WINTER 2006 • VOL 26 • NO 2
A magazine for alumni and friends of the Sauder School of Business at UBC
50 years,
PMA 40063721
27,000 graduates,
1 vision
T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O LU M B I A
50 years, 27,000
Bill Sauder
Leo Basso
BCom 48
PhD 06
Christina Anthony
BCom 97
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK MUSHET
Sarah Morgan-Silvester
BCom 82
graduates, 1 vision
Praveen Varshney
BCom 87
Paul Hollands
Bob Lee
BCom 56
BCom 79
Maureen Howe
PhD 87
A business school at British Columbia’s largest university seems inevitable now, but five decades ago,
the powers-that-be needed convincing. Luckily, they were convinced, and 27,000 graduates are a living
and leading testament to that vision. Today, the school is looking toward a renewed vision—one that
these eight distinguished alumni each represents in their own way.
Continued on page 24
>>
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• Detailed product description on website
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GST, PST, and shipping costs additional
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Contact info: The Sauder Store • Phone 604-822-8497 • dsconline@sauder.ubc.ca
T H E UN IV E R S IT Y O F B RIT I S H CO LU M B I A
An Open Invitation.
2007 Sauder School of Business Gala.
As in previous years, alumni, students, faculty and staff members will gather to
celebrate the school’s accomplishments over the past year. Stay tuned for details.
T H E UN IV E R S IT Y O F B RIT I S H CO LU M B I A
Folding umbrella.
Fend off the rain with
this black folding
umbrella with silver
Sauder logo.
$23.67
Winter 2006, Volume 26 No. 2
Cover Story
People
24
4
Snapshots from the Sauder world, from Vancouver
to China: speeches, reunions and golf tournaments.
50 years, 27,000
graduates, 1 vision
After five decades, alumni,
students and faculty see a
new Sauder on the horizon.
Eight voices chime in.
Actuals: Celebrating Sauder’s 50th
anniversary in Shanghai
18
A new chapter in Sauder’s history
Fred Withers works to redefine Sauder’s facilities
for the 21st century.
School News
8
Features
Newsworthy
Sailing adventures in the Mediterranean and faculty
comments on the income trust shakedown.
10
30
Milestones: The history of
business education at UBC
From the letter that started it all
to the buildings that hold the
school together, the memories
that built an institution.
31
Student Corner
Two students reflect on the evolving nature of
the Sauder experience.
34
Insider Information
Faculty and research updates.
38
Class Notes
From Kirsten Owen’s (BCom 03) triathlons to
remembering Ronald Green (BCom 70).
45
Contact us and share your news
Make sure you’re in the next Class Notes.
Building business from
here to Africa
UBC students work with aspiring
Kenyan entrepreneurs.
Roundup
2
Viewpoints from the Dean
3
The Sauder Index
36
Earning Interest
Essential reading and 50 years of trivia.
46
Points of View
Looking ahead: Sauder has big plans for the next
50 years, starting with new space as depicted in
this conceptual image.
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
1
FROM THE DEAN
MARK MUSHET
Viewpoints
HERE IT IS.
Stephen Toope spoke these words upon
his installation as the new president of
UBC this September, building on UBC’s
motto, Tuum Est. It is yours. As we mark the
fifty-year anniversary of UBC’s school of
business, the words are appropriate for us,
too. It’s as though everything we’ve done
has led us here. Here it is.
Every person who has been part of this
school over the past five decades has traveled
a remarkable path. Though rough-hewn at
the start, our path has always been guided
by a great tradition of learning and ideas
that change the world and open worlds of
ideas and opportunity for people. Those
who have come along for the journey have
not only contributed to a rich history of
leadership in business, but to the future
of management thinking, no matter what
year you graduated.You have transformed
your organizations, your communities and
your world.
The past five years have marked some
rebuilding of our path, as many of the
school’s entrepreneurial pioneers from the
first 50 years head toward retirement. Fifty
new faculty are now onboard, and are part
of the team reinventing how we learn,
developing new ideas, and our connection
with the world.This connection is expressed
best by our alumni—all 27,000 of you who
experienced this place, and this space—and
have taken this into your worlds.
The space itself no doubt holds memories;
the post-war huts and the halls of Henry
Angus echo with strong voices of our past
and present. But form informs function, and
that’s why our new path leads toward new
space – not just bricks and mortar; not just
buildings – but new learning facilities and
new technology all promoting learning
2
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
and the human interaction that takes
place in that space. We are building for
the future: building to produce the next
generation of our leaders who will continue
to further our economy, our communities
and our societies.
I know well I am standing on the
shoulders of giants—others with vision
through the years before me. To a certain
extent, you are too. Our strength as a
school, and as leaders, comes from our
collective history. But it is in this moment
that you have the opportunity to reinvest
in your school; to ensure that your children
and their children continue to stand on the
shoulders of new giants. This legacy is
yours, and together we can and will build
something new. Turn to page 18 for more
on the launch of our building campaign
and how you can invest your time, talent
or treasure in your alma mater.
Eight leaders of today help us look back
in this issue; a sampling of renaissance
thinkers who are pictured just inside the
cover, and whose nostalgia is shared starting
on page 24. (And if you’re interested, the
book on my bedside table these days is
Karl Greenfield’s China Syndrome). Also
included in this retrospective issue is an
archival look back at our beginnings—see
page 12 for the letter that started it all.
The first president of UBC, Hank
Wesbrook, wished that UBC might be “a
Provincial University without provincialism.”
Our 12th president, Stephen Toope, extends
the metaphor, and defines it anew: “To be
without provincialism is to resist demands
that would limit our vision to one that
merely satisfies already identified local
needs,” he said.
As a home base for global business, we
must not limit our vision for the Sauder
School of Business. Building on the past
50 years, our path is courageous, our sights
are set high, and you can help. We are
preparing the next generation for leadership
in a global economy and to be responsible
contributors to a vibrant civil society.
Sauder alumni: Tuum Est. This is my
rallying call to all of you—the time is now.
Our success and future are in your hands.
Here it is. ■
OUR MISSION FOR VIEWPOINTS
Viewpoints Magazine is designed to nurture dialogue
and relationships with our alumni and friends by
ensuring that you continue to enjoy the practical
benefits of the school’s leading-edge business thinking.
Viewpoints presents news, research and commentary
that demonstrate the ability of our faculty and our
graduates to define the future of business and to open
doors for those who are connected to the Sauder
School of Business. Your thoughts about this mission
are always welcome.
EDITORIAL
Frieda Granot EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Cristina Calboreanu
Jennifer Wah
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
MANAGING EDITOR
DESIGN
Brandon Brind ART DIRECTOR AND GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Pierre Romano GRAPHIC DESIGNER
PRODUCTION
Spencer MacGillivray
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Viewpoints Magazine is produced by Forwords
Communication Inc. and published by the Sauder
School of Business, University of British Columbia
800 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 3B7
Tel: 604-822-8555, Fax: 604-822-0592. Viewpoints is
published regularly for alumni and friends of the
Sauder School of Business.
Email: viewpoints@sauder.ubc.ca
For an online version of Viewpoints, visit
www.sauder.ubc.ca
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Send change of address to Alumni Relations Office,
Fax: 604-822-0592 or email to alumni@sauder.ubc.ca
©Copyright 2007, Sauder School of Business.
Editorial material contained in Viewpoints Magazine
may be freely reproduced provided credit is given.
ISSN 089-2388. Canada Post. Printed in Canada.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Frieda Granot (chair), Dale Griffin, Robert Helsley,
Daniel Muzyka, Moyra Van Nus
CONTRIBUTORS
Wendy Bishop, Sue Bugos, Cristina Calboreanu, Leslie
Field, Fiona Fung, Chris Hines, Landon Kleiss, Marla
Levy, Nancy Langton, Rob McMahon, Derek Moscato,
Mike Scott, Jennifer Wah, Leanna Yip
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RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO
ALUMNI RELATIONS, SAUDER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS,
UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA,
Daniel F. Muzyka, Dean
RBC FINANCIAL GROUP PROFESSOR OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
800 ROBSON STREET, VANCOUVER, BC V6Z 3B7
The Sauder Index
BY
ROB MCMAHON
Date last streetcar ran in Vancouver: April 24, 1955
Number of years Vancouver had street railway service: 65
Percent of UBC commuters who use transit: 42
Expected average annual transit ridership growth due to UBC U-Pass: 10
Transportation cost savings to students: over $3 million per month
Percentage of students in Sauder’s Diploma of Accounting in 2006 who are women: 46.5%
Number of women graduates in UBC’s first Accounting program in 1965: 2
Annual sales from Rivtow, the company led by one of those women,
Lucille Johnstone, upon her retirement in 1989: $250 million
Year Arthur Erickson conceived a 100-storey apartment complex for Vancouver’s West End: 1956
Architectural firm responsible for designing most of the original UBC campus,
including the Henry Angus building: Thompson, Berwick & Pratt
Height of Vancouver’s under-construction new tallest building, the Shangri-La: 61 storeys
Approximate number of students enrolled in Sauder’s Property Management course in 2006: 250
Cost for a year of tuition in UBC’s BCom program in 1956: $240
Annual undergrad tuition for Sauder today: $4,313
Average selling price of a Vancouver home in 1956: $13,000
Of a four-bedroom home in Vancouver in 2006: $1,013,528
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
3
Actuals
SEEN AND HEARD IN THE SAUDER WORLD
Happy Anniversary!
IN NOVEMBER, 200 GUESTS, INCLUDING
Alumni Network
Speaker Series
senior government representatives, alumni,
and representatives from the Sauder School of
Business and Shanghai Jiao Tong University,
gathered at the Four Seasons Hotel in
Shanghai for a special event celebrating
the school’s 50th anniversary, the 25th
anniversary of Sauder’s partnerships in
China, and the 5th anniversary of the UBC
International MBA program in Shanghai.
Premier Gordon Campbell and Dean Daniel Muzyka
The highlights of the evening included
remarks from The Honourable Gordon
Campbell, Premier of BC, and the presentation of the Distinguished Alumni Award to
the Honourable Shi Guangsheng.
A former Minister of Foreign Trade and
Economic Cooperation, the Honourable Shi
Dr. Frieda Granot, Honourable Shi Guangsheng,
Premier Gordon Campbell and Dean Daniel Muzyka
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SHANGHAI JIATING ETIQUETTE SERVICE CENTRE
Guangsheng was the signatory for China’s
accession to the World Trade Organization.
He attended the United Nations Executive
Training Program at the Sauder School
of Business at UBC in 1991, leading a
delegation which included many Presidents
and Vice Presidents of Chinese import/export
corporations. He is currently a Member of the
Standing Committee of the National People’s
Congress, Vice Chairman of the Financial and
Economic Committee of the National People’s
Congress, and President of the China
Association of Enterprises with Foreign
Investment.
Honourable Shi Guangsheng
Diploma in Accounting Program (DAP)
1st Annual Golf Tournament
THE DIPLOMA IN ACCOUNTING PROGRAM’S 1ST ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
was held on September 15 at the McCleery Golf Course. The event was
organized by the DAP office and the DAP student club as an exciting
opportunity to meet with the DAP alumni.
Great weather, great food, and great company—the DAP students,
alumni, instructors, and members of the business community enjoyed a fun
event. The DAP office and DAP student club look forward to next year’s
golf tournament!
4
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
Maureen Howe
ON NOVEMBER 21, AS PART OF THE
Alumni Network Speaker Series, Sauder
alumna Maureen Howe (PhD 1987),
Institutional Equity Analyst at RBC
Capital Markets, shared her insights into
“Surviving & Thriving in the Investment
World.”
Participants, including Sauder students
and alumni, gathered to learn the secrets
of success in the investment world, where,
in Maureen’s words, “participants wear the
numbers of hours worked as a badge of
honour, even at senior levels.”
“Nevertheless,” she added, “there is a
way to survive, and even thrive, in this
environment while keeping one’s health,
relationships and sanity intact.”
Reunions 2007
CHRIS STAIRS
STEVEN LUNGLEY
MBA Class of 1996 catch up with each other
Assistant Dean and Director of External Relations Moyra Van Nus (centre) was invited to join the
10th Anniversary Reunion of the MBA Class of ‘96. Some of the participants who helped celebrate
the event included (from left to right): Dave Burgess, Elaine Weiss, Jason Monteleone, Chris Stairs,
Elaine So, and Adam Hunter. Along with sharing an enjoyable evening over cocktails, appetizers,
and a decade’s worth of professional tales, attendees learned about new opportunities to stay
involved as Sauder alumni through such initiatives as the MBA Mentorship Program, the Career
Development Advisory Panel, and the Professional Speaker Series.
Merrill Lynch Finance Scholarships
Recognition Lunch
MR. DAVID CHRISTOPHER, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF MERRILL LYNCH CANADA INC., JOINED
Rob Heinkel, PMF Alumni Professor of Finance, and the recipients of the 2006-2007 Merrill
Lynch Finance Scholarships for a recognition lunch on October 23.
Left to right: Prof. Rob Heinkel, Ms. Shirley Chan, Ms. Amanda Warren (Development Officer in
the Sauder School of Business), Ms. Nina Yang, Ms. Ayako Nakayama, Mr. David Christopher, and
Mr. Chris Maludzinski.
REUNIONS ALLOW YOU TO REACQUAINT
yourself with old classmates, expand your
professional network, and get up-to-date
news on how your old faculty is doing.
We’re currently seeking reunion
committee members for these years:
MBA 1997
10 years in 2007
BCom 1997
10 years in 2007
BCom 1987* 20 years in 2007
* Contact: Praveen Varshney
praveen.varshney@varshneycapital.com
MBA 1982
25 years in 2007
BCom 1982
25 years in 2007
1957*
50 years in 2007
* Contact: Betty Clarke-Pearson
commerce57@canada.com
Initiating a Reunion Committee is
the first step towards designing the
ultimate reunion. A committee requires
a commitment to organizational detail,
as it is the committee’s responsibility
to plan and implement an event that is
entertaining and engaging.
Are you interested in leading or being
a member of your reunion committee?
For more information please contact
Kim Duffell, External Relations Coordinator,
at kim.duffell@sauder.ubc.ca, or at
604-822-6027.
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
5
Actuals
SEEN AND HEARD IN THE SAUDER WORLD
UBC Alumni Weekend
LARRY GOLDSTEIN
2006 Canada–China Airline CEO Summit
THE CANADA–CHINA AIRLINE CEO SUMMIT HELD ON SEPTEMBER 12 – 14, 2006 IN
Vancouver brought together senior representatives from airlines, tourism organizations,
and government agencies with the hosts—Vancouver International Airport Authority,
Tourism Vancouver, and Tourism BC.
The Summit presented the delegates with an overview of the Canada - China market
with a specific focus on British Columbia, and offered them the opportunity to interact
with senior government officials on areas of mutual interest and concern.
This Summit was the fourth such event in a series of “Air Access” programs that began
in 1993. These past forums have played a significant role in achieving key accomplishments
including air policy liberalization, implementation of In-transit Preclearance, the Transit
Without Visa pilot program, reductions in provincial fuel taxes and enhancing the awareness
of Vancouver as the premier Asia – Americas gateway.
A broad range of issues were considered during the Summit, including passenger facilitation,
infrastructure requirements, competitiveness issues, cargo, and tourism impediments.
Dean Daniel Muzyka facilitated a 90 minute session focusing on impediments to the
growth of the YVR China – Americas gateway. Anming Zhang, Professor in the Sauder
Operations & Logistics division and YVR Authority Professor in Air Transportation, presented
remarks on China’s Air Cargo Industry and YVR as a cargo gateway.
Deloitte & Touche
reception
MR. CAL BUSS, OFFICE MANAGING PARTNER
of Deloitte & Touche LLP, joined Sandra
Chamberlain, Deloitte & Touche Professor
of Accounting, for a recognition event with
students to celebrate the relationship
between Sauder and Deloitte & Touche.
Left to right: Mr. Cal Buss, Ms. Celina Bellingham,
Ms. Sarah Walsh, Prof. Sandra Chamberlain,
Mr. Andrew Williams, Ms. Abigail Meana.
6
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
Jason Meyer and Tiffany Hsiao, both BCom
2007, welcomed alumni at the UBC Alumni
Weekend on September 30.
MBA/MScB
alumni pub night
MBA and MScB alumni in Vancouver gathered
on October 17 at the Coppertank Grill. Hope
to see you at the next one!
2006 Vancouver PMF Alumni Dinner
SHAUN TANASSEE
SHAUN TANASSEE
Premier Gordon Campbell and business leader
Jim Pattison speak to students
THIS FALL, THE AWARD-WINNING MBA
Core curriculum invited leading visionaries
to the classroom.
The lineup of MBA speakers started
on September 11 with a presentation
from British Columbia Premier Gordon
Campbell. Throughout September and
October, students in the 2006 Sauder
School of Business MBA program engaged
with influential business figures.
On October 10, Jim Pattison, President
and CEO of the Jim Pattison Group,
shared the lessons learned in his long
career as one of Canada’s most successful
entrepreneurs.
Deans-Knight
Scholarship awards
recipients’ lunch
MR. WAYNE DEANS AND MR. DOUG KNIGHT
joined Prof. Rob Heinkel, Professor of
Finance, and the recipients of the
2006-2007 Deans-Knight Scholarship
for a recognition lunch on November 1.
ON OCTOBER 30, OVER 20 ALUMNI OF THE PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT FOUNDATION (PMF)
program, from the first graduating class of 1987 to the class of 2005, and 13 current PMF
students from the classes of 2007 and 2008 came together for the 2006 Vancouver PMF
Alumni Dinner.
The event included cofounders of the PMF program, Mr. Michael Ryan and Mr. Milton
Wong, Dean Daniel Muzyka, Prof. Rob Heinkel, the primary PMF Faculty Supervisor, Prof.
Murray Carlson, the secondary Faculty Supervisor, and Moyra Van Nus, Assistant Dean and
Director of External Relations.
The annual dinner brings together PMF alumni, known as Leslie Wong Fellows, and
current students. Most of the alumni are actively involved in the PMF program–as counselors
to the students, as members of the PMF Board of Directors, and as interviewers of students
applying to the PMF.
Standing, left to right: Mr. Doug Knight, Ms.
Amanda Warren (Development Officer in the
Sauder School of Business), and Mr. Wayne
Deans. Front row, left to right, Mr. Emil Khimji
(2nd-year award recipient) and Mr. Yu-Jia Zhu
(1st-year award recipient).
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
7
Newsworthy
SAUDER IN THE NEWS
To learn more about Sauder in the
news, visit www.sauder.ubc.ca
Online criminals:
The next generation
In an October 24 story entitled “Hacker
alert: They’re getting much better,” National
Post reporter Emily Mathieu reported on
security breaches on two U.S. Internet
brokerage sites. Both cases pointed to
increasingly sophisticated online fraud, as
perpetrators set up “pump and dump”
scams via trading accounts.
Hasan Cavusoglu, assistant professor
of management information systems at
Sauder, commented that eliminating fraud
is impossible in an industry as big as
online trading. “The only way to eliminate
security issues is to shut off the network,”
he said, pointing to the more than
93,000,000 pieces of sensitive personal
information that have been accessed
illegally through the Internet since 1995.
“It’s like an arms race: good people are
trying to improve security and the bad
guys are trying to find a way to get by it.”
Following in the footsteps of Napoleon
Cavusoglu, who conducts research into
It was a busy October for Vancouver Sun columnist Malcolm Parry, who has photographed
Internet security issues, also provided
more than 1,200 people during 15 years with the newspaper. Between covering CEO
expert comment for the Globe and Mail in
speeches and fashion galas, as well as a 70th birthday party in his honour hosted by the
a November 3 story about tracking
Vancouver Board of Trade, Parry found time to focus his business column’s gaze on the team
criminals via their Internet connection in
of Italy-bound student sailors from Sauder School of Business.
an Ontario case.
“Dean Daniel Muzyka… discourages MBA students from launching entrepreneurial
projects while they’re still hitting the books,” wrote Parry. “But it’s okay for them to learn
the ropes in the traditional meaning of the phrase.”
“That’s why Kyle Duignan, Fraser Hall, Darcy Hughes, Feraz Mohammed, Gerry Tillman
and Donovan Woollard were on the Mediterranean island of Elba recently. Not to bone up on
deposed emperor Napoleon’s 1814-15 exile there, but to race a Beneteau First 37 sloop in
MBA Cup events against students from 20 other international biz-schools—and whup 17 of
them. Echoing the tête-à-tête plotting Napoleon held there, organizers called the event ‘an
opportunity for managers of today and tomorrow to gather and exchange ideas alongside
protagonists of some of the world’s leading businesses, and discuss global economic trends
and patterns.’”
Congratulations to the Sauder sailors, and a belated happy 70th to Malcolm!
8
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
“Social contagion” of copycat
violence spread by media
Income trust shakedown
Violent attacks on schools or workplaces,
Sauder professor emeritus
remains true to spirit of
Labour Day
such as the tragic October shooting at an
While many folks take advantage of the
structured firms in Canada would be taxed
Amish school in Pennsylvania, are often
Labour Day long weekend to catch up on
at corporate rates, Sauder faculty were on
copycat actions triggered by “social
sleep or enjoy what’s left of the summer
hand to make sense of the big picture for
contagion” spread through the media, according
weather, Mark Thompson, Sauder professor
affected investors.
to Sauder professor Sandra Robinson.
emeritus of industrial relations, was
Robinson, who studies workplace
standards in two important editorials
U.S. Postal Service, where the number of
splashed across the pages of the Toronto Star
violent incidents over the years has given
and the Vancouver Sun. The co-written
way to the phrase “going postal.”
“Workers of the World: Let’s Give Them a Hand”
Labour Day op-ed (with John Fryer)
newspapers across Canada, she said such
appeared in the Star and Sun on September 4
attacks tend to appear in clusters because
and September 2, respectively.
the perpetrators, who usually suffer from
“Canada is known for its defense of
mental illness, are “pushed over the edge”
other human rights,” he wrote. “It should
by watching other successful attacks.
move global labour standards much higher
“Certainly the people committing these
crimes are mentally unstable,” she said.
October 31 announcement that trust-
putting forward his take on global labour
aggression, has published research on the
In a story featured in CanWest
Following Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s
on its human rights agenda.”
“We can and should insist that Canada
“When these types of incidents hit the
and its corporations neither give aid nor
news, for the odd person who is already
invest in those countries unwilling to abide
“Relatively speaking, trust investors
predisposed it sets up a copycat phenomenon.”
by (International Labour Organization) core
are worse off compared to yesterday,” said
standards…. Recognizing that labour
Kin Lo, Sauder professor of accounting, in
was read and heard from coast to coast in
rights are human rights, we should expect
the wake of one of Canada’s biggest
Canada, including CityTV, CKNW Radio, The
Canada to be at the forefront of defending
business stories this year to the Vancouver
National Post,The Vancouver Sun, CJNI-FM Halifax,
such rights both at home as well as in the
Sun. In calculating after-tax returns, Lo
660AM Calgary, and CBC Radio.
international arena.”
said investors decided Flaherty’s decision
Robinson’s commentary on the issue
was a penalty and made their decisions
Sauder IMBA leader highlights ties between Canada and Asia
The Vancouver Sun’s October list of 100 Chinese-Canadians “who are making a difference in
British Columbia” included Sauder School’s Grace Wong, International Programs Assistant Dean
& Director. Wong was cited for “her leadership,” through which “the school has forged strong
alliances throughout China, and in Korea, Mexico and other countries.”
Wong was also cited in an October 14 South China Morning Post story, entitled “Sauder firms
China-Canada ties” written by Michael Taylor, which explored the growing linkages between
Sauder School and Asia’s fastest growing economy. “The pace of change in China is very rapid,”
said Wong, in an interview with the Hong Kong daily newspaper. “The demand for global class
managers is about 10 times the system’s capability (in China) to produce them…. Retaining
good managers is the number one issue facing multinationals there.”
accordingly. Selling on the Toronto Stock
Exchange gave way to a 24-hour loss
of $20 billion worth of market value.
“The one-time drop today is going to be
permanent,” Lo said, as the premium
built into income-trust units by their tax
advantage has now been eliminated.
“Any future appreciation in investments
will depend on the performance of the
trusts, their underlying businesses, which
is what happens anyway.”
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
9
S P EC I A L A N N I V E R SA RY F E AT U R E
A history of mem
Graduating class in Commerce, 1956.
Faculty of Commerce professors, 1957.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the UBC Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration
(now the Sauder School of Business), but business education at UBC has a much longer history. Join us for a look
back at the historical milestones that helped define us.
September 30, 1929
1929-30 session. The Senate
1950s
The UBC Senate approves new
approved the form of the diplo-
Community outreach and
courses leading to the Bachelor
ma and the colours of the hood
executive education partnerships
Vancouver Board of Trade,
of Commerce (BCom) in
on February 18, 1930.
are forged with the establishment
decides to establish “a course
Accountancy, Cost Accounting,
March 6, 1917
The UBC Board of Governors,
at the recommendation of the
of the Sales and Marketing
Statistics 1, Transportation and
1939
Executive Program. Soon thereafter,
Industrial Geography, and
The Department of Commerce
partnerships are established with
Commercial Law, in addition to
is created within the Faculty of
C.G.S, C.A., C.M.A, Banff School
delay the implementation of
the Economics courses that had
Arts and Science.
of Management, Real Estate
the suggested program, but
been authorized previously.
leading to the degree of Bachelor
of Commercial Science.” The
war and shortage of funds would
continued interest would result
in the introduction of five
courses in 1929.
10
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
The Bachelor of Commerce
Institute and the Real Estate
1950
Council of British Columbia.
degree would be offered through
The Department of Commerce is
the Faculty of Arts and Science.
given the status of a School with-
the Faculty establishes a number
The new program started in the
in the Faculty of Arts and Science.
of professional and diploma
Starting in the early 1950s,
S P EC I A L A N N I V E R SA RY F E AT U R E
orable milestones
View of procession to official opening of the Angus building, 1965.
Group photo at the opening of the Henry Angus Building in 1965, Henry F.
Angus, John Barfoot Macdonald, George Pearkes, Leslie Raymond Peterson.
courses including Accounting,
of citizens,” he noted in his
laborative effort of the University
they would offer graduate courses
Junior Management, Sales
History of the Faculty of Commerce and
of British Columbia and the
which would continue the
Executives, Advertising,
Business Administration,The University
University of Alberta. The Banff
specialization started in the third
Municipal Administration, School
of British Columbia.
School was designed for the
and fourth years of the under-
training of middle- and high-
graduate program, or whether
Administration, Real Estate,
Administrative Management,
1951
level executives and aimed to fill
they would follow the pattern of
Banks, and Insurance.The Executive
The Council of the School of
the need for highly qualified
Western and Harvard in creating
Program is established in response
Commerce approves the Master
managers in Western Canada. The
courses for graduates of other
to the demand for one-day
of Commerce degree (later
University of Saskatchewan and
faculties. In the latter program
seminars and evening lectures.
replaced by the Master in
the University of Manitoba joined
there would be a general course
Business Administration degree),
the school in the next year.
in Business Administration.
Earle D. MacPhee, appointed
Those in favour of a general
Director of the School of
the only graduate course offered by
Commerce in 1950, was very
the Faculty of Commerce and
1955
course for graduates of any
interested, in his words, in
Business Administration in the
The Master of Business
faculty at UBC or from an
“carrying the University to the
1950s.
Administration (MBA) degree is
approved university argued that
approved by the UBC Senate and
“there was a much greater need
the Board of Governors.
for the use of the time of the
people.” “The School believed in
1955 that it was important to
1952
the people of this province that
The Banff School of Advanced
it should serve a large number
Management is created as a col-
Members of the Faculty of
faculty in allowing graduates of
Commerce had to decide whether
other faculties who planned to
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
11
S P EC I A L A N N I V E R SA RY F E AT U R E
Letter from the Chair of the Vancouver Board of Trade to the Premier of British Columbia
December 3, 1927
Hon. J. D. McLean
Prime Minister
Victoria, B. C.
Dear Mr. Premier:
At a meeting of our Council on Thursday a resolution was unanimously adopted instructing our Executive to petition your
Government for a Department of Commerce at the University of British Columbia, to be provided at the earliest possible date.
It is my intention to summarize briefly herein the points leading to the unanimous decision of our Council. These points will,
I feel, be sufficiently convincing to result in a favourable and earlier decision in the matter on the part of your Government.
The following points were brought out in our discussion:
•
Commerce is relatively more important to our prosperity today than ever before.
•
Competition in business is so keen that a general knowledge of business theory and principles are practically
a pre-requisite to the normal progress of the young man.
•
No University today is giving maximum service to the Community it serves unless it possesses a first-class
Department of Commerce.
•
A tax-payer in British Columbia, wishing his son to become a Bachelor of Commerce, must either send him to
the United States or to Toronto or some other Eastern Canadian City.
•
More than one half of the people of British Columbia are dependent directly or indirectly on Commerce.
•
More than one half of the taxes of the Province are paid by Commercial interests.
•
More than one half of the population of British Columbia are residents of Greater Vancouver and the Lower
Mainland—easily accessible to the University of British Columbia.
•
In view of his contribution in taxes, a business man can reasonably claim the privilege of at least equal rights with
the farmer so far as the University is concerned. The farmer can send his son for a Course in Agriculture but the
business man cannot, at present, give his son a Course in Commerce, notwithstanding that the latter is relatively
a more important subject in his Province.
•
It is estimated by the U.B.C. that after allowing for fees from 200 students @ $100 each a grant of from $5,000 to
$10,000 annually would be required to properly carry on a Department of Commerce. This sum is considered by our
Board to be infinitesimal in relation to the importance of such a Department and in relation to the whole Government
expenditure for University purposes.
•
We shall have failed in our duty as citizens and Canadians if we do not keep pace with the trend of modern business
and with our own rapid development in this great National port. We must provide our boys with a University training in
Commerce at home to insure that our younger generation shall be equipped to compete with our American friends to
the South, who are our real competitors in business.
I solicit, Mr. Premier, your earnest consideration in this matter and I hope it will be possible for you to give me your early
assurance that this urgently needed and long-overdue facility will be provided by your Government without delay.
Yours faithfully,
Robert McKee,
Chair, Vancouver Board of Trade
Excerpted from History of the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration, University of British Columbia, by Earle D. MacPhee, 1976
12
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
S P EC I A L A N N I V E R SA RY F E AT U R E
(Reproduced from History of the Faculty of Commerce and Business
Administration, University of British Columbia, by Earle D. MacPhee, 1976)
Statement of the Aims and Objectives
of the School of Commerce
(from the 1951-1952 Calendar)
.... It is important that the prospective student in the
School appreciate the purposes and intentions of the
Council in providing the programmes defined in the
following pages.
On the one hand, it is expected that graduates from this
Panel for Institute on Goals and Responsibilities in Business Education
(including E.D. MacPhee), 1957.
School will be familiar with the principles and techniques
of those who are dealing most successfully with varied
enter the business community
1958
than for further specialization of
Under the leadership of Dean
the BCom graduates.” As a result,
Earle D. MacPhee, the Faculty of
the faculty decided to recommend
Commerce and Business
a general course and to offer a
Administration makes its first
Master of Business Administration
foray in the international arena,
degree, for students with a
contributing to the establishment
Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce,
of the new Schools of Commerce
Arts, Law, Engineering, Forestry,
at the University of Malaya and
Agriculture, or Pharmacy from
the University of Singapore.
an approved university.
Professor Leslie Wong, the
Chairman of the Division in
May 1956
Finance, leads a research team
The UBC Senate and the Board
tasked with designing a proposed
of Governors approve the recom-
program for the new institutions.
mendation that the School of
The Government of Canada
Commerce be given the status of
agrees to enter into a contractual
a Faculty, with the title of “Faculty
arrangement with Malaya under
of Commerce and Business
which the University of British
Administration,” effective June 1,
Columbia assumes responsibility
1956. Earle D. MacPhee would
to recruit the Canadian staff,
be the first Dean of the newly-
establish the courses, and select
created Faculty.
suitable Malaysian graduates for
While maintaining its official
studies in Canada who, upon
name for ceremonial purposes,
their return to their home
the faculty later rebrands itself
country, would gradually replace
as UBC Commerce.
the Canadian faculty members.
problems of business: organization, development, control,
and social responsibilities. This is the professional or
technical aspect of the work of the School, and the School
is definitely and frankly professional in its outlook.
On the other hand, the School maintains that its graduates
must have an intellectual and cultural background to
enable them to deal constructively, as business men and
citizens, with the social, political, and legal problems of
their times and environments. They need, and society has
a right to expect that as university graduates they will
have, a sounder perspective, a truer appreciation of social
and economic trends and their historical origins, a keener
sense of community values, than can fairly be required of
those who have not had the privilege of further study in a
university atmosphere.
Business does not expect that graduates in Commerce
will be skilled in the techniques of individual industries
or services. It does not want them to expect to assume
immediate managerial responsibilities. It does expect
that these men and women will be well-trained in
general techniques, will be ready and able to adapt these
principles and practices to specific problems, and will
have well-disciplined minds and sound work habits. ■
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
13
S P EC I A L A N N I V E R SA RY F E AT U R E
Commerce Undergraduate Society
Class Presidents
Dr Ernest C Harvey
Rev Stewart W Porteous
Mr George F Peirson
Mr Robert M Wilson
Mr Robert M Wadsworth
Mr Peter L Day
Mr M Bruce Pepper
Mr Henning P Brasso
Mr Robert W McQueen
Senator D Ross Fitzpatrick
Mr R B (Dick) Cavaye
Mr Richard L Richards
Mr H Doug Butterworth
Mr Eric Lauritzen
Dr Robert J Gayton
Mr Robert B Mackay
Mr Peter Uitdenbosch
Mr Brent W Bitz
Mr John H Dunham
Mr George Harvey Taylor
Mr Richard K Acton
Miss Barbara M Bell
Mr Robert B Dougans
Mr G D Powroznik
Mr Mike D Andruff
Mr Don B Nilson
Mr John R Henderson
Mr Michael E Iannacone
Mr Donald B Turri
Mr Kenton H Low
Mr Anthony Letvinchuk
Ms Arlene H Henry
Ms Elaine S Cotton
Mr Carlo Nichini
Mr John J Racich
Mr Christopher Godt
Mr Gregory Scott Yen
Miss Karen Nishi
Mr Vincent Yen
Mr Mark T Brown
Mr Ben Yen
Ms Karen M Sargent
Mr Kingsley Chong
Mr Ali Pejman
Mr Richard C Tam
Mr Kevin K Chiu
Mr Jay Sharun
Mr Jason Graham Bower
Mr Irfhan Rawji
Mr Michael Lee
Ms Mariko Takeuchi
Ms Jennifer Lo
Mr Jeffrey Ryan Potter
Ms Abigail Frances Ong
Mr Mike Woodward
BCom 1941, BA 1942
BCom 1945
BCom 1946
BCom 1948
BCom 1952
BCom 1953
BCom 1955
BCom 1956
BCom 1957
BCom 1958
BCom 1959
BCom 1960
BCom 1961
BCom 1961
BCom 1962
BCom 1964
BCom 1968
BCom 1970, MBA 1972
BCom 1971
BCom 1971
BCom 1972
BCom 1972
BCom 1973
BCom 1974
BCom 1975
BCom 1976, MSc (Bus Admin) 1985
BCom 1977
BCom 1978
BCom 1979
BCom 1980
BCom 1981
BCom 1982, Dip(Urb Lnd Econ) 2000
BCom 1983
BCom 1984
BCom 1985
BCom 1986
BCom 1987
BCom 1988
BCom 1989
BCom 1990
BCom 1991
BCom 1992
BCom 1993
BCom 1994
BCom 1995
BCom 1996
BCom 1997
BCom 1998
BCom 2000
BCom 2002
BCom 2004
BCom 2004
BCom 2006
BCom 2006
BCom 2007
Douglas Kenny speaking at dedication of the Earle Douglas MacPhee Executive
Conference Centre and the Cyrus H. McLean Audiovisual Theatre, 1976.
In May 1961, five members from
the Faculty of Commerce move
for the granting of a PhD degree:
“To prepare mature persons
to Malaya and Singapore to begin
with demonstrated intellectual
the first- and second-year courses
ability of high order for univer-
in Accounting and Business
sity teaching and research and
Management.
for research positions in industry
Leslie Wong would later serve
as a board member of the new
or government;
He must have a genuine
Singapore Institute of Management,
desire for knowledge, a respect
formed in 1963 under the
for human values, his preparation
influence of UBC faculty.
should extend over the whole
The faculty’s role in the
field of business administration,
establishment of the Malaya and
he should understand the main
Singapore business schools set
decision areas, and the problems
the stage for a leadership role in
which support business managers
business education in both China
in making a decision;
and Hong Kong.
He should understand the
concepts and methods of other
1967
related disciplines, especially the
The PhD degree is approved. The
behavioral sciences, quantitative
new degree would be offered in
methods and economics;
Finance, Marketing, Organizational
He should possess a command
Behaviour, Accounting, and
of his special subject so that he
Management Science.
can teach at the undergraduate
The faculty approves the
following statement as objectives
and graduate levels;
He should carry out research
Continued on page 16 >>
14
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
S P EC I A L A N N I V E R SA RY F E AT U R E
The facilities
E.D. MacPhee Building.
In its early years, as a division
graduates and graduates and for
inaugurated in 1965. It would
of Economics, Commerce used
the several courses in this new
be known as the Henry Angus
the Arts Building and the old
discipline.
Building, in honour of Henry
Research Centre opened in 1992.
Forbes Angus, Professor of
Building construction was made
Agriculture Building. When the
The large number of students
The David Lam Management
World War II veterans arrived in
forced a move from the Commerce
Economics, Political Science,
possible through a gift from
1945, the university provided
huts to the new Buchanan
and Sociology and the first Dean
David See-Chai Lam, former
space in ex-army huts.
Building in the late 1950s, but
of Graduate Studies at UBC.
Lieutenant Governor of British
since it was anticipated that the
Commerce and Business
Columbia, and his wife Dorothy.
G2 and G3. When the Law
Buchanan Building would soon
Administration, Psychology,
The building is home to the
Building was complete, the bulk
be more than fully occupied by
Economics, and Political Science
David Lam Management Research
of the faculty moved to Hut Gl
the Faculty of Arts, it was proposed
moved to the new building in
Library.
and other “temporary” build-
that the university should take
1966. By 1973, many of these
ings. It was in these huts that the
down the Commerce huts and
departments had returned to the
opening of its new downtown
undergraduate program was
erect a Commerce Building on
Buchanan Building.
teaching facilities at UBC Robson
developed. The school changed
that site. University registration
to a faculty in 1956 but no
continued to rise sharply and
requirements for a continually
business school’s Executive
change took place in its accom-
it became obvious that the
increasing faculty and student
Education office. ■
modation. It was in these huts
Commerce huts would be
bodies forced an expansion of a
that the professional and diploma
needed as they were, and that
new wing, called the Executive
courses were organized; Philip
an additional building should
Development area. This wing, on
White began the development of
be erected on Main Mall.
the north side of the Angus
The school started off in Huts
a Real Estate program for under-
The new building was
In 1974-75, the space
In 2001, UBC celebrated the
Square, and new home of the
Building, would be called the
Deans of the Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration
Earle D. MacPhee
1956-1960
G. Neil Perry
1960-1965
Colin C. Gourlay (Acting)
1965-1966
Philip H. White
1966-1973
Colin C. Gourlay (Acting)
1973-1974
Noel A. Hall
1974-1976
Stanley W. Hamilton (Acting)
1976-1977
Peter A. Lusztig
1977-1991
Michael A. Goldberg
1991-1997
Derek Atkins (Acting)
1997-1998
Daniel Muzyka
1998-
Deans on deck in June 2000. Left to right: Dan Muzyka, Philip White, Stan
Hamilton, Colin Gourlay, Peter Lusztig, Mike Goldberg, and Noel Hall.
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
15
S P EC I A L A N N I V E R SA RY F E AT U R E
MBA Class Presidents
President 1973-74
Shannon Shepardson
President 1974-75
Martin Glynn
President 1975-76
N/A
President 1976-77
N/A
President 1977-78
N/A
President 1978-79
Louis-Charles Lavalle
President 1979-80
Brette Ritchie
President 1980-81
Mike Boyle
President 1981-82
Bob Carroll
President 1982-83
Jim Goring
President 1983-84
Peter Szilai
President 1984-85
William Hallam
President 1985-86
Neil McDonnell
President 1986-87
Will Stayer
President 1987-88
Shannon Taylor
President 1988-89
Debbie Intas
President 1989-90
Chris Windsor
President 1990-91
Gregg Scott
President 1991-92
Karen Wilkinson
President 1992-93
Michael Prokop
President 1993-94
which contributes to theoretical
made in support of a Canadian
George Siemens
President 1994-95
knowledge or leads to practical
business school with a gift from
Peter Saulnier
President 1995-96 (New Program)
improvement in business
William Sauder, BCom 1948,
Holly Wong
President 1995-96 (Old Program)
methodology;
Chancellor Emeritus of UBC and
Peter Hofman
President 1996-1997
Dave Harriman
President 1997-1998
James Loughridge
President 1998-1999
He will be expected to make
support, the business school is
Darrell Kopke
President 1999-2000
a significant contribution to the
renamed the Sauder School of
Chris MacArthur
President 2000-2001
literature of the discipline.”
Business.
Mark Cordy
President 2001-2002
Perry Atwal
President 2002-2003
1971
November 2, 2006
Russell Harper
Co-President 2002-2003
The degree of Master of Science
The Sauder School of Business
Raul Avina
Co-President 2002-2003
Chris McNally
President 2003-2004
in Business Administration is
announces the naming of the
Colleen Caney
Co-President 2003-2004
approved, aimed at students who
Robert H. Lee Graduate School,
Eric Monrad
Co-President 2003-2004
prefer a Master’s degree special-
in recognition of a generous gift
Eric Huang
President 2004-2005
izing more in one field than the
in support of graduate education
Rob Zubic
Senior Vice President 2004-2005
MBA would allow.
at the Sauder School of Business
Felicia Lee
Co-President 2004-2005
Eric Monrad
Co-President 2004-2005
June 5, 2003
Robert H. Lee, and his long-term
Ricardo Estrada
President 2005-2006
UBC is the recipient of the then-
dedication to UBC. ■
Steve Champion
President 2006-2007
largest single private donation
16
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
MARK MUSHET
Jean-Pierre Gabille
The Sauder family name became synonymous with a respected
business school following a historic gift from Bill and
Marjorie-Ann Sauder in 2003.
He must expect to guide
student research;
chairman of Interfor, and his
family. In recognition of their
from UBC Chancellor Emeritus
S P EC I A L A N N I V E R SA RY F E AT U R E
PERRY ZAVITZ
Faculty Advisory Board
An esteemed group of advisors helps guide the school and its vision.
Andrew Bibby, BCom 1980
President, Grosvenor Canada Limited
David Main, MBA 1990
President & CEO, Aquinox Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Ross Sherwood
President and CEO, Odlum Brown
Cal Buss, CA
Office Managing Partner, Deloitte
Kyle Mitchell, BCom 1965
Managing Partner, Ray & Berndtson /
Tanton Mitchell Inc.
Andrea Southcott, BCom 1982
President and COO, TBWA-Vancouver
Ronald L. Cliff, BCom 1949
Chairman, Heathcliff Properties Ltd.
Lorraine Cunningham
President, Cunningham Group
Barbara Hislop
Executive Director of Variety – the
Children’s Charity of BC
Paul Hollands, BCom 1979
President & CEO, A&W Food
Services of Canada Inc.
Maureen Howe, PhD 1987
Director, Global Equity Division,
RBC Capital Markets
Pat Jacobsen
CEO, TransLink
Carol Lee, BCom 1981
President & CEO, Linacare
V. Paul Lee, BCom 1987
President, Electronic Arts Inc.
Kevin K. Mahon, BCom 1982
President & CEO, Adera Development Corp.
Sarah Morgan-Silvester, BCom 1982
Chair, BC Women’s Hospital and Health
Centre Foundation
Robert Stewart, Chairman of the Board
President, R.T. Stewart & Associates
Phil Swift, MBA 1975
CEO, Arc Financial Corp
David Mowat, BCom 1978
President and CEO, VanCity Savings
Credit Union
Bruce Terry, MBA 1980
EVP & CFO, Sobeys Inc.
Pat Parker, BCom 1968, MBA 1969
President, P.E. Parker & Associates
Praveen Varshney, BCom 1987
Director, Varshney Capital Corp.
Doug Pearce
CEO & Chief Investment Officer, BC
Investment Management Corporation
Anthony von Mandl
President & CEO, Mark Anthony Group Inc.
Gary D. Powroznik, BCom 1974
President, PricewaterhouseCoopers
Real Estate Inc.
Richard Rees
CEO, Institute of Chartered Accountants of BC
Michael Ryan, BCom 1953
Past Vice President, Fixed Income
Research, Portfolio Management, Leith
Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd.
Greg Wiebe
Managing Partner, KPMG
Fred Withers, BCom 1977
Managing Partner, Western Canada,
Ernst & Young
Glenn Wong, BCom 1980
Past President and CEO of Apparent
Networks
Darryl Yea, BCom 1981
President, Investco Capital Management Inc.
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
17
A new chapter in
The Sauder School of Business hopes to raise $65 million
to bring its facilities into the 21st century
BY
MARLA LEVY
Some may have smiled in amusement (even nodded in
agreement) when they read in the last issue of Viewpoints
that the likeness of the Henry Angus Building to a 1960s
secondary school has some alumni affectionately referring
to their alma mater as ‘Angus High’. The comment (included
in the article An Eye to the Future) came from Faculty
Advisory Board member Fred Withers (BCom 77), who
added: “We need to get it into the 21st century.”
N
OW WITHERS IS DETERMINED TO HELP MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
The Managing Partner of Ernst & Young in Vancouver has
been named the chair of the upcoming Opening Worlds
Campaign, the business school’s ambitious plan to raise $65 million
dollars to renovate and expand its facilities, the core of which was
designed in the 1960s. “It’s a pretty clear cut goal,” says Withers.
momentum, this is a school that’s thinking big.”
18
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
JAKOB HELBIG / GETTY IMAGES
“This is a school that wants to be great, this is a school that’s got
Sauder’s history
Sauder alumni have reason to invest in their school:
up-and-coming generations of business leaders
whose success will be built on the past, and
who will build the future.
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
19
Withers knows that being the
management thinking; and the
cheerleader for the campaign is a
current learning environment
significant responsibility, but it’s
does not support the evolving
one that he and his fellow busi-
approaches to learning.
ness partners at Ernst & Young
“As a member of the Sauder
feel is tremendously important.
School’s Faculty Advisory Board,
“The Sauder School is a big part
I am privileged to work with
of our recruiting strategy, it’s a
strong faculty, promising
big part of our British Columbia
students and successful alumni.
community, and this is an oppor-
However, aging and inadequate
tunity for us to give something
facilities barely reveal the
back.” For Withers personally, it’s
exceptional calibre of the School.
a great fit. “I have lots of affection
Sauder needs to advance its
for the School.”
physical space, and do it now.”
Sauder student Mike
Interior of newly constucted Henry Angus building, August 30, 1965.
real barrier to the sharing of
support, he is very encouraged
knowledge: “If you want
by the positive response he and
An infrastructure that’s anything
but innovative
Woodward, President of the
someone to learn, it’s about
his team have been getting to the
Commerce Undergraduate
connecting with them in a
business case for renovating and
Affection aside, Withers knows
Society, agrees: “We have
learning experience, and that
expanding the School. After
that the School is lacking on
amazing professors at the Sauder
connection, in my view, comes
meeting with numerous business
a number of fronts: growing
School of Business, but we’re
from knowing their name and
people, it’s clear that many align
programs have improved access
held back in our education by a
being able to make direct eye
themselves with the direction of
to business education, but, at
lack of technology and a lack of
contact with them.”
the School and, notes Withers, a
the same time, the School is
modern business tools.”
struggling to accommodate the
Faculty members speak to the
Dean Daniel Muzyka sums
up the School’s inadequate
common response has been,
“How can I help?”
increasing number of students
frustration they face teaching in
learning environment this way:
and faculty; spatial inflexibility
disengaging classrooms where
“A business wouldn’t succeed in
(BCom 56), President, Prospero
and the poor state of the physical
they may not be able to see or
this model and nor can we.”
Developments, and a long-time
facilities pose barriers to the
interact with some students.
School’s vision to become a
Jeff Kroeker, who teaches in the
Solidifying support
UBC, is one of those who has
recognized leader in innovative
Accounting Division, says this a
The message that the School
invested in the future of the School.
needs to revitalize its space
“The Sauder School offers a state
seems to be understood and
of the art education, but other
shared by the business community.
top business schools also offer
Although the Opening Worlds
state of the art facilities. I can see
Campaign has yet to launch,
the School urgently needs to
capital gifts from the private sector
upgrade its space. Business is
have already been made—to the
different now, and so is the way
tune of $22 million. With one
we learn.”
patron and former Chancellor of
third of the total campaign goal
Henry Angus Building under construction, August 1964.
20
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
Alumnus Dr. Robert H. Lee
Withers believes this initial
of $65 million secured, Withers
support signals two things, a
is feeling optimistic about the
respect for the School and its
School’s prospects for success.
vision, as well as a recognition
In addition to this financial
that Sauder needs to provide
Conceptual image of Sauder’s new facilities.
students with what other top
good enough for past students
Withers says the bottom line is
and faculty, to educating students
business schools worldwide
and faculty, why isn’t it good
that the quality of the education
in a collaborative, professional
provide students—classrooms
enough for today’s, or even
would suffer. “Part of attracting
and technologically advanced
designed for participatory
tomorrow’s? “We learned
new faculty is having a school
facility. And they’re forging ahead
discussion, interactive space,
differently back then,” explains
that’s got ambitious goals, is
because they believe that the
areas for informal knowledge
Withers. “We didn’t learn in
having a city that people want
upcoming capital campaign is
exchange, and a technological
teams. We didn’t need the
to be part of, is having a student
less about contributing to bricks
backbone that supports modern
connectivity that people need
body that is dynamic, is having
and mortar and more about
teaching and research methods.
today in order to do their work.
faculty members who are world
contributing to quality education.
“The main message is that
Sauder right now can’t deliver
class, and is having an environ-
If prospective donors see it
the Sauder School continues on a
that.” He likens these different
ment that’s well-matched to
similarly, this could well mark
journey to be one of the great
demands and challenges to those
all of those things. If you fall
the start of a pivotal chapter in
business schools in the world,”
underway in the workplace, such
short, as you back up the chain,
the School’s future—and
says Withers. “That’s the path
as at his own company. “We’ve
there’s a risk to every one of
hopefully the end of the jokes
that the Dean and the Faculty
spent a lot of money to accom-
those things.”
about ‘Angus High’. ■
Advisory Board have set the
modate how people both work
School on. A new facility is part
and learn. Schools have to do the
don’t have time to dwell on
For more information about the business
of that journey—it’s a means
same thing.”
hypothetical risk. They’re busy
school’s plans to renew its facilities,
communicating their vision of
including Dean Daniel Muzyka’s vision,
The risk of doing nothing
what the upgrade will allow the
please see the article,“An Eye to the
will question why the School
What would happen then if the
School to accomplish—from
Future,” in the Fall 2006 issue of
needs such a major overhaul.
facilities were not upgraded, if
competing with other schools to
Viewpoints.
The thinking may be: If it was
things remained the same?
recruit and retain top students
to an end.”
Still, there may be some who
But Withers and his team
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
21
A new home for graduate programs
at the Sauder School of Business
IN A SPECIAL CEREMONY ON
with extensive commercial real
November 2, UBC President
estate holdings on the Lower
Stephen Toope and Dean Daniel
Mainland.
A long-time patron of UBC,
Muzyka announced the naming
of the Robert H. Lee Graduate
Lee has served as member of
School at the Sauder School of
the UBC Board of Governors
Business.
(1984-90), as Chancellor of
UBC (1993-96) and Chair of the
The announcement was made
in recognition of Robert H. Lee’s
UBC Foundation. One of his
generous gift in support of
most notable contributions
graduate education at the Sauder
includes his role as a key founder
School of Business and his
of UBC Properties Trust in 1987.
long-term dedication to UBC.
He saw land as a tremendous
EUGENE LIN
In September 2005, UBC
announced a major gift of
$15 million in support of
Bob Lee at the naming ceremony for the Robert H. Lee Graduate School.
asset that could generate lasting
revenue and strongly encouraged
UBC to establish long-term
graduate education at the Sauder
endowment wealth by monetizing
School of Business, a commitment
its land assets. The first residential
led by Dr. Robert H. Lee. The
build on our reputation as
that enabled us to go forth and
project, the 28-acre community
$15 million gift consisted of
Canada’s foremost research-based
become successful in business and
of Hampton Place, produced $80
Lee’s lead gift of $5 million, a
business school and advance
contribute to our community,”
million for the UBC Endowment.
matching endowment of $5
toward our goal of becoming
says Lee. “I feel privileged to be
“When I started the UBC
million from UBC, and a joint
one of the world’s top business
able to give back to the school
Properties Trust, my goal was to
commitment between Lee and
schools.”
that has given me and my family
raise $1 billion to create the
so much over the years.”
largest endowment of any
UBC to secure an additional
Born and raised in Vancouver,
Dr. Lee graduated from UBC
Lee’s foresight in fostering
University in Canada,” says Lee.
in 1956 with a Bachelor of
business ties to Asia at a time when
“Next year will be our 20th year
will allow us to bring Sauder’s
Commerce degree. Over the
few others recognized its future
and to date, we have raised $350
existing and future graduate
years, he built a formidable real
influence sparked major Asian
million towards our goal.”
programs together and create
estate business on the west coast
investments in British Columbia
synergies that will enrich our
with Wall Financial Corporation,
and marked a significant
in the future of UBC and genera-
programs and enhance our
eventually forming the highly
development in the province’s
tions of students to come—and
ability to educate future leaders
successful Prospero Group.
economic growth during the
ultimately an investment in the
1970s and ‘80s. He built a strong
future of our province and our
country.” ■
$5 million.
“The new graduate school
in business, industry, and
“As alumni of the School,
academia,” says Dean Muzyka.
we were fortunate to benefit
real estate presence on the west
“It will enable us to continue to
from a high-calibre education
coast of Canada and the U.S.,
22
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
He adds, “It is an investment
MAURICIO OROZCO
This team is at your service
The team who keeps Sauder’s external relations humming is (back row, left to right): Anna Collins (Development Coordinator), Fiona Fung (Alumni Relations
Coordinator), Kim Duffell (External Relations Coordinator), Moyra Van Nus (Assistant Dean and Director, External Relations). Front row: Cristina Calboreanu
(Writer, External Relations / Editor-in-Chief, Viewpoints Magazine), Amanda Warren (Major Gifts Officer), Frieda Granot (Senior Associate Dean, Strategic
Development and External Relations / Executive Editor, Viewpoints Magazine), Sally Martens (Executive Assistant).
BY
MOYRA VAN NUS
M
ORE THAN 27,000 SAUDER ALUMNI
around the world make up the network
of knowledge and opportunity that
the school’s graduates are part of. Back home
at UBC, a dedicated team helps keep alumni
connected through events, and other opportunities to connect with the school and invest
in future generations.You might be interested
in what they can do for you.
STAYING CONNECTED
• Organize a reunion—we can help!
•
Tell us where you are and what you’re
doing so we can share it in Viewpoints—fill
out a Class Notes form online or at an event.
•
Create an E-mail for Life account.
•
Make sure you’re receiving Viewpoints and
our Alumni e-Newsletter.
•
Check your Sauder home page for Alumni
updates and current events.
•
Participate in the Sauder Online
Community.
Soon, you will begin receiving a weekly
announcement called “This week in Sauder”
which will showcase speakers and events that
we hope will be of interest to you.
GIVING BACK
• There are many ways to give back to
the life of the Sauder School: mentor
a student, recruit Sauder students, create
a co-op student placement, share your
experiences with current students,
or support the programs that were
meaningful to you and the people who
made a difference in your life.
•
Once a year, External Relations hosts an
Alumni Gala. Last year, the event featured
Sir John Bond, Group Chairman of HSBC
Holdings plc. In 2004, our guest was
Howard Schultz, founder and Chairman
of the Starbucks Corporation. Watch for
details on the 2007 gala coming soon.
•
Attend our Alumni Network Speakers
Series, which this year featured RBC
Capital Markets Research Analyst
Maureen Howe.
•
Volunteer to speak at our AlumniIn-Residence Mentoring Luncheon,
which is designed to create opportunities
for students to hear from key members
of the business community.
•
Make a financial contribution—either in
a single installment or a multi-year pledge
that supports an area you’re passionate
about.
•
Consider a gift of appreciated securities
or include the Sauder School of Business
in your will. ■
Moyra Van Nus leads development and alumni relations
for the Sauder School of Business. She welcomes your
comments at moyra.vannus@sauder.ubc.ca
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
23
50 years, 27,000
graduates, 1 vision
BY
JENNIFER WAH
Can 27,000 alumni share a single vision for a business
school? Yes, if their vision is to change the face, the role,
and the impact of business in the world. Yes, if they
share roots in the past, a passion for the present, and
dreams for the future. And yes, if their alma mater is
alive with an energy and purpose that draws power to it.
With 50 years of learning and leading behind us, the
answer to this question is a resounding “yes” at the
Sauder School of Business at UBC. The eight alumni on
the pages to come are evidence of the differences, and
common experiences that each graduate of this school
takes with them. In this special anniversary issue of
Viewpoints, our Alumni Points of View span more than
five decades, myriad backgrounds, and equally varied
career paths. Could the books on their bedside tables, or
the music in their ears be part of what inspires them?
MARK MUSHET
Read on to find out. >>
Back row, left to right: Praveen Varshney (BCom 87), Sarah Morgan-Silvester
(BCom 82), Maureen Howe (PhD 87), Bill Sauder (BCom 48). Front row:
Leo Basso (PhD 06), Christina Anthony (BCom 97), Paul Hollands (BCom 79),
Bob Lee (BCom 56).
Over the years, many notable personalities have
participated in milestones and photo opportunities.
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
25
Bill Sauder, BCom 48
Bob Lee, BCom 56
Home: Vancouver, BC
Chair of International Forest Products Ltd. and Sauder Industries Ltd.
Home: Vancouver, BC
Chairman, Prospero Group
Why this school?
I planned to become a research scientist in chemistry, but I wanted to
follow my father, who was in forestry. While I have fond memories of
my time at UBC, I admit I was not a good student. Ambition and vision
weren’t part of my life—I had to learn these traits.
Why UBC?
When I was in high school, most people didn’t go on to university, but I
wanted the credibility and networking opportunities that come from a
business degree.
First job?
After school, I worked for my dad, who said ‘you can take as much
time off as you want, but the job starts in two weeks.’ These days, some
new graduates have a sense of entitlement about taking time off.
Early memories?
Our class only had 30 students, and I’m still in touch with many of them.
What was the school like back then?
For air conditioning, we opened and shut a window. I remember
buying milk at the old Campus Cupboard.
Advice for new grads?
New graduates need to be prepared to step into any position to learn
the business. I started as a ‘joe-boy’ in my dad’s company, and tried
every position at some point.
Favourite class?
Commercial Law with Professor Ralph Loffmark, who lectured without
notes. I still use what I learned from that course today.
What’s different now?
Students learn more now from situations than from facts and figures.
Advice to new grads?
Develop a good reputation: it takes years to build, but you can lose it in minutes.
Free time?
Spent in my garden, especially with the rhododendrons.
Classmates would not have expected…
…That I would become a chancellor at UBC!
Book on your bedside table?
A book about Bill Bennett, which brings back memories of that time.
Connections to Sauder?
For the last 22 years, I’ve donated expertise, time and money to the
school. It’s more thrilling handing Martha Piper a cheque from UBC
Properties Trust than selling a major building in Vancouver.
Most inspired by?
My wife, Marjorie-Anne. She’s always been there to help and to hold
me. Without her, I could not have been successful.
Connection to the school?
Investing in the school was the most charitable thing we’ve done.
We wanted to give a gift, not buy something—there were absolutely
no strings attached.
Most inspired by?
My father, Ron Bick Lee. He was 100 years old when I became Chancellor
of UBC, and he passed away at 104. For two years after graduation, I ran his
business while he recovered from a heart attack. He was proud: I didn’t lose
his money and rounded out my education with real-life business experience.
Favourite music?
Nat King Cole and Tom Jones.
What’s changed?
New information technology has changed the way business is conducted.
I’ve been using a Palm Pilot since 1995, so I feel pretty connected for an ‘old
guy!’ When I graduated, I made $328 a month working at Canadian Packers.
My goal back then was to make $10,000 a year from real estate investments.
26
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
Leonardo Basso, PhD 06
Sarah Morgan-Silvester, BCom 82
Home: Santiago, Chile
Faculty, Universidad de Chile
Home: North Vancouver, BC
Chair, BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre Foundation
After graduation?
I became a faculty member in the Civil Engineering department of my
old university, Universidad de Chile.
Why Sauder?
I grew up around tidal pools and wanted to be a marine biologist, but
found the field limiting. Economics and business offer so many career
choices.
Why transportation?
It makes such a big impact. People travel so much—every day, half their
free time is spent traveling.
Favourite class?
Business Performance and Public Policy, taught by Tom Ross. Tom is a
great instructor, and the subject unites applied information with its
impact on public policy.
Early memories of Vancouver?
When I first moved here, I went out one night and got ready the South
American way: I left home at midnight to go to a pub, and 15 minutes
after ordering a beer, the owner turned out the lights and kicked me out.
Sauder memories…
I spent a year as co-president of Sauder’s PhD students’ society, and loved
being able to interact with such a diverse group.
How can Sauder students change the world?
To make public policy changes and move towards sustainable options,
you need technical skills and a strong voice.
Secret energy source?
Music. Music does empower you, and plays a huge role in my life. I
can’t stop listening to the latest Tool album. I went to their Vancouver
concert—what an amazing show!
Most inspired by?
My parents. They were very brave during dark times in Chile and stood
for what they thought was right.
Unknown about you?
People are always surprised I played in a progressive rock band called
Subterra, and that we recorded an album. It doesn’t seem to fit the profile
of an economics professor.
Early memories?
The nightmare of registering for courses before computers! Everyone
lined up according to their marks and had to collect computer punch
cards to manually sign up for classes.
Best skill from Sauder?
Confidence—the Sauder experience wasn’t just book learning, but also
practical knowledge. I felt it helped me develop and enhance my natural
attributes. For example, during a leadership exercise, we used a computer
situation to apply our practical skills to run a virtual company.
Advice to new graduates?
If you’re ever in a position where you’re not learning something new, it’s
time to change. Also, be sure to make conscious choices, not choices of
convenience.
Connection to the school?
I’ve been on the Faculty Advisory Board for some time, and became
involved because Sauder feels like home. As a teaching assistant, I
remember working in a little cubicle in the bottom of the Angus
building. But even in that grotty space, I felt I was making a difference
and belonged. Almost 25 years later, I still feel that way.
Spare time?
Courses in landscape design and textile arts.
Most inspired by?
My parents, through their unconditional love and support.
Bedside reading?
I have about 40 books stacked beside my bedside table. Two I’m currently
reading are 50 Facts That Should Change the World and The Perennial Garden Guide.
What are you most proud of?
My children.
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
27
Paul Hollands, BCom 79
Christina Anthony, BCom 97
Home: North Vancouver, BC
President & CEO, A&W Food Services of Canada Inc
Home: Vancouver, BC
Director and Portfolio Manager, Odlum Brown
Why Sauder?
I was interested in business from an early age, and pretty early on figured
out that I really wanted to be a marketer. However, I knew that to be good
at marketing, I needed to study both marketing and finance. It seemed to
me that the only place to do that was UBC.
Why business?
Throughout high school, I loved going to science fairs, but later realized I
liked the presentation more than actual scientific research. After enrolling
in sciences at UBC, I went to my first physics lab and hated it, and soon
switched to commerce.
Favourite class?
Even though I was a marketer, my third-year finance course was one of
my favourites. The professor was Jim Mao, who taught me an invaluable
marketing lesson—he used a financial case study model to demonstrate
how marketing and finance go together elegantly to make a great business.
Most valuable Sauder experience?
In my second year, I joined the Portfolio Management Program (PMP),
where I learned about the financial markets by co-managing an investment portfolio for the university.
Advice for new grads?
Focus on the about the work you do—not the job itself, the title or the
money. Do something you really want to spend your time doing, not
something that looks good on a résumé.
Sauder memories?
POITS, running computer programs on punch cards, writing exams in the
Armoury, Dan Gardiner when was in his first year of teaching.
About your job…
I have a great job for a couple of reasons. First, A&W is a great brand in
a great industry and I get to spend my time working on it. For most
Canadians, A&W is something special that goes back a long way in their
lives. To work in a business that has such a heart and soul is a treat.
Second, I get to work with the best group of people in the world. It
sounds cliché but the the management team at A&W are a dream team.
Inspired by?
Jeff Mooney, our Chairman. I’ve worked with him for 26 years and. I learned
more from him personally and professionally than I ever thought possible.
On your bedside table?
A new biography of Lord Nelson by Roger Knight called Pursuit of Victory.
When you’re not at work?
Family and community work. Maria and I have a wonderful son John who
like most kids teaches his parents lessons about real life every single day.
Besides being involved with Sauder I am on the Board of the St. Paul’s
Hospital Foundation, and am currently the Chairman of the Canadian
Association of Income Funds. And I’m a classic car buff. My baby,
“Carmine” is a burgundy 1972 TRG convertible.
28
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
Favourite things about the PMP?
The program (now called the Portfolio Management Foundation) included
internships, mentorships and practical experience. In fact, it guided me towards
the field of finance. Right away, I started learning the social and business
etiquette skills by going to dinner and interacting with people in the industry.
Advice for new grads?
It’s all about giving back. At the beginning, you may not have money,
but give back with your time. As little as you think you know as a new
graduate, you still know more than someone a year or two behind you.
Most proud of?
My family, my portfolio management business, and founding the Forum
for Women Entrepreneurs. Oh, and being named one of the Top 100 Most
Powerful Women in Canada by the Women’s Executive Council and The
Globe and Mail. I love the passion that entrepreneurs bring to their work,
and like to feed off their excitement. We started incorporating mentorships and internships at the Forum somewhat mirroring the model I saw
worked so well for the PMP.
Spare time?
I love singing—at home we have a piano and karaoke machine.
Family?
My husband and I have a 15-month-old daughter, and I’m expecting a
baby boy in February.
Why Vancouver?
I’ve lived in Frankfurt, New York and Seattle, but I always had my eye on
returning to Vancouver. My whole family is here, and I wanted my children
to grow up near their grandparents. Vancouver also has a vibrant business
community, but lifestyle benefits too—it’s perfect!
Praveen Varshney, BCom 87
Maureen Howe, PhD 87
Home: Vancouver, BC
Director, Varshney Capital Corp.
Home: Vancouver, BC
Managing Director, RBC Capital Markets, Global Research Equity Analyst
Why Sauder?
My father started his MBA there (though he left to get his CA), so I
was familiar with the school, and we lived close by as well.
Why Sauder?
During my PhD studies, I hoped to gain a deep understanding in finance,
and the confidence to undertake my own analysis.
Why a business degree?
After a less-than-enjoyable first year of pre-Engineering, I questioned my
career choice. I had taken Economics as an elective which allowed me to
switch to Commerce. My father did well in business and I was always a
bit of an entrepreneur, and being exposed to business helped nurture
those tendencies.
Did your degree help?
Yes—in an industry where PhDs are rare, it provided me with the skill set
and confidence to be successful.
Favourite class?
Statistics, as I use probabilities and decision trees all the time. My
investment and business decisions all revolve around calculated risk-taking
versus gambling. I even use that approach in my personal life!
Best single experience from Sauder?
Working to derive proofs that have no clear path to a solution is a scary
proposition, but with help from teachers and fellow students, I learned to
manage that uncertainty. I gained confidence in myself, and my ability to
tackle problems that at times lack even remotely obvious solutions.
Voted most likely to…
Most likely to fall asleep at my wedding, since I have a habit of taking
frequent power naps!
About your current work…
I get to run my own franchise! As an equity analyst that covers energy
infrastructure, while I work under the RBC Capital Market banner, in
many respects it’s like my own business
Advice to new grads?
Focus on building your personal brand equity through integrity—say
what you mean and do what you say. Eventually, you’ll become the go-to
person everyone wants to do business with. And remember—life is about
action, not perfection.
What keeps you busy?
My husband and I love trekking. Last year we spent 10 days trekking in
Bhutan, the world’s only Buddhist kingdom, and we’ll return there next
year. While we didn’t see any snow leopards, the place is amazing—it’s
like going back in time.
On your current job…
I’m involved with multiple projects in a variety of industries, I help
build businesses from ideas, travel the world and meet new and
interesting people all the time. By focusing on making money for
our investors and shareholders, I also do well.
Bedside reading?
The White Nile by Alan Moorhead and Siddhartha by Herman Hesse.
Most inspired by…
My father, Hari. Considering he left his family to emigrate from India to
Canada to start a new life with not a lot, he’s accomplished so much. Aside
from business success, he’s been very involved in charity, community and
along with my mother, ensured the family unit is strong. We still do an
extended family holiday every year—my parents, us three kids, our three
spouses, and six grandkids in tow!
Family?
I’m married with two grown step-boys, two fat cats, and one bearded collie,
with another to arrive in early 2007.
Why Vancouver?
While it’s difficult to build a finance career here, Vancouver is worth the
sacrifice. Every time I return home, I breathe a sigh of relief. Vancouver is
such a beautiful and cosmopolitan city. It is a wonderful city in the best
country in the world.
Classmates would be surprised to learn that…
I used to be a major junk food and candy junkie, but have really cleaned
up my act!
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
29
STUDENT CORNER
Change will do you good
I never applied to the Sauder School of Business
BY
MIKE SCOTT
Indeed, when I submitted my application to the school in the fall of 2002, I applied to the Commerce program at UBC.
It wasn’t until June of the following year that I would learn of the school’s seemingly momentous name-change, and
I have spent the four years hence observing the changes the school has undergone.
WHILE IT WOULD BE UNENLIGHTENED TO CLAIM ALL CHANGES AT
the school in the last four years have been direct results of Dr. Sauder’s
endowment, the event serves as more of a symbolic occurrence,
signaling the school’s transformation into one of the country’s top
business schools.
And perhaps it has been this transition that has attracted some of
the most diverse and intelligent minds from across the country to earn
their undergraduate degree at Sauder. Since my entry into the school
in the fall of 2003, there has been a notable shift in the types of
individuals that the school attracts. At the risk of stereotyping myself
to my own detriment, entrants into the school in 2003 generally
possessed Einsteinian intellect—but perhaps not much else.
Presumably this was due to the application process, which was based
predominantly on high school grades, and gave little preference to
students who had less than ideal academic records but were strong in
other aspects of their lives. Recognizing that business students, more
than those of other faculty, require more than just booksmarts, a part
of Dr. Sauder’s endowment was apportioned for the institution of a
broad-based admissions program that would make admission decisions
based on a wider variety of criteria. The program is more complex,
more expensive, and ultimately, completely worthwhile, as the types
of students the school now attracts are much more diverse in their
skill sets. And the benefits of the program are amplified as students
from abroad recognize the school’s diverse student body and willingly
migrate to the west coast to enjoy the celebrated Vancouver scenery
(and its cursed weather).
Outside the classroom, students now more than ever have
opportunities to become involved in extracurricular activities.
Opportunities to gain experience have grown increasingly accessible,
and exist for every student regardless of his or her particular realm of
expertise. The ability to gain such experience provides unquantifiable
value-added to the résumés of undergraduates, especially considering
that there are hundreds of ‘smart’ students graduating from the school
each year. It is no longer enough to have a strong transcript—the
academic portion of your résumé only comprises a small section of it.
Increasingly, ‘soft skills’—developed largely through outside-the-classroom activities—are the differentiators between candidates. Increased
extracurricular opportunities at the Sauder school of Business in recent
years have allowed students to remain on equal footing with the best
business school graduates across the country.
The propagation of the school’s co-op program has further
improved the employment prospects for young graduates. A relatively
new initiative, the co-op program places students in employment
positions related to their specializations as a way of developing
on-the-job skills and providing students with much-needed experience.
Available for students in the Accounting, MIS, Marketing, and T-Log
options, the program has become known amongst students as a valuable
way of developing relevant skills and—perhaps more importantly—
industry contacts. While options like Finance lack any formal co-op
program, various other work placement programs allow students in
30
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
almost all specializations to graduate with not only an impressive
academic distinction, but with a strong résumé of work experience as
well. The institution and increasing popularity of these programs has
been a welcome change for both students, who recognize the value of
real-life training, and employers, who now have the opportunity to
size up graduates’ talent in the years before their graduation.
With continued generous endowment from private sponsors and a
student body and administration that truly advocates positive change
on a broad scale, there is reason to expect more changes going forward.
As they occur, the benefits will accrue not only to the current students,
but to all previous and future generations of students, as the reputation
and awareness of the Sauder School of Business continues to grow
both in Canada and abroad. To be sure, this is an exciting time for the
school, one rich with opportunity and conducive to further changes.
My only regret is that I won’t be around to see them. ■
Opening worlds
BY
LANDON KLEIS, CO-PRESIDENT OF THE PHD STUDENT SOCIETY
A LITTLE OVER TEN YEARS AGO, I WAS FINISHING A BACHELOR OF
commerce at Queen’s and couldn’t wait to get out of school. Though
I enjoyed my undergraduate experience, I was happy to leave behind
the Kraft Dinners and late-night studying. Signing up for another six
years of school was not my highest priority.
Yet, throughout my first years in the working world, my thoughts
returned frequently to academia. Discovering the PhD program at
Sauder was a watershed moment. Here was an outstanding institution
with a program that promised financial support and supervision by
top scholars in the field. Perhaps I could become a student again and
indulge my love of ideas, inquiry, and education. Upon my arrival I
was heartened to find similar passions among my colleagues, who
brought with them an intriguing diversity of cultural, educational,
and professional backgrounds.
It quickly became apparent why the PhD program at Sauder is so
well-respected: consistent with the undergraduate and professional
programs, the Sauder approach to nurturing a new generation of business
professors and researchers relies upon the creation of opportunities to
excel. The program integrates and fosters our development in all three
of our roles—as lifelong students, researchers and educators—while
our faculty supervisors coach us at each step along the way.
Now, mid-way through my studies, it strikes me that the creation
of a top doctoral management program at UBC is a remarkable
achievement. In only 50 years, the Sauder School has not only
assembled a faculty of renowned management researchers, but has
also created a program to entrust their knowledge and insights to
doctoral students. As we make our way into careers at other business
schools and professions, the Sauder traditions of academic excellence,
collaboration and international networking will be opening worlds
for many years to come. ■
Changing the world, one
small entrepreneur at a time
This is a study session
held in the courtyard
outside our classroom.
We conducted lectures
STORY BY
CRISTINA CALBOREANU
CAPTIONS BY
NANCY LANGTON
PHOTOS BY
EISTON LO
“We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore
and had guest speakers
in the mornings, and
the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences
then in the afternoons,
that we often cannot foresee.” This past summer, six UBC students from the
students got help on
Sauder School of Business and the Faculty of Arts took the words of Marian
their homework (note
Wright Edelman, founder and President of the Children’s Defense Fund, to heart.
that they have their
FOR THREE WEEKS IN JULY AND
“When Dean Muzyka first
Division. “One of the students
workbook open to the
August, students participating in
asked me eighteen months ago
who approached me about doing
page on which Brittany
an innovative project aptly titled
to develop the Africa Initiative,
something in Africa had some
is giving advice.)
“Social Entrepreneurship 101:
it was hard to know where to
contacts in Kibera, Kenya, so
Africa” worked with Kenyan
start,” says team leader Nancy
that’s how we ended up there.”
youth to help develop socially
Langton, Associate Professor in
conscious entrepreneurial
Sauder’s Organizational
southwest of the centre of the
endeavours.
Behaviour and Human Resources
Kenyan capital of Nairobi, Kibera
Located approximately 5 km
At left, from front: Quin,
Hussein, Ababa, Mike, Kevin.
At right, from front: Brittany
Baum, Christopher, Frank.
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
31
is one of the largest slums in
designed as a pilot project to
Africa, with an area of about 2.5
help Sauder students and faculty
square kilometres, or 600 acres.
members understand how to
Approximately one million
effectively exchange knowledge
people, or more than a quarter
and ideas across cultural borders.
of the capital’s total population,
Through extensive research
live in this area beset by a dearth
and support from the Sauder
of basic government services,
community, the students
including provision of clean
involved in SE 101 designed the
water, and intense periodic ethnic
course to be practical, applicable,
clashes. Its name is derived from
and sustainable in the local
kibra, a Nubian word meaning
context.
“forest” or “jungle.” It is estimated
The SE 101 team taught 15
that half of Kibera’s residents
Kiberan youth, and worked
are under the age of 15, and 80
extensively with four of them,
per cent of Kiberan youth are
whose innovative and socially-
unemployed, making them
conscious ideas, which included
particularly vulnerable.
food retailing, Internet commu-
Based on a program designed
nications, and the establishment
by Sauder faculty members and
of a kerosene depot, had the
delivered to residents in the
greatest potential to have a large
downtown eastside of Vancouver,
positive effect on the local
the poorest postal code in Canada,
community.
the Social Entrepreneurship 101
(SE 101) project in Kibera was
“I felt really empowered,”
says Steve Waema, one of the
The young woman on the right is Quin, one of the Kiberan
youths in our class. Quin’s plan is to be a wholesaler of
indigenous bananas in Kibera. On this day, she was conducting
a market research survey to assess the interest in indigenous
bananas, and what prices people would be willing to pay.
A group of us (the Kiberan youth and UBC team) were
walking through Kibera doing the market research and this
attracted a lot of attention (which explains the others in the
photo, all of whom are watching us conduct surveys).
four Kenyan youth who worked
at length with the Sauder team,
32
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
The SE 101 project was a
and who plans to open an
learning experience for the UBC
Internet café. “My business skills
students as much as the Kenyan
were greatly improved, and the
youth. “Being part of a team that
knowledge I have accumulated is
shared many of the same values
of great importance.”
and passions that I have about
“Business literacy helps
This is a photo of row upon row of housing in the slum. Note
in the very background the mosque and the nicer housing—
the Kiberan slum is just at the edge of nicer housing and
facilities. Much of Kibera does not have electricity, although
some electricity is available by running illegal electrical lines
from regular housing nearby.
exchange and interaction.”
the role of business education in
young people to envision ways
international development was
of getting out of poverty and
an exciting and educational
doing something to help them-
adventure,” says third-year Sauder
selves and their communities,
student Alia Somji. According to
and eventually ensuring
second-year Sauder student
sustainable economic self-
Eiston Lo, working with people
reliance,” Langton points out.
with different backgrounds and
“Furthermore, the language of
different circumstances was a
business is a universal language
lesson in “adaptation and
and a tool for communicating
flexibility.”
and exchanging both products
Back in Vancouver, the work
and ideas. It opens people to the
continues. “We are still working
world of markets, and promotes
to help some of these plans
self-sustaining educational program
faculty and student exchanges,”
through the collaboration of a
says Langton. “It would be won-
variety of partners, including
derful if we could develop some
universities and students in
research collaborations through
Canada, youth organizations,
this process as well.”
Canadian and Kenyan businesses,
This is one of the many market areas within Kibera. Note
that the market consists of small covered stalls (foreground)
and small shops (background.) Most shops and stalls specialize
in just a few products: for instance, cellphone cards, or
bread, or beverages. Many of the students enrolled in our
class were envisioning opening small “shops” similar to
what we see in this photo.
get funded,” Langton explains.
receive mentoring and financial
“The biggest challenge that we
assistance to get their businesses
face in going forward is creating
off the ground.”
partnerships so that the youth we
work with during the summer
“I hope lots of Sauder
the Canadian government,
students, faculty, and staff will
including the High Commission
become involved in future
in Kenya and the Canadian
years,” Langton adds. “Doing
International Development
volunteer work is a great
Agency, and of course local
experience, and the African
youth.
initiative provides all of us with
“While we will continue and
the opportunity to use our skills
expand the business plan project,
to help those less fortunate than
I hope to see other types of proj-
ourselves. At the same time, we
ects develop as well, including
can learn much from the people
microfinancing, consulting, and
that we try to help.” ■
This was our graduation photo—all of the Kiberan youths
are wearing Sauder ball caps. The little boy on the left was
one of the many children who were always hanging around,
watching us with great interest. He’d sneaked into the picture!
The SE 101 team is working
to turn the pilot project into a
This is Frank, one of the students in our class. He is seen
here building a solar panel. The radio on the table is powered
by a solar panel. The solar panel building went on in the
courtyard outside our classroom, and a number of the youth
in our class worked on this project. It had been developed by
KYCP, the youth organization that helped us recruit Kiberan
students into our program.
Front row, from left: Cephas, Alia Somji, Ababa, Brittany Baum. Middle
row, from left: (unidentified child), Frank, Sarah Malleson, Kathy
Cochrane, Josie Wong, Quin, Canto, Patrick, Simeon, Eiston Lo. Back row,
from left: Robert, Christopher, Hussein, William, Steve, James, Erik,
Emmanuel Nsabi*, Kevin
Emmanuel is a master’s student at Maryknoll Institute of African Studies
of Saint Mary’s University of Minessota (MIASMU), in Nairobi. He helped
us find guest lecturers for the class, attended most classes, and has
continued to help us build our network of partners.
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
33
Sauder Faculty
INSIDER INFORMATION
Charles Weinberg delivers keynote marketing speech in Alberta
Sauder’s Charles Weinberg, SMEV Presidents Professor in Marketing
and Professor and Chair, Marketing Division, delivered the keynote
address at the 2006 SMART conference (International Academic
Conference on Social Marketing) at the University of Lethbridge.
Weinberg’s presentation, entitled “Social Marketing: Barriers to
Success,” discussed a number of both successful and unsuccessful
social programs and explored why many social marketing programs
have not succeeded in reaching their goals. Weinberg’s presentation
also suggested that the social behavior advocated must be considered
in the context of the organization advocating it and their competitors.
The Center for Socially Responsible Marketing at the University of
From left to right: Mark McCoy; Allen Manser; Julia Fan Li; Andrew Grieve
(with trophy); Kin Lo, CA Professor in Accounting.
Lethbridge hosted the second biannual SMART conference October
19-21 to provide an intimate forum for presenting and discussing
high-quality theoretical and empirical social marketing research.
Sauder team captures title at world competition
A team of four undergraduate students from the Sauder School emerged
Sauder professor leads MBA march to sustainability
victorious at the Copenhagen Business School Case Competition on
The launch of a Sauder MBA program with a specialization in
March 3, 2006.
Sustainability and Business underscores a fundamental change in
Andrew Grieve, Julia Fan Li, Allen Manser, and Mark McCoy beat
today’s business and government environment: Businesses of all
out eleven other teams from around the world in two rounds of
kinds now find their corporate ethics and their environmental impact
competition to capture the title.
held up to scrutiny by governments, consumers, and shareholders.
“Going in, we felt as if we were the underdogs,” noted Professor
The inaugural program, coordinated by Sauder professor Peter
Kin Lo, the faculty advisor for the Sauder team. “We had been invited
Nemetz and guided at the School by senior associate dean Dale
to participate in this event only in early February. It is quite a
Griffin, professor Brian Bemmels, and MBA Programs assistant
monumental accomplishment on the students’ part to gel together in
dean & director Wendy Ma, will offer 2006-2007 MBA students a
such a short time to produce a winning performance. I think the win
business education in the realms of environmental economics,
also says a lot about the quality of our School’s programs.”
sustainable development, and corporate social responsibility.
Teams were presented with challenges facing the case company,
“The goal of achieving sustainable development is arguably the
Danfoss, a manufacturer of heating and cooling system components
greatest challenge mankind has ever faced,” says Nemetz, who is
headquartered in Denmark but with operations worldwide. After 31
the author of “Bringing Business On Board: Sustainable Development
hours of analysis, the twelve teams presented their recommendations
and the B-School Curriculum.”
to a panel of distinguished judges from industry and academe. Three
“Only with the active engagement of the business community
finalists, from China, Singapore, and Canada, were selected to proceed
is there any realistic hope that our economic, social, and ecological
to the second and final round.
systems can achieve sustainability. This will require early exposure to
Teams from Tsinghua University from Beijing, National University
of Singapore, and the Sauder School presented to a packed auditorium
of 500, and countless other students, friends, and family who watched
the live webcast on the Internet (www.casecompetition.com).
Leading up to the official announcement of the winner, Nicholai
the core concepts by embedding them in business school curricula,”
he says.
The specialization was created through an initial collaboration
between the Sauder School of Business and the UBC Faculty of
Forestry. Both faculties have seen increased demand from industry,
Tandrup, Danfoss’ Senior Director of Corporate Strategy and Business
alumni, and prospective students for graduate education that
Development, noted, “The winning team demonstrated a deep
recognizes the convergence of business management and leadership
understanding of the case company and presented a holistic strategy.”
skills with environmentally and socially sustainable practices.
Moments later the room erupted with applause and a standing ovation
for the winning Sauder team.
34
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
BITSAFS Director joins Transport Canada ITS Architecture
Steering Committee
Venture Capital.” The WFA is a professional society administered
As part of its program to update the Intelligent Transportation Systems
development and application of research in finance.
for academics and practitioners with a scholarly interest in the
(ITS) Architecture for Canada, Transport Canada has invited Garland
Chow, Director of the Bureau for Intelligent Transport Systems and
•
the Commonfund Institute Award for the “Best Paper Relevant to
Freight Security (BITSAFS) at Sauder School of Business, to its
Foundation and Endowment Asset Management,” presented at the
steering committee.
European Finance Association 2006 Annual Conference, Zurich
The ITS Architecture for Canada was released in 2001 to provide
Switzerland, August 2006. He also received the 2006 Moskowitz
a framework for Intelligent Transportation Systems deployment and
Award (honorable mention) for “Research on Socially Responsible
integration across the country. ITS developments in the United States
Investment.”
and at border crossings across Canada have necessitated revisions to
the Architecture. The update is considered particularly important to
Canada, given the country’s magnitude of trade with the United States,
•
Jeff Kroeker, Lecturer, Accounting Division, was awarded the
Len Henriksson award in May, in recognition of his enthusiasm
and increased investment in transportation infrastructure.
for teaching and genuine interest in students inside and outside
the classroom.
A Sauder formula to find BC’s fastest, strongest companies
Sauder professor James Brander teamed up with accounting firm Ernst
Marcin Kacperczyk, Assistant Professor, Finance Division, won
•
Martin L. Puterman, Professor, Operations and Logistics Division,
& Young LLP to come up with the BusinessBC Top 100 companies list,
was appointed as an INFORMS Fellow. This honour is given by
published by The Vancouver Sun in October.
the Institute for Operations Research and Management Science and
Like last year, the list has been divided into two groups to
is reserved for distinguished individuals who have demonstrated
recognize distinct business categories in British Columbia: “fastest-
outstanding and exceptional accomplishments and experience in
growing” and “strongest.” BusinessBC’s “fastest-growing” list was
operations research and the management sciences.
led this year by Lundin Mining Corp, while the list of “strongest”
companies was headed by Silver Wheaton Corp.
•
According to Brander, who developed the formula behind the
Martin Schulz, Associate Professor, Organizational Behaviour and
Human Resources Division, has been appointed to the position
sophisticated analysis, the fastest-growing list looks at variables not
of associate editor with Management Science. The publication is a
readily available, such as revenue and employee numbers, in an effort
scholarly journal that publishes scientific research into the problems,
to capture the impact the companies have on BC, something most top
interests and concerns of managers. Management Science also
100 company lists don’t do.
publishes relevant articles that seek to stimulate research in emerging
Brander’s formula creates a process that is more time-consuming,
domains, such as those created by economic globalization,
as team members from both The Vancouver Sun and Ernst & Young had to
public policy shifts, technological improvements, and trends in
physically review financial statements for each company and call each
management practice.
company to ask for employee numbers. But as pointed out in the Sun,
the end product was a list more meaningful for the province generally
•
Anming Zhang, Professor, Operations and Logistics Division, was
runner-up for “Best Conference Paper Award” at the Canadian
and not just to the investment community.
Transportation Research Forum’s 41st Annual Conference held in
Sauder faculty garners national and international awards
Quebec.
Faculty and staff at Sauder have been recognized with a number of
awards in the past several months. The following is a summary of
some of their many achievements:
•
Rui (Juliet) Zhu, Assistant Professor, Marketing Division, received
Marketing Science Institute’s Young Scholars award. The Institute
selects a small number of the most promising young scholars as
•
Thomas Hellman, Associate Professor, Strategy and Business
potential leaders for the next generation of marketing academics.
Economics Division, won the NASDAQ award for “best paper on
capital formation” at the Western Finance Association (WFA)
annual meeting held in Keystone, Colorado. The research paper is
called “The Importance of Trust for Investment: Evidence from
To learn more about the research being
conducted by Sauder faculty members,
visit www.sauder.ubc.ca
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
35
Earning interest
BOOKS BY SAUDER FACULTY MEMBERS (2003-2006)
Cost-Benefit Analysis:
Concepts and Practice,
3rd edition
Government Policy Toward
Business, 4th edition
James A. Brander
Anthony E. Boardman, David H.
Greenberg, Aidan R.Vining
David L.Weimer
Airport Performance
Benchmarking: Global
Standards for Airport
Excellence
Tae H. Oum, David W. Gillen,
Chunyan Yu, and 9 other professors
from around the world
Linking Industry and Ecology:
A Question of Design
Ray Cote, James Tansey,
Ann Dale (Eds.)
Changing Japanese Business,
Economy and Society:
Globalization of Post-Bubble
Japan
Fundamentals of Organizational
Behaviour, 3rd edition
What motivates fairness in
organizations?
Masao Nakamura (Ed.)
Nancy Langton, Stephen P. Robbins
Stephen W. Gilliland, Dirk D.
Steiner, Daniel P. Skarlicki, Kees
van den Bos (Eds.)
The Law and Economics of
Canadian Competition
Policy. Winner of the 2003
Douglas Purvis Memorial Prize
for outstanding contribution to
Canadian Economic Policy.
Ralph Winter, Michael Trebilcock,
Edward Iacobucci, Paul Collins
International Finance,
4th edition
Organizational Behaviour:
Concepts, Controversies,
Applications, 4th Canadian
edition
Nancy Langton, Stephen P. Robbins
Maurice D. Levi
Sustainability Assessment:
Criteria and Processes
The Economics of Accounting:
Volume II—Performance
Evaluation
Peter O. Christensen, Gerald A. Feltham
Robert B. Gibson, Selma Hassan, Susan
Holtz, James Tansey, Graham Whitelaw
Emerging perspectives on
values in organizations
Air Cargo in China
(in Chinese)
Stephen W. Gilliland, Dirk D. Steiner,
Daniel P. Skarlicki (Eds.)
George W. L. Hui, Lawrence C. Leung,
Waiman Cheung,Yer Van Hui,
Anming Zhang
La Representación Contable y
el Modelo de Capas-Cebolla de
la Realidad: Una Comparación
con las “Ordenes de Simulacro”
de Baudrillard y su Hiperrealidad
Richard Mattessich
36
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
Air Cargo Logistics Industry in
China and Hong Kong
George W. L. Hui, Lawrence C. Leung,
Waiman Cheung,Yer Van Hui,
Anming Zhang (Ed.)
Management,
8th Canadian edition
Stephen P. Robbins, Mary Coulter,
Nancy Langton
Earning interest
BY
TRENDS, TIPS, AND TIDBITS
ROB MCMAHON
This edition of Earning Interest
Drive-in theatres
looks back over the past half-
Fifty years ago, many folks
decade, and finds that while
watched the 1956 Oscar winner
some business trends have
for best picture, Around the World in
shifted wildly, others carry
80 Days, from inside their cars.
echoes from the 1950s.
That year, Canada’s 237 drive-in
theatres generated nearly $5.4
Seminal business works
from the 1950s
million in revenue.
Since then, drive-ins dropped
Professor James Brander, a
Professor in Sauder’s Strategy
Is Elvis still the King?
and Business Economics Division,
This October, Elvis ended his
offered two examples of business
reign as the top-earning dead
works published in the 1950s
celebrity. According to Forbes,
that still resonate today.
former Nirvana leader Kurt
A 1958 article written by
Cobain replaced The King when
Modigliani and Miller called
his estate earned $50 million US
“The Cost of Capital,
between October 2005 and
Corporation Finance, and the
October 2006. The jump in
Theory of Investment” in the
revenue came after his widow
American Economic Review is possibly
Courtney Love sold 25 percent
the most cited paper ever
of the Nirvana song catalog to a
published in corporate finance.
music publishing company. Elvis,
As well, Duncan Luce and
the same period, had dominated
Games and Decisions started the
Forbes’ list since its inception six
serious application of game
years ago.
The market for laptop and
in popularity, as seated cineplexes,
notebook computers is growing,
VCRs, and DVDs cut into the
perhaps due to the greater
market. Now there are just
availability of wireless Internet
61 operational drive-ins in
services, according to Ipsos
the country, according to
Canada’s “The Face of the Web”
www.driveinmovie.com.
study of global Internet trends.
A June 2005 study found
that global notebook PC ownership grew by eight percentage
points in 2005, while desktop
PCs ownership growth stagnated
for the first time. By the end
of 2005, 24 per cent of households around the world owned
who earned $42 million during
Howard Raiffa’s 1957 book
Wireless Internet
a notebook PC.
Ipsos speculated that with
more people owning laptops,
However, a recent Statistics
patterns of PC and Internet use
Canada report suggests a revival.
will change—especially in more
The Motion Picture Theatres
developed global markets with
Survey released on July 14,
greater access to wireless
Billboard’s Top 5 albums
in 1956:
2006, found Canadians are
networks. While nearly nine out
attending more movies, and
of 10 users still mainly access
1. Elvis Presley - Heartbreak
Hotel
households spent an average of
the Internet from home, nearly
$112 on trips to movie theatres
twice as many Internet users
Countries that joined the
UN in 1956
(up from $106 in 2003/04).
logged in at a bar, café,
This increase, states the
restaurant, or airport in
•
Japan
report, was mainly due to a
•
Morocco
20.4 per cent rise in attendance
•
Sudan
at drive-in theatres.
•
Tunisia
theory and theory of choice
under uncertainty in the
business disciplines.
2. Elvis Presley - Don’t Be Cruel
3. Nelson Riddle - Lisbon
Antigua
4. The Platters - My Prayer
5. Gogi Grant - The Wayward
Wind
2005 than 2004.
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
37
CLASS NOTES
Share the highlights of your year or even the last few months with your classmates, faculty and friends! Class Notes are
now easier than ever to submit—simply fill out the online form at www.sauder.ubc.ca/alumni/classnotes and we’ll print
your update in the next edition of Viewpoints Magazine!
1950s
John Bishop, BCom 1958
After 33 years in Retail Merchandising
with Woodward’s in BC and Alberta
and before that, 38 months in
Accounting with Canadian General
Electric in Vancouver, Peterborough
and Ottawa, I retired in 1992 having
had a very rewarding and satisfying
career. While at Woodward’s Stores
Ltd., I held the positions of Oakridge
Shopping Centre Manager, Buyer,
Merchandise Manager, and had the
opportunity to travel throughout
the Orient.
After retiring, I formed Bishop
Agencies and worked as a retail
consultant—including helping
Woodward’s during the time the
company was in receivership and
having to close all of their stores (a
sad time for me). Bishop Agencies was
also the sole supplier of hats for the
Victoria 1994 Commonwealth Games.
After the Games, in August 1994,
I fully retired; however, I became
busier than ever doing volunteer
work and involving myself in many
community activities and sport. I am
presently Past President of the BC
Seniors Games Society (5,000+
members), Board Member on the
North Shore Safety Council,
Vice-President of the North Shore
Optimist Club, and President of the
Woodpens’ Club (Woodward’s
38
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
retirees-membership 600+).
My recreational activities include
Tennis, Golf, umpiring Slo-pitch
baseball and spending many hours
working in the garden with my wife,
Sharon.
Sharon and I will be celebrating
our 50th wedding anniversary on
May 24th, 2008—how time flies!
We have a wonderful family—two
sons and two sons-in law and two
daughters and two daughters-in law,
seven grand daughters and four
grandsons. We are very lucky to have
all of our family living near to us and
we really enjoy spending frequent
time together—family celebrations,
an annual family holiday and at our
second home in Whistler.
1960s
Bjorn W. Meyer, BCom 1962
After graduation, I had 10 years with
Crown Zellerbach Canada in sales
and marketing. In 1972/73 I entered
real estate sales. After 5 years in
residential and land development, I
went into commercial and investment sales. I took the 4-year urban
land economics diploma course and
enjoyed the business tremendously.
Not always easy, sometimes stressful
and worrisome (when is my next
pay cheque coming?), but also very
stimulating. I was also a branch
office manager for MacAulay Nicolls
Maitland. Then I started my own firm
in downtown Vancouver, Nor Can
Realty Services. Our niche market
was sale of smaller to medium size
revenue buildings, commercial, multi
residential and some industrial. I
retired in 1997, but came out of
“mothballs” in 2001, but by 2003 I
realized the world was getting along
fine without me, and I felt I did not
have quite the spark anymore. I have
been happily retired since. My wife
Ruth and I moved to Coldstream by
Vernon three years ago, to be close
to one of our sons and wife and four
wonderful grandchildren. We also
have one grandson in Seattle, so we
are very content. We ski a lot in the
winter, sing in a community choir
and travel around in BC, Canada and
abroad when the occasion seems
right. I think back on my years in
Commerce with a great deal of
satisfaction and happiness. It was
truly a highlight of my life, and I
treasure the memories. I have regular
contact with one of my classmates,
and seldom hear from any others.
Life is truly wonderful!
Barry Hitchens, BCom 1968,
MBA 1970
Completed two overseas projects in
2006 engaged in assisting Central Banks
of new and reforming countries to
better manage their currency reserves.
My most intriguing assignment was
one month in Belgrade, Serbia.
1970s
Ken Hallat, MBA 1970
After acquiring Okanagan Springs
Brewery in 1995 for 11 million
dollars via a small public company
called Allied Strategies, we were able
to grow the sales from $17 million
to $265 in a little over 10 years to
become the third largest brewery in
Canada and the leading premium
beer company with a portfolio of 35
brands sold through our direct sales
force, using our own warehousing
and trucking-logistics system and
sold the company (renamed Sleeman
Breweries after an acquisition) for
$424 million to Sapporo Breweries
of Japan in mid October. I am a
founding director and shareholder of
Allied Strategies and then Sleeman
Breweries.
Ray Mack, BCom 1973
After obtaining his BCom degree in
1973, Ray articled in Vancouver and
then moved to Calgary in 1976. He
became partner in 1977 and since
then, he has served as a member of
the CICA Board of Evaluators (BOE),
chaired the ICAA Nominating
Committee, served as a member of
Council from 1997 to 2001,
including president in 2000/2001.
His involvement was recognized
by the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of Alberta and was
awarded a Distinguished Service
Award. Ray was also the President of
DFK Canada, a major international
network of independent accounting
firms. In 2000, Ray was awarded the
Fellow of the Chartered Accountant
designation.
Doug Buchanan, BCom 1976
Doug went on to law school after he
obtained his BCom degree and is
now the National Managing Partner
at Davis & Company LLP–the only
national/international law firm
headquartered in Vancouver (other
offices in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary,
Edmonton,Yellowknife, Whitehorse
and Tokyo).
CLASS NOTES
Lorne Mackenzie, MBA 1976
1980s
Busy year with our KFC Restaurant
operation in Mission, BC. Off to
India in September 2006 to teach
and help launch UCFV’s new BBA
degree program in Chandigarh.
Dennis Nelson, MBA 1976
This was my 15th year with BC
Hydro, following management roles
with The Jim Pattison Sign Group,
Kirkland and Rose, and over a decade
with General Electric.
Pat and I are proud to see our
daughter, Michelle, heading towards
graduation in Food Sciences at UBC,
and our son, Scott, completing his
transfer courses for business, while
working full time at Southern Rail.
We have had a great summer,
traveling with the Triumph car club to
Oregon, and a visit to Monterey to
photograph condors, and race cars,
while attending an energy conference.
Bob Matheson, BCom 1980
HR Partner at Dale Matheson
Carr-Hilton LaBonte, Chartered
Accountants. Always looking for
the best UBC grads!
Richie Speidel, BCom 1983
In 2005 I was appointed as BC
Director for the Navigators, a
Christian non-profit organization
working with students, churches,
and business people. In the fall of
2006 my eldest son Brad entered
UBC in 1st year Applied Science
(which was almost as exciting as
him entering the business school).
I am entering my 4th year as Head
Coach for Ladner Boys Soccer Club
and also coach two teams.
Rick Christiaanse, BCom 1986
I returned from Seoul, Korea last
year after a great year in Asia.
Currently working with Shift
Networks in a VP role.
Craig Hill, BCom 1986
I am a partner in the Toronto office
of the law firm of Borden Ladner
Gervais LLP, specializing in
insolvency and restructuring.
Dale T. Crosson, BCom 1978
With the absorption of the British
Columbia Buildings Corporation into
the Ministry of Labour and Citizen
Services, the role and responsibilities
of my position as a Portfolio
Manager have changed. My wife
Nancy and I have again changed our
residence to a home in the Saxe
Point area of Esquimalt. I continue
to ski at Whistler, ride my Honda
Valkyrie motorcycle, and have plans
to travel to Argentina this fall.
David McIntosh, BCom 1981
Life is cruising along fine!
Paul V Azzopardi, MBA 1987
“Investments and Finance – A
Common Sense Approach” was
published by Progress Press in Malta.
Sold three firms in the financial
services sector which my wife
Jennifer and I had set up fifteen years
ago on my return to Malta from
UBC. In July, Paul, Jennifer and the
two children (Warren Paul and Marie
Claire) came back to Canada this
time as permanent residents. We
have bought a house in Oakville
and intend to settle here and
become Canadian citizens. Quite
an eventful year!
1990s
Sandy Kersey, BCom 1990
Well, it has been a while since I’ve
heard from or seen most of my
fellow classmates. I now have a son
Langdon (grade 2) and a daughter
Makena (K). I married Rob in 1997
and have lived in Vernon since 1993.
I never thought I’d stay in Vernon
after articling with Vernon’s KPMG,
but here I am—what a great place to
live! I am currently with Tolko
Industries as the Internal Audit
Manager—a far cry from the
Marketing option and a sales
position with London Life that
started off this journey in 1990... I
fondly remember many POITS and
Commerce Cruisers Hockey.
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
39
CLASS NOTES
Martha Kertesz, MBA 1990
Using my MBA 24/7—although my
husband now calls it a “Masters in
Baby Administration.” We have 3
girls - ages 3, 2, and 1 (yes... born in
2003,2004, and 2005!). So I have
not only been productive lately but
also using all of my “Organizatrix”
skills.
Kersti Krug, MBA 1990
After a rather successful career with
the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver
Museum, Simon Fraser University,
the Auditor General of Canada,
and the National Gallery of Canada,
I returned from Ottawa to this
university to find out if what I had
been practicing—often as the only
woman at the management cadre—
was actually grounded in the
theories and lessons taught in the
MBA program. Apparently I hadn’t
been far off, but I must say that
having it confirmed and hanging
the degree on my wall made me feel
a lot more confident.
As a result of returning to UBC
and networking with people here,
I stayed on, working first at the
Museum of Anthropology, from
40
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
which I took partial leaves to
complete my interdisciplinary PhD
in organizational culture, leadership,
and change. From there I moved on
to the Dean’s Office in the Faculty of
Graduate Studies where I immersed
myself in its dual mandates: research
and strategic development in
graduate education and faculty
development in FoGS’ interdisciplinary schools, institutes, centres,
colleges, and graduate programs. In
parallel, I returned to the Sauder
School of Business to teach my
favourite course—Social, Nonprofit,
and Public Marketing. So a wonderfully rich balance of my passions for
graduate education, management,
teaching, and interdisciplinarity.
What is becoming increasingly
evident to me is that as careers move
forward, they also come around full
circle. Today, I’m immersed as
participant observer in organizational
culture, leadership, and change as
the Faculty splits its dual mandates
into a Faculty of Graduate Studies
and a College for Interdisciplinary
Studies. Though the decision was a
tough one, I’m heading with the
latter. Interdisciplinarity is bred
closer to the bone. But my gratitude
for what I learned in the MBA
program is that while I participate as
an actor, I can also observe as a
scholar how institutions change,
how leaders make decisions, and
how organizational cultures
influence both. There’s a book in
here somewhere.
Suzanne Stelmock, MBA 1990
This year I celebrated my 50th
birthday and retired from my career
in Telecom and Management
Consulting. After living on the
Sunshine Coast of BC for the past
three years, my husband, Richard,
and I plan to finish outfitting the
boat for offshore, and head off in
the fall 2007 to sail the Pacific.
Anjili Bahadoorsingh,
June Wing, MBA 1990
I have been working as a realtor in
Victoria, BC since 2002 and am
currently with Pemberton Holmes.
After resigning as a C.A. in 1994
and pursuing graduate studies in
counseling, I finally discovered a
passion for selling real estate.
One of my big interests is working
with buyers relocating to our
beautiful city. Stay in touch at
www.victoriarealestateadvisor.com
Shane Gunther, BCom 1991
UBS Investment Bank is pleased to
announce that from October 2,
Shane Gunther will become Head of
Equities Research for UBS Securities
Japan Ltd, reporting to Mark Steinert
functionally and Andrew Hunter and
Taichi Takahashi, Co-Heads of Equity
locally in Japan. Shane will become
a member of the Japan Equity
Management Committee and Equities
Research Management Board (RMB).
Shane joined UBS in 1999 and has in
excess of ten years of equity research
experience in Asia. Prior to his
current Hong Kong-based role as
Asian Equities Product Manager,
Shane was Head of Research for our
top-rated Thailand research team for
four years. Over the past two years
Shane has overseen the Asian Research
product which has consistently
ranked highly with clients and in
external surveys including this year’s
unprecedented 5th consecutive top
ranking in the Institutional Investor
survey.
BCom 1990, LLB 1994
I am delighted to announce that my
husband, Gary Khan (BSc 1984) and
I welcomed Ariya Mila into the
world on January 8, 2006—a sister
for Anikha Janna, who turned three
in November. I have my hands full
these days—I am a partner at the
national law firm of Heenan Blaikie
LLP, practising in the area of
corporate/commercial law, with a
focus on real estate finance and
commercial lending; and, together
with my two sisters, own and
operate The Blue Monkey Baby
Emporium Ltd.–an online e-tailer
and wholesaler of resort wear and
vintage clothing for babies and
toddlers from Trinidad & Tobago, and
manufacturer of the exquisite and
luxurious Bisous de la Maison Benoit
down-filled baby sleepsacks
(www.thebluemonkey.ca).
Aruna Bahadoorsingh, BCom 1993
The highlight of Aruna Bahadoorsingh’s
last year was the newest addition to
her family- another baby boy! She
and her husband, Dr. Idan Khan
(BSc 1991), now have two sons—
Aidyn Navin (3 years old), and Aryn
Devan (1 year old). They recently
CLASS NOTES
moved into a wonderful new home
in Cariboo Heights, Burnaby.
Aruna continues to run her baby
business, The Blue Monkey Baby
Emporium Ltd, with her two sisters,
Anjili and Sareeta (also UBC graduates), retailing and wholesaling
innovative baby products produced
both in Canada and in her homeland
of Trinidad and Tobago. The 3 recently acquired successful West Vancouver
company—Bisous de la Maison
Benoit—a young company which
designed and produced the finest
down-filled baby sleepsacks—the
safer alternative to baby blankets.
Aruna and her sisters hope to take
the Bisous product to the next level
and expand its target market to other
areas around the globe. The company
enables Aruna to combine her two
interests and areas of education—
Marketing/Commerce and Design
and couple it with her current
focus—children—for a perfect
business fit! www.thebluemonkey.ca
recognized in the past as one of
Canada’s Top 50 best privately
managed companies. Also, in July
of 2006, I married Sheheen
Mithani (BSc. UBC 1996) who is
a Naturopathic Doctor at Bloom
Family Wellness in North Vancouver.
So far, it’s been an outstanding year!
Dan Stringer, BCom 1995
My wife Jennifer Breeze (BCom ‘95)
had a little girl on April 21, 2006
named Delaney Bree Stringer. And
we thought we were busy before....
Stephen Ward, MBA 1993
Highlight of the year was a 3 week
holiday with my wife Renata and
daughter Amber (5). Workwise I’m
still with IBM, responsible for the
hardware used to serve IBM’s
outsourcing customers in Europe.
Managing a team with people in so
many countries makes it a very
interesting job.
Keith Willoughby, MScB 1993
I am a Senior Operations Research
Specialist with the Health Quality
Council (Saskatoon, SK), an
independent agency that measures
and reports on the quality of health
care in Saskatchewan, and works
with our partners in building a
better health system.
Lisa Forrest, MBA 1994
Still happily married to Craig, we
have 2 children now. Family is
GREAT! Taking a wee break from
work to look after little ones
Elizabeth and Douglas.
Jan Masek, BCom 1995
Ken Sim, BCom 1993
Ken Sim, along with his business
partner, John DeHart, has won the
2006 Ernst & Young Emerging
Entrepreneur of the Year Award for
the Pacific Region. Ken graduated in
1993 with a major in Finance and
has since had major success in
building a home healthcare company.
The two co-founders of Nurse Next
Door have built an idea at a coffee
shop into one of the largest home
healthcare companies in the province
in only 5 years.
acquire a competitor in Northern
Germany, a complex yet fun transaction which we signed in August.
We will be back in Canada this
winter for some Heli-Skiing around
Lake Louise and Banff. Hope to be
back in Vancouver for a visit
sometimes next year.
Rahim Dadani, BCom 1994
2006 will prove to be one of the
most exciting years in my life—
getting married and taking on a new
role with an award winning
Company! In May of 2006, I became
the Vice President of Branch
Operations for the White Paper
Company, a fine paper and print
distribution company that has been
After having moved back to Germany
last year, Susanne and I finally
decided we had lived long enough as
tenants. So we went and bought a
beautiful villa outside Frankfurt in a
picturesque little town called
Königstein. All of a sudden, “home”
has a different meaning.
I am still with JPMorgan, working
as an M&A execution professional
out of our Frankfurt office, focusing
on German and Swiss clients. Times
for us bankers are still good, but if
you have been in the industry for the
past decade, then you know that the
party will not last forever. This
summer, I helped a listed DYI chain
Albert Kaan, BCom 1996
In 2004, I did the final semester
of my Rotman MBA at Tsinghua
University in Beijing. I met my
wife-to-be in Beijing and moved
from Toronto at the start of 2005
after our wedding. Aside from the
shock of my life changing career,
language, culture, marital status and
other things all at once, I’ve been
having the time of my life going
wherever Jesus leads me. Now my
wife and I are helping a MBA
classmate to start his language and
vocational training school
(www.bilingochina.cn).
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
41
CLASS NOTES
2000s
Amy Yeung, BCom 2000
Linda Lam, BCom 1997
Linda Lam and her husband Dan
Wong are delighted to announce the
safe arrival of their daughter, Sydney
Wong, on August 30, 2006. Sydney
weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces at
birth. The family currently resides in
Toronto where Linda practices
corporate and securities law.
Marcus Cheng, BCom 2000
Miami Heat: 2006 NBA Champions!
Louise Lang, BCom 1999
My husband Douglas and I
welcomed our first baby, Ryan on
December 21, 2005. We are
currently working in Bermuda.
Dana Cooper, MBA 1998
I am very excited to be announcing
the creation of my new business
Contact Consultants. Contact
Consultants provides training,
coaching and consulting services in
customer communication strategies.
Lisa Kramer, PhD 1998
Lisa is still an assistant professor at
the University of Toronto, up for
tenure review this fall. She and
husband Mark (who now also lives
in Toronto) are enjoying the arts life
and excitement of the big city.
42
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
James Nevison, BCom 99
James is the national best-selling
co-author of two wine books,
and the third has just been
published—Had a Glass 2007. He is
a wine writer/educator/consultant,
currently based in Vancouver, BC and
London, England. His tastings have
taken him to all six wine-producing
continents, and he’s always looking
for the next wine adventure.
www.halfaglass.com
Sean Curley, BCom 2000
After spending the summer traveling
in Thailand, I started a new career
with a Vancouver-based company listed on TSX Venture Exchange called
Global Financial Group (GFG). We
are in the process of developing a
new securities exchange with the
vision to commoditize commercial
real estate assets. It’s an exciting time,
especially in the midst of a booming
real estate market, and it’s great to be
doing something more entrepreneurial. Since graduation I was awarded
the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
designation and I completed Sauder’s
Real Estate Trading Services Course.
Send me an email and let me know
what’s up: sean_curley@hotmail.com
Just organized a luxurious boat trip
for the UBC Alumni Association in
Hong Kong. The response was
overwhelming; we got 2 boats out,
and enjoyed seafood and water
sports with more than 40 participants. My personal news: got my
wedding pictures taken in Taiwan
lately with my fiancée, and joined
AIG the American International
Group as Regional Director of
Business Development for SE Asia
Regions in Bancassurance and
Retirement Services. Enjoying life with
wedding preparation and gathering
with UBC buddies & alumni in HK.
Teresa Wong, MBA 2000
Doing great in Hong Kong.
CLASS NOTES
department as an operations and
portfolio management process analyst.
Both are different environments with
their unique challenges. Would love to
re-connect with classmates! I can be
reached at: vanessa_jang@yahoo.ca.
Wayne Yu, DULE 2000
Wayne Yu, CCIM, FRI, CLO, CRES,
R.I.(BC) was elected as President of
the CCIM Institute, Western Canada
Chapter.
Pial Islam, MBA 2001
After 5+ years as a Consulting
Manager for Capgemini (Ernst &
Young), Pial returned to school
for another graduate degree. He
is currently attending Harvard
University’s Kennedy School of
Government as a Mason Fellow,
working towards a Masters in
Public Policy & Management.
Hakan Telenius, MBA 2001
A year of transformation, challenges
and personal growth: leaving my VC
employer of 5.5 years; working as
consultant; and now focused on
entrepreneurism—all the while
having the most stimulating year
ever with my family and also getting
involved in local governance.
Vanessa Jang, BCom 2002
Andrea Niosi, MBA 2001
Married to Michael Burke on
September 23 2006. Michael
(Forestry 2000) and Andrea (Political
Science 1995; MBA 2001) are both
UBC Alumni and live, work, and play
in Vancouver, BC.
I recently returned from an amazing
five months of travel and volunteer
work in Mainland China, Hong
Kong, and Thailand, an experience
that enabled me to see the world
through “lenses” different from what
I’ve been embedded in. For the
volunteer portion, I taught English to
Kindergarten children in China—a
test of my patience yet at the same
time refreshing and fulfilling! I have
learned that children are the same no
matter where one is in the world,
and I believe that as adults, we have
much to learn from a child’s simple
and innocent curiosity. On the career
front, upon graduation, I worked at
Deloitte Consulting as a business
analyst for three years, and at
present, am working at Vancouver
Coastal Health in the clinical IT
Timothy Chan, BCom 2003
After working in a logistics company
for 2 years in Vancouver, I quit my
job to travel around Asia. I spent 6
months earlier this year traveling
around China, Taiwan, Hong Kong,
Vietnam, and Singapore. It was a
great chance to explore the world,
connect with old friends, and
reflect on life—what an enriching
experience! I am now back in
Vancouver working with the logistics
company doing project work, but
also working with a newly formed
division of Campus Crusade for
Christ, the largest Christian
organization in the world.
Kathleen Diga, BCom 2003
I am completing my Master’s in
Development Studies at the University
of KwaZulu-Natal, in Durban South
Africa. I have learned a great deal
from my colleagues from around the
world, professors, World Bank and
IMF experts and the environment
that we live in when it comes to
understanding poverty and inequality
in the developing world. My highlight was when my good friend, and
another believer in a better world,
Salima Rawji (another Sauder
Alumni) came to visit Durban in
August 2006.
Ada Ho, BCom 2003
After 3.5 years at Pivotal
Corporation, I have finally made my
next move in my marketing career. I
joined Vancity, the top employer in
North America, in March 2006 as a
Product Specialist for the Investment
product line. It’s definitely a
challenging role—more so than
what I have ever experienced.
However, I am learning every minute
that I am there. So with such a steep
learning curve, it is impossible to
write down all the different things
that I am exposed to! But what I can
say is that I have awesome co-workers who are extremely resourceful
and helpful when needed, as well as
an exciting and rewarding job that I
have enjoyed for the past 6 months
I’ve been there. What also surprised
me was the small city, but large
networks, that Vancouver has. It
seemed like everywhere I go, whoever
I meet, I will always be asked whether
I know so-and-so at Vancity. It made
me realize the importance of
networking, communication, and
staying in contact with your peers!
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
43
CLASS NOTES
Ryan Wales, BCom 2003
Over the past year I finished my
Masters degree here in New Zealand
and started working as a Corporate
Analyst for a corporate advisory firm
specializing in M&A. I also went on a
great trip up the east coast of
Australia with my girlfriend.
Abigail Ven, BCom 2004
Kirstin Owen, BCom 2003
After 3 years with Mercer Human
Resource Consulting, I transferred to
our San Francisco office to work in
the Human Capital practice. The SF
office has so many great clients
doing exciting and cutting edge
things with their HR programs. We
have lots of high tech clients, higher
education as well as not-for-profit
and health care clients. Outside
of work, I have been loving the
beautiful Northern California playground–a great place for training for
Triathlons. I have raced in 3 this year.
I have been lucky enough to have the
opportunity to swim from Alcatraz
Island (twice!). When I need to
escape the fog of the city, I go wine
tasting in Sonoma. When the fog is
not here, I love to watch the sunset
behind the Golden Gate bridge with
my boyfriend, Dave. I am also a
volunteer coach for Girls on the
Run, which teaches gr. 3-5 girls
in an after school program about
self-esteem while encouraging
physical activity and healthy choices.
Edith Chan, BCom 2004
After completing my degree, I didn’t
urge myself to find a job. Instead, I
stay home and spend most of the
time with my daughter, who is now
a 12-year old girl. In order to make
up for the time I missed when I was
studying, I spend lots of time with
my family after graduation. The
life without assignments, tests and
exams is so relaxing. I enjoy what I
am doing right now and the most
rewarding thing is I can see my
daughter making a big progress in
her learning, especially in the area
of her ‘Math’ (cuz I was majoring
in accounting in BCom!!)
Chris Hall, MBA 2004
Got married in May 2005! Life as
busy as ever in Jakarta, Indonesia...
great times and good business!
Mark Ameerali, BCom 2006
Benjamin Thor Rameau, BCom 2004
Hi Kids! I am now living in Tokyo
working for Mizuho Securities. If
you are in Japan, give me a shout!
44
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
What a journey thus far! We got
married July 2005 back in BC,
enjoyed an amazing honeymoon at
the Atlantis resort, parasailing across
transparent Bahamian waters, moved
to Edmonton shortly after so we
could both pursue brilliant career
opportunities, purchased our first
new home, taking advantage of the
booming Albertan economy! I am
truly enjoying & thriving in my
current role as a mutual funds
compliance analyst with a local
financial institution. Although constant
thoughts of family & friends are
imminent, we keep busy with this
newest chapter in our lives & only
look forward to our forthcoming
ventures. We hope all is well with
everyone else. No regrets!
Rodanilla Tam, BCom 2005
Upon graduation from Sauder School
of Business, I travelled to Oakland,
California for two months to help
out with a church’s summer day
camp. I had a blast down there and
met many diligent Christians and
almost didn’t want to leave. When I
came back to Vancouver, I took a
month to find a job at Mark Anthony
Group in their Logistics team. I
stayed there for 8 months as a
contractor before I moved onto Best
Buy Canada’s inventory team and I
now work as an Inventory
Coordinator for Laptops and
Computers.
Frosh coordinating, and captain
WBG, coasting through my last 18
months.
CLASS NOTES
Matthew Burns, MBA 2006
Matt Burns is now based in Calgary
and works for Deloitte Inc. in their
Human Capital Consulting Group.
Currently he is working on a project
in Los Angeles doing change
management work related to a
multi-year SAP implementation,
returning to Calgary after most work
weeks. Work continues to be very
busy for Matt and he looks forward
to coming to Vancouver when he
finds some down time.
Justin Ren-Wen Chen, BCom 2006
Currently in Singapore!
in memoriam
Ronald Green, BCom 1970
Ronald Green passed away peacefully
on August 28th, 2006 in Vancouver,
BC. Survived by his loving mother,
Ilean; brother Bob (Elaine) Green;
nephew Brad (Brenda) Green; niece
Jamie (Chris) Davies; step-children
Ricky (Gina), Robert (Bridget)
Nolletti and a lifetime of friends.
A reception gathering was held in
September at the Richmond Funeral
Home Cremation & Reception
Centre. In lieu of flowers, donations
to the Diabetes Association of BC
would be appreciated.
YOUR FEEDBACK MATTERS
Tell us what you think of
this issue of Viewpoints.
Go to www.sauder.ubc.ca
to complete our reader survey.
Andrea Dalla Pozza, BCom 2006
I’ve just started my MBA program at
Oxford University.
Mark Kurkcuoglu, BCom 2006
Post Grad has been great. Found a
great job, working as a Commercial
Real Estate Broker, found a great girl,
what more can I ask for? Hope
everything continues to work out as
good as they are now!!
Benjamin Huang, IMBA 2006
I am thinking of changing jobs after
graduation. I am currently the sales
director of Shanghai Ziyan Mould
Industry Co. Ltd. which is a leading
tool maker in China. This picture was
taken at Shanghai Grand Theatre.
Contact Us
Is your information missing or incorrect?
Just let us know by emailing alumni@sauder.ubc.ca
Become a Sauder School of Business alumni contact
Gina (Jin) Zou, BCom 2006
After taking a 2–month break in
Europe, and 20–day tour with
Contiki, I joined A.T. Kearney
Consulting (dream job) in Shanghai.
It’s very cool to be a consultant in a
big firm. The coolest part: they are
paying for my MBA!
Be a contact for Sauder School of Business and fellow
alumni in your city, country or region. Help counsel
prospective students, advise new graduates, welcome
summer interns and arrange alumni events. To volunteer,
contact us today!
We can be reached at:
Tel: 604-822-6801
Fax: 604-822-0592
e-mail: alumni@sauder.ubc.ca
We always appreciate your feedback on events and
programs in support of alumni activities.
WINTER 2006 VIEWPOINTS
45
POINTS OF VIEW
The Changing Face of the
Sauder School of Business
Anniversaries are times for reflection. And when a place of learning celebrates
an anniversary, like the 50th anniversary of the Faculty of Commerce and
Business Administration (now the Sauder School of Business), encompassed in
this event are the many personal celebrations of all those who have come
together here to learn, to create, to discover—students, now alumni, faculty
members, and staff. Each and every one of us holds a piece of the history of
this institution—beyond the history books, our memories and experiences, our
successes and the lessons we’ve learned, make up the history of this faculty.
AS WE WERE PUTTING TOGETHER THIS
year, 47 per cent of our BCom students are
special anniversary issue of Viewpoints, I
female. We’ve come a long way.
started to reflect on my own history at the
In my first years, I taught undergraduate
Mentoring and supervising students
has been an integral part of my life. And
even today, when many of our students are
faculty, and the transformations I have
and graduate courses (PhD, MSc, and
younger than my own children, I still find
witnessed in my three decades here.
MBA), including decision analysis and
I have things to learn from them. Their
quantitative methods for business—not
fresh perspectives, their energy and their
1975, together with my husband, Dr.
the most popular courses for business
openness, always cause me to re-evaluate
Daniel Granot, also a faculty member
students. Over the years, it was gratifying
my stance, adjust my outlook, adapt my
in the School’s Operations and Logistics
to receive calls from former students who
approach.
Division. As I was recently reminded
had been successful in the corporate
by our distinguished alumnus and
world, telling me how wonderful it was to
first arrived at the faculty. I am grateful to
former Dean of the School, Peter Lusztig,
sit in the boardroom and hear their annual
have been a part of the history of this
our arrival here was somewhat of a
growth was “exponential.” It was at that
institution. And as we all come together to
revolution—we were the first couple
stage that they really came to appreciate
celebrate the faculty’s first 50 years, and
hired by the Faculty of Commerce, and as
the knowledge they accumulated.
our own anniversaries of our relationship
I joined the Faculty of Commerce in
Dean Lusztig noted, that was “unheard of”
at UBC.
Some of the most challenging and
Thirty-one years have passed since I
with this school, it is my great pleasure to
rewarding classes I taught were the evening
wish you all a Happy Anniversary. Thank
What’s more, I was the first female
MBA courses. At the time, my more mature
you for having been an important part of
faculty member who made it through the
students used to tell me I looked more like
the school’s life these past 50 years. I hope
tenure process. I would remain the only
a student than a professor, but I was able
you will remain a great part of its future. ■
female faculty member until 1985, when
to earn their respect by helping them
my colleague Barbara Spencer joined our
develop skills and tools they were lacking.
ranks. Thirty-one years later, 18 of our 108
In turn, I would tap into their business and
teaching faculty members are women.
corporate experience, which made teaching
There has been a steady increase in the
these classes a learning experience for me
number of female students as well—this
as much as it was for them.
Frieda Granot
SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEAN AND SAUDER PROFESSOR,
46
VIEWPOINTS WINTER 2006
OPERATIONS AND LOGISTICS DIVISION
LOG ON. SEARCH. RECONNECT.
Sauder online community
Looking for your old classmates? Want a permanent Sauder alumni forwarding email address? Relocating? Need local advice
in a new city? Interested in becoming an online mentor? Make new connections and renew old ties through the Sauder
online community. www.sauder.ubc.ca/alumni
T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F B R I T I S H C O LU M B I A