Item Types: News

Schulich Alum Michael Murray Appointed CEO of the Ontario Arts Council

Over the years, a number of Schulich graduates from the School’s highly touted MBA specialization in Arts, Media and Entertainment Management have gone on to assume leadership roles in arts organizations in Canada and around the world. The latest to do so is Michael Murray (MBA ’07), who earlier this month was appointed CEO of the Ontario Arts Council (OAC). A guest lecturer in Schulich’s Arts, Media and Entertainment Management program, Murray brings a wealth of leadership experience working at various organizations in the arts sector and cultural industries. He previously served as director of ACTRA Performers’ Rights Society, Canada’s largest performers’ rights organization, and was executive director for the Toronto Musicians’ Association, Local 149 of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada, representing 2,900 members in labour relations and advocacy. “I am so proud to return to OAC as CEO,” says Murray. “The pandemic has shown the incredible resilience of artists and arts organizations and it’s a great honour to serve this community.” “The Schulich School of Business MBA specialization in Arts, Media and Entertainment provided me with the set of skills and networks I needed to come to this point in my career and to pursue success for the Province’s arts community as OAC CEO,” adds Murray. “I’m always thankful for my time at Schulich and the opportunity to connect with the next generation of leaders as an alumnus.” Following graduation from Schulich in 2007, Murray became Executive Director of urbanarts, and then joined the OAC as its popular & world music and arts service organizations officer. His outreach efforts during this time led to significant increases in applicants and grant recipients from Indigenous and racialized communities. While at Schulich, Murray became an inaugural member of the Canadian chapter of the National Black MBA Association.  

MBA Alumnus Founds Sports and Betting Media Company

Mark Silver (MBA 2000) is CEO & Founder of Parleh Media Group, a sports betting media brand and content/social production studio. The company, created in 2021, owns sports and betting brands that engage fans across social platforms, websites and live events. The mix of sports and entertainment content empowers sports fans with easy-to-understand, informative and insightful information.
head shot of Mark Silver
Mark Silver (MBA 2000)
“We saw a gap in the sports media landscape. Others had not focused on the importance of demystifying and normalizing sports betting for fans interested in gambling but intimidated by the complexity of it,” said Silver in an interview with SBC Americas. “This untapped segment of new and early-lifecycle bettors is an attractive and low-cost customer acquisition opportunity for sportsbooks, affiliates and publishers.” Parleh won SBC Americas’ inaugural First Pitch Competition in 2021 and partnered with Ontario regulated operator NorthStar Gaming in February of this year. The company also won the 2022 Media of The Year Award at the SiGMA World’s Gaming Festival last month. This fall Parleh will launch weekly linear TV shows focused on soccer, hockey, and football – also producing short-form content daily, reaching audiences through third-party digital and social distribution. “The Schulich community has accompanied me throughout my career,” said Silver. “In my many business endeavours over the years my connection to Schulich has remained strong and is a special part of my story.”
Host Noor Zainab in front of TV screen
Noor Zainab, Host, Parleh Media Group

17th Schulich Startup Night Champions Crowned

The 17th edition of Schulich Startup Night (SSN-17) recently attracted over 200 registrants and more sponsorship support than ever before. “This was a Schulich Startup Night that will be remembered for years to come! We had amazing pitches from our student and alumni companies that really blew our audience away. It was a tough decision for our judges as well,” shared Chris Carder, Executive Director of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “We can’t wait to follow these emerging companies and support their continued growth!” Guillermo Valles (BBA’22) and Artin Mostajabi (BBA ’23), Founding Team of Wisesheets walked away as the Student Champions, while Sarah Jane Flynn (EMBA’19) and Steven DeCaire (EMBA ’19), Co-Founders of Tourlitix Inc were named the Alumni Champions. Other competitors included Haider Zaidi (BBA’24), Founder and Software Engineer of Webumé and Lakshay Kotnala (MBA’23), CEO of Fly In Ducks in the student category; and Tessa Steenstra (MBA’08), Partner, Strategy Health Pilot; and Sunny Shao (MBA’14), Founder and CEO of Acutely in the alumni category. The championship prizes include cash awards from the Audrey S. Hellyer Foundation, a photoshoot from StylePhotos, and coaching sessions from Prosh Marketing. Although he didn’t win the champion title in the student category, Haider Zaidi (BBA’24), Founder of Webume, took home a remarkable 4 sponsored awards: the People’s Choice Award sponsored by Indochino, the Top TECH Pitch Award sponsored by BEST Lab, the student Venture Award sponsored by Wildeboer Dellelce, and the student Future Star Award sponsored by YSpace. Other sponsored award winners included: Sarah Jane Flynn (EMBA’19), CEO & Co-Founder of Tourlitix Inc, who received the Acceler8 Award sponsored by Zeifmans, Sunny Shao (MBA’14), Founder & CEO of Acutely, who received the alumni Venture Award sponsored by Wildeboer Dellelce, and Tessa Steenstra (MBA’08), Partner, Strategy at Health Pilot, who received the alumni Future Star Awards sponsored by YSpace. In addition to the prize sponsors, SSN-17 was generously supported by TD Insurance and Micro Interface Design. The event can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyF12ZcYaqw. Following SSN-17, a fireside chat with John Ruffolo (BBA’88), renowned founder and managing partner at Maverix Private Equity, was hosted by Daniel Warner (MBA ’12), CEO and Co-Founder of KixCare. The Fireside Chat can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEAPgblW4Yc

Schulich Makes Space for Women in Business

This past week, alumnae, students, and prospective students gathered for the annual Women in Business Networking Event at Schulich. A part of Schulich’s commitment to diversity, the event includes a networking reception, a keynote speaker, and an alumnae panel discussion on the challenges and opportunities women face in business. This year’s keynote speaker was Sasha Krstic (IMBA ’03), President of Mastercard Canada. “I am thrilled by the advancements women have made in business and so many parts of our economy,” said Krstic. “But there is still a ton of work to do. So, I hope today will be a safe space for you to ask questions and raise points about being a woman in business.” The alumnae panel consisted of,
  • Meghan Archibald (MBA ’19) | Product Marketing Manager, Clio
  • Ambreen Hasan (MBA ’19) | Senior Consultant, Deloitte
  • Gabriela Kahn (MBA ’21) | Associate, Global Operations Catalyst Development Program, Scotiabank
The alumnae panel fields questions at Schulich's 2022 Women in Business Networking Event
The alumnae panel fields questions at Schulich’s 2022 Women in Business Networking Event
Each panelist recounted how their Schulich experience contributed to their career journey. The panel was moderated by Schulich Professor Ela Veresiu. “Schulich contains an exceptional wealth of thinking in the different areas that make up business,” said Krstic. “For current students, this is an incredible time to build skill sets, knowledge, and networks. Schulich is your toolbox.” Learn more about how Schulich empowers women in business >  

The Economist Ranks Schulich #1 in Canada

The Economist magazine today ranked the MBA program at the Schulich School of Business #1 in Canada and 40th in the world in the magazine’s annual survey of the world’s top 100 MBA programs. “We’re delighted that Schulich’s MBA program was once again ranked #1 in Canada by one of the world’s most prestigious business publications,” said Dean Detlev Zwick. “We’re also pleased that Schulich was ranked among the top schools in the world in several categories that students identify as being among the most important, including diversity of recruiters, networking potential, and salary increase following graduation.” In addition to finishing 1st among Canadian business schools, Schulich placed 9th in the world among non-US schools. The following are some of the key highlights regarding Schulich in this year’s The Economist ranking:
  • Schulich ranked 1st in the world in regard to the number of overseas alumni chapters and 2nd in the world in the category of Potential to Network, which takes into account the size of a school’s alumni network.
  • Schulich ranked 4th in the world in the category of Recruiter Diversity – the number of industries represented by recruiters who hire Schulich graduates.
  • Schulich ranked 9th in the world in the category of Salary Increase – a measurement that captures the percentage by which salaries increased pre-MBA to post-MBA.
To view the complete results, visit: https://whichmba.economist.com/ranking/full-time-mba/2022. The Economist survey is the only major global ranking that rates business schools on criteria deemed most important to MBA students and alumni – everything from diversity of career opportunities to earning potential and networking opportunities.

Schulich and CIBC Announce New Research Chair in Sustainable Finance

As a result of a $1.25-million commitment made by CIBC, Schulich will establish a new research chair in the field of sustainable finance. The CIBC Chair in Sustainable Finance will pursue pioneering research that meets the growing sustainable investment needs of the financial sector. The Chair will also 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 CIBC Chair will undertake groundbreaking research that will help guide businesses and policy makers in their efforts to shift to a low-carbon economy,” says Detlev Zwick, Dean of the Schulich School of Business. “The CIBC Chair will also address the unmet need for the education and training of industry practitioners in the rapidly growing field of sustainable finance.” Schulich is ranked among the top 5 business schools in the world in responsible business education, according to the latest survey conducted by Corporate Knights, and is home to the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Business, one of the world’s largest and most influential academic centres dedicated to sustainability research and knowledge development. The new CIBC Chair will expand the School’s expertise in the emerging field of sustainable finance and bolster its leadership in the field of sustainability. “With new and intensifying environmental challenges, we recognize that the best path forward is working with stakeholders to enable solutions that shape a more sustainable future,” says Roman Dubczak, Managing Director and Head, Global Investment Banking, CIBC Capital Markets. “This partnership underscores our bank’s commitment to support clients in transitioning to the low-carbon economy while accelerating our actions aimed at addressing climate change.” Schulich will undertake a full, international search for the new Chairholder, who will be a leading researcher in this fast-changing and prominent new field. The Chair will add cutting-edge thinking and teaching, while also contributing to the School through a combination of teaching, research, program development and outreach.

Schulich Alumni Launch Initiative for Incoming Ukrainians

With more than 28,000 Ukrainians arriving in Canada, the challenge of finding displaced individuals homes will require a long-term sustainable solution. Arunabh Dastidar (MBA ’19) and Gaurav Madani (MBA ’19) are both members of the  Schulich Startups community and  Co-Founders of SoulRooms Inc recently launched a new initiative to help those Ukrainian refugees find homes in Canada. As a technology company, they help rental managers make the most of their rental properties. This initiative provides a single platform that enables all rental housing providers to be at the forefront of helping house the displaced Ukrainians arriving in Canada. SoulRooms was launched in 2019 as a data intelligence platform that leverages data across the rental journey to generate actionable insights and automate relevant processes for rental managers. With this technology, SoulRooms is able to connect potential renters directly to landlords and help match Canadian landlords with Ukrainian refugees looking for a new place to call home. “Once Ukrainians come to Canadian shores, they’re on their own. Whatever we can do to help them get the right housing in Canada is a great support,” expressed Arunabh. SoulRooms has been working with over 25 companies, organizations and housing providers, including Mainstreet Equity Corp. and Northview Fund, in order to find housing options for the 500 refugees they plan to help with their new initiative. Click here to learn more about this initiative and how you can help today.

Schulich Enables Breastfeeding Mothers

During her time at Schulich, Melanie Rodriguez (Accelerated MBA ’20) found tremendous support as a new mother. “Every step of the process, from speaking with the admissions team to having my first tour, made it clear to me that Schulich prioritized mothers,” said Rodriguez. “There were even five mothers in my row during orientation!” Her first tour of Schulich wasn’t the typical prospective student’s tour. “I was shown where I could breastfeed, pump, and store milk with privacy. There was a place to sit in privacy, a table so I could read notes while pumping, and a fridge/freezer to store milk during classes.” She was also shown everything needed to clean and sanitize breastfeeding equipment and bottles. “These important gestures made continuing my breastfeeding journey so much easier. This thoughtful setup is rarely found and yet, I would argue, is urgently needed at all business schools and all workplaces,” she says. Rodriguez was happily surprised by how accommodating and supportive each member of the Schulich faculty was – whether she needed to take an unexpected break to pump or miss a class because her son was sick. Professors were empathetic and understanding. “The amazing experience in the classroom gave me the confidence to participate in extra-curricular experiences during my MBA, such as the G7 Youth Summit in France,” she said. “Completing the MBA with a baby who breastfed was not easy. However, when you have supportive faculty, policies, and environments in place, more than you can imagine is possible.”

Schulich Alumnus One of Globe ROB’s 2022 Best Executives

Abhinav Singhvi (MBA ’20) is one of the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business 2022 Best Executives. The ROB said the list “celebrates 50 all-stars who work behind the scenes to get the job done”. “Being recognized among Canada’s Best Executives is a significant achievement, and this honour humbles me,” said Singhvi. “I am grateful to Schulich, my professors and my team at Volatus for all the hard work, and I am proud and thankful to them.” As the CFO of Volatus Aerospace, Singhvi has helped the company achieve a public listing on the TSXV. He also oversaw six IFRS audits and 16 successful acquisitions with 100% leadership retention post-acquisition. The Report on Business Best Executive Awards is an annual program to celebrate excellence among non-CEO leaders at the SVP, EVP and C-suite (or equivalent) levels. The 50 winners chosen for 2022 represent the best of Canadian leadership in five functional areas: Finance; Human Resources; Operations; Sales and Marketing; and Technology.

PhD Student Publishes First Paper About Neonatal Program for Parents

A Schulich PhD student has had her first research paper published. Dr. Makini McGuire-Brown, BSc; MBBS; MBA; and PhD Candidate; co-wrote “The STEP Program—A Qualitative Study of the Supportive Therapeutic Excursion Program and Its Effect on Enabling Parental Self-Efficacy and Connectedness after the Stress-Experience of the NICU”. “Support programs exist for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) parents, but here with the addition of stroller walks, something so unassuming, we’ve uncovered an interesting phenomenon,” says McGuire-Brown. While the paper focuses more on the positive clinical outcome for the patient families, the administrative side cannot be overlooked. “It was instinctive to the physicians and nurses that STEP would be beneficial to these parents, but it took approval/conversation from several non-clinical departments for it to be implemented,” says McGuire-Brown. “It really emphasizes the importance of environments in which policies complement clinical work. When my friend and fellow physician Dr Judy Seesahai offered me the opportunity to come on board by introducing me to Dr Paige Church I grasped the opportunity, and an amazing opportunity it was!” After completing her MBA at Schulich and doing an individual study as one of her courses with her current PhD supervisor Professor Marcia Annisette, McGuire-Brown realized that she could take her studies further by pursuing the PhD. “I’m grateful for my unique perspective,” McGuire-Brown said. “Being a medical doctor who entered into the world of administration and then research, I am able to see through a unique lens and I hope that this will be beneficial for both the research community and in a practical way. I’m a big dreamer so I hope to continue to be a part of impactful research going forward!”