence des Grandes Écoles”.
SUP'TG Bordeaux and the Business School is a place of exchanges and encounters between professors, students, members of the BEM community, managers, company leaders, consultants, and personalities from the world of economics, political, social, scientific and cultural. Professors contribute to teaching in all programmes (MSc, Specialised Masters, WINE MBA, executive education…); they also have a student support role, and contribute to the development and diffusion of research at BEM.
BEM has joined the prestigious circle of business schools holding the "Triple Crown”: EQUIS, AMBA and the AACSB.
For more information, please visit their site or the Student Services Centre, DMS 1100.
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