Faculty

When applying Gen AI to operations, start small

admin — Fri, 02 May 2025 16:29:02 +0000

Generative AI has generated a whole lot of buzz--but not as many use cases. Many businesses don’t yet know how to use the technology to make their operations more efficient. Associate Professor of Strategy and Organization Karl Moore recommends starting small. “Betin with specific, well-defined use-cases where data is readily available to map the current state of the process and the future state of technology,” he writes in Forbes.com.

�� Desautels offices earn new sustainable workplace ratings

admin — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 16:37:03 +0000

This winter, three of the ten �� offices awarded new Sustainability Workplace Certifications for their sustainable practices were from the Desautels Faculty of Management. Notably, a collaborative Desautels office, formed by the Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity, EDI, the Lewtas Office of Experiential Learning, and TLS Management teams, earned a Platinum certification, the highest possible rating. The Sustainable Growth Initiative (SGI) advanced to a Gold certification, and Desautels IT achieved Silver.

�� Desautels finance students expand horizons with small-cap fund

admin — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 16:50:08 +0000

Thanks to a generous donation from Montreal finance leader J. Sebastian Van Berkom, students in the Honours in Investment Management (HIM) program at ��’s Desautels Faculty of Management will now manage a newly launched small-cap fund through Desautels Capital Management (DCM)—Canada’s first university-owned registered investment firm.

C. Douglas Mellor Prize for academic excellence awarded to two GCPA students

admin — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 14:57:05 +0000

Hugo Deslandes (BCom‘24, GCPA’25) and Veronica Hall (BCom‘24, GCPA’25), students of the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting (GCPA) program, have been selected among their graduating class as this year’s recipients of the C. Douglas Mellor Prize for Academic Excellence.

Kai Zhao (MBA’25) recognized as 2025 MBA To Watch

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 14:12:55 +0000

�� Desautels MBA student Kai Zhao (MBA’25) has been recognized by Poets&Quants as one of its “MBAs To Watch” for the Class of 2025.

A former Canadian Armed Forces Logistics Officer, Zhao has distinguished himself at Desautels through his leadership as VP External of the Graduate Student Society, co-captain of the MBA Games team, and organizer of major networking events connecting students with industry professionals. He also launched a free webinar series to help graduates transition smoothly to life and work in Ontario.

Hari Gopalan (MMA’25), MMA Online graduate harnesses data for healthcare innovation

admin — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 21:19:59 +0000

As part of the first graduating cohort of ��’s Master of Management in Analytics (Online) program, Hari Gopalan (MMA’25) is using data to improve healthcare systems at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Applying insights gained from the program, he’s developed models to optimize exam scheduling and forecast waitlists, driving measurable improvements in patient care. Hari credits the MMA for expanding his technical and problem-solving skills, and for connecting him to a network of analytics professionals across industries.

To be effective, sometimes leaders need to display aspects of both introversion and extroversion

admin — Thu, 15 May 2025 18:32:08 +0000

A stereotypical extrovert loves to engage with people, and derives energy from it. For stereotypical introverts, the reverse is true: they prefer to keep to themselves, and too much interaction with others saps their energy. But ambiverts display traits of both personality types, Professor Karl Moore told CBC Radio’s The Weekender with Jared Monkman. The word dates back to the 1920s, but Moore has revived it after interviewing many senior leaders as part of his research program.

Nine directors at large Canadian pension funds also hold fossil fuel positions

admin — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 18:28:10 +0000

Nine of the directors who oversee Canada’s largest pension funds also hold positions at fossil fuel companies, according to a report by Pensions and Investments.

IT teams can bring insights into how best to deploy AI

admin — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 17:36:45 +0000

Business leaders understand that AI has the power to generate tremendous value, but it is IT teams that have a deeper understanding of the underlying processes and what’s going on behind the scenes. “They better understand the potential dangers and pitfalls,” says Maxime Cohen, Professor of Retail and Operational Management and Director of Research at the Bensadoun School of Retail Management. And because AI needs significant human oversight, they need to be involved in its ideation and deployment.

When it comes to public pensions, Luxembourg could learn from Canada’s success

admin — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 15:16:22 +0000

Luxembourg is among the richest places in the world. It is a small, landlocked European country, but has carved out a niche as a major financial centre. Yet its public pension system could benefit from adopting a capitalized pension model, according to research by Patrick Augustin and Sebastien Betermier, both Associate Professors of Finance at �� Desautels. A capitalized pension fund invests the pension contributions of current workers to pay for retiree benefits in the future.

Transforming urban mobility at the SGI sustainable transportation roundtable

admin — Fri, 09 May 2025 18:32:34 +0000

Explore the insights from the second Sustainable Transportation Roundtable hosted by ��'s Sustainable Growth Initiative (SGI). This year's event, sponsored by Alstom, focused on road safety and reimagining urban streets. Keynote speaker Tom Flood highlighted the impact of media on street design and the need to shift narratives towards safer, more inclusive transportation. Panels discussed reclaiming streets for diverse users and overcoming barriers to public transportation.

MBA students gain global business insights on international study trip

admin — Wed, 28 May 2025 19:17:27 +0000

In April 2025, MBA students from ��'s Desautels Faculty of Management embarked on a ten-day international study trip to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Istanbul. The experience blended corporate visits with cultural immersion, offering insights into real-world business challenges in diverse contexts. Students engaged with global firms like Strategy&, Majid Al Futtaim, and Digiturk, while also exploring local heritage sites and community initiatives.

Emerging tech can help make business’ more resilient

admin — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 18:23:31 +0000

Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence have the power to boost business’ efficiency, but they can also make an organizations more resilient.

Predictive analytics are one way that companies can help ensure they’re prepared for whatever comes next. Predictive analytics can turn raw data into, writes Karl Moore in Forbes.com.

Concrete policy steps could address issues with Canada’s pension system

admin — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 18:39:36 +0000

A well-designed pension system brings enormous social and economic values to its members and to society as a whole. Unfortunately, Canada’s doesn’t stand out. A 2024 report from Mercer ranks it just 18 out of 48 countries. In thefutureeconomy.ca, Prof. Sebastien Betermier proposes three measures that could help improve it by:

· Ensuring there are stronger guardrails to keep pension funds operationally independent

Workshop on tackling food waste facilitates cross-sector collaboration

admin — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 17:44:13 +0000

On June 3, the �� Sustainable Growth Initiative partnered with the Chinese University of Hong Kong to deliver a workshop called ‘Tackling Food Waste’. Professor Javad Nasiry spoke at the event, which featured discussions on research, business solutions, sustainable practices, consumer behaviour, and the role of technology in food redistribution.