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| SCHULICH ALUMNI NEWSLETTER
December 2024
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| Dear Schulich Community,
As the year draws to a close, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to you, our incredible Schulich alumni community. Your support, enthusiasm, and engagement have been the driving force behind a year filled with accomplishments and exciting new initiatives.
Building on the momentum of last year’s What’s Next campaign, we proudly launched the Schulich on the Road series, connecting alumni in cities such as Montreal, Ottawa, and New York. These events offered meaningful opportunities to reconnect, network, and stay informed about Schulich’s latest updates, while strengthening the bonds within our global community and here in Canada and in the GTA. With more cities to visit in the new year, keep an eye on our events page or reach out to your Schulich Chapter Ambassador here.
This year’s Schulich Giving Day 2024 was a fantastic example of the impact our community can achieve when we come together. We not only met but exceeded our fundraising goals, paving the way for new opportunities in student success and innovation. Thank you to those of you who contributed.
This year, we successfully launched the GTA Alumni Ambassador program, which included five incredible Schulich alumni who made a significant impact through monthly networking dinners. If this sounds like a role you would like to take on, please submit your interest by email before Saturday, December 14th
Another key milestone was the revamp of our Alumni2Student Mentorship Program, where we introduced AI technology to better match alumni mentors with student mentees. The program returns in January 2025, and you can learn more about it here.
As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas to help us continue building meaningful programs and services for you. Please feel free to reach out to us at alumni@schulich.yorku.ca.
Thank you for being an integral part of the Schulich community. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year!
Warm regards,
Christina Niederwanger
Executive Director, Advancement & Alumni Engagement
Schulich School of Business
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Happy Holidays & Best Wishes for 2025
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|  With the final days of 2024 fast approaching, here is a special message from Dean Detlev Zwick. We would like to take the opportunity to wish you and your loved ones happy holidays and all the best for a positive and healthy start to the new year!
Explore the 2023-2024 academic year, featuring the latest Impact Report and the Schulich Strategic Plan, which highlights our achievements under each of the four pillars of strategic objectives.
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Schulich Giving Day: Thank You for Your Generosity!
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|  Thank you to the Schulich community for making our 5th Schulich Giving Day a milestone success. Together, we surpassed our campaign goal and raised $376,151 with contributions from 467 donors. Even more exciting, this milestone means we’ve surpassed $1 million raised since we first started Schulich Giving Day five years ago. Watch a special message from Dean Detlev Zwick and click here to read more.
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|  This Giving Day, we proudly welcomed 48 new members to the Dean’s Society and celebrated the renewed support of 43 existing members. The Dean's Society is a prestigious group of global leaders and philanthropists who share a passion for investing in the vision and future of the Schulich School of Business. Welcome to our members!
See some of our dedicated Dean's Society donors above in the "Featured Dean's Society Members" section of the newsletter!
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Call for Applications: GTA Alumni Ambassador Program 2025
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|  After a successful 2024 launch, we’re opening the second round of applications for 2025! Host 2 networking events, promote Schulich pride, and strengthen our alumni network. 1-year term, Jan-Dec. Apply by December 15, 2024, to make your impact! Read more.
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Alumni2Student Mentorship Program - Winter 2025
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|  Schulich alumni, this is your opportunity to inspire the next generation of leaders! The Alumni2Student Mentorship Program for Winter Term 2025 is now open, and we’re looking for mentors to share their expertise and guide current students in their career journeys.
To join, update your profile on the Schulich Alumni Hub and select the Alumni2Student Mentorship option under ‘offering to mentor.’ The deadline to update your profile is January 10, 2025.
Need more details? Explore the Alumni Mentor Handbook for insights on how to make a meaningful impact.
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Big Shoutout to Our Alumni Donors and Volunteers in November
Featured Dean's Society Members
Naga Chinnapalli (MBA '15) - Green Leaf Member
Phillip Lee (MBA '98) - Green Leaf Member
Rebecca Li (IBBA '11) - Green Leaf Member
Prasad Mohanty (MBA '05) - Silver Leaf Member
Helen Wong (IMBA '92) - Silver Leaf Member
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Featured Alumni Volunteers
Abhishek Pandey (MBA ’20), GTA Alumni Ambassador, GTA Alumni Dinner
Thomas Mayr (BBA '07) and Rafia Merchant, (BBA '01), New York Chapter Ambassador, Schulich On the Road: New York
Sharwari Deshpande (MAcc '24), Thijith Vidanagamage (MAcc '22), Siming Wu (MBA '21), Philip Spagnolo (MAcc '18), Neha Dogra (MAcc '21), and Ashmeeta Khedun (MAcc '21) - MAcc Alumni Mentors, MAcc Alumni2Student Speed Networking Event
Abdul Asif Shaik, (MBA ‘22), Akram Ali (MSCM ‘22), Benaisha Major (MSCM ‘24), Gaurav Kakkar (MBA, B Eng.) (MBA ‘24), Jalal Almomar (MSCM ‘23), Jatinder Saini (MSCM ‘21), Jose Urdaneta (MBA ‘13), Rafael F. (MSCM ‘20), Rashad Khan, MSCM (MSCM ‘24) and Sherin Gilson (MBA ‘22) - MSCM Alumni Mentors, MSCM Alumni2Student Speed Networking Event
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MHIA Alumni2Student Speed Networking Event
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Details & RSVP
MMKG Alumni2Student Speed Networking Event
Monday, February 10, 2025
Details & RSVP
MMgt Alumni2Student Speed Networking Event
Thursday, March 6, 2025
Details & RSVP
Perspectives Lecture
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Details & RSVP
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|  This month, we're spotlighting the extraordinary achievements of our Global Alumni Network. Click here to watch and be inspired.
Have a new job, promotion, board appointment, certification, or award? Share your news with us at alumni@schulich.yorku.ca.
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| York U Alumni Awards Celebrate Exceptional Alumni
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York University celebrated its distinguished alumni, including Schulich’s own Bri Susanna Darboh (BA ’15, MA ’18, MBA ’22, PhD ’24), alongside York alumni Michael Eubanks (BA ’93), Scott D. Tanner (BSc ’76, PhD ’80), and Alia Abbas (BA ’13, MA ’17). Read More.
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Alumni2Student Mentorship Program Speed Networking Event
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With over 120 attendees, our Alumni2Student Mentorship Program Speed Networking event was a true celebration of mentorship, connection, and giving back. Our students left inspired, gaining invaluable advice and insights from alumni mentors who are committed to paying it forward. The conversations were rich with professional wisdom, guidance, and a shared passion for helping the next generation thrive. A huge thank you to our alumni for dedicating their time and expertise, and to our students for showing up eager to learn and grow. This event exemplifies the power of the Schulich community and our commitment to shaping a brighter future—together.
To get involved as a mentor, visit our website here.
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Scholarship Spotlight: The Brokers Trust Insurance Group Inc. Award in Memory of Gena Giansante
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|  Join us as we spotlight current students in our new Scholarship Spotlight Series.
Since 2009, this prestigious award has supported 15 exceptional women, including the 2024-2025 recipient Lovepreet Singh (MMGT ‘22, MBA ’25) and the 2023-2024 recipient Sofiya Shynkar (MBA '25), who exemplify resilience, leadership, and a passion for finance. Their journeys inspire a brighter future for all women in business. Read More.
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During the alumni event in Hong Kong, Jonathan Cheung (MBA ’73) informed fellow alumni that he was stepping down as the China Chapter President after many years in that role. A heartfelt thank you to Jonathan for his outstanding contributions as the China Chapter Lead. Jonathan’s dedication over the years has forged lasting connections and strengthened the Schulich community across the region - an extraordinary legacy that will continue to inspire us.
We’re also excited to share that Andrew Wu (MBA ’89), President of LVMH Greater China, will step into the role of Chapter Lead. We can’t wait to see how Andrew’s vision will shape the continued growth and evolution of our China Chapter! The official handover will take place in Shanghai in 2025, with an announcement from Schulich Dean Detlev Zwick. Stay tuned for more news on the official announcement!
Special thanks to Adrian Chau, Helen Wong, and our amazing Hong Kong Chapter Ambassadors for organizing such an unforgettable evening. Here’s to growing, connecting, and thriving together as a global Schulich community!
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GTA Alumni Dinner - November 2024
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Thank you to Timothy Cui, CFA, CPA, MBA (MBA 2019), Sankarsan (Sean) Ghosal (MBA 2018), Mahima Kakkar MBA, B.Eng. (MBA 2017), Rissa K. (MREI 2021), Dhruv Kothari, CSPO®(MMgt 2024), Eli Z. (MREI 2022), and Jieji (Jacky) Lin (MMAI 2022) for joining the GTA Alumni Dinner earlier this week. It was wonderful to see so many alumni reconnecting and making the evening special. Many thanks to our GTA Ambassador, Abhishek Pandey (MBA ’20) for bringing us all together!
Do you want to be the next GTA Ambassador? Learn more about the program and apply here: GTA Alumni Ambassador Program - Schulich School of Business
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Schulich Alumni Fireside Chat: UAE
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Thank you to Wissam Ayoub (MBA ’06) for hosting an engaging fireside chat with Prof. Dirk Matten, Chair of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Schulich. The discussion on ESG, sustainability practices, and the key drivers shaping the UAE and the wider region was both insightful and inspiring. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us for this thought-provoking event and helped strengthen our Schulich community in the UAE. For events happening in your chapter, reach out to Chapter Ambassadors here.
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Schulich On the Road: New York
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A heartfelt thank you to all the incredible alumni who joined us for Schulich on the Road: New York! Your energy, insights, and enthusiasm made this evening truly memorable.
A special shoutout to our New York Chapter Ambassadors, Thomas Mayr (BBA '07) and Rafia Merchant, (BBA '01) for their leadership and contributions in making the event a success. A special thank you to Ashwin Joshi and Murat Kristal, for leading such an engaging discussion and sharing valuable insights. Together, we’re building a global community that connects, inspires, and supports one another.
With over 36,000 alumni across the globe and more than 115 Chapter Ambassadors, you have an extraordinary network at your fingertips! Stay connected through the Schulich School of Business Global Alumni Network - Official Group and the Schulich Alumni Hub.
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MAcc Alumni2Student Speed Networking Event
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Thank you to everyone who attended our Master of Accounting (MAcc) Alumni2Student Speed Networking Event! A special thank you to our alumni mentors, Sharwari Deshpande (MAcc '24), Thijith Vidanagamage (MAcc '22), Siming Wu (MBA '21), Philip Spagnolo (MAcc '18), Neha Dogra (MAcc '21), and Ashmeeta Khedun (MAcc '21), for generously sharing your time, insights, and expertise. Thanks to Marisa Morriello, Adjunct Professor of Accounting and Associate Program Director of the MAcc Program, and Shanker Trivedi, Associate Professor of Accounting and Program Director of the MAcc Program, for making this event a success. For similar events, check out our events page.
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MSCM Alumni2Student Speed Networking Event
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Our Master of Supply Chain Management (MSCM) Speed Networking Event was a fantastic evening filled with meaningful conversations and valuable connections in the field of supply chain management. Thank you to our alumni mentors, Abdul Asif Shaik, (MBA ‘22), Akram Ali (MSCM ‘22), Benaisha Major (MSCM ‘24), Gaurav Kakkar (MBA, B Eng.) (MBA ‘24), Jalal Almomar (MSCM ‘23), Jatinder Saini (MSCM ‘21), Jose Urdaneta (MBA ‘13), Rafael F. (MSCM ‘20), Rashad Khan, MSCM (MSCM ‘24) and Sherin Gilson (MBA ‘22). Thank you to the George Weston Ltd. Centre for Sustainable Supply Chains, the Schulich Supply Chain Alumni Association (SSCAA) and SCOMC student club. Check out our events section for similar events.
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Book Launch: SimDec Book Launch
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A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the launch of of Mariia Kozlova and Julian Scott Yeomans’ book, “Sensitivity Analysis for Business, Technology, and Policymaking Made Easy with Simulation Decomposition (SimDec)”. The event was filled with insightful discussions and the buzz of excitement from industry professionals eager to apply this innovative knowledge in their fields. Read More.
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Schulich research highlights opportunity for growth in DEI initiatives
New research from Schulich School of Business introduces an innovative approach to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace by framing social identity threat as a driver for learning and allyship. Read More.
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 A new article by Schulich School of Business - York University professor Moren Lévesque attempted to answer this tricky (and potentially impactful) question in their new paper “It's Time to Break Up: Dynamics Surrounding Young-Established Firm Alliance Duration”. Read More.
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|  Masters Certificate In Project Management
Consistently rated by executives as one of their most important learning experiences, this 5-day program gives experienced leaders powerful insights into the contemporary issues confronting organizations today. Join other accomplished mid-career and senior leaders as you evaluate your own leadership style and learn new strategies to foster stronger teamwork and accountability within a multi-generational workforce.
Next Session: 2/7/25. Learn More.
Contact Schulich ExecEd for your 10% discount.
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