Motivating a lifetime of discovery
From climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to interacting with penguins in Antarctica, Ron Calderoni (BCom’66) has embraced a life of adventure and ambition. The Deloitte auditing partner expresses gratitude to McGill for instilling in him a profound curiosity about the world around him and an enduring commitment to working hard for everything he has.
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.
McGill alumna appointed president of Groupe CH
After eight years of climbing the ladder at Groupe CH, Quebec’s premier sports and entertainment organization, France Margaret Bélanger (EMBA’14) has reached new heights. In her new role as president of sports and entertainment, she will oversee team partnerships, event promotion, and other collaborative initiatives geared toward building community among fans.
Desautels alumnus makes list of “Best and Brightest EMBAs”
Congratulations to Ian Picard (EMBA’21) for being named to Poets & Quants’ 2021 “Best and Brightest EMBAs” list. A prominent member of the Huron-Wendat First Nation, Picard serves as Deputy Manager of Development and Asset Management for RBA Financial Group, an organization dedicated to providing financial planning assistance and pension funds to First Nations communities across Canada.
Desautels Alumnus Appointed Pro Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge
This fall, Kamal Munir (Ph.D.’00) will step into a new role as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge (UK). Munir taught at McGill for four years before moving to Cambridge, where he has served as an instructor of policy and strategy at the Judge Business School for the past 20 years.
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: 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.
C. Douglas Mellor Prize for academic excellence awarded to GCPA student
Elizabeth Roy (BCom'20, GCPA'21), student of the Graduate Certificate in the Professional Accounting (GCPA) program, has been selected among her graduating class as this year’s recipient of the C. Douglas Mellor Prize for academic excellence.
Going the distance
Dan Park, BCom’03, is redefining the used car sales industry with his start-up, Clutch Canada, an e-commerce platform for buying and selling cars without the hassle and uncertainty usually associated with the process. Clutch Canada gives customers the option to shop for a car from the comfort of home and have it delivered directly to their driveway.
Sean McNally crowned valedictorian at Desautels
Congratulations to Sean McNally (BCom’21), this year’s valedictorian at the Desautels Faculty of Management, for his academic achievements and contributions to the Desautels community.
Moving the ball forward
Claude Généreux (BEng’85) and his wife, Myriam Legault (BEd’85), announced a donation of $1 million to the McGill Athletics and Recreation. Their gift will support student athletes, both in and out of the stadium, by providing scholarships, funding community service opportunities.
Advancing financial markets across the globe
Seven years ago, Olivier Babin (BCom’18) won the Bourstadt Stock Market Simulation. Now, at age 25, he has his sights set on launching his own startup in the financial technology sector while continuing to build Mkono, a non-profit he co-founded to provide microcredit without interest to entrepreneurs in Kenya.
From the corporate office to live television
Right out of university, Dick Irvin (BCom’53) enjoyed a stable career in Montreal’s finance sector.
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.
