Ivey Launches New Academy, and More – Toronto News
Toronto’s business schools have seen exciting developments this week. We’ve laid out the highlights below.
Ivey Launches Full-Service Academy to Boost Business Education – Financial Post
Western University Canada’s Ivey School of Business recently launched The Ivey Academy, which, according to News@Ivey, “blends top-ranked university-based executive education with strategic design, talent assessment and leadership coaching to create the first of its kind executive education experience in Canada.” Some features of the academy include: Instructional design and advisory services, talent assessments, and leadership coaches.
Mark Healey, Executive Director of the Ivey Academy, says:
“There’s been a gap in Canada’s learning and development market, with companies typically engaging multiple vendors to deliver competency assessments, learning modules, training content and executive coaching. Combining all aspets of learning with independent expertise across the development journey, we are able to deliver sustained behavior change, not just knowledge transfer, and stronger retention and succession pipelines for organizations.”
You can learn more about the recently launched The Ivey Academy here.
Why Likeability Gets You Hired and Promoted – The Globe and Mail
Dan Richards, Professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and author of Getting Clients, Keeping Clients, recently wrote a piece for The Globe and Mail in which he discussed what qualities employers respond to.
First, Richards listed off the more standard characteristics employers appreciate, “the demonstrated ability to produce results, a strong work ethic and being a team player,” but he went on to discuss a trait people rarely list on their resumes: likeability.
Richards cites a study, which finds that when candidates are comparable in every objective area, the more likeable one will get the job a staggering 90 percent of the time. According to The Likeability Factor, it is a skill, and can improve with attention to: “Being seen as friendly, connecting over shared interests, demonstrating empathy, and being genuine.”
You can read more from Richards’ Globe and Mail entry here.
The Top 10 Women in L&D, Serious Games and Virtual Reality – LinkedIn
Dr. Deborah Fels, Professor at the Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management, was named one of the top 10 women in gaming, according to David Chadross, Ph.D. Fels has helped make strides in terms of accessibility of media and technology, including co-creating TerpTube, “a signed language mentoring management system.”
Chadross says:
“Deb runs entirely gamified courses and has done more work in the field of user experience then anyone I have met.”
The article also mentions fellow Ryerson professor, Naza Djafarova, Director of Digital Learning. Fels praises her increasing the revenue of her apartment my $3 million in just a year, spearheading the first large scale conference on serious games.
You can check out the rest of the list 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 MeToo Movement, and More – Toronto News
Professors and alumni from Toronto’s top business schools have been making headlines this week. See what they’ve been up to below.
The Corporate Climb: Women Locked Out of Old Boys’ Club in Misguided Me Too Backlash – Canada’s National Observer
The MeToo movement began as a way to shed light on the pervasiveness of sexual assault and harassment following the allegations against Hollywood power-producer Harvey Weinstein. Ideally, the MeToo movement would lead to more accountability for people in positions of power, and consequently, better boundaries in working and personal relationships. Unfortunately, progress often comes with backlash, which may be the case in Canada’s business world.
Instead of increased education about harassment and consent, many workplaces have taken to diminishing their liability via actions that hinder women. Because of this, some men in upper-level positions shy away from mentoring women or being in more intimate situations with them (e.g. a client dinner, or a business trip). However, Sarah Kaplan, professor at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, feels strongly that focusing on the backlash of the movement is counterproductive to the cause. In Canada’s National Observer, Kaplan says:
“It is just one more way that even an effort to lead to more liberation and equality has been co-opted. It is as if people don’t understand what they shouldn’t be doing. As long as you don’t grab someone or proposition them, you can take someone to lunch … It is completely obvious how to be professional.”
You can read more about the reaction to the MeToo movement here.
Tattoo Company Fosters a New Kind of Art – Ryerson Today
Braden Handley, a Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management Entrepreneurship graduate, co-founded Inkbox with his brother Tyler in 2015. Since then, the business has recently accrued $10 million CAD in funding. Inkbox offers semi-permanent tattoos made with organic materials, that last around two weeks.
Braden Handley (left) with his brother Tyler / Photo via ryerson.ca
“Ryerson helped me get into work mode immediately,” Handley tells his alma mater in a recent interview. “You were taught how to be an employee … We were given a lot of assignments that were real work assignments.” The company employs 60 people, who contributing to the distribution of 60,000 tattoos per month.
“Chase your dreams, but your dreams have to align with your natural abilities as well. Everyone has predispositions and skills.”
Get more familiar with Handley’s journey here.
Top 100 Corporate Social Responsibility Influence Leaders – Assent Compliance
Assent Compliance’s new list of the “Top 100 Corporate Social Responsibility Leaders” has arrived. The ranking analyzes those whose “efforts contribute to improvements throughout global supply chains, helping individuals and companies make a positive difference.”
The list includes notable people like Laura Chapman Rubbo, who helped create the human rights policy for Disney.
Dirk Matten, Professor at York University’s Schulich School of Business, lands 44th on the list. Matten, who holds the Hewlett-Packard Chair in Corporate Social Responsibility, serves as Schulich’s Associate Dean of Research.
Discover the full list here.
The End of Non-Compete Clauses, and More – Toronto News
Representatives from some of Toronto’s strongest business schools have made many contributions to help better their communities this week. Check out some best stories from the week.
Restaurant Brands International to Review ‘No-Poach’ Franchise Agreements – Vancouver Courier
Restaurant Brands International, one of the largest global quick service restaurant companies, indicated that it may be re-thinking the ‘no-poach’ clause in employee contracts. ‘No-poach’ clauses (also known as non-compete clauses) prevent employees from one franchise location from moving to different competing franchise location within the same chain. Experts, including Maurice Mazerolle, Associate Professor at Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management, believe the clause prevents wage growth for people working in this field.
Restaurant Brands International, which operates Canadian-mega chain Tim Horton’s, may be ditching its “no-poach” clause for its employees.
“In theory, in a tight labour market it basically means you’re not going to be able to bid up wages to compete for those experience workers,” Mazerolle said in an interview with the Vancouver Courier.
Restaurant Brands International owns Canada staple Tim Hortons, as well as Burger King and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, with franchises in the U.S. and Canada. Representatives from the fast-food giant have said that they will be consulting their franchisee advisory boards to discuss changing the ‘no-poach’ clause in employee contracts.
You can read more about ‘no-poach’ franchise agreements here.
Medicine by Design and Creative Destruction Lab Partner to Accelerate the Commercialization of World-Class Research in Regenerative Medicine – Medicine by Design
Creative Destruction Lab (CDL), a seed-stage program for science and tech companies that was launched University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management in 2012, has partnered with Medicine by Design to support the monetization of and nationwide access to regenerative medicine. CDL Executive Director Sonia Sennik said:
“The Creative Destruction Lab has a strong history of supporting health-based companies, and we are very excited to deepen this area of focus through our Health Stream. By partnering with Medicine by Design, we can expand a successful model to include companies on the cutting edge of cell therapy and regenerative medicine.”
Medicine by Design’s regenerative medicine initiative perfectly complements the CDL’s commitment to providing resources for health innovators. The CDL has locations in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Halifax, and New York City.
Read more about the partnership here.
Recycling Provides Manufacturers With Economic Advantages, Study Say – Indiana University
Gal Raz, associate professor at Western University Canada’s Ivey Business School, and Gilvan C. Souza, professor at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, co-authored a study that appeared in Production and Operations Management. In the study, “Recycling As A Strategic Supply Source,” the researchers investigated how recycling could provide lucrative resources for companies in today’s changing supply market. The researchers found that recycling can prove to be a wise fiscal decision for companies in the metal cutting tool and inserts industry.
“Because you become your own supplier—you sell your products and you collect them and you recycle them—it gives you your own source of raw materials,” Souza said. The professors’ research showed that recycling can protect companies from changes in the market. According to Souza, recycling “insulates you from the volatility of the market, at least partially. You’re still buying some portion of your raw materials from the commodity market, which is volatile, but if that’s a smaller and smaller portion, then that’s a significant benefit.”
Read more about the recycling study here.
Ivey Promoting Women in Business, and More – Toronto News
It has been an exciting week for Toronto’s top business schools. Below, we’ve laid out some of the week’s highlights.
Business-Women: Forging A Path From Campus to Community – Western Gazette
Western University student Alina Huang started the business Illuminate, which provides resources for high schoolers aspiring to be entrepreneurs. Illuminate has partnered with Western University’s Ivey Business School, as well as Deloitte and Concentra Bank. Though she uses “white, male aliases” to avoid bias in her online business, she has found Western’s environment nurturing and inclusive.
In fact, Western offers Propel, an “accelerator and co-working space” that “offers entrepreneurs an inclusive space with mentorship, resources and potential for product testing on the student market.”
You can read more about Huang and Western’s approach to inclusivity here.
What Sector Is Brewing the Next Financial Crisis? – The Insurance & Investment Journal
The Insurance and Investment Journal recently featured an article which referenced a forum held at the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management last March. The forum featured Richard Sylla, Stern School of Business professor, who posited that there will be another financial crisis, as has been the pattern for nearly 300 years.
“In the build-up to a crisis … the Cassandras of the world – those who warned against it and financial historians like me – were shooed away and told: this time it’s different.”-Richard Sylla
Sylla suggested that financial crises can create their own opportunities, including profit for those who correctly predict the upcoming changes while other investors remain unaware. Crises can also lead to technological advances meant to prevent whatever has caused the crisis from recurring.
Read more about Sylla’s insight at the Rotman forum here.
Honorary Degree Recipient is All About Giving Back – Schulich News
This week, Dr. Narendra Singh, who graduated from York University’s Schulich School of Business with an EMBA in 2017, was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws. The Schulich grad practiced pediatric and neonatal healthcare around the world. In 2009, he founded Guyana Help The Kids (GHTK), which has markedly increased Guyana’s prenatal care resources.
“I’m receiving this Honorary Doctor of Laws, but I’m somewhat conflicted since my success is the combined effort of many people, some in the audience today, and so I would like to share this degree with them,” Singh says.
You can read more about Singh here.
