BCom Program

The 2025 IMSF Showcase Day spotlights the next generation of student impact

Eric Dicaire — Thu, 15 May 2025 14:25:43 +0000

On Friday April 4th 2025, the fourth cohort of the Integrated Management Student Fellowship (IMSF) gathered for this year’s IMSF Showcase Day at the 91�� Faculty Club, where they shared and celebrated their accomplishments from the 2024-2025 academic year.

Building a purpose-driven brand with Neil Cuggy (BCom’10)

MMI — Mon, 12 May 2025 13:20:56 +0000

In this episode of 91�� Management Insights, Neil Cuggy, Co-Founder, President and Chief Operating Officer of Goodfood and host Katherine Lake, a current BCom student studying finance and sustainable management, explore the evolution of entrepreneurship, the challenges of building a busines

Taking the long view of your career with Brian Fetherstonhaugh (BCom’79) | 91�� Management Insights

MMI — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 13:50:08 +0000

In the latest episode of 91�� Management Insights, BCom student Mia Colaner sat down with 91�� alum Brian Fetherstonhaugh (BCom '79), a visionary leader whose career has spanned global marketing, executive coaching, and authorship.

Managing change in the modern workplace with Simon Blanchette (BCom’14) | 91�� Management Insights

MMI — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 11:59:33 +0000

In the latest episode of 91�� Management Insights, BCom student Megan Curadeau sits down once again with BCom graduate, faculty lecturer, and visiting scholar Simon Blanchette (BCom’14). This engaging conversation focuses on a topic that resonates deeply with both students and professionals alike—change management.

Advocating for mental health and wellness in the corporate world with Anne-Sophie Martin (BCom’16) | 91�� Management Insights

MMI — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 15:21:08 +0000

Anne-Sophie Martin’s journey from 91�� graduate to business leader and mental health advocate is one marked by ambition, resilience, and self-discovery.

Ten years of 91�� DABI: A legacy of voice, vision, and impact with Sonia Buma

91�� 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 91�� Desautels African Business Initiative (91�� 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.

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

91�� 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), 91�� 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

91�� 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 91�� prepared me for a multinational career

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

Franca Ciambella, BCom’84, is a trailblazing 91�� 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 91�� helped shape her values, sharpen her skills, and prepare her for a multifaceted international career.

Anna Kim: A 91�� scholar’s perspective on local innovation and global gtrategy

91�� 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 91�� Desautels journey of Steve-Florian Maniratanga (BCom'25)

91�� 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 91�� 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.

The Super Upside Factor and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs with Daniel Kang (BCom’16) | 91�� Management Insights

MMI — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 13:33:34 +0000

Catch up with Daniel Kang, a 91�� BCom graduate and the author of The Super Upside Factor—scheduled to hit stands on March 25—in the latest episode of 91�� Management Insights.

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

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

Driven by purpose and a global mindset, Alae Smaili (BCom sudent at 91�� 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 91��: Serena Birasa (BCom’25) on leadership and learning

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

Serena Birasa (BCom’25) has embraced every challenge and opportunity that 91�� Desautels has to offer. Originally from Rwanda and majoring in Finance, she chose 91�� 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

91�� 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 91�� 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 91��.

BCom Program

The 2025 IMSF Showcase Day spotlights the next generation of student impact

Building a purpose-driven brand with Neil Cuggy (BCom’10)

Taking the long view of your career with Brian Fetherstonhaugh (BCom’79) | 91���� Management Insights

Managing change in the modern workplace with Simon Blanchette (BCom’14) | 91���� Management Insights

Advocating for mental health and wellness in the corporate world with Anne-Sophie Martin (BCom’16) | 91���� Management Insights

Ten years of 91���� DABI: A legacy of voice, vision, and impact with Sonia Buma

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