Part 3 of 3
The Telfer School of Management has been shaped by five decades of history; people who have worked together, generation after generation, to propel the school to where it is today. These are our community builders, and they give what they can—time, expertise, or financial support—to help decrease barriers to education, support innovation, and encourage excellence.
This year, in part three of our award series, we recognize the achievements of Telfer’s 2025 community builders through the Dean’s Philos Award, Spirit of Giving Award, Donor of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.
Kyle Braatz (BCom ‘09) and Rachel Braatz (JD ‘13): Dean’s Philos Award
The Dean’s Philos Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding philanthropic achievement and commitment to their community. We are proud to present Kyle Braatz (BCom ‘09) and Rachel Braatz (JD ‘13) with the 2025 Dean’s Philos Award in recognition of their philanthropic efforts in the Ottawa region.
Telfer graduate Kyle Braatz is co-founder and CEO of Fullscript, a digital health platform advancing integrative care across North America. In 2022, he was named CEO of the Year by the Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Board of Trade. Rachel Braatz is a graduate of the uOttawa Faculty of Law and a licensed lawyer in Ontario and California. They are the proud parents of three young children under the age of six, balancing the demands of family life with their work and volunteerism.
Together, this community-minded couple supports a number of charitable initiatives through partnerships with the CHEO Foundation and the Ottawa Senators Foundation. They are currently co-chairs of CHEO’s Kids These Days campaign, and in 2024 they generously matched the total funds raised at the annual gala for CASCO, a student-run club at the Telfer School of Management, with all proceeds going to the children’s hospital.
What inspires you to give back to the school and/or to the broader community?
Kyle: I’ve always believed that if you’ve been fortunate enough to build something, you have a responsibility to reinvest in the people and places that made it possible. What inspires me most is the idea that community isn't something you just live in; it's something you help shape. Whether through business, philanthropy or mentorship, giving back creates a ripple effect. It unlocks potential in others, sparks ideas and builds momentum that is bigger than any one person or company. That kind of impact, the kind you can’t measure in metrics but feel in moments, is what keeps me coming back.
Rachel: Ottawa became more than just the place where I studied and earned my law degree. It became a community that welcomed me, shaped me and gave me the platform to grow both professionally and personally. Giving back, whether through mentorship, volunteerism or community initiatives, is my way of honouring the city I now call home and where Kyle and I are raising our children. I see giving back as an essential part of what success means. To me, success isn’t just about personal achievement; it is about using my knowledge, skills, experiences, and connections to support and empower others.
Was there a specific experience that made you realize it was the right time for you to give?
Kyle: Giving back has always been part of my mindset. It is what led me to start building in the first place. Some of my earliest projects, including a not-for-profit, were rooted in the belief that you could build something meaningful and use it to support others. That way of thinking has shaped how I approach everything since. It wasn’t about a specific moment. It was about believing that if you have something to give, whether it be your time, your skills or your energy, you don’t wait.
Rachel: Being asked to co-chair the CHEO campaign was a very impactful and specific experience for me. It felt like a call to step into a leadership role in the service of something much bigger than myself. The campaign touches on so many values I care about: access to healthcare, community well-being, supporting families and building for the future. It made me reflect on what I had to offer, and I realized I was in a place in my life where I could give meaningfully. It also made me reflect on the ways my husband and I had given back in the past, and it was the first time I truly began to think about giving not as a transaction, but as a form of leadership and legacy. This experience shifted my mindset to see that giving was about creating consistent moments that mattered by showing up for my community and being a part of shaping its future.
What do you hope to see through your gift of time and/or resources?
Kyle: My hope is that it helps unlock potential in people, in ideas, and in systems that are ready for change. Whether it is a student taking a chance on an idea, a practitioner pushing the boundaries of patient care, or a young founder trying to build something meaningful, I want to be part of creating the conditions where those efforts can thrive. The goal isn’t to direct outcomes, it is to remove friction, open doors and build momentum for others. If my time or resources help someone go further than I did, that is the best return I can imagine.
Rachel: People questioning the status quo, pushing boundaries, thinking beyond traditional ways of doing things. Finding inefficiencies or gaps and discovering solutions. In law and beyond, I have learned that progress doesn’t happen in isolation; it happens when people come together with a shared vision and a willingness to support one another. It is so important to myself and Kyle to foster a culture of giving back, where community support and contributing early in life become the norm, not the exception.
Michael Mulvey (BCom ‘91): Spirit of Giving Award
The Spirit of Giving Award recognizes a staff or faculty member who exemplifies Telfer’s core values, contributes to its success with dynamism, and personally and wholeheartedly embraces the school’s philanthropic priorities. The Telfer community has named Professor Michael Mulvey as the recipient of the 2025 Spirit of Giving Award in recognition of his commitment to supporting the Student Mobility Program, which helps to offset travel expenses for Telfer students on international exchange.
Michael Mulvey is an associate professor of marketing. Since earning his Bachelor of Commerce in marketing at Telfer in 1991, his M.Sc. in management systems at Clarkson in 1992, and his Ph.D. in marketing from Penn State in 1997, he has secured over $1.4 million in research funding and published extensively on consumer behavior, brand meaning and inclusive travel. He also serves as a consultant and as an expert witness for leading brands and legal proceedings.
What inspires you to give back to the school and/or to the broader community?
Initially, I was motivated to give back by gratitude. I had benefited from life-changing opportunities, like an international exchange, and didn't want to be an ungrateful freeloader. Over time, it has become something more profound—a quiet form of advocacy. Supporting students affirms my belief in higher education and reflects an investment in a better future. Telfer speaks about building a better Canada, and I see global experience as vital to that goal. When students engage with the world, they return with insights and inspiration that help make our country greener, healthier, happier and wealthier.
Was there a specific experience that made you realize it was the right time for you to support Telfer students?
During my graduate studies in the U.S., I had a realization: I was well prepared. My undergraduate education at uOttawa had given me a foundation strong enough to compete alongside students from elite institutions. That gave me both confidence and deep appreciation. I kept thinking about my transformative experience as an exchange student. When I returned to Telfer as a faculty member, supporting students—especially those who are interested in international study—felt natural to me. The opportunity I had shouldn't be a privilege; it should be accessible to anyone with the drive to explore.
What do you hope to see through your gift of time and/or resources?
I hope to see students take brave steps—such as studying abroad—not because it's comfortable, but because someone provided extra encouragement and support. Traveling challenges you, expands your perspective, and changes your view of what's possible. It sparks curiosity, empathy and innovation—qualities that Canada desperately needs. When I was younger, my mother gave me the Dr. Seuss book, Oh, the Places You'll Go! The idea stayed with me: life is a journey of ups and downs, but you have the power to steer yourself toward remarkable places. That's what I want for our students. This has come full circle through my research team, Daring to Travel, which now promotes travel accessibility, enabling everyone to grow through movement and discovery.
Bing Cheung (MBA ‘02): Donor of the Year
The Donor of the Year Award recognizes the extraordinary generosity of the recipient as well as the profound, lasting impact they have made on the Telfer community. We are delighted to celebrate Bing Cheung (MBA ‘02) as the 2025 Donor of the Year for generously creating the Telfer Excellence Award, an annual award supporting four undergraduate students with the highest CGPAs who have showcased exceptional talent, hard work, and unwavering commitment.
Bing Cheung is a professional engineer who has worked in IT and telecommunications for more than 20 years. He has had a successful career at Nortel Networks, Public Works and Government Services Canada, and more recently at Shared Services Canada, where he received a Peer Recognition Award in 2023.
Was there a specific experience that made you realize it was the right time for you to support Telfer students?
Being part of the Telfer community has always been something I am proud of. When I reflect on what matters most, I think about my own experience at the University of Ottawa when I completed my MBA in 2002. The individuals I met during my academic journey embodied hard work and academic excellence, which later became a source of motivation for me to give back.
For me, the moment that marked the transition from intuition to action came when I read Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance by Bob Buford, an inspiring piece of literature that highlights the importance of finding meaning in the second half of your life. The message resonated deeply with me, and I felt called to use this stage of life to give back in meaningful ways. I hope my contributions will serve as a springboard for students to launch their careers and help foster a positive, supportive learning environment for them.
Do you identify as a community builder, and if so, what does community mean to you?
For me, community is like a circle—it’s about continual involvement. We support one another, encourage each other, inspire one another, and care for the environment we share. The supportive community at the university remains one of my most memorable student experiences. The faculty was incredibly diverse, with professors from around the world, yet everyone was united in their commitment to student success. That example inspired me. By giving back, I feel I’m carrying forward their legacy, helping to complete the circle of community they created.
What do you hope to see through your gift of time and/or resources?
First and foremost, I would like the recipients of my award to pause and truly recognize that in that moment they are the winners. Life is long, and milestones matter—celebrating them is important. Looking at the broader picture, I hope this award helps them to secure a position they have always dreamed of and, most importantly, serves as a lasting source of motivation to continue excelling in their professional journey. As they reflect on what this award means to them, I also hope they will one day feel inspired to pay it forward and support others on their own paths to success.
Andrew Raftus (BSocSc ‘16, JD-MBA ‘21): Volunteer of the Year
The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes an alum whose outstanding commitment, leadership and service through volunteer activities have significantly supported the school’s mission and community. We are proud to name Andrew Raftus as the 2025 Volunteer of the Year in recognition of his continuous engagement and passion for strengthening the student community and alumni activities at Telfer.
Andrew Raftus is a senior competition law officer in the Mergers and Monopolistic Practices Branch of the Canadian Competition Bureau. Since graduating from the University of Ottawa’s JD-MBA program in 2021, he was called to the Ontario Bar, worked in competition law in the private and public sectors, and served as deputy chief officer of the Competition Bureau’s Monopolistic Intelligence and Case-Intake Unit. He has volunteered in several capacities at the University of Ottawa, including as a guest lecturer, case competition judge, and as director with the MBA Alumni Association and Telfer Alumni Association.
What inspires you to give back to the school and/or to the broader community?
I want to give back to the Telfer School of Management because I’ve personally experienced the transformative power of mentorship. During the JD-MBA program, I was fortunate to participate in case competitions, work on MBA projects to help Canadian businesses, build strong relationships with classmates and learn from passionate professors whose guidance helped shape my path in business and law. I feel a sense of pride and accomplishment in helping students discover how they can similarly leverage their experience at Telfer to shape their academic and professional journey.
Whether it’s discussing career opportunities, facilitating guest lectures, acting as a case competition judge or sharing professional insights, I enjoy mentoring students to help them bridge their academic experience to real-world opportunities. Giving back allows me to stay connected to the community that helped launch my journey and to contribute to the growth of future leaders. It’s a rewarding experience that has taught me that you don’t have to wait until later in your career to give back.
Was there a specific experience that made you realize it was the right time for you to support Telfer students?
Two experiences that I benefited from in the JD-MBA program were the opportunity to work on MBA projects for Canadian businesses and to participate in case competitions. Through the support of Telfer, I was able to apply the skills I developed in the classroom in these practical settings. By giving me the opportunity to bridge the gap between academia and business, I felt better prepared to enter the workforce and provide value to my employers. After graduating, I had a strong desire to provide similar opportunities to students. In collaboration with the Competition Bureau, I volunteered on several occasions as a guest lecturer to educate students on the benefits of competition and how to mitigate risk under the Competition Act. I also travelled to Ottawa on a few occasions to serve as a case competition judge and to provide feedback to students.
What do you hope to see through your gift of time and/or resources?
By volunteering my time, I hope that students will gain practical insights on how to leverage their education to succeed in their personal and professional journey. I also hope that students will one day “pay it forward” and help the next generation of students succeed. Lastly, I hope to inspire other Telfer alumni to support students so that we can grow our community and promote academic excellence, continuous learning and lifelong relationships.
Congratulations to all of the 2025 award winners! Your dedication to following a path rooted in giving back is inspiring. Each of you serves as a great example of the positive effect that alumni and donors can have on the lives of Telfer students, and your contributions are shaping a hopeful future for them. We can’t wait to see what comes next in your philanthropic journey.
The awards moments don’t end here. Read about the remarkable achievements of the R. Trudeau Medal recipients and Young Achiever’s award recipients.
Interested in making a difference by providing much-needed support for students? Discover how you can get involved with the Telfer School of Management by volunteering or giving to initiatives that empower the next generation of leaders.
