Sustainable Growth Initiative (SGI)

MIPC 2025 challenges students to rethink finance through a biodiversity lens

ɬ�﷬ Desautels — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 13:26:47 +0000

When students from more than 15 countries arrived at ɬ�﷬ last November, they were not just preparing for a finance competition. They were stepping into a global conversation on biodiversity loss, natural capital, and the role financial institutions can play in shaping long-term environmental outcomes.

ACCEPTER le vélo : Findings and perspectives from two years of research

Adam Hill — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:41:31 +0000

As cities and governments work to accelerate the ecological transition, developing sustainable mobility has become a strategic priority. Strengthening cycling infrastructure plays a central role in this effort—reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improving urban quality of life, and encouraging more active, inclusive modes of transportation.

Ryan Kellog’s lecture on clean energy subsidies, clean technology policies, and the green transition

ɬ�﷬ Desautels — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 15:15:52 +0000

What kinds of decisions and policies can best drive the shift to clean energy? This question guided a recent lecture by Ryan Kellogg, Ralph and Mary Otis Isham Professor at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy.

Reframing Entrepreneurship: ɬ�﷬ Desautels hosts inaugural Conference on Everyday Entrepreneurship

Justin Zabudsky & Sofia Belayachi — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 19:46:48 +0000

Earlier this month, the Desautels Faculty of Management at ɬ�﷬ held the inaugural 2025 Conference on Everyday Entrepreneurship (MCEE), bringing together scholars, practitioners and community leaders to reframe how we understand and support entrepreneurship in all its forms.

Re-thinking streets: SGI Sustainable Transportation Roundtable 2025

by Emma Dollery — Thu, 08 May 2025 18:55:23 +0000

“This year, we wanted to focus on road safety and rethinking streets,” said Kevin Manaugh, Professor in ɬ�﷬’s Department of Geography and ɬ�﷬ School of Environment, as he opened the second Sustainable Transportation Roundtable hosted by ɬ�﷬’s Sustainable Growth Initiative (SGI) and sponsored by

Tackling greenwashing in the sustainable energy transition industry

Mahin Siddiki — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 18:25:24 +0000

ɬ�﷬’s SGI Annual Grand Challenge Finale

Ten years of ɬ�﷬ DABI: A legacy of voice, vision, and impact with Sonia Buma

ɬ�﷬ Desautels — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 18:07:23 +0000

What began as a student initiative has grown into a decade-strong platform for African leadership, innovation, and dialogue. In this interview, Sonia Buma, former ɬ�﷬ Desautels African Business Initiative (ɬ�﷬ DABI) leader and Mastercard Foundation Scholar, reflects on the journey from grassroots organizing to global advocacy. From elevating the annual conference to founding a nonprofit that influences international policy, this story is a testament to the power of vision, bold leadership, and the enduring impact of student-led movements.

ɬ�﷬ Desautels' hidden curriculum: Confidence, connection and culture with Liz Thomas (BCom'22)

ɬ�﷬ Desautels — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 17:52:41 +0000

What happens when a multilingual, ambitious student steps into one of Canada’s most diverse academic environments? For Liz Thomas (BCom'22), ɬ�﷬ Desautels wasn’t just a place to study, it was a launchpad for transformation. From mastering French to navigating cultural dynamics in the classroom, and from leading real-world projects to thriving in the corporate world, this interview reveals how education, environment, and experience came together to shape a confident, globally-minded professional.

Exploring the invisible: Professor Robert Nason's insights on informal entrepreneurship in Africa

ɬ�﷬ Desautels — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 18:36:16 +0000

In this exclusive Q&A, Professor Robert Nason delves into his groundbreaking research on informal entrepreneurship in Africa. With a focus on the unique economic activities within the townships of Cape Town, South Africa, and the evolving role of Market Queens in Ghana's Ketjetia Marketplace, Professor Nason's work challenges conventional views on entrepreneurship.

Franca Ciambella (BCom’84): How ɬ�﷬ prepared me for a multinational career

ɬ�﷬ Desautels — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 13:49:53 +0000

Franca Ciambella, BCom’84, is a trailblazing ɬ�﷬ Desautels alumna whose dynamic career has taken her across continents—from managing a prestigious law firm in Singapore to her current work in Nigeria as a legal and management consultant. With decades of global experience and a deep appreciation for professional excellence, she reflects on how her time at ɬ�﷬ helped shape her values, sharpen her skills, and prepare her for a multifaceted international career.

Anna Kim: A ɬ�﷬ scholar’s perspective on local innovation and global gtrategy

ɬ�﷬ Desautels — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:55:24 +0000

As an Associate Professor in the Strategy & Organization area at Desautels, Anna Kim has spent over a decade exploring how local perspectives shape sustainable development across East Africa. Her ethnographic research spans Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, where she has partnered with Fairtrade-certified tea producers and mobile money innovators to uncover unique, ground-level insights into impact creation.

Courage, culture, and the CPA path: Inside the ɬ�﷬ Desautels journey of Steve-Florian Maniratanga (BCom'25)

ɬ�﷬ Desautels — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 14:33:54 +0000

Driven by purpose and a deep sense of community, Steve-Florian Maniratanga (BCom’25) brings heart, intellect, and ambition to everything he does. Originally from Burundi, his journey to ɬ�﷬ Desautels was sparked by the bold academic decisions of a peer and further fueled by a desire to empower entrepreneurs through financial knowledge. Now majoring in Accounting with a concentration in Finance, Steve-Florian is carving a path toward becoming a CPA, with sights set on a future in audit and possibly mergers and acquisitions.

Alae Smaili (BCom’26): Investing in Africa’s future, one venture at a time

ɬ�﷬ Desautels — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 19:56:21 +0000

Driven by purpose and a global mindset, Alae Smaili (BCom sudent at ɬ�﷬ Desautels) brings both passion and ambition to her academic journey. Raised in Toronto and now thriving in Montreal’s dynamic cultural scene, Alae is majoring in Finance with a concentration in International Business. Alae's sights are set on making a meaningful impact across Africa through venture capital—a field she sees as pivotal to the continent’s future.

From Rwanda to ɬ�﷬: Serena Birasa (BCom’25) on leadership and learning

ɬ�﷬ Desautels — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 19:22:52 +0000

Serena Birasa (BCom’25) has embraced every challenge and opportunity that ɬ�﷬ Desautels has to offer. Originally from Rwanda and majoring in Finance, she chose ɬ�﷬ for its dynamic environment, where driven and passionate individuals push each other to grow. From forming lifelong friendships to securing internships that led to job offers, her journey has been transformative both academically and personally.

Beyond the classroom: Julia Ayim (BCom’23) on leadership, growth, and impact

ɬ�﷬ Desautels — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:40:54 +0000

For many students, the university experience is more than just academics—it’s a journey of self-discovery, cultural exploration, and building lifelong connections. Julia Ayim, BCom’23, embodies this journey, having navigated ɬ�﷬ Desautels with a deep appreciation for diversity, community, and opportunity. Originally from Ghana and having lived in multiple African countries, Julia sought a university that reflected her global perspective. From spearheading impactful events to developing essential professional skills, she has made the most of her time at ɬ�﷬.