News – Page 7 – Schulich School of Business

BBA Alumna Competes for $1M Grand Prize in Food Waste Reduction Challenge

Schulich alumni-founded company, ALT TEX has been selected as one of six finalists for the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Food Waste Reduction Challenge. The company’s founder, Myra Arshad (BBA’18) has been a leading member of the Schulich Startups community for several years and has been a speaker and guest lecturer for numerous events and Schulich courses. In the semi-final round, ALT TEX received $100,000 to build a prototype of their innovative technology. After presenting to the External Review Committee and being shortlisted as a finalist, they will receive $450,000 to test their technology in an operational environment with a partner. This grant will support the scale-up of ALT TEX as they take one of the world’s most abundant waste sources –food – and use it to overturn one of the world’s most polluting industries – fashion. “Canada is one of the top-most food waste-producing countries in the world. We’re extremely grateful for the government’s support through this grant as we work to change that,” said Myra. The company is now competing to win one of two grand prizes of up to $1 million. Through the Food Waste Reduction Challenge the Government of Canada aims to increase food availability, increase farmers’ revenue, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. ALT TEX has developed a food-to-fabric technology, the first of its kind, which can convert food waste into bioplastic fibre, bridging the performance of synthetic fabrics and the biodegradability of natural fibres. This technology plugs into polyester’s existing system for highly scalable and economical production – enabling replacement of synthetics at scale.

Waze Founder Inspires Young Entrepreneurs at Schulich

Schulich’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship hosted an event in partnership with Waze co-founder and CEO Uri Levine this past week. Celebrating the launch of his new book, “Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution”, Levine delivered a keynote presentation on the origin of and learnings from his journey with Waze, which was acquired by Google in 2013 for $1.1 billion. Over 250 members of the Schulich entrepreneurship community attended. “We were incredibly fortunate to have entrepreneurial legend Uri Levine join us at Schulich to share his thoughts and insights as well as his own incredible entrepreneurial journey,” said Schulich Dean Detlev Zwick. “Our students and alumni found the keynote address to be extremely valuable in helping to navigate their own entrepreneurship journeys.” Levine’s visit to Schulich was part of the “Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution” book tour, which seeks to empower entrepreneurs across the world. The event was supported by The Schulich Foundation and Schulich’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Engagement. “We extend our heartfelt thanks to Uri for visiting the Schulich Startups community,” said Chris Carder, Executive Director of Schulich’s Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “We wish Uri safe travels as he continues to spread his message and words of support with young entrepreneurs and innovators worldwide.” Learn more about “Fall in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution” > View all photos from Uri’s keynote >

CAWEE Award Recipient Embraces the Meaning of International Women’s Day

In recognition of International Women’s Day, a day of unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy, and action, we are proud to highlight Schulich’s ongoing support of gender equity with one of our many women-focused scholarships and awards, including the CAWEE Award which is funded by the Canadian Association of Women Executives & Entrepreneurs. This award is presented to a female full-time MBA student, who in their first year of study has represented academic excellence and demonstrated financial need. Congratulations to one of the recent award winners, Bijoya Chakraborty (MBA Candidate ’23). “I am very grateful for this award as it recognizes my academic achievement,” said Chakraborty. “Moreover, it is a great honour for me to be part of the CAWEE network and I am looking forward to learning from the network of industry leaders through this platform.” Bijoya Chakraborty grew up in Bangladesh and has always wanted to work in places that would help her to create an impact on society. Prior to coming to Canada to study, she worked with several non-profit organizations as a business consultant providing business suggestions, business plans, and training to women entrepreneurs in rural areas in Bangladesh. Chakraborty is currently involved as consultant with various clubs and organizations, such as York Sustainable Enterprise and Impact Consulting where she works with social enterprises and non-profits to help grow their businesses. After completing her MBA with a specialization in Finance, Chakraborty is planning to venture into the consulting industry. For more information about Schulich’s scholarships, awards, and bursaries, including those celebrating women, click here or contact us at advancement@schulich.yorku.ca.

Celebrating Black Leaders and Trailblazers All Month

The Black Graduate Business Network (BGBN) at the Schulich School of Business recently hosted a series of events to celebrate Black History Month. Through the events, attendees had the opportunity to learn about the significant contributions of Black trailblazers and role models who paved the way for future generations. Alumni, MBA, Masters, and BBA students alike attended. The first event, “Black Disruptors in Consulting,” took place virtually on February 3rd, hosted by Accenture and featured several guest speakers. The second event, “The Power of Networking – Black Resilience”, was held on February 10th in partnership with Onyx Initiative. The event featured guest speaker Wayne Purboo, founder of Onyx Initiative, and keynote speaker Ifeanyi Emesih, founder of My East Coast Experience Media. The third event, “Being Your Authentic Self with Pride,” took place in-person on February 16th in partnership with TD Bank. Schulich Dean Detlev Zwick spoke at the event alongside keynote speaker Jean-Jacques Rousseau (MBA ’06) and panelists Kikiloye Oyerinde (MBA ’20) and Faith Biyapo. “Black History Month provides a time during the year when we recognize and applaud the contributions that Black Canadians have made to our country and to our School,” says Dean Zwick. “It’s also a time when we celebrate Black excellence in all aspects of our society, particularly in the world of business.” BGBN aims to increase diversity and inclusion within the Schulich community and Canadian corporate pipeline. It seeks to showcase Schulich’s diversity, attract top talents to the School, and make Schulich a leader in issues of diversity and inclusion. “I encourage everyone to continue to embrace the spirit of Black History Month, learn from and celebrate Black leaders’ achievements and be inspired by their strength and resilience,” said Vivian Amah (MBA Candidate ’23), BGBN Co-President. “Let us honour the legacy of those who have come before us by committing to a brighter future for all.”

View photos from “Being your Authentic Self with Pride” >

EMBA Alumnus Recognized as one of Top 14 Entrepreneurs to Watch in 2023

The Toronto Star recently named Peyvand Melati (EMBA ’18) one of Fourteen Canadian entrepreneurs to watch in 2023. Melati is the founder of QEA Tech, a company that focuses on reducing energy loss in buildings by using drones with high-definition visual and thermal cameras to spot building points that have cracks or moisture penetration. “My passion is the commercialization of ideas. I started Angel investment in 2017, and QEA Tech was one of the ideas pitched to me by my Co-founders for pre-seed investment. I invested in the idea till it became a product, and then together with my Co-Founders, we launched the business in 2019,” said Melati. Melati pursued an EMBA for hard skills, but once he started the Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA program realized connections became more important. “Originally I wanted to gain more knowledge on finance and M&A, but I figured out later that the network was the main reason I joined the program,” he said. He credits the program with assisting him as an entrepreneur. “I have gained a lot of essential knowledge for scaling a company in marketing, finance, leadership, etc. in the Kellogg –Schulich program,” he said. “This program has a great network of people in any industry and worldwide. As an entrepreneur, one constantly requires access to expertise and network to gain the market, and this network provides you with both.”

Alum Raises Over $2 Million USD for Startup

The Schulich Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship congratulates RYSE’s hardworking team for raising over $2M USD in their ongoing Series A Community Round so far. RYSE is employing a unique investment vehicle that allows both accredited and retail investors to participate in their funding round. RYSE’s founder, Trung Pham (BBA, ’09), credits Schulich for his understanding the importance of a financial model as an entrepreneur. “Schulich helped me from a financial and accounting perspective, specifically to really understand potential drivers of growth and their contribution to top-line revenues,” said Pham. “You really need to build a financial model from the bottom-up to understand what drives your revenues. For us, we have multiple channels that contribute to growth, including ecommerce, retail and wholesale/B2B.” RYSE Inc. is a global provider of technology that helps solve the problem of wasted energy in homes and buildings by automating window shades. Their solutions provide comfort and convenience to the masses and independent living to the growing aging population and the disabled. A Schulich Startups ecosystem company, RYSE is a PropTech IoT startup that has generated over $6M in revenues to date, securing partnerships with major retailers like Bed Bath & Beyond and Best Buy. RYSE’s noteworthy list of investors includes high-profile entrepreneurs Shawn Dougherty (co-founded mophie, sold for $100 Million), and Anthony Lacavera (founder of Wind Mobile, sold for $1.16 Billion). “We expect that RYSE will in time become synonymous with smart shades, in the same way Nest is to thermostats and Ring is to doorbells,” said Pham.

Gaining Insights into Finance Industry at 2023 Day on Bay

The Schulich Finance Association (SFA) recently hosted the 2023 Day on Bay, York University’s largest finance event of the year. The event was held at the Vantage Venues on 150 King St. West, and featured 80+ participating Schulich alumni, industry professionals, and recruiters from financial organizations. The event included various panels on different areas of finance, such as Asset Management, Private Equity and Venture Capital, and Capital Markets. Panel discussions were led by BBA, MBA, and MF alumni who hold senior leadership positions at top flight financial institutions. The day ended with a networking luncheon, which provided attendees with the opportunity to connect with alumni and fellow students. “Day on Bay provided an invaluable opportunity for students to expand their knowledge and network by connecting with top alumni from Schulich,” said Yash Matai (MBA ’23), Schulich Finance Association President. “Additionally, the alumni were able to engage with the next generation of finance professionals and share valuable insights on the market and various career paths.” The Schulich Finance Association is a student club dedicated to educating and informing students about the industry. By becoming a member, students can gain insight into various career options through panel discussions, networking opportunities with industry professionals and alumni, as well as various training and social events. View photos from the 2023 Day on Bay >

Top 10 Schulich Stories of 2022

1. Schulich Establishes New Chair in Sustainable Finance Thanks to a $1.25-million commitment made by CIBC, Schulich established a new research chair in sustainable finance that will pursue pioneering research to meet the growing sustainable investment needs of the financial sector. The CIBC Chair in Sustainable Finance will help bridge the gap between academia and industry in areas such as green energy transition, the low carbon economy, and the political, regulatory and governance challenges of a sustainable financial system. The new Chair will also expand the School’s expertise in the emerging field of sustainable finance and bolster its leadership in the field. Read more ›

2. Schulich Showcases Business Thought Leadership In early 2022 Schulich established a new, live speakers’ series called the Dean’s Leadership Dialogues. The series involves ongoing dialogues between Dean Zwick and a number of inspirational business leaders while also providing a dynamic and interactive platform for members of the Schulich community to engage with these leaders on a wide range of issues. Dialogue sessions that took place during the year included: Kim Parlee (IMBA ’95), VP, TD Wealth, and Host of Moneytalk on BNN Bloomberg and CTV; Jasper Cheung (MBA ’90), President of Amazon Japan; Vito Paladino (BBA ’99, MBA ’11), President of Audi Canada; and Katie Taylor (MBA/JD ’84, Hon LLD ’14), Chair of the Royal Bank of Canada. Schulich also created the Dean’s Desk, a new initiative launched in early 2022 to showcase the School’s thought leadership on the latest current and emerging trends in management and the world of business. Featured topics have included advertising ethics in the digital age, the rise of micro credentials in management education, navigating the new hybrid world of nonprofit and for-profit business, and business education and the metaverse. Read more › 3. Team Schulich Wins National Business School Competitions Schulich’s case competition teams excelled in 2022. Team Schulich won the national MBA Games for the second year in a row in early 2022. As the previous year’s champion, Schulich hosted the online games, considered the largest MBA competition in Canada. The three-day event featured over 280 students from 16 MBA programs across the country competing in Academic, Athletic and Spirit challenges for the coveted Queen’s Cup. This year’s victory marked the third time in the last five years that Schulich has won the Queen’s Cup. Schulich also won the “School of the Year” title at the 2022 Jeux du Commerce Central (JDCC) competition as a result of 17 podium finishes in a wide range of categories, including debate, finance, and business strategy. The JDCC is the largest undergraduate business school competition in Central Canada with more than 600 student delegates from Ontario, Québec and the Maritimes. Read about MBA Games › Read about JDCC ›

4. Schulich Launches Weekend and Evening MBA Program Option Accelerated by the pandemic and the rapidly changing world of work, students are increasingly looking for much greater flexibility in management programs – not only where they study, but also when they study. As one response to this new and growing trend, Schulich launched a new MBA program option – The Weekend and Evening MBA – in September 2022. The program is aimed at working professionals and provides them with a pathway to earn an MBA in 24 months without interrupting their careers. The program combines core elements of Schulich’s traditional, full-time MBA in Year 1 together with a curated list of Schulich’s most popular MBA elective courses in Year 2. Courses are taught in a Hyflex environment, with students able to access a maximum of four classes for each course remotely. Read more › 5. Schulich’s MBA Program Ranked Among World’s Best Schulich’s MBA program performed well in a wide range of global rankings published during 2022. Schulich placed 1^st in Canada and 40th in the world in The Economist MBA ranking. In addition to finishing 1st among Canadian business schools, Schulich placed 9th in the world among non-US schools in The Economist ranking. The dual degree MBA/JD Program offered by Schulich and Osgoode Hall Law School was named among the top 10 business and law programs in North America by FIND MBA, a leading management education website. The Financial Times of London, in its prestigious annual executive education ranking, rated Schulich’s Executive Education program 32^nd in the world and 2^nd in Canada, and it ranked the Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA #1 in Canada and 30 globally. And Schulich ranked among the top 30 business schools in the world for MBA students wishing to pursue careers in finance, technology and information management. QS MBA ranked Schulich 13^th in the world for careers in Finance, 25^th in Technology, and 29th in Information Management. Schulich was also the #1 ranked MBA program in Canada for careers in Marketing. Read more ›

6. Schulich Partners in Launch of New Tri-Business School Collective Schulich participated in the launch of a pilot program as part of the Tri-Business School Collective – a partnership between Schulich, the Ivey Business School at Western and Smith School of Business at Queen’s – to address barriers that prevent the representation of Black students in business. The program is aimed at creating new pathways for Black high school students by enhancing their understanding of academic options and opportunities for careers in business following graduation, while supporting them financially to pursue an undergraduate business education. Read more ›

7. Schulich Enters Into Experiential Education Partnership with CI Financial Schulich and CI Financial Corp., a leading global wealth and asset management firm, signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding in November to provide experiential learning opportunities and educational industry events to Schulich students. Under the terms of the agreement, CI Financial will offer 10% of its annual internships to Schulich students. In addition, CI Financial will engage students from Schulich’s one-year professional Masters programs in a minimum of four team consulting projects per year. The agreement also includes a provision for CI Financial and Schulich to organize and host two panel discussions under the theme of “Investing in the Future” each year, one during the Fall semester and one during the Winter semester. CI Financial and Schulich hosted their first joint panel discussion, “Leading Change in the Financial Services Industry,” at Schulich in November. Read more ›

8. Schulich and MaRS Partner on Promoting Climate Innovations A creative partnership between Schulich and MaRS gave eight undergraduate and graduate business students at Schulich an inside look at the many challenges climate tech ventures face as they try to grow their businesses for global impact. The students took part in the Mission from MaRS: Climate Impact Challenge, an initiative designed to help 10 of Canada’s most promising climate ventures accelerate deployment of their commercial solutions and overcome barriers that have held back their potential. As part of the program, a special coalition of industry experts and corporate partners was established to act as industry advisors for each of the 10 ventures. Each participating Schulich student was also assigned to a venture as a Coalition Fellow. In exchange, the students earned academic credits and got the chance to connect and interact with a broad network of stakeholders, including entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers, investors, government officials and other subject-matter experts who supported coalition activities. Read more ›

9. Schulich Has Record-Breaking Year in Research Grants During the past year Schulich achieved an unprecedented 100% success rate in obtaining federal research grant income (Tri-Council Funding: SSHRC Insight Grants, NSERC Discovery Grants and CIHR Operating Grants). The School also secured more than $1.25 million in federal research grant income – a record high amount. Some of the School’s faculty members also enjoyed research success. Schulich Professor Dirk Matten was selected the #5 top scientist in Canada in the fields of Law and Political Science. Matten has published 29 books and edited volumes, as well as more than 90 journal articles and book chapters, which have won numerous prestigious awards. In 2018 he was ranked #44 in the ‘Top 100 Corporate Social Responsibility Influence Leader’ ranking (he was the only academic scholar on the list). And in 2019, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Schulich as well as the York Research Leader Award. Read more ›

10. Schulich Receives Two Key Global Accreditations Schulich received re-accreditation from two of the world’s leading accreditation bodies known for their rigorous assessment criteria: AMBA (The Association of MBAs), an international accreditation authority for graduate business education based in London, England; and EQUIS, widely regarded as the premier quality designation for business schools. Both accreditations affirm that Schulich continues to meet the highest standards with regard to learning and employability outcomes, program quality and real-world impact. Read more ›

Successes, Smiles and Souvenirs Shared in BBA/iBBA ‘12 Reunion

On November 27th, graduates from the BBA/iBBA Class of 2012 reunited over brunch. The 10-year reunion, which was initiated by Ambassadors Nicole Song (iBBA ’12) and Ankit Bhandari (BBA ’12), featured a video wall of graduation photos and a commemorative cake. Over 70 alumni attended. In his opening remarks, Schulich Dean Detlev Zwick touched on the many notable changes at Schulich over the past decade, including the opening of the York University subway station (2017) and the McEwen research building (2019). “Thanks to our BBA and iBBA grads from the Class of 2012,” said Dean Zwick, who referenced some of the highlights from the year the class graduated – everything from Facebook going public to Kickstarter taking crowdfunding mainstream. “We’re proud of what you’ve accomplished. We’re excited that you are part of the newly revitalized Schulich alumni community. And we’re glad that you took the time to come back to Schulich and reconnect with former classmates.”

Alumni pose in front of the Seymour Schulich Building stairwell

After brunch, alumni shared their favourite memories and important career updates through an open mic session. “The reunion was a reminder of how much we’ve all grown both professionally and personally,” said Ankit Bhandari. “Starting here at Schulich has created a bond that will last a lifetime. We can’t wait to see what the next 10 years will bring!” added Song. The event concluded with a tour of the new McEwen building. View photos from the BBA/iBBA ‘12 Reunion >

Mentorship Program Celebrates Second Cohort of Schulich Founders with Veteran Alumni Mentors

The Schulich Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship celebrates the second cohort of the Schulich Startups Mentorship Program. A bi-annual program, six Schulich Founders receive four months of one-to-one mentorship from veteran Founders and Investors, who are Schulich Alumni themselves. The Mentorship Program is led by Entrepreneur in Residence Cherry Rose Tan. In a continued partnership with MindFrame Connect, a national not-for-profit focused on the craft of mentorship, Schulich Startups is focused on elevating the way that Schulich Students and Alumni are supported as they scale their companies. “It is a critical yet exciting time at Schulich Startups, as our Schulich Founders continue to navigate these economic times,” said Cherry Rose Tan, Entrepreneur in Residence at the Schulich School of Business. “We understand that timely and strategic support, in the form of Schulich Alumni who are excited to give back, is the way we can become stronger as an ecosystem.” In this second cohort, Schulich thanks its acclaimed Mentors, which include:

Andrei Poliakov (MBA ‘20), Director, Board of Directors at WonderFi
Matan Hazanov (BBA ’11), Managing Director at Verstra Ventures
Peyvand Melati (MBA’ 18), Chief Executive Officer at QEA Tech
Prathna Ramesh, VP of Operations at FutureSight
Roshni Wijayasinha (MBA ’09), Chief Executive Officer at Prosh Marketing
Suraj Gupta (BBA ’11), Co-Founder, President & CEO at Rogue Insight Capital

“We are excited about the momentum that has been created through the Mentorship Program, and how several generations of the Schulich community are collaborating with one another,” said Chris Carder, Executive Director of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “The community continues to grow and strengthen among Schulich Founders and Investors alike.” The talented Mentees, who represented a myriad of verticals and stages, include:

Artin Mostajabi (BBA ’23), Chief Executive Officer at Wisesheets
Guillermo Valles (BBA ’22), Chief Business Development Officer at Wisesheets
Daniel Shain (BBA ’08), Co-Founder & CEO at Confetti
Ariel Shain (BBA ’15), Co-Founder & COO at Confetti
Richa Gupta (MBA ’10), Founder & President at Good Food for Good
Tali Remennik (BBA ’17), Co-Founder & CEO at Granularity
Tejas Shah (MBA ’17), Co-Founder & CEO at The Villa Life
Vinit Shah (BBA ’21), Co-Founder & CEO at MyStudia