Dean's reflection
Friends, with immense pride and gratitude, I present you with Ted Rogers School of Management’s 2023-2024 Donor Impact Report. This report highlights our school’s achievements fuelled by the unwavering commitment and partnership of our donors, alumni, faculty, students and staff. Every one of you has played a vital role in our success.
As I begin my second year as the Dean of the Ted Rogers School, I reflect on the extraordinary work we accomplished together during my first year. Our faculty members have worked diligently to prepare future leaders and develop impactful, internationally recognized research. Seven of our faculty members received prestigious Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grants, the National Institute on Ageing is at the forefront of research and policy development for the nation's aging population, and our Cybersecurity Research Lab continues to set standards for safety in a digital world. The school also celebrated its first PhD graduate, Charlie Wall-Andrews. Charlie’s dissertation focused on equity and entrepreneurship in Canada’s music industry.
In addition, the Ted Rogers School maintains one of the best co-op programs in Canada, and thanks to a recent $600,000 gift from our longstanding partner, CIBC, we can provide more students with access to the program by helping them cover the program entry fee. Our staff demonstrated their care and support for our students by establishing a food security program that provides gift cards to students facing financial challenges. Our alumni also continue to give back – mentoring students, providing co-op opportunities, speaking in classes and supporting initiatives close to their hearts.
The Ted Rogers School could only accomplish this great work with the community's collective support, and I want to thank you for your role in building the school's reputation for excellence.
I enjoyed meeting many of you informally and at events throughout the year, including last year’s Dean’s Meet and Greet, Homecoming, alumni visits, and other engagements on and off campus. I am energized by your enthusiasm and passion for collaborating with the Ted Rogers School to give our students the best education and learning opportunities and to support our research. I look forward to connecting with you again this academic year to continue building the Ted Rogers School’s legacy.
Thank you for your unwavering support.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Dr. Cynthia Holmes
Dean, Ted Rogers School of Management
Impact by the numbers
$2.6 million
in awards and scholarships provided financial relief to Ted Rogers School students
600+ awards, bursaries
and scholarships were distributed to Ted Rogers School students
2,320 students
participated in the co-op program
11,168 undergraduate students
participated in a Bootcamp
A lack of access to financial support can affect students' ability to focus on their studies and excel academically. Thanks to donor contributions, our students can spend less time worrying about tuition costs and more time focusing on their studies, participating in extracurricular activities, volunteering, joining student groups and engaging in experiential learning opportunities.
Access to education should not be determined by a student's socioeconomic background, and through donor support, we are addressing this issue and creating equal opportunities for all students. Thank you to all donors who support our student awards.
Raina Abesteh Award
Raina Abesteh established the Raina Abesteh Award through a $10,000 gift matched by the PACE Fund. This award will support BIPOC undergraduate students at the Ted Rogers School.
Canadian Professional Sales Association Award
The Canadian Professional Sales Association established the Canadian Professional Sales Association Award through a $10,000 gift. This award will support undergraduate students in the Sales Leadership Program.
CIBC Co-op Student Award for Equity and Excellence
CIBC established the CIBC Co-op Student Award for Equity and Excellence through a generous $600,000 gift. The award will provide financial support for undergraduate Black and Indigenous students, as well as students with disabilities at the Ted Rogers School who are newly admitted to the co-op program.
Gupta Family Foundation Award
The Gupta Family Foundation established the Gupta Family Award through a generous $200,000 gift. The award will support MBA students, with preference for those interested in the hospitality and tourism sector.
Wayne McFarlane Award
Wayne McFarlane established the Wayne McFarlane Award through a $20,000 gift and an additional $7,240 from family and friends to commemorate his retirement. This award will support undergraduate students at the School of Accounting and Finance who demonstrate student leadership.
William N. (Bill) Morari Student Award
Arnie Guha and The National Club established the William N. (Bill) Morari Student Award through a $50,000 gift. The award will support undergraduate students in the Hospitality and Tourism Management program.
PH&N Institutional Award Promoting Financial Literacy
PH&N Institutional and RBC Global Asset Management Inc. established the PH&N Institutional Award Promoting Financial Literacy through a $10,000 gift. The award will support undergraduate students with high academic achievement who are interested in advancing financial literacy in their community.
STEP Canada Prize in Family Business Award
STEP Canada established the STEP Canada Prize in Family Business through a $2,500 gift. This prize will support undergraduate students who achieve the highest grade in a family business course at the School of Business Management.
Ted Rogers Students’ Society Awards
Ted Rogers Students’ Society (TRSS) established seven new awards through a generous pledge of $95,000:
- TRSS Leadership Award
- TRSS General Bursary
- TRSS Course Material Bursary
- TRSS Emerging Leaders Student Award
- TRSS Scholars at Risk Award/Refugee Resilience
- TRSS Indigenous Student Award
- TRSS International Student Award
These awards will support students with various backgrounds and financial needs.
Trisura Scholarship for Black Students
Trisura established the Trisura Scholarship for Black Students through a generous $30,000 gift. The scholarship will support undergraduate Black students with high academic achievement who give back to their community.
Yardi Systems Graduate Award
Yardi Canada Ltd. established the Yardi Systems Graduate Award in Real Estate through a generous $90,000 gift. This award will support PhD students interested in real estate.
Intrepid Travel Responsible Tourism Award
Intrepid has committed $7,500 to renew the Intrepid Travel Responsible Tourism Award. This award will continue to support undergraduate students at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management program who demonstrate commitment and passion for responsible tourism and sustainability.
Mandarin Restaurants Service Award
Mandarin Restaurants has committed $5,000 to renew the Mandarin Restaurants Service Award. This award will continue to support undergraduate students at the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management who demonstrate academic excellence.
Dom Petruccelli Award
Marc Petruccelli has recommitted $5,000 to renew the Dom Petruccelli Award. This award will continue to support undergraduate students pursuing entrepreneurship.
REALPAC Outstanding Achievement in Real Estate Management Award
REALPAC has committed $30,000 to renew the REALPAC Outstanding Achievement in Real Estate Management Award. The award will continue to support undergraduate students majoring in Real Estate Management.
Silver Hotel Group Award
Silver Hotel Group has committed $10,000 to renew the Silver Hotel Group Award. The award will continue to support a second-year student in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management who demonstrates community involvement and volunteerism.
Toronto Hong Kong Lions Club Hospitality & Tourism Entrance Scholarship
The Federation of Chinese Canadian Professionals has committed $7,500 to renew the Toronto Hong Kong Lions Club Hospitality & Tourism Entrance Scholarship. The scholarship will continue supporting students with high academic performance and community and industry involvement.
Student testimonial: Helena Ashenafi
“Being selected as an award recipient is an incredible honour and privilege. Awards have not only boosted my confidence but have also been instrumental in enabling me to pursue my educational goals. These awards have made a significant impact, relieving some of the financial burdens associated with my education. They have allowed me to focus on my studies and dedicate more time to research and extracurricular activities. I want to share my commitment to making the most of this opportunity and giving back to the community that has supported me. The generosity of Ted Rogers School donors inspires me, and I hope to follow their example by helping others achieve their goals. Thank you to all donors for your kindness and generosity.”
Helena Ashenafi, Business Technology Management, 2026
Recipient of the 2023-2024 Kenvue Award for BIPOC Students;
The Tek Family Award
Gupta Family Foundation's $1 million gift to support students
This year, the Gupta Family Foundation donated $1 million to establish the Gupta Family Foundation Award, which supports MBA students interested in hospitality and tourism management and provides unrestricted support for the Ted Rogers School's most significant areas of need. We are proud to recognize the Gupta family’s generosity by naming the Ted Rogers School’s premiere auditorium ‘The Steve & Rashmi Gupta Lecture Theatre.’
Taking the classroom global
In Spring 2024, 18 students from the Ted Rogers School embarked on an experiential learning trip to France, made possible through donor contributions. This trip, part of the RMG917: Experiential Learning - Travel Study course, aimed to deepen students’ understanding of the luxury market.
In Paris, students explored high-end retailers like Hermès and Sephora and visited PwC to gain insights into consulting within the luxury sector. The journey continued in Lyon, where they toured the luxury outlet mall The Village, experienced French gastronomy with the Paul Bocuse organization, and learned about fashion at ESMOD. In Cannes and Grasse, students participated in a perfume-making workshop at Fragonard and visited the iconic Carlton Cannes Hotel.
Donor funds facilitated this immersive experience, enhancing students' knowledge and practical understanding of the luxury market. Thank you to Sears Canada, Wal-Mart Canada Inc., Hudson’s Bay and Loblaw Companies for making this trip possible for many students.
The Dean’s Circle
The Dean’s Circle is a group of Ted Rogers School friends and business leaders who help strengthen the school’s mission to shape the country’s next generation of global innovators and leaders through the Dean and their financial support. Gifts to the Dean’s Circle go to the areas of greatest need, including emergency relief funds, experiential learning for BIPOC students, food insecurity and student social innovation support.
Last year, Dean’s Circle members helped support students with the greatest need by:
Helping to launch the Ted Rogers School Food Card program to assist students with food insecurity. Over 1,000 Ted Rogers School Food Cards are available for students in need.
Supporting student entrepreneurs who have significantly impacted the community through the Dean’s Social Innovation Competition with a cash prize to help a student further develop their project.
Helping Black students participate in various experiential learning opportunities.
Thank you to our Dean’s Circle members for your partnership and generosity.
National Institute on Ageing (external link, opens in new window)
The National Institute on Ageing (NIA) improves the lives of older adults and the systems that support them. The institute's vision is to ensure that older adults feel valued, supported and better prepared to age confidently. Their mandate includes convening stakeholders, conducting research, advancing policy solutions and practice innovation, sharing information, shifting public perception and breaking down barriers and inequities related to ageing.
This year, the NIA received a $3 million gift from The Slaight Family Foundation. This gift is part of the foundation’s newest phase of strategic philanthropy, a $30 million donation to support seven Canadian organizations in enhancing dementia prevention, compassionate care and research. This investment comes at a critical time, as researchers project that by 2030, nearly 1 million people in Canada will be living with dementia.
Waltons Trust has made a $4,173,857 gift, which will enhance the NIA’s capacity to improve the lives of older adults by advancing systems-level changes to policies, programs and practices. These changes will result in measurable outcomes and quality of life improvements for older adults and Canada's aging population.
Thank you to The Slaight Family Foundation, Waltons Trust and our sponsors for helping advance the NIA’s mission.
Diversity Institute
The Diversity Institute is grateful for the generous $20,000 (USD) contribution from the National Philanthropic Trust to support its MyStartr Program. The MyStartr Program (external link) tackles the pressing issue faced by one million NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) youth (ages 15-30) in Canada who are not engaged in education, employment or training. Representing 14% of the nation’s youth, this group faces significant challenges, especially among marginalized communities such as Black, racialized and Indigenous youth who encounter systemic barriers to employment.
MyStartr, established in 2018, is Canada’s only national employer-led coalition dedicated to bridging this gap by collaborating with employers to dismantle hiring barriers and create opportunities for NEET youth. The program has empowered over 24,000 young people by offering skills development, interview coaching, mentoring and guaranteed interviews through job fairs. The new funding will be used to hire a youth support coach and job developer to prepare 300 youth for job interviews, with an anticipated 100 of them securing employment.
Business Career Hub
The Ted Rogers School is committed to developing young minds and preparing them to enter society as critical thinkers and solutions-oriented members. We equip students with the tools necessary to succeed inside the classroom and through the work of our Business Career Hub. The mission of the various departments is to drive the interrelationship between the Ted Rogers School and industry partners, enabling us to develop valuable insights that drive innovation in our program and services. This continuous innovation ensures that we effectively prepare students for their post-graduation careers.
Bootcamp
Bootcamp training sessions remain one of the most popular programs at the Business Career Hub, with over 11,168 registrations during the last academic year. The Power of Excel Bootcamp Series continues to be one of the top choices among students, featuring three sessions and a challenging activity to enhance participants' proficiency in Microsoft Excel. This series equips individuals with essential Excel skills highly sought after by employers across various business domains.
The Python Bootcamp also has a highly popular offering of comprehensive training in Python programming basics and critical data analysis libraries, such as Pandas and Seaborn. By the end of the series, students will have a firm grasp of Python programming basics and the different ways Python can be used to analyze data. This bootcamp is designed to give business students practical knowledge of Python and common applications in data analysis.
Co-op
Thanks to a recent $600,000 commitment from CIBC to establish the CIBC Co-op Student Award for Equity and Excellence, the Ted Rogers School can now, for the first time, help cover the co-op entry fee for Black, Indigenous and students with disabilities. An analysis by the Office of the Vice-President, Equity and Community Inclusion revealed that these particular groups of students face barriers in applying to the co-op program, one of them being the entry fee. CIBC’s gift will provide 75 awards of $2,000 annually for students entering the co-op program.
Ted Rogers Leadership Centre
The Ted Rogers Leadership Centre (TRLC) focuses on developing Canada's next generation of ethical business leaders by providing a platform for researching, discussing and disseminating best practices in ethical decision-making and leadership. The centre is focused on helping students cultivate the core competencies needed to excel as ethical leaders in modern and future businesses, offering opportunities for personal growth and intentional leadership development. The TRLC is grateful for a $1 million gift from Lisa Rogers to amplify its activities, including the Top 200 Leadership Program, National Ethical Leadership Competition and Ted Rogers Sales Leadership Program.
Ted Rogers Sales Leadership Program
The University Sales Center Alliance (USCA) named the Ted Rogers Sales Leadership Program (TRSLP) the Associate Member Sales Program of the Year for 2024, making it the first Canadian University to receive this honour. The USCA, an accreditation organization of 85 universities with dedicated sales centres and programs across various nations, including the United States, Canada, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands, carefully evaluated the Ted Rogers Sales Leadership Program against rigorous criteria. The TRSLP continues to provide the best training and run the top sales program because of the generous contributions of our sponsors and the hard work of our faculty and students. Thank you to our lead sponsors FedEx, RBC Financial Group and Rogers.
Student philanthropy
This year, Ted Rogers School student groups secured $168,000 in sponsorship support for several competitions, conferences and events, including the annual Ted Rogers Management Conference. Thank you to Rogers for being the lead sponsor for the conference and providing $40,000 in support. Other sponsors included Hyundai, NFL, OMERS, Sephora and more.
Contact us
Contact us to learn more about how you can support the Ted Rogers School of Management:
Farida Adam, Director of Development
Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University
farida@torontomu.ca (opens in new window)