alumni report fall 2012
DESCRIPTION
Highlights of DeGroote School of Business Alumni activities and events.TRANSCRIPT
16276number of graduates (all degrees)
11083 number of undergraduates alumni
5899
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10377number of male graduates
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6552 number of male graduates (commerce) which is 63.1%
4526 number of female graduates
(commerce) which is 36%
5258
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1432 number of female Graduates from the MBA program
3826 number of male graduates from the MBA program
1962 first person to graduate from our MBA program
1970first female graduate
from our MBA program
1968 faculty of business established
2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the MBA program (December 1962)
2012 marks the 20th year as a named business school
2012marks the 10th
anniversary of the
opening of the
AIC wing
(October 9, 2002)
1999
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96 number of countries
alumni are found
25 alumni in Australia
12770 alumni in Canada
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40 alumni in England
196 alumni in Hong Kong
11alumni in
Switzerland
23alumni in Malaysia
81 alumni in California
4905 alumni in Hamilton
4730 alumni in Toronto
12074 alumni in Ontario
15 alumni in Trinidad
and Tobago
12 alumni in United Arab of Emirates
6
560 alumni in the USA
266 alumni in British Columbia
232 alumni in Alberta
37
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Also in this issue:International careers that began at DeGrooteDeGroote’s modern-day Magellan
Global DeGroote
The Alumni Report is a publication of the DeGroote School of Business and is managed by the External Relations Offi ce.
Editor: Leah Rosenthal
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40063416
Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:DeGroote School of Business,McMaster University1280 Main Street West, DSB-116Hamilton, ON L8S 4M4E-mail: [email protected]: degroote.mcmaster.ca
ALUMNI OFFICER MESSAGE ........3
EVENTS CALENDAR .......................4
DEAN’S MESSAGE .........................5
DeGROOTE NEWS ..........................6
MAIN STORY ...................................8
ALUMNI PROFILES .......................11
RESEARCH @ DEGROOTE ...........13
ALUMNI COLUMN ........................15
InInside
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From MAC to “Mc”: The globetrotting journeyof one persistent alumna
Alumni profi les
Are you or do you know another alumni
member who has taken a ‘road less traveled’?
Someone who has carved out an interesting
career off the beaten path? Did your
professional adventures take you to one of
the far-fl ung corners of the world? Please
contact us and share the details of where
you found yourself since you graduated. To
share your story, please email Leah Rosenthal:
Giving back
Robert Alan Kennedy, MBA ’67 has
established three graduate awards to mark
McMaster’s 125th anniversary, the 50th
anniversary of the MBA program and his 45th
MBA class reunion.
“For me, as a 1967 MBA graduate, funding
these new business faculty scholarships is
my way of thanking McMaster University for
the wonderful business education I received.
That education opened up opportunities that
changed my life,” says Kennedy. “In particular,
I wanted these new scholarship awards to
recognize a student’s academic achievement,
the traditional requirement, as well as their
university or community service contribution.”
The DeGroote School of Business and its
students extend a sincere thank you to Robert
for his generous philanthropy in supporting
students and for recognizing student academic
success, community and volunteer leadership.
Keep in Touch
In the fl urry of all the details to keep track
of when you move or change jobs, you may
not think to connect with DeGroote to let
us know about your address, business or
email changes. Please drop us a quick email
and we will update your information so you
won’t have to worry about missing an Alumni
Report, event invitation or e-newsletter. To
update your information, please email Kellie
Rabak: [email protected]
Focus Business Consulting (FBC) – McMaster’s MBA consulting group
FBC is a management consulting group
run by senior level MBA students at the
DeGroote School of Business at McMaster
University’s Burlington campus. Using a
unique set of resources, including an
extensive list of research databases and a
distinguished board of advisors, FBC provides
affordable and innovative solutions to their
clients. Additionally, as an alternative to
hiring a full-time employee, FBC can be
engaged to complete important projects
for organizations that lack the manpower
to complete them. For more information
please visit: www.thinkfbc.com or email:
MBA Games 2013
MBA Games is an annual competition between
MBA schools throughout Canada. Every year
approximately 600-800 students from across
the country gather in one host city to compete
in a variety of competitions encompassing
three facets: academics, athletics and spirit.
As winners of the 2012 MBA Games held
at the University of Alberta in Edmonton,
the DeGroote School of Business has the
honour of hosting the 2013 MBA Games at
McMaster. The Games will take place during
the weekend of January 4-6, 2013 in Hamilton
and Burlington, Ontario.
This year, DeGroote is targeting approximately
800 participants and has invited MBA schools
in the US to participate as well. We encourage
all DeGroote alumni to get involved! For more
information please visit www.mbagames.ca
or email [email protected].
Get Involved
Robert Alan Kennedy, MBA ’67
DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Fall ‘12 3
For 17 days this summer, the world
became a little smaller as more than 200
countries cheered on their athletes who
poured out their strength and souls to
achieve their dreams. We reveled in their
accomplishments, felt their pain and shared
in their pride. We celebrated amazing wins
by athletes from other countries, many of
whom carved out legacies to inspire future
competitors. At the end of the Olympics,
they shook hands and returned to their
corner of the world to bask in national pride.
We are proud that McMaster was well
represented at the Games with students,
staff and alumni participating. From our
DeGroote family, we extend a special con-
gratulations to Jeremiah Brown, B. Com.
’07, who won a silver medal as part of the
Canadian men’s eight rowing team!
Our world IS small, especially when
there is a common thread bonding us
together. As alumni, sometimes it’s just
a piece of paper linking us as graduates
from the same school, but more often it is
the pride and recognition of sharing the
common root of our education and campus
memories. Every time you participate in
an alumni event or attend a class reunion,
stronger connections are forged.
Although Canada is home to about 90 per
cent of our alumni, with the majority in On-
tario, DeGroote alumni can be found in al-
most 100 countries around the world. Some
international students come to DeGroote and
then return to their homeland upon gradu-
ation, while others land opportunities here
and embrace Canada as their new home. In
comparison, some of our local alumni set
their sights on the international horizon and
set out to carve their professional success in
different cultures and return home to Canada
for visits.
At the end of September, we celebrate the
50th anniversary of our MBA program with
a gala reception and dinner. Alumni will be
traveling from within Ontario, across Canada
and some from their homes that are even
further away to be part of the celebration.
On Homecoming Weekend in October,
we will welcome the commerce ’72 and ’82
classes for their reunions and we’re busy
planning for several class reunions that will
be hosted in 2013. It’s wonderful to celebrate
with our Commerce and MBA alumni as
they reminisce about their days on campus,
reconnect with friends and establish legacies
through their class gifts.
We are looking forward to all of these
celebrations – opportunities to share in our
common pride of McMaster and the De-
Groote School of Business. ■
Kellie Rabak, Hons. BA ‘90
Alumni Offi cer, DeGroote School of Business
905-525-9140 ext. 26971
Alumni Of f icer Alumni Of f icer MessageMessage
DeGroote Around the GlobeDeGroote Around the Globe
Events Calendar
MBA Mock Interview Night
Help MBA students prepare for job
interviews.
Ron Joyce Centre, Burlington
5:30 – 9 p.m.
For more information contact Sean Meister:
Commerce Mock Interview Night
Help commerce students prepare for job
interviews.
CIBC Hall, McMaster University, Hamilton
5:30 – 9 p.m.
For more information contact Sean Meister:
MBA Games
Hosted at the DeGroote School of Business
main campus in Hamilton and at the Ron
Joyce Centre in Burlington.
For more information please visit:
www.mbagames.ca
MBA 50th Anniversary Gala
Oakville Conference Centre
Reception 6:30 p.m. | Dinner: 7:30 p.m.
Remarks: 8:30 p.m. | Dancing to follow
For more information or to register, please
contact Kellie Rabak: [email protected]
Commerce Class Reunions: 1972 and 1982
McMaster University
Reception: 5:30 p.m.
Dinner: 7:00 p.m.
For more information or to register, please
contact Kellie Rabak: [email protected]
4 DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Fall ‘12
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OCT
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SEPT
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Executive Management ProgramThis program is designed to include key top-
ics studied in an MBA.
Program Topics Include:
■ Crisis Communications
■ Accountability and Performance
■ Strategic Planning
■ Change Management
■ Social Media Boot-camp
■ New Product Management
HR Excellence ProgramsOur HR programs assist managers at every
level, and have been approved for recer-
tifi cation points for the Human Resources
Professionals Association (HRPA).
Program Topics Include:
■ HR Strategy
■ Talent Management
■ HR Essentials
■ Facilitation Skills
Leadership Development ProgramsExecutive Education at the DeGroote School
of Business delivers a number of programs
that fi ll the “gaps” in an individual manager’s
business education.
Program Topics Include:
■ Sales Leadership
■ Marketing
■ Competitive Intelligence
■ Executive Branding
Executive Education at the DeGroote School of BusinessUpcoming Programs for Fall 2012!
Executive Education at the DeGroote School of Business offers a variety of programs to support an individual manager’s
business education. New skills, capabilities and networks expand the manager’s potential to do his or her current job better
and position them for advancement or a new career.
For more information on these programs, please visit:
execed.degroote.mcmaster.ca
DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Fall ‘12 5
Dean’sDean’s Message Message
Looking ForwardLooking Forward
Throughout the 20th century, industrial-
ization, innovation and advances in technol-
ogy resulted in a rising tide of globalization.
Today in the 21st century as another school
year begins, the students who are studying
at DeGroote are part of a global environ-
ment that extends far beyond the Univer-
sity’s walls or Canada’s borders.
The communities that they are part
of, the networks they are building, the
information they are consuming, the
knowledge that they are learning all are
infl uenced and interpreted by on an inter-
national scale.
Within the classroom, we are seeing
more diversity than ever before.
In our MBA program, 15 per cent of our
students are international students. The
number is even higher when you consider
the instructor at the front of the room.
More than 60 per cent of DeGroote’s fac-
ulty are considered international, meaning
that they were born outside of Canada and
received at least a portion of their post-
secondary education outside of Canada.
The Conference Board of Canada
wrote that “we are living and working in
a global economy where the leveraging
of people’s different cultural skills has
become a prerequisite for doing business.”
To thrive in this environment, organiza-
tions must understand global dynamics
and how different cultures operate.
This international perspective is impera-
tive to enable our students to compete
successfully with the best in the world.
McMaster recognizes that international-
ization should be viewed not as a separate
project, but as one continuous aspect of
the University’s integrated priorities. The
adoption of an international perspective in
curriculum and program design is crucial
if the University is to foster true global
citizenship.
As we welcome all of our students to
DeGroote this September, our goal is to
ensure that DeGroote continues to con-
tribute to McMaster’s international reputa-
tion for innovation in teaching and learn-
ing and for the quality of its programs.
And to our alumni, I invite input from
you on how we can best prepare our stu-
dents for the challenges of the world. ■
Bob McNutt, Acting Dean
DeGroote welcomes new faculty
I am pleased to announce fi ve new faculty appointments for the DeGroote School of Business and the additional appointment of a research chair.
• Dr. Jiaping Qiu, DeGroote professor since 2006, named to the CIBC Chair in Financial Markets
• Dr. Ronald Balvers, professor and Michael Lee-Chin & Family Chair in Investment and Portfolio Management recruited from Univer-sity of West Virginia
• Dr. John Maheu, professor and the BMO Financial Group Chair in Capital Markets – Financial Literacy and the Individual Investor recruited from University of Toronto
• Dr. Brent McKnight, assistant professor, Strategic Management Area recruited from University of Western Ontario
• Dr. Gillian Mulvale, assistant professor, Health Policy and Management Area recruited from Canadian Health Services Research Foundation
• Kevin Veenstra, lecturer in Accounting & Financial Management Services (former cor-porate accounting analyst with Canadian Tire, a corporate audit manager with Wal-Mart and a senior staff accountant with Ernst & Young) currently completing PhD at University of Toronto
Faculty renewal is vital to further the academic mission of the School. We are very proud to welcome such outstanding researchers and teachers to DeGroote.
Bob McNutt, Acting Dean
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DeGroote News
6 DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Fall ‘12
Social mediaDo you have an account on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter?
So does the DeGroote School of Business! Join the con-
versation and stay engaged with the DeGroote community.
Share your experiences and network with other alumni.
Stay up-to-date on DeGroote news and events.
■ Become a Facebook fan: www.facebook.com/degrootebiz
■ Join the offi cial LinkedIn group: www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=44151
■ Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/degrootebiz
Connect with DeGroote and each other today.
“The fact is that many domains are close to unpredictable… While it is true that the weather has a signifi cant predictable component, fi nancial, economic
and political systems are much less predictable.”
Richard Deaves discussing his review of Mr. Kahneman’s new
memoir Thinking, Fast and Slow in the Globe and Mail.
“Over the last 10 to 15 years, we’ve had a continually higher level of international students. In a typical class of 20 students,
12 languages and cultures are represented. The majority come to get a foothold to becoming Canadian. If you are
educated here, employers don’t care where you’re from.”
Benson Honig describes the growing numbers of international students
as a net gain for business schools and internationalization of the
classroom as an improved quality of education in the National Post.
“They’re making a big bet from a compensation perspective that he’s worth it…Hunter Harrison has two years, the classic grace period that
the board is going to give him, to turn around the company two different cultures. Dofasco thought it could turn around Algoma Steel. Just because
something worked at A, doesn’t mean it will necessarily work at B.”
Chris Bart discusses Canadian Pacifi c (CP) Rail hiring Hunter Harrison, former chief executive
of Canadian National (CN) railway as the new chief executive for CP in the Toronto Star.
“Spend time with safe co-workers. It is important to have others within your organization who are “safe” and to whom you can
go for support, advice and civil social interaction.”
Aaron Schat discusses solutions on dealing with bullies in the workplace in the
Academic and the Practitioner, a special feature of the Hamilton Spectator.
DeGr
oote
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TM
Disney’s approach to business excellence A group of 220 individuals came together on April 25 in Burlington to learn about the magic behind the business of Disney. The Disney
Institute, a professional development and external training department of Disney, partnered with Executive Education at the DeGroote
School of Business to provide a full-day seminar on business excellence to professionals from across Southern Ontario. Stay tuned for
more Disney workshops in the future.
DeGroote Alumna honoured with Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal HooJung Jones, Hon. B. Com ’99, has been presented with the
Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work on behalf of Cana-
dian Korean War veterans. It was presented to her by Governor-
General David Johnston in
Toronto on June 26. Jones
served as the President of
the McMaster Korean Stu-
dents Association and was a
co-founder of the McMaster
United Way.
Fighting the Good Fight Andrew Carrothers, PhD candidate at the DeGroote School of
Business grew his hair for nearly two years. Carrothers’ lengthy locks
were donated to Beautiful Lengths. This Pantene-sponsored pro-
gram provides wigs for cancer patients who have lost their hair after
undergoing chemotherapy. Carrothers wife passed away in 2010 after
losing her fi ght to cancer. Car-
rothers was just months into his
PhD, but he credits DeGroote
for helping him get through the
most diffi cult time of his life. He
encourages everyone to fi ght
cancer in a way that is meaning-
ful to them.
DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Fall ‘12 7
DeGroote News
“People have a greater ability to engage with friends during live events. That makes the attraction of watching
an event live much greater than watching it recorded.”
Manish Kacker points out that the explosion of social media in the four years
since the Bejing games magnifi es the appointment effect in the Toronto Star.
“The Deutsche Bank is a somewhat “untypical” global bank. On the one hand, two-thirds of its work-force is outside of the country.
Deutsche is currently doing business in nearly 75 countries all over the world; and about 54 per cent of their shareholders are
based outside of Germany. It emphasizes its global outreach on its website. Yet, what makes it different from other fi nancial institutions
is that it still carries the name of the country it is based in.”
Anna Danielova discusses the impact of Indian born investment banker,
Anshu Jain and Jeurgen Fitschen, a longtime Deutsche Bank offi cial jointly
running the Deutsche Bank as Co-CEOs in the International Business Times.
“As these new entrants come into the market place they chip away at the strange hold of the share brands like Chanel No. 5 had
for decades. This is a very smart move. Without getting Angelina Jolie, they’re sort of bringing her shadow onto the brand as well.”
Mandeep Malik discusses why Brad Pitt is the new “face”
for the Chanel No. 5 fragrance in the Toronto Star.
“There is no relationship between the healthcare system and health. When we talk about healthcare,
we’re really talking about jobs, politics, ideology, money and power. In Canada, demand outstrips supply.”
Wayne Taylor in his talk on fi xing Health Care; A Bitter Pill to
Swallow at the Waterloo-Wellington Community Care Access
Centre annual general meeting from the Guelph Mercury.
DeGr
oote
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DeGroote MBA student wins Toronto Marathon Brendan Kenny is a part-time MBA student at DeGroote and the
winner of the 2012 Toronto Goodlife marathon. His next goal is
to become a member of the 2015 Pan-American Games team and
represent Canada at one of the upcoming Olympic Games.
DeGroote recognized for research excellence The Administrative Science Association of Canada (ASAC) presented
the DeGroote School of Business with the Research Excellence
Award in the doctoral category at its annual conference in June. The
award highlights a school with the greatest research presence and
impact on that year’s program.
Why Recruit@DeGroote?Each year, the fall months signal the start to a busy co-op,
internship, and graduate recruitment period for many compa-
nies. During this particularly active time, DeGroote’s Centre
for Business Career Development (CBCD) is here to help. In
addition to the free services provided by CBCD’s team of expe-
rienced career professionals, there are several specifi c benefi ts
to recruiting DeGroote students and graduates.
CO-OP AND INTERNSHIP
• DeGroote MBA and commerce students can be your pipe-line for future employees;
• Bring new ideas and fresh perspective;
• Address your sessional staffi ng fl uctuations;
• For-profi t employers may be eligible to receive a tax credit for wages paid to co-op students and interns.
GRADUATE RECRUITMENT
• Targeted recruitment which produces higher quality ap-plications that save you time;
• Engage fellow alumni and add DeGroote skills to your team.
To discuss your recruitment needs and to learn more about what DeGroote can offer you, contact Jeff Ollinger: [email protected].
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MainMain StoryStory
8 DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Fall ‘12
From MAC to “Mc”:From MAC to “Mc”:The globetrotting journeyThe globetrotting journeyof one persistent alumna of one persistent alumna
Main Story
DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Fall ‘12 9
Sarah Casanova of MBA ’91 is noth-
ing if not persistent. She is the creator of
her own destiny and after completing her
undergraduate degree, she knew that the
co-op MBA program at McMaster was in
her future. But little did she know that this
decision would lead her around the world
working for one of the world’s most recog-
nizable brands – the Golden Arches.
“The MBA program discussed case stud-
ies about a lot of industries and different
parts of the world which broadened my
perspective of business. Having to work
with cross-functional teams and receive dif-
ferent point of views from my classmates,
I learned how to collaborate to solve
any business problem,” shares Casanova,
regional manager Malaysia and Singapore,
managing director McDonald’s Malaysia.
Solving the mystery of what she wanted
to do after she completed her MBA was
something that came out of an assignment
for an international marketing course that
set in motion her career with McDonald’s.
Why McDonald’s? The assignment was
to write an essay on any company, but
the company of choice had to provide an
interview. McDonald’s Canada had just
announced the conclusion of an agreement
to open the fi rst McDonald’s restaurant in
Moscow. What a story! Casanova wrote
to George Cohon, the President of McDon-
ald’s Canada, to request an interview. And
when she didn’t hear from him, she called
him. Again and again. Casanova wouldn’t
stop until she got an interview. And she
did.
“I learned the most important lesson
about working for McDonald’s before I
even started. I learned that persistence
is key. I learned never to give up and to
always have faith in myself,” says Casa-
nova. “George made time for me because
I kept calling him, and I received a co-op
placement with McDonald’s because I kept
asking for one.”
SARAH CASANOVA, MBA ’91
OFFERS SOME ADVICE ABOUT
WORKING AROUND THE WORLD:
1. Go for it! Although it can be hard
to leave family and friends, travel-
ing and working as a citizen of the
world is an unbelievable experience.
2. Be ready and prepared to learn.
When working in different countries
with different cultures, it is important
to be sensitive and adapt. Research
and ask questions. It is up to you to
prepare yourself for business.
3. Find a local coach. This person can
provide you with invaluable feed-
back on how you are adapting to
life in a new country and the culture
and provide you with insights on
how you can continually improve.
4. Don’t expect it to be like home.
Embrace the differences.
5. When it comes to communicating
with people where English is a sec-
ond language listen for the meaning
behind the words and what they’re
trying to say. Don’t take everything
literally.
By Leah Rosenthal ‘07
“I learned that persistence is key. I learned never to give up and to always have faith in myself,”
– Sarah Casanova
Casanova received “The Big Red Shoe” award in 2011 for 20 years of service.
10 DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Fall ‘12
Casanova’s co-op placement with Mc-
Donald’s was at SkyDome (now the Rogers
Centre) and upon graduating from McMas-
ter in 1991, Casanova was hired there as
the marketing coordinator. One year later,
she was given the opportunity to join the
national marketing department at head of-
fi ce in Toronto – this is where she cut her
teeth in McDonald’s marketing by working
on non-stop promotional programs.
Coming full circle was the assignment
she wrote as student at McMaster. In 1993,
McDonald’s needed a marketing liaison
with Russia where its next two restaurants
were slated for opening in Moscow. “What
about the student who wrote the paper on
McDonald’s in Moscow?” Next thing she
knew, Casanova was stepping off a plane
in Russia, thus beginning her international
career.
Her time in Russia quickly spread into
Turkey, Japan, Malaysia and now Singa-
pore. Casanova never turns down an op-
portunity to experience the world, advice
her father had given her back when she
was considering moving to Russia in the
fi rst place. She also never turns down the
opportunity to work with new people.
“Good ideas can come from anywhere
and from anyone,” says Casanova. “The
North American way of business isn’t the
only way of business. I learned to be sensi-
tive to how I conducted myself in every
country, and to understand local insights
about its people and consumers.”
The building blocks from her undergrad-
uate experience, coupled with her MBA
from McMaster, allowed Casanova to build
a strong foundation. “Education teaches
theories, teamwork with diverse people
and perspectives and how to work through
a case study. But it is the business simula-
tion that really defi ned my educational
experience at McMaster. I learned how to
present facts in business, not with emo-
tion, but with persuasion. I learned how to
bring different people and perspectives to a
collective consciousness. This practice has
helped me over the course of my career,”
explains Casanova.
McDonald’s success can be attributed to
operating with the approach of ‘freedom
within a framework.’ Around the world,
the key underlying strategies may be the
same, but the tactics differ in each coun-
try. McDonald’s recognizes that there are
consumer and cultural differences across
countries – to succeed, one must be sensi-
tive to diversity while being relevant to
consumers’ lifestyles.
For example, in Malaysia and the Middle
East, McDonald’s serves a Halal menu with
no pork. In India, the Chicken Maharaja-
Mac was specially created for its large
Hindu population who don’t consume beef.
Consumer relevance is a key factor that
Casanova is always reminded of throughout
her career in different countries around the
world. She has learned that it’s a critical
starting point from which one can build
and evolve great business plans.
So what began as an assignment for an
MBA class has brought Casanova to Russia,
Turkey, Japan, Malaysia and now Singa-
pore. And with no signs of slowing down,
Casanova is a citizen of the globe, and
she’s lovin’ it! ■
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Awards & Accolades at McDonald’s1996 Presidents’ Award winner
(Top 1 per cent of McDonald’s employees worldwide)
2001 Worldwide Marketing Achievement Award (Individual)
2004–2009 Dean, Worldwide Hamburger Marketing University
2007 Worldwide Marketing Achievement Award
(McDonald’s Japan Marketing Team)
2009 Charlie Bell Award
(for career achievement in Marketing)
Casanova and Yuzri, one of McDonald’s Managers.
DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Fall ‘12 11
Alumni Profi le
Toronto. New York. London. Milan.
Madrid. Paris. Moscow. Istanbul. Johan-
nesburg. Dubai. Nairobi. Buenos Aires. Sao
Paulo. Just to name a few. The stamps on
Madhur (Muddy) Ramrakha’s passport are
in the dozens, but his journey fi rst began
at McMaster University when he started his
commerce degree in 1986.
Ramrakha’s, B.Com ’90, decision to
come to McMaster to complete his under-
graduate degree was not without its chal-
lenges. Originally beginning his education
in California, Ramrakha’s family moved to
Toronto abruptly after a change in family
circumstances. After visiting a few schools
in the GTA, Ramrakha settled on McMaster
because of the community-feel the campus
provided.
“The friends I have made, the relation-
ships that I have built, it was everything
that I wanted in an undergraduate experi-
ence,” says Ramrakha. He lived off campus
for his fi rst year before settling into resi-
dence life for the rest of his undergradu-
ate. He stayed in Bates and lived, what he
calls, the idyllic campus all-in experience,
including seeing snow for the fi rst time and
adjusting to life in Canada.
Ramrakha always had a clear goal to en-
ter into the fi nancial world upon graduating
and work towards an accounting designa-
tion. However, he recognized the diffi cult
steps to achieve this with other students
wanting the same thing. The competition
was steep. He knew to stand out against
the rest, he needed to be strong academi-
cally, have extra-curricular activities under
his belt, and a strong sense of community
and giving back. Ramrakha made the most
out of his time at McMaster, excelling
in school, participating in clubs, student
government, and extra-curricular activities,
and he also volunteered his time in down-
town Hamilton at the YMCA, continuing
volunteer work he did with the YMCA in
California. His proudest moment at McMas-
ter was representing his graduating class as
valedictorian in 1990.
With the fundamental skills learned from
DeGroote behind him, Ramrakha was able
to apply what he had learned to infl uence,
negotiate, analyze business problems, and
deliver business results into real life.
Upon graduation, he accepted a four
year graduate position with PriceWater-
houseCoopers to attain his practical training
experience. It was one of his clients there,
a McMaster alumnus, that was intrigued by
his skills, training and attitude and offered
him a position with J.P. Morgan, where he
continues to work today.
Working at J.P. Morgan has opened
many international doors for Ramrakha.
He has worked on projects in over six
countries and 15 cities in the past 22 years.
These opportunities did not come without
their challenges. Picking up and moving
around the world, into different cultures
and ways of business, can be tricky, espe-
cially in projects requiring organizational
change.
“It is important to integrate yourself into
the culture, both on a personal level and a
professional level. Take the time to learn
the language, research the culture and
respect and appreciate the way things have
been done,” explains Ramrakha. “For ex-
ample, when I was working in Russia I had
to learn that collaboration is not a common
business practice. Authority and power are
critical to make change in Russian organi-
zations. It was defi nitely a different way of
doing business to what I was accustomed.”
Ramrakha is sent to different countries
and different cities to assist in change
management. This cannot be accomplished
without clear objectives on what needs to
be achieved. “I recognized very early in my
career that it is not my job to walk into a
place of business and turn it upside down.
It takes discipline, patience and educating
myself on their business practices in order
for change implementation to take effect
and stick for the long-term in a culturally
appropriate manner.” ■
By Leah Rosenthal ‘07
International career began with McMaster
To view a gallery of Muddy’s travels, visit: degroote.mcmaster.ca
FOR STUDENTS LOOKING TO WORK INTERNATIONALLY IN FINANCE, MUDDY OFFERS SOME ADVICE:
1. Know what your values are and have clarity of purpose. It is critical to your career to know where you stand professionally and personally.
2. Especially in investment banking, know your expectations. What is your motivation? Does balance in your life matter given the sacrifi ces required? Strike the right balance between monetary and non-monetary drivers to moti-vate longevity.
3. Have a career mentor. A mentor can coach you through the pitfalls and high times and acts as a moral compass. This mentor can be either inside or external to your place of employment.
4. Stay the course. Do not jump around from job to job. Sometimes you have to sacrifi ce certain things in order to advance in your career and reap the rewards of years of hard work.
5. Adjust to changes in your life and learn to be fl exible.
Skiing in Courchevel, France
Alumni Profi le
Traveling has always been a passion for
Veena Desa, MBA ’07. Born in India,
Desa spent her early childhood in Bahrain,
an island in the Middle East. It was soon af-
ter the Gulf War that her family immigrated
in Canada. But those formative travel years
stayed with her, and she always knew that
seeing and working around the world was
in her future.
After completing her undergraduate
degree in biology and psychology, Desa
wanted more. After hearing about the
health service management MBA stream
at the DeGroote School of Business, she
took the next step to achieving her goal
of working in the healthcare industry by
enrolling and beginning her MBA.
Originally registered in the co-op MBA
program, Desa was offered a full-time posi-
tion at the Odette Cancer Centre, one of
her co-op placements. After accepting the
position, she began taking her MBA part-
time, graduating in 2007.
Desa always knew that she wanted to
take on the world once she was fi nished
with her degree. “I was always interested
in travel and seeing the world. My move to
Dubai came about after I got married and
joined my husband who was running his
business out of the Middle East,” explains
Desa, current executive director for the
Canadian Business Council of Dubai and
Northern Emirates.
Moving across the world to the Middle
East required embracing a new culture. It
was the help of her foundation from the
DeGroote School of Business that helped
her adapt so quickly.
“At DeGroote, you build a foundation of
knowledge that can be used in any aspect
of business. To work internationally, you
need to be able to think outside the box,
and DeGroote encourages students to fore-
go textbook answers and pursue creative
solutions,” says Desa.
There are still some major differences
to contend with, and the learning curve is
sharp. “I would say the major differences
are the cultural nuances of doing business.
Dubai is an Islamic country and one has
to be culturally aware and sensitive. As an
expatriate, recognize that you are a guest in
this country and diplomacy is crucial. You
have to be conscious of what you say and
to whom you say it,” explains Desa.
She describes that working in the Middle
East also requires a great deal of network-
ing. Word of mouth or “wa’asta” (arabic
term for ‘whom you know’) plays a huge
role in business. Her role as the executive
director for the Canadian Business Council
of Dubai and Northern Emirates has helped
open doors for Desa in the business world.
It takes time to adapt to working in the
Middle East, but going with the fl ow really
helped Desa thrive in her new country.
Advice for students and alumni looking
to impart their skills globally, Desa shares,
“fi rst and foremost, take the plunge! There
is a whole world out there for you to ex-
plore. Being part of DeGroote, take advan-
tage of the extensive alumni network and
contact alumni for advice and mentorship
opportunities. Also, LinkedIn is an invalu-
able tool for networking - that’s how I got
offered my fi rst consulting role in Dubai.” ■
By Leah Rosenthal ‘07
The saying ‘it’s all about who you know,’ takes on a whole new meaning for one DeGroote alumna
THINKING OF WORKING IN THE MIDDLE EAST? THESE ARE FIVE THINGS YOU MUST KNOW:
1. As an Islamic country it is important to be culturally aware. Make sure you do your research as to what is and is not accepted in this culture.
2. Networking is key. It is about who you know. But, make sure you know the cultural rules of who you can and cannot engage with.
3. Take time to adjust and adapt to your new surroundings.
4. Go with the fl ow. Although it will take time to learn how to conduct business in the Middle East, you will learn so much in the process.
5. Take the plunge. It is worth it to try!
12 DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Fall ‘12
To view a gallery of Desa’s travels, visit:
degroote.mcmaster.ca
Research@DeGroote
DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Fall ‘12 13
More than over fi fty different countries,
multiple passports, one professor: Benson
Honig. “I’ve always viewed myself as a
citizen of the world,” says Honig, who has
devoted his career to teaching around the
globe. From Cyprus to Sweden, Jamaica to
Israel, as well as many regions in Africa,
Honig has seen it all. Honig is a teacher of
organizational behavior, human resources
and management and also serves as the
Teresa Cascioli Research Chair in Entrepre-
neurial Leadership for the DeGroote School
of Business at McMaster University.
Where did this love for travel begin?
Growing up, Honig’s role-model was
Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese
explorer and the fi rst person to ever
circumnavigate the globe. As a young
child, Honig developed the desire to
prove to himself that the world was in
fact round, just like Magellan did.
With Magellan in mind, Honig began
his education with a strong interest in
international relations at San Francisco State
University. Afterward, he attended Stanford
University for a PhD in International
Development Education. Honig then
moved for his dissertation to the University
of West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica with
his wife and their two young children.
There, Honig researched how people make
a living under diffi cult circumstances. His
results indicated that social capital is the
factor that makes the biggest difference.
The global projects he has since
participated in are countless. The most
recent of which is entitled the “Strategic
Doing Project.” This is a research intensive
one-week training for young faculty and
students in Africa. Five faculty members
from around the world maintain a
relationship with students in Africa to
help them advance and develop their
careers. Honig and his colleagues have
provided two workshops thus far: the
fi rst held in Ghana and the second in
Rwanda. A third workshop is planned
in Johannesburg for January 2013. To
help fund the program, please email
Benson Honig ([email protected]).
Honig also helped found the Board of
African Academy of Management, a group
that works to develop business relations
between universities in Africa and North
America. The goal of this group is to have
presence on the academic scene in Africa.
When it came time to settle down, Honig
chose Canada because he felt it was the
country closest to his values. In 2009 he
took the opportunity to work at DeGroote
and now serves as the Cascioli research
chair. Honig believes, “DeGroote and
McMaster provide the ideal environment
to focus on both research and community
development. We are small enough to get
to know all the major university ‘players’,
but big enough to enjoy an excellent
world-wide reputation. Most of my work
involves collaboration with people from
all over the world. It provides me with
a unique perspective.” He believes you
can learn from the way different people
approach different subjects and this can
be very helpful in the world of business.
“All business leaders need to have
experience with an international focus
gained when you live in different
countries,” says Honig. His current
research is focused on transnational
entrepreneurship: new theorizing research
that looks at entrepreneurs living in
two different countries. For example,
entrepreneurs from China bring their
companies over to Canada and launch
them here. Honig says these entrepreneurs
come to Canada and look at things
differently. He wants to further understand
this type of business and promote
transnational entrepreneurship in Canada.
Honig has been teaching, researching
and travelling for nearly twenty-fi ve
years and never gets tired from his
work. “When you’re passionate about
something, it doesn’t matter how much
time you spend on it,” says Honig. “For
me, it’s not work. I love what I do.”
And just like his role-model Magellan
did in 1522, Honig has “proven to
himself that the world is round.” ■
By Meg Sloan
DeGroote’s modern-day Magellan
On July 12, PhD student Umar Butt, born and raised in Pakistan, successfully defended his doc-toral dissertation entitled, “Three Essays in Corporate Finance,” as the fi rst DeGroote graduate from
the fi nance stream. He researches corporate gov-ernance, fi xed income and asset pricing. Butt, his wife and children Mishaal, 8 and Mohammad, 3 will move to Dubai where Butt will teach fi nance at Zayed University this fall.
DeGroote PhD student Sandy Huyu Wu, studies game theory: the examination of multi-person decision making. Whenever two or more people make a decision that impacts one another, the
decision-making process can be modeled as a game. Game theory is an effective tool for analyz-ing situations involving confl ict, competition and cooperation among multiple decision makers. Wu graduated from the PhD program on June 13 and has since been offered a part-time teaching position with DeGroote as a sessional lecturer of business operations management.
14 DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Fall ‘12
AlumniAlumni Column
Think back. Think back to the time when
you were four years old. What do you
remember? Was there something that hap-
pened to you that impacted you and the
entire course of your life?
In the case of Terry O’Reilly, a
television commercial where he starred
for a local bakery in his hometown of
Sudbury, Ontario had a lasting effect on
the importance, infl uence and power of
advertising and the art of persuasion. Fast
forward and the national and international
award winner is now known as one of
Canada’s ‘most infl uential’ marketing
people. A testament to a journey in
advertising that began at the age of four.
Growing up in a small, isolated town,
O’Reilly was removed from popular culture
based purely on his geographic location.
In the nickel capital of the world, only two
radio signals were listened to and only CBC
Television was watched. The upside to this
was the focus on imagination; however the
impact of what O’Reilly heard and watched
was even greater.
In high school, O’Reilly enrolled in a
television and fi lm course that spanned
the entire fi ve years of his secondary
education. In spite of the small town, the
resources in this program were huge and
whet his appetite for broadcast.
O’Reilly graduated from high school and
moved to Toronto, his fi rst experience in
a city of this scale, and attended Ryerson
University. At Ryerson, a lecture series
introduced him to the world of advertising.
“When advertising professionals would
come to speak, I was fascinated. Coming
up with ideas and strategies, working on
brands with actors and fi lm locations, I
just sat there wide-eyed. I knew if I picked
the direction of broadcast, my path would
reveal itself. And it did with advertising,”
remembers O’Reilly.
Starting as a copywriter in Burlington,
Ontario, O’Reilly made his way back to
Toronto, worked for some of the most
creative advertising agencies in the country,
then started his own business, focusing on
his passion for radio. In 1990, he created
a business that he couldn’t fi nd in North
America. It was an audio production
company that didn’t produce commercials
from a director’s point of view, but rather
a writer’s point of view. Pirate Radio
and Television was founded on that
philosophy.
On June 13, O’Reilly received an
honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the
DeGroote School of Business at McMaster
University. O’Reilly is the co-author of the
best-selling book The Age of Persuasion.
He also hosts the award-winning marketing
series The Age of Persuasion, now Under
the Infl uence, on CBC Radio.
Pirate Radio and Television donated
a signifi cant collection of advertising
campaign materials from some of North
American’s most iconic brands – Molson,
Coca Cola, Pepsi, McDonald’s, Olympic
campaigns, the fi rst AIDS public awareness
campaign, election advertisements – to
McMaster University in February of 2012.
More than 50,000 radio and television
commercials are among the archives and
are of particular signifi cance to O’Reilly’s
passion in the fi eld of advertising.
The educational value of the archive
donation is vast, spurring interdisciplinary
research between the faculties of
humanities, social sciences and business.
The collection can be examined by
students and researchers and is the
only one of its kind in Canada. As a
living archive, Pirate will continue to
share campaigns and creative work with
McMaster as both Pirate and McMaster are
committed to sharing best practices and
case studies with students and researchers.
“There was a desire for the archives to
be incorporated into academic courses, to
preserve and study from the best practices
to spur creative and new innovative
ideas. McMaster University was the best
place to put the archives,” says O’Reilly.
“Advertising is the great mirror to popular
culture and what is going on at any given
time. It refl ects our culture and how
we think and feel, and that’s why it is
important to study advertising, because it
touches every aspect of our lives.”
O’Reilly continued to share what he
knows about the infl uence and persuasion
of advertising and its impact on our
world as he addressed the graduating
class of business students on June 13.
O’Reilly stressed to never lose the ability
to create ideas. “Idea people are what the
advertising industry wants. The ability to
conceptualize and create an idea from
scratch is important. But so is persistence.
In what is a highly competitive fi eld, the
act of never giving up does matter. If you
want it bad enough, you’ll get it.” ■
Advertising’s power of persuasion
By Tamia Hakim
By Leah Rosenthal ‘07
Alum
ni R
epor
t •
Fall
2012
DeGroote School of Business Alumni Report - Fall ‘12 15
Three years ago when I began my journey
with Christian Children’s Fund of Canada
(CCFC), I approached my role as CEO
from a paradigm which naturally included
growing the organization and helping
children living in poverty. I spent more
than 25 years as a business executive and,
not surprisingly, my experience in business
compelled me to ask many questions and
often compare the world of NGOs (non-
governmental organizations) with that of
the corporate world.
As a crossover leader, I’ve learned that
in the non-profi t spectrum, there are fewer
resources, fewer staff and less certainty.
Building an effective organization is a
unique challenge, given frequent funding
shortages and the limited ability to use
compensation as a meaningful incentive.
Measuring performance is also notoriously
diffi cult. There is no simple fi nancial met-
ric because we’re dealing with intangible
issues of social change.
As CEO of an international child de-
velopment organization, I spend a lot of
time in the fi eld monitoring our programs
and talking to families about how we can
make a bigger impact in their community.
I travel to rural villages in Africa, Asia and
Latin America, where I have the opportuni-
ty to see the stunning lack of some of life’s
basic essentials. I recently met a mother in
Kenya whose child died from hunger and a
father in Ethiopia who walks 40 kilometers
to fi nd food for his family. Many families
experiencing extreme poverty around the
world are living in landlocked countries
with tough climates and geography against
them, often suffering from multiple threats
such as poor harvest and high food prices.
Aid work is often hard work, but I am
grateful to be a part of an organization that
helps people living in extreme poverty
meet their basic needs and expand oppor-
tunities to reach their full potential.
When we think about what is needed
to be successful in life and in our work,
we usually think about characteristics like
ambition, discipline and luck. What many
of us often fail to include in this recipe for
success is passion. The passion we have,
or don’t have, for our work should not be
underestimated. Sometimes this ingredient
could make the biggest difference of all.
It’s such a privilege to be able to utilize
my education from the DeGroote School of
Business and experience for humanitarian
benefi t at this time. I can’t imagine a more
satisfying career than knowing that what
I do and what my team does every day,
will improve lives of children and families
around the world, now and for generations
to come. ■
Mark Lukowski
CEO, Christian Children’s Fund of Canada
the power of passionNever underestimate
AlumniAlumni Column
By Mark Lukowski, MBA ‘75
Mark Lukowski meets a Turkana boy during a recent trip to the Horn of Africa
DEGROOTE CONGRATULATES JEREMIAH BROWN, B.COM ’07 ON HIS SILVER MEDAL AT THE 2012 LONDON OLYMPIC GAMES.
“Crossing the finish line was a moment of sheer euphoria. My teammates and I worked so hard
to get to that point. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome for our team. That medal was
earned training three times per day, six days per week all year long. All that work was squeezed
into five and a half minutes of an all out effort by every guy in our boat,” shares Brown.
As he reflects on his Olympic win and his life, Brown has some advice:
“Be honest with yourself about what really drives you in life and
then follow your own course. I knew I had unfinished business as
an athlete which led me to rowing. It did mean putting my career on
hold and losing stability in my income, but it was something I had to
see through and I will never regret!”
Silver medal team members; Brian Price, Malcolm Howard, Andrew Byrnes, Gabe Bergen, Jeremiah Brown, Will Crothers, Rob Gibson, Conlin McCabe, Doug Csima
Jeremiah Brown third from left.