Rotman Creative Destruction Lab Partners with Rigetti Computing
The Rotman School of Management in Toronto is working with Rigetti Computing, a quantum computing company, on a new program to develop quantum machine learning software.
The partnership is with the Creative Destruction Lab, in particular, which announced its Quantum Machine Learning Program earlier this year. Now, the lab is building on its already accomplished work in accelerating machine learning startups. Quantum computing is the next step in computing and may prove better than classical computing soon.
“We announced the Quantum Machine Learning Program earlier this year with founding technology partner D-Wave Systems, and since then, the interest from applicants, investors, and technology partners has exceeded our expectations,” said Daniel Mulet, Associate Director of the lab’s program, in a press release. “The partnership with Rigetti expands the options of quantum systems available for algorithm development for the companies in our program.”
Within the program, Rigetti will be offering training for its Forest programming environment, which offers tools for experimental quantum programming.
The Creative Destruction Lab launched at the Rotman School in 2012 and has fostered many successful business leaders since then. including the founders of Kik, Bloomberg Beta, and LocoMobi. The lab received many applications for people interested in taking part in the Quantum Machine Learning Program, choosing 40 individuals and teams to begin in the program starting Sept. 5.
Startups that participate in the program can receive up to $80,000 in pre-seed investment. Rotman’s MBA students will also offer their advice in business development and implementation. The school is merging its business and technology expertise to bring forth a new program that has the ability to change the way computing operates in the modern world.
“Quantum machine learning will power some of the most impactful and exciting near-term applications of quantum computing. The startups at the [lab] are at the leading edge of this technology and will get early access to Rigetti’s general-purpose quantum hardware and to Forest, one of the most sophisticated quantum programming environments in the world,” said Madhav Thattai, Rigetti’s Chief Strategy Officer, in the press release. “We’re looking forward to working with these pioneering individuals and teams to help create and accelerate the quantum application ecosystem.”
6 New Executive Education Programs Coming to Ivey Business School
The Ivey Business School at Western University in Toronto is revamping its executive education offerings, adding six new programs to address Canada’s evolving business sector.
“The Canadian business market has dictated to us the key competencies needed to remain relevant and successful in today’s global business environment,” said Mark Healy, Ivey’s Executive Director of Executive Education, in a press release. “I’m pleased to be able to address those needs with the launch of these six programs.”
The Ivey Executive MBA program already helps advance the careers of professionals, but these new additions will only further the school’s efforts. The programs will begin in fall 2017 and be offeredat the London and Ontario campuses, as well as Toronto.
Corporate Reputation Management
This “immersive” program will teach students how to plan for, respond and recover from situations where a business’ reputation is at risk. Once a company loses its rep, well, everything else goes down the drain, too. It’s important that professionals know how to handle those events.
Preparing for Disruption
One thing’s for sure: In business, always prepare for the unexpected. Sometimes, this looks like technological innovations. While good for the consumer, such change isn’t always good for a business. This addition will help participants look critically at their businesses and find any potential vulnerabilities or places where the market might negatively impact them—and then brainstorm to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Leading With Business Analytics
Data and numbers really are the future. This program will help businesses use these information to their benefit by showing them how other major players use data to stay competitive. Students will also learn the basics to some data analysis tools to stay in the loop themselves.
Mastering FinTech: Strategies for the Future
How does one protect themselves from the emerging FinTech market? Ultimately, those employed in the banking, finance or insurance sectors will benefit most because they’re the ones this technology threatens most. The program will show them how to create a proper response plan and even how to take advantage of this technology before competitors use it against them.
Design Thinking: Driving Innovation
Design is everything, they say. This couldn’t be more true in the world of business and customer service. This new program aims to teach participants all they need to know about using design to lead and ideate. This type of innovation is especially “crucial” to compete globally.
Many families pass their business down from generation to generation. There’s a science to doing that right. That’s where this program comes in. A successful transition requires specific strategies that address growth and trust. The Ivey School encourages families to take part in this program, but it requires a nomination.
2017 Forté Forums Scheduled in 12 Cities Beginning August 14
It’s August, which means it’s almost time for the Forté Forums. These free events are hosted by the Forté Foundation, a nonprofit consortium of leading companies and top business schools committed to advancing the role of women in business. Scheduled for 10 U.S. cities as well as Toronto and London beginning on August 14, they are designed to help women learn more about the value of the MBA.
Whether you are a college student looking to explore options for the future, have been in your job for a few years and are thinking about a change, or are looking for a way to catapult yourself to the next level in your career, the Forté Forums are for you.
Choose to attend a forum in a city near you, and you can learn more about how the MBA can help you advance in your career, expand your earning potential, or provide opportunities to study abroad. With more than 100 leading business schools in attendance, you can also learn more about different programs directly from the school representatives who know them best.
The Forté Forums also draw leading MBA businesswomen from a range of industries and career stages, eager to share their experiences and provide advice and guidance. And they give you a chance to network with other high-achieving women interested in learning more about the MBA. Former attendees of the Forté Forums report that women they’ve met at the events have become part of a lasting peer support network.
Last but not least, the forums can help you begin to think about how to finance your MBA, offering valuable information about Forté’s scholarship opportunities, as well as many other funding sources.
Whether you know nothing at all about business school and want to see what it’s all about—or you’re planning to apply this fall and want to connect with others doing the same, don’t miss out. Register for a nearby Forté Forum today!
2017 Forté Forums Calendar:
August 14th: Washington, DC
August 15th: Boston
August 16th: Atlanta
August 17th: Miami
August 21st: Seattle
August 22nd: San Francisco
August 23rd: Los Angeles
August 24th: Houston
August 28th: Chicago
August 29th and 30th: New York City
August 31st: Toronto
October 16th: London
Learn more about the Forté Forums, including how to register.
This article has been edited and republished with permissions from Clear Admit.
Earning an MBA in Toronto Without the Full-Time Commitment
Despite the substantial benefits of earning an MBA, for many professionals, the idea of taking an extended detour while they earn their degree may be impractical or even impossible. An accelerated MBA allows motivated students to bring their new knowledge and qualifications to the workforce more quickly. For those Toronto-bound aspiring business school students hoping to earn their degree in a manageable time frame, we’ve laid out the best accelerated MBA programs in Toronto.
Ivey Business School — Western University Canada
Western University Canada’s Ivey Business School boasts an affordable accelerated MBA program. This program is not for everyone, as it exclusive to Ivey grads who have gone through the Honors Business Administration (HBA) undergrad program. However, for recent HBA grads, the AMBA may be an attractive option. According to the school’s website, AMBA tuition is $53,000 for domestic students and $61,000 for international students. Not only do AMBA students earn their degrees faster, but their tuition is 60 percent of the cost of the standard full-time program. In addition to the considerable difference in cost, the AMBA can be completed in just eight months, as opposed to the full-time MBA, which takes one year to complete.
DeGroote School of Business — McMaster University
Students seeking their accelerated MBA from the DeGroote School of Business can commit to a part-time or full-time course load. Full-time AMBAs will earn their degrees in eight months, whereas those on the part-time track may take up to 20 months. Students entering this program must have a minimum of one year of work and continuous managerial or professional experience. For those who don’t meet this qualification, DeGroote makes exceptions for those with one year of internship or co-op experience. This program is limited to applicants from domestic undergraduate institutions. DeGroote’s MBA program is different from many other schools due to its emphasis on hands-on opportunities and work experience. The school achieves this focus through case studies and projects that involve real organizations and situations.
Schulich School of Business — York University
The Schulich School of Business accelerated MBA allows students to skip many of the first year for classes, and essentially dive right into the second year MBA curriculum. Students on this track can complete their degrees in half the time it takes to complete the full-time program, significantly cutting costs. To receive all of the program’s benefits, students must have received a business degree from a Canadian institution within the last ten years, or hold a CPA, CA classification in Ontario. Those who have earned their degrees outside of Canada, and thus do not meet these qualifications, can apply for Advanced Standing Credits, which allows them to waive many of their core first year courses.
Lazaridis School of Business & Economics — Toronto Campus
The Lazaridis School of Business & Economics offers an accelerated Alternate Weekend MBA option. This is an ideal program for those looking to acquire an MBA education while maintaining a full-time career. Those who excel in this track transition to the comprehensive elective stage of the MBA curriculum. This allows motivated students to quickly zero in on their particular interests and specialization. Lazaridis offers nine MBA specializations, including: Accounting, Financial Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, International Business Management, Marketing, Operations Management, Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management, Strategic Management, and Supply Chain Management. The accelerated Alternate Weekend MBA program also gives students a break from June through August, so MBAs juggling their professional and academic obligations can focus solely on their career ambitions during this time.
Four University of Toronto Professors Appointed as Chief Scientists
Four chief scientists have been tasked with leading research and activities at the University of Toronto in behavioral insights as applied to consumers, citizens, organizations and markets. The appointees will work at the Behavioural Economics in Action at Rotman (BEAR) center, which is part of the Rotman School of Management. The center’s goal is to facilitate behavioral change through research in decision-making and use of empirically tested tools. Using a behavioral science framework, the centre strives to develop non-traditional solutions to social and economic problems. Continue reading…
Metro News & Notes: Stanford Wants You in the Midwest, MBA Essays and More
Good morning and happy Friday!
Here are a few stories you may have missed from the week that was …
Stanford Will Pay MBAs $160,000 to Work in the U.S. Midwest | CNBC
Earlier this week, the Stanford Graduates School of Business announced three winners of its first-ever Stanford USA MBA Fellowship, which will reportedly pay each student upwards of $160,000 for two years of tuition. CNBC writer Catherine Clifford explains:
“To be eligible for the scholarship, you have to have a connection to the Midwest. You can be a current resident of a Midwestern state, which Stanford defines as Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota or Wisconsin. Alternatively, you could have lived for three consecutive years in one of those states, have graduated high school in one of those states or have ‘experiences that demonstrate a strong commitment to, and interest in, the development of the region.'”
There is a stipulation with the lucrative scholarship, however. Those students must agree to work in the Midwest within two years of graduation. Clifford notes that by the times grads have been out of Stanford GSB for four years, at least two of those years will have to have been working in the Midwest.
“The winners of the first Stanford USA MBA Fellowship are Adam Verhasselt, Amanda Donohue-Hansen and Taylor Seabaugh,” Clifford writes. “Verhasselt was raised on a dairy farm owned by his family in Wisconsin and is the first in his family to graduate from college. Donohue-Hansen is from California but graduated from University of Minnesota and lived and work there for 10 years. Seabaugh grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and returned after graduating from college to work at 3M and volunteer at local public schools.”
Read more about the Stanford USA MBA Fellowship here.
High School Students Dream Big – with Help of MBA Mentors | The Globe & Mail
Three Toronto metro high school students recently earned some valuable hands-on help from second-year Schulich School of Business MBA candidate Cortney Mills. The partnership came to fruition from the semester-long case competition Summit Leaders, founded last year by MBA students from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, writes the Globe & Mail. The goal of the nonprofit summit is to help underprivileged high schoolers from the community, giving them in-person lessons about business and entrepreneurship.
“’A lot of students don’t realize this [business] is an avenue they can take and they are often the brightest people,’ says David St. Bernard, a Co-Founder of Summit Leaders who graduated this spring with combined degrees in business and law at U of T.”
“’Sometimes they need that little push,’ he says of the younger students in the program. ‘Our idea is to give them the avenue to open up their ideas and create more connections within the community.’ Students do not have to choose a business career, he adds, ‘but at least we give them the opportunity to choose.’”
Find out more about the Summit Leaders nonprofit program here.
Your MBA Application Essay Mastered | Financial Times
Admissions teams know that essays are where students have to individually shine. Work experience, grades and GMAT score tell a lot about a student, of course, but the essay is a chance for them to stick out beyond traditional parameters.
In a recent piece with the Financial Times, Yuan Ding, Dean of the China Europe International Business School, says, “[The essay] is where we learn about applicants’ career aspiration, understanding of China, and writing skills.”
Rob Weiler, UCLA Anderson School of Management MBA Program Associate Dean, also notes how students need to be pretty concise with their words. “If an applicant attempts to add too much supplemental information, chances are they are trying too hard,” he says in the piece. Applicants to the UCLA Anderson MBA program all have a 500-world limit on their essays.
In contrast, institutions like the IESE Business School in Spain do not limit applicants to any standards on essays, offering immensely flexible entry capabilities. Dean Franz Heukamp says, “The ones that grab our attention do so not because they say something we have never heard before, are wild or outrageous. What makes a cover letter special is when it is very clear that the candidate knows what he or she wants to achieve professionally.”
Read more about what school’s may or may not expect from your application essay here.
