Jordan Cowie (BCom‘24) reflects on journey as McGill Desautels valedictorian

Jordan Cowie, McGill Desautels Faculty of Management’s 2024 valedictorian, spoke with the McGill Reporter about her student experience and shared her insights upon completing her degree. Graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce in Labour-Management Relations and Human Resources, Jordan chose McGill University for its affordability and proximity to her family in Westchester, N.Y., and for her strong affinity to Montreal’s urban and natural beauty.

Better data protections in Europe could encourage participation in retail data collection programs

In-store data collection can help retailers provide shoppers with a personalized experience that includes perks like lower prices or options tailored to a shopper’s taste. But uptake for in-store data collection has been slower in North America than it has been in Europe. “The assumption is that if I enter a retail store, cameras are recording. That is an established norm.

SGI’s Inaugural Sustainable Transportation Roundtable on the Future of Urban Mobility

This April, interdisciplinary experts came together at McGill Desautels for the Sustainable Growth Initiative (SGI)’s inaugural Sustainable Transportation Roundtable on the Future of Urban Mobility. Sponsored by Alstom, the event featured discussions on reducing fossil fuel dependence, with electric vehicles highlighted as a potential solution.

McGill Desautels professors and lecturers recognized at Faculty Awards

Across programs and subject areas, the McGill Desautels Faculty of Management recognizes the vital role that research, teaching, service and media engagement play in enriching the student experience and inspiring the next generation of leaders through the annual Faculty Awards. This year we recognize the following outstanding members of our faculty:

Research

McGill to award honorary degree to Monique Leroux for trailblazing ethical leadership and community engagement

McGill University will confer an honorary degree — the highest order it can bestow — upon Monique Leroux as part of its Spring 2024 Convocation ceremonies, recognizing her exceptional contributions to the business world and her advocacy for corporate social responsibility. Leroux, a distinguished Canadian business leader with a career spanning finance, insurance, and cooperative sectors, has been a trailblazer in promoting ethical leadership and community engagement.

Kanuk adapts jackets to milder winters, eyes international markets

Kanuk jackets are made for Quebec winters—but Quebec winters aren’t as cold as they used to be. Bertrand Cesvet (BA’86, MBA’88) wants to make Kanuk jackets more versatile. Cesvet led a group of investors who recently bought the Montreal winter wear company from Champlain Financial, a private equity group.

Organizational restructuring is a visible sign of change but often not effective

Changes to an organization’s structure are tangible but don’t necessarily bring about any concrete results. Consider the example of the UK’s National Health Service. It regularly reorganizes but doesn’t change much. “The reason is simple,” says Professor Henry Mintzberg in an interview with Business People.

ESG investing helped prepare Gillian Stein to become CEO of Henry’s

Gillian Stein (BCom’00)’s great-grandfather founded the Toronto-headquartered electronics business Henry’s in 1909, but she never envisioned becoming the company’s CEO. Growing up, she had seen how stressful running the company could be for her father Andrew, who had a heart attack at the age of 47. “I always had a ton of respect and passion and admiration for the business but it wasn’t something I wanted for myself,” says Stein. “I changed and the business changed.

AI a potential threat to democracy, but lessons from traditional media could help

In 2024, elections will be held in over fifty countries, with more than 2 billion voters eligible to head to the polls. But the rapid emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools could be a game-changer. Tools like ChatGPT allow for the rapid creation of disinformation, and deep fake videos can make it difficult to know what is actually real.

SAQ monopoly pads government revenues but isn’t necessarily in shoppers' best interest

Despite being a lucrative revenue source for the government, the Société des Alcools du Québec (SAQ) monopoly is under scrutiny for limiting consumer choices, especially for premium spirits like high-end bourbons. Exclusive distribution rights mean that if SAQ doesn’t stock a particular brand, it won’t be available in Quebec's retail outlets.

Little progress made on regulating crypto-assets in Canada

Despite commitments to implement the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) by 2027, Canada’s strides in regulating crypto-assets remain sluggish. CARF establishes a standardized reporting system for crypto-assets across 48 nations with the aim of tracking specific asset types and transactions while defining relevant tax jurisdictions.

Saloua Benkhouya to lead Women in Finance Association in Quebec (AFFQ)

Saloua Benkhouya (BSc’04, MBA’11) has been elected as President of the Board of Directors of the Women in Finance Association in Quebec (AFFQ), an organization dedicated to women in the financial services sector. Benkhouya has been an active member of AFFQ since 2016, previously serving as secretary and a member of the audit and risk management committee.

Meet MBA Camila Sabogal one of Poets and Quants' 2024 Best & Brightest

Camila Sabogal Cuadros (MBA '24) has been recognized as one of Poets and Quants' 2024 Best & Brightest MBAs. Hailing from Lima, Peru, Sabogal has demonstrated exceptional leadership as the 2023 President of the Desautels Graduate Women’s Association (DGWA) and as a Senior Strategy Consultant at Monitor Deloitte post-graduation.