McMaster University Receives $15 Mil. Donation, and More – Toronto News
Toronto’s business schools have had an active week, filled with exciting new developments. Below, we’ve laid out some of the highlights.
McMcaster University Receives $15 Million Donation For Its Commerce Program – The Globe and Mail
Paul McLean and his family have contributed $15 million CAD to McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business. Private donations will go toward revamping the school’s undergraduate commerce program. McLean’s gift will be added to the $50 million undergraduate business education building—scheduled to open in 2022.
McLean, who earned his undergraduate degree and MBA at McMaster, is the Chief Executive Officer of CWB Maxium Financial. He feels passionate that this donation will lead to a valuable and “potentially revolutionary” learning experience for those involved.
Len Waverman, Dean of the DeGroote School of Business, says:
“When you think about the way the world is changing, it is beyond hype; and with artificial intelligence, it does change the nature of work and the nature of the occupations students go into…everyone has similar ideas that our students have got to be creative, think outside of the box and be able to transform themselves.”
You can learn more about the donation here.
Doug Ford’s Fix for Toronto’s Housing Crisis is Easy: Just Build More Homes – Financial Post
The Financial Post recently highlighted the push from Doug Ford, the Ontario Premier, to build more homes in Toronto as a solution to housing shortages.
Toronto’s housing prices have doubled in the past decade, and experts are debating the best solution to re-mediate. Demand measures are controversial, as they disproportionately affect younger buyers and buyers in lower socioeconomic brackets. Ford argues that supply measures would grow the markets in a stable and maintainable way.
Just in the past five years, housing costs in Toronto have risen 60 percent, according to The Financial Post.
The Financial Post spoke with Michael Fenn, a visiting fellow at the Lawrence National Centre at Western University Canada’s Ivey Business School, on the rising costs. According to Fenn, “Keeping housing of a variety of types affordable and available is crucial to the economic success of the GTA and the country generally.”
You can read more about the Toronto housing crisis here.
30 Exceptional Educators Recognized As Canada’s Outstanding Principals – The Learning Partnership
Recipients of Canada’s Outstanding Principal Award were recently announced, and will be honored at a ceremony at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management on February 26, 2019.
Additionally, the honorees have the opportunity to attend a leadership training program at Rotman, wherein they will learn about management practices from experts in various fields. This year marks the 15th anniversary of The Learning Partnership’s Outstanding Principal Award.
Debra D. Kerby, President and CEO of The Learning Partnership, says:
“From Rankin Inlet, NU to Vancouver, BC to Richmond PEI, we are honored to recognize principals from coast to coast to coast. Principals are so important to the success of our schools and our students. They ensure our schools are dynamic, engaging places to learn, and that student are inspired every single day. These principals are enabling students to thrive in an increasingly diverse and changing world. These 30 principals are all instrumental in connecting students, educators, families and the community together, and we recognize their indispensable contributions to helping Canada continue as a global leader in education.”
The recipients were nominated by parents, faculty, and members of their community. They will join the National Academy of Canada’s Outstanding Principals, which will afford them, “… networking, mentoring and professional development opportunities to enhance their leadership skills.”
You can learn more about the awards here.
DeGroote Introduces New Faculty, and More – Toronto News
This week, Toronto business schools have welcomed new faculty, promoted existing faculty, and been cited in popular publications. We’ve given a brief overview below.
The Innovators: DeGroote Welcomes Teresa Cascioli, Alfredo Tan as Industry Professors – McMaster News
McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business has added two new professors to strengthen the school’s commitment to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship. Professors Teresa Cascioli and Alfredo Tan have committed to a three-year term at the school.
Both Cascioli and Tan have joined the Strategic Management faculty. Cascioli will specialize in entrepreneurship, whereas Tan, a former Facebook executive, will specialize in digital transformation.
Cascioli, who graduated from McMaster in 1983, has long been involved with its growth. In 2008, she won the Wayne C. Fox Distinguished Alumni Award. She has donated upwards of $6 million to the school since graduating. Len Waverman, the Dean of the DeGroote School of Business, says:
“Teresa is someone who’s had great success in business, and she’s still succeeding. She’s a noted entrepreneur, and as we’re pushing more into the innovation and entrepreneurship space, it will be great to have her expertise on hand.”
Though Tan’s path to the field of digital innovation was far from straightforward, he has established himself as a valuable force. According to Len Waverman, Tan, “… is on the frontier of digital innovation, and that helps us be on the frontier as well.”
You can find out more about the new professors here.
How Leaders Can Get Better At Using Data to Make Decisions – Forbes
Forbes recently highlighted an article from the fall issues of Rotman Management—the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management‘s official magazine—discussing the misconception that increased reliance on data analytics to justify business actions has lead to less biased decision-making.
In the case study, Data Analytics: From Bias to Better Decision—which first appeared in the HBR Guide to Data Analytics Basics for Managers—Megan MacGarvie and Kristina McElheran argue that bias is still a major concern, even when data is informing the decision.
The co-authors laid out a few common cognitive traps that decision-makers often fall into. For example, “The Confirmation Trap” occurs when a decision-maker pays more attention to data that aligns with their expectations or existing beliefs. Understanding these cognitive traps may help organizations execute decisions that are truly informed by data analytics, rather than bias.
You can read more about the research here.
Schulich Professor Peter Macdonald Appointed Co-Director of Hennick Centre – yFile
York University has named Schulich School of Business Professor Peter Macdonald as the Co-Director of the Hennick Centre for Business and Law. After graduating from York’s Osgoode Hall Law School in 1985, York practiced law at multinational corporations, acted as a mediator, and eventually returned to York in 2001 to teach business law at Schulich.
On the announcement, Ed Waitzer, Director of the Hennick Centre for Business and Law, says:
“We’re very fortunate to have Peter join us as a co-director of the Centre. As co-director of the JD/MBA program, Peter already plays a key role in, and has made a huge contribution to, many of our programs and priorities. He’s a terrific resource.”
You can learn more about Professor Macdonald here.
Millennial Men Taking on Parental Leave, and More – Toronto News
Toronto’s finest business schools have been contributing to social, political, and scientific advances this week. We’ve laid out the highlights below.
How Testosterone May Be Influencing Men’s Purchasing Decisions – The Globe and Mail
Nature Communications recently published research from Western University Canada’s Ivey Business School that explored the relationship between testosterone levels and luxury brand purchases in men. The study finds that levels of the hormone, typically associated with sex drive and masculine features, could play a role in predicting shopping choices.
The study involved 243 men between the ages of 18 and 55, divided into two groups. The men in one group were given doses of testosterone, and those in the other group received a placebo. Those with higher levels of testosterone were more likely to purchase high-end brands than those with lower levels of the hormone. Researchers posited that this is due to an evolutionary drive to demonstrate high social status, and therefore a high mate value.
According to the study, testosterone, “elevates men’s desire to promote their social status through economic consumption.”
You can read more about the study here.
How Millennial Men Can Champion Workplace Equality – Forbes
Though, externally, it seems society has made remarkable strides toward gender equality, subconscious bias is more difficult to measure. Harvard’s Project Implicit study, however, attempts to gain data about implicit gender bias. Nearly 80 percent of participants were more comfortable associating men with the work and public spheres and women with the domestic spheres than vice versa.
According to the research, working mothers tend to be faced with skepticism surrounding their commitment and ability to do their jobs when they return from parental leave. However, millennial fathers, may have the chance to help alter this perspective. In her Forbes article, Mary Beth Ferrante sites the work of Erin Reid, Associate Professor at McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business. Her work explains the concept of breadsharers, or, “husbands who value enabling each partner to pursue their work and family goals.”
Erin Reid, Associate Professor at McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business, notes that the more millennial men take parental leave, the more normalized the practice becomes / Photo via gsb.stanford.edu
Milliennial fathers are more open to breadsharing, and could thus influence the way new mothers are seen in the workplace. Ferrante insists that it is essential for men to take their full parental leave in order to challenge implicit bias surrounding the roles of men and women in the workplace and at home.
You can read Ferrante’s full piece on millennial men influencing parental leave here.
What is the Most Democratic and Effective Way to Govern a City the Size and Economic Import of Toronto? – The Globe and Mail
Richard Florida, professor at the University of Toronto’s School of Cities and Rotman School of Management, and Alan Broadbent, Chair of Avana Capital and Maytree, recently co-authored an article for The Globe and Mail that explores Toronto’s future in the wake of Doug Ford’s announcement that he plans to drastically reduce the size of Toronto’s city council.
With different parties vying for a say in how Toronto ought be governed moving forward, the co-authors insisted that, “The province and the country as a whole can’t afford to have an economic entity of this size and economic importance kicked around like a proverbial political football.” Florida and Broadbent advocate for finding a system that would empower the city rather than dividing it.
The two say:
“We need to create a new governance system that enables Toronto to truly govern itself, act on its strengths and address its many problems and challenges. The future prosperity of our city, province and nation depends on it. It’s an issue that must be front and centre in this mayor’s race and beyond.”
You can read more about Toronto’s economic future here.
Rotman Prof Talks Theranos Fraud, and More – Toronto News
People affiliated with Toronto‘s finest business schools have been making the news. Below, we’ve laid out some of this week’s highlights.
How Board Diversity Might Have Prevented the Theranos Fiasco – The Globe & Mail
Andras Tilcsik, Canada Research Chair in strategy, organizations, and society at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management coauthored an opinion piece in The Globe & Mail with Chris Clearfield, Principal at System Logic. The article addressed the fraud charges lodged against Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes.
Holmes, who was listed as one of Forbes’ “Youngest Self-Made Billionaires” has been charged with “massive” fraud involving upwards of $700 million USD. Holmes has agreed to cede control of her company, which was boating more innovated methods of blood-testing to potential investors.
Tilcsik and Clearfield argue that Holmes’s mistakes might have been prevented had a systemic problem in businesses been addressed at Theranos: board diversity. All but two Theranos board members were white men over 60. According to the article, “… lab experiments show that while homogeneous groups do less well on complex tasks, they report feeling more confident about their decisions.”
Holmes’ equity stake in Theranos, the notorious blood-testing startup she founded, has been reduced to virtually nothing after being charged with large-scale fraud from the SEC.
Learn more about the importance of board diversity here.
YouTube Star Choreographs a Career Blending Bollywood and Business – The Globe & Mail
Shareen Ladha, graduate of York University’s Schulich School of Business, used her MBA to guide her in an unconventional career goal. She wanted to build success producing and dancing in Bollywood-esq videos on YouTube, achieving massive momentum when she did a Bollywood-style remix of Justin Bieber’s “Sorry.” The video quickly went viral, and now Ladha balances making YouTube videos with her career as a senior strategist with McCann.
“Through my MBA, I decided that this was the thing that made me unique and it was proof I could bring a creative aspect to strategy and consulting,” Ladha said in a recent profile with the Globe & Mail.
“It started getting woven into my daily life and daily conversations I would have with people. All my social media accounts were public, so if they ever looked me up or were friends with me, they’d know about it. There was such a positive response.”
You can read more about the YouTube star here.
Ivey Students Learn the Three Gs of Good Investing – News@Ivey
Multi-billion dollar Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital Management recently let students at the Ivey Business School at Western University Canada in on a simple secret: the three Gs to successful investing are “good business, good management, and good price.”
3G managing partner Pavel Begun spoke with professor George Athanassakos and his value investing class last month, further explaining what each of those three Gs (get it?) meant:
Good Business:
“’We define good business as one that is competitively entrenched, generates high return of invested capital and is in solid financial shape.’” Specifically, 3G looks at businesses that are industry leaders and show industry longevity in order to predict their future value. They also look to businesses that generate with ROEs, or return on equity, of 15 per cent and above. Finally, they look at the debt payback period of business to ensure it is no greater than three to five years, helping to determine their financial shape.”
To read the rest of the advice gifted from Begun, click here.
What Toronto MBA Can You Earn in the Least Amount of Time? – MetroMBA
Several of the most well-regarded business schools in Toronto offer MBA programs that do not take the typical two-years that a traditional full-time degree often requires.
For instance, the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University has an accelerated program that takes just eight months to complete. Alanna Shaffer further explains:
“By exempting students from the required first year MBA courses, students can earn their degree quickly while also cutting their overall tuition expenses in half and accelerating their path to employment. The program is designed for students who have earned their undergraduate business degree in the last ten years, and have at least one year of professional experience. Students may start the program in either September or January.”
Check up on the rest of the fastest MBA programs in Toronto here.
How Fast Can You Earn an MBA?
The process of earning an MBA is an exciting and often transformational time in someone’s life—and for some people, the faster you can get through it, the better.
The benefits of earning an MBA, such as increased post-graduate salary, career advancement potentials, and development of a strong business network, remain true regardless of how long it takes to complete your degree program. Completing your degree quickly just means reaping the benefits faster, while limiting the amount of time without an income.
MBA graduates are a diverse group—not only are they rising business leaders, but they are also parents, community organizers, and working professionals. With so many different types of MBA programs available, such as Online or Accelerated MBAs, students can choose the best program for their busy life and time constraints.
The average time it takes to complete your MBA can vary depending on the school, program, and type of degree. Below, we’ve rounded up the most important information regarding the average program length and schedule for a variety of MBA programs throughout and beyond the United States.
How Fast You Can Earn a Full-Time MBA?
With so many options to truncate the amount of time it takes to complete an MBA, it may seem strange that someone would still choose to pursue a full-time degree. Nevertheless, there are still numerous benefits to pursuing your MBA full time. Among these benefits is the increased opportunity for full-time students to get fully involved in the goings on of their university and business school. From student organizations to case competitions to hands-on experiences, full-time students have committed their full schedule to their business education and most certainly reap the benefits when it comes to skills and network development. Furthermore, taking time off of work to pursue your degree full-time leaves you open for more opportunities- such as traveling for study abroad, business plan competitions or corporate visits- that likely wouldn’t be possible for someone working while they’re in school.
The average full-time MBA degree today typically require around 30-60 credit hours, with variation depending on the program. With the typical course load asking students to take three courses (nine credits) per semester, the average full-time MBA can be expected to be completed in two full years. Most full-time programs begin in August or September and take four semesters for students to complete their required work, earning their degree by May or June of the second year.
Since the number of credits required by a particular program can vary, some full-time MBAs may be able to be completed faster than two years. Whereas programs like the full-time MBA at NYU’s Stern School of Business takes two years and requires 60 credits, a program like the full-time MBA at McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business can be completed in as few as 16 months.
How Fast You Can Earn a Part-Time MBA?
A part-time MBA is the perfect option for someone who doesn’t want to put their career on hold while they earn a degree. With a flexible and often self-paced schedule, students are able to complete their degree in a time frame that works best for them, with classes typically offered at night or on the weekends.
While the benefits of a flexible schedule are enormous, one downside is that taking less courses each semester will ultimately extend the amount of time it takes to complete your degree. Typically, students pursuing their MBA part-time will earn their degree in three years, but this can vary significantly—not just depending on the program, but the person! For example, the top part-time MBA program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management can take anywhere from 1.25 to five years to complete.
What About an Accelerated MBA?
It’s right there in the name—the Accelerated MBA is all about earning a quality business education quickly and jumping right back into work. Most accelerated MBA programs can be completed in just twelve months if pursued full-time, or twenty-four months on a part-time schedule.
Of course, completing a degree in this length of time takes an impressive commitment. Unlike other programs that have winter and summer breaks between the semesters, many Accelerated MBA programs have shortened vacation periods and will require students to continue working throughout the summer.
Not every school offers a One Year or Accelerated MBA options, but those that do take these programs seriously and ensure that the same quality education received in a full-time degree program can be provided to students in just one year. Programs like the One Year MBA at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School boast impressive statistics, such as a 5:1 student to faculty ratio and a 93 percent success rate for graduates receiving employment within three months of completing their degree.
Is An Online MBA a Faster Option?
The world of Online MBAs is a diverse one with a wide array of options to choose from. Really, the only commonality between all online programs is where the classes take place—online! These programs provide for maximum flexibility where students can pursue their education from the comfort of their own homes—or wherever the world may take them.
Online MBAs come in all shapes and sizes, but typically require an average of around 30 credit hours. Depending on the university schedule, this can take up to two years to complete. At Temple University’s Fox School of Business, for example, the Online MBA program can be completed in 20 months, and includes a one week long opening residency. Some schools may also offer their part-time or Accelerated MBA programs in an online format. At the Kogod School of Business at American University, their AACSB-accredited online MBA involves 48 total credits but can be completed in just one year.
What About an Executive MBA?
The Executive MBA is a program designed for professionals with several years of work experience under the belt, who are looking for an MBA education to enrich their professional experience and open new career opportunities. Since this degree is targeted towards working professionals, it is typically structured so that students can keep working full-time, taking classes in the evenings and weekends.
On average, Executive MBA programs will take up to two years to complete, though this is typically a very part-time schedule. One of the top ranked EMBA programs in the country is the Executive MBA at Fordham University Gabelli School of Business, which can be completed in 22 months by attending class for one three-day weekend per month.
From your first day of classes to graduation, a world-class business education is typically no more than two years away. However, the flexibility of many programs put the power in the student’s hands: important factors like your schedule, finances, and the impact of taking time off of work should all factor into your decision about what type of MBA to pursue.
DeGroote Business Looks Back on Successful 2017, and its Future
The MBA program at the McMaster University DeGroote School of Business is changing the game for prospective MBAs in Canada, offering a valuable return on investment, strong network of partners and alumni, and diverse student body.
Since 2010, the school’s full-time and co-op MBA programs have been based at McMaster’s Ron Joyce Center, transforming into a top-rate business education at one of the highest-ranked universities on the planet. In fact, the 2017 Academic Ranking of World Universities named McMaster the 66th best university in the world. Today, the Ron Joyce Center is not just home to DeGroote’s MBA program but also to the school’s Health Leadership Academy (HLA), Executive MBA in Digital Transformation (EMBA), and Digital Transformation Research Centre.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: What Are The Most Valuable Toronto MBA Programs?
DeGroote’s MBA program took another step forward just last year, when university staff and faculty took a deep look into best practices throughout North America to reform the MBA into an even more comprehensive business education. Inspired by insights from students, alumni and faculty, the program integrated features such as cohort classes, case studies, and a series of foundation weeks at the start of the program. “The foundation weeks, in particular, introduce critical business skills and principles to new students at the outset of the program,” commented Will Weisner, Director of the MBA program at DeGroote. “As a result, students begin their MBA journey with the foundation to succeed in the classroom, at their co-op jos, and in their leadership and networking activities.”
The numbers don’t lie when it comes to return on investment: something we’ve previously noted in our highlight of the most valuable Toronto MBA programs. In 2016, 102 students graduated from the co-op stream, earning an average of $71,930 after joining the workforce. For the 84 students graduating from the full-time MBA, the average salary $60,125.
There’s more exciting developments for the DeGroote MBA in 2018 as well. Currently, the school is reviewing proposal for a part-time blended MBA that would offer a blended learning experience combining both online and in-residence components. You can read more about whats in store at DeGroote here.
