No substitute for face-to-face interaction

In an overview of MBA learning environments throughout the pandemic, La Presse surveys MBA directors and faculty members about their ingredients for success. While he doesn’t discount the value of online learning, John-Paul Ferguson, Academic Director of the MBA program at Desautels, maintains that the most impactful learning happens face-to-face, on-the-job.

McGill MBA performing amongst top 26% globally according to QS Rankings

The McGill Master of Business Administration (MBA) has been named the number four program in Canada and secured a top-75 spot in the QS Global MBA Rankings 2022, performing amongst the top 26% globally out of 286 programs.

Supporting Desautels student leadership aspirations

While leading a pharmaceutical company, Samira Sakhia (BCom’90, DPA’94, MBA’01) is also volunteering her expertise in the broader McGill community and supporting students in realizing their leadership potential through the Samira Sakhia MBA Leadership Award.

MBA alumnus steps up to serve victims of domestic violence

Kamran Shojaei (MBA’13) spends his weekends volunteering with Transit Secours, a Montreal-based organization that provides moving and storage services for women and children fleeing domestic violence. In addition to providing logistical support in high-risk, time-sensitive contexts, Shojaei and his fellow volunteers work to build trust with clients by providing a safe space for them to share their stories.

From professional soccer player to management consultant

After a career-ending injury left Gabriel Gervais, MBA’09, unable to continue playing professional soccer, his McGill MBA landed him a permanent role at Deloitte. Since 2009, he has leveraged his expertise to help companies improve their supply chain management and manufacturing operations. The former defender, who had his sights set on playing in the World Cup, still makes time to follow the sport and maintain friendships with former teammates.

Graduate spotlight: Kelly Gonzalez, MBA ’21

Poets&Quants recently featured Kelly Gonzalez (MBA’21) on its “2021 MBAs to Watch” list. In one of the highlights of her Desautels tenure, Gonzalez served as the president of Marketing Club. In this capacity, she teamed up with the Desautels Graduate LBGTQ+ Association to launch the first edition of the Desautels Business Challenge, a case competition focused on improving equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).

Graduate spotlight: Ugo Umeano, MBA ’21

Ugo Umeano (MBA’21) is one of Poets&Quants’ “2021 MBAs to Watch” as he graduates from Desautels and launches his career as an associate in CIBC’s Technology Leadership Advancement Program.

With a vast array of experiences in business, music, athletics, technology, and community outreach, Umeano has amassed skills that he can transfer to any industry.

Desautels ranked among top 20 MBA programs in the world

The Desautels Faculty of Management ranks #20 among MBA programs around the world, according to AméricaEconomía. Despite the economic slowdown from the pandemic, business schools continue to experience high student demand for their programs.

Embracing the journey

Samer Saab (BEng'93, MBA'96) fled a civil war in Lebanon to pursue a degree in engineering at McGill in 1990. He realized early in his career that he was best suited to launching his own company. Since returning to his alma mater for an MBA, he has leveraged his business school experience to launch what has become one of Canada’s most desirable employers. 

Stand for Something 

Inez Jabalpurwala (BA’89, MA’91, MBA’01) credits her years at McGill with inspiring her to take a stand for the causes she supports. As a member of the McGill Debating Union, she learned to express herself clearly and persuasively, a skill that served her well as the Global Director of VineX and former CEO of Brain Canada.

Desautels alumna becomes President & CEO of Knight Therapeutics Inc.  

Congratulations to Samira Sakhia (BCom’90, DPA’94, MBA’01), who will take on a new challenge as President and Chief Executive Officer of Knight Therapeutics Inc., a Montreal-based company focused on acquiring or in-licensing and commercializing innovative pharmaceutical products for Canada and Latin America.

Leading the field in food production sustainability

Jaquelynn Mateluna (MBA’21) is featured in Poets and Quants’ 2021 ‘Best and Brightest’ list for her commitment to advancing sustainability in local food production. As Chief of Staff for Lufa Farms, an urban farm-to-table e-commerce platform based in Montreal, the British Columbia native has played an instrumental role in supplying fresh, responsibly-sourced food to more than 20,000 families during the pandemic.

MBA alumnus wins prestigious Prix Hommage

Congratulations to Claude Mongeau (MBA’88), who received this year’s Prix Hommage Les As de la finance at an annual ceremony hosted by the Quebec Chapter of Financial Executives International (FEI) Canada. Mongeau joins nearly 100 other notable leaders in Quebec finance who have received an award since the event began in 2011. He has served as a Chief Financial Officer for 100 years and President and CEO for six years with CN.

Playing the odds

From Olympic figure skater to CEO of a multi-million-dollar company, Craig Buntin (MBA’13) has never shied away from risk. As he and his team at Sportlogiq harness the power of AI to offer analytical insights to professional sports teams, Buntin points to the role of McGill and the surrounding community in providing a launching pad for success.

Global banking executive gives back to her alma mater

Alberta Cefis (BA’75, MBA’79) was one of only a dozen women in her MBA class at McGill, but she never felt discriminated against because of her gender. The male-dominated banking industry, on the other hand, was a different story. Fortunately, Cefis was able to land a managerial role at the Royal Bank of Canada through a recommendation from a professor.