Online education app raises $3M under leadership of BCom alumnus
Cyrus Moradian (BCom’12) co-founded educational platform Wize in 2017 with the goal of empowering students across North America to reach their full potential. Nearly four years later, Moradian has led his company to raise US $3 million in funding from investors. Wize will use the investment to develop new course-specific tutorials and tutoring resources for all grade levels, as well as MCAT and LSAT test preparation.
MBA alumnus becomes president-international of Delta Air Lines at historic time for aviation industry
Following a five-year term as Chief Executive Officer of Bombardier Inc., Alain Bellemare (MBA’93) was recently named the president-international of Delta Air Lines. With a successful track record of leadership in the aerospace industry, Bellemare will work to improve the global reputation and financial stability of Delta, the world’s top airline in revenue, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stanley Cup Champion Mathieu Darche joins ۲ݮƵ Athletics podcast
In the first episode of “Alma Matters,” a new podcast from ۲ݮƵ’s Athletics and Recreation department, Mathieu Darche (BCom’00) shares the story of his journey from ۲ݮƵ to a Stanley Cup.
Darche dominated collegiate hockey before becoming the 10th Redbird to represent his alma mater in the NHL. After taking home a Stanley Cup ring, Darche looks back at the ways his ۲ݮƵ education set him up for success.
BCom alumnus voted Outstanding Individual at IJInvestor 2020 Awards
Congratulations to Desautels Global Expert Steven M. Sonnenstein (BCom’96, DPA’98) for receiving IJGlobal’s prestigious Outstanding Individual Award in honour of the role he has played in redefining digital infrastructure over the course of his career.
Analyzing the cutting edge of business methods to create future managers
۲ݮƵ’s MBA program leverages program flexibility, practical skills training, and experiential learning to prepare students to join leading companies and start their own. Daniel Franco (MBA’19) earned his degree after emigrating to Canada from Peru. After graduation, he co-founded Turbodega, a successful startup that digitizes the supply chain of bodegas in Latin America.
BCom alumnus joins RF Capital’s Board of Directors
Nathalie Bernier (BCom’86) was recently appointed to join the Board of Directors of RF Capital Group Inc. She brings nearly 30 years of experience as an Audit and Advisory Partner at Andersen and KPMG to her new role. Most recently, she served as Senior Vice President, Strategic and Business Planning and Chief Financial Officer for The Public Sector Pension Investment Board.
BCom alumnus returns to his roots to launch investment fund
After spending the last fifteen years on Wall Street, Aaron Stern (BCom’06) is fulfilling a longtime dream to launch his own investment fund in downtown Montreal.
With ten current employees, five of whom are fellow ۲ݮƵ alumni, Converium Capital has already raised over US $125 million with a plan to begin investing at the beginning of April.
BCom alumnus joins Resolute as Chief Financial Officer
Sylvain A. Girard (BCom’92) will begin the next chapter of a distinguished financial career when he is appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Resolute Forest Products Inc. in March. Over the past two decades, Girard has established a proven track record of spearheading successful finance-related initiatives at General Electric and SNC-Lavalin.
Fondation de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont welcomes EMBA alumna as Executive Director
Alumna Julie Desharnais (EMBA’19) recently accepted a new role as the executive director of the Fondation de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont. Desharnias spent eleven years as Deputy Director General of the Dr. Julien Foundation before rising to the position of Vice President of Canadian Strategic Initiatives at the Canadian Cancer Society. Desharnais brings a strong body of professional work and strategic expertise in the fields of health and philanthropy to her new role.
Jean E. Douville removes economic barriers for Finance students
As a French-speaking Catholic from small-town St. Alban, Quebec, Jean E. Douville, (BCom’58) overcame religious and linguistic barriers to thrive in Accounting at ۲ݮƵ. Experiencing great success in his subsequent diverse financial career, he made regular donations to his alma mater. In 2019, he funded the creation of Jean E. Douville Bursaries, which provide $60,000 in awards to students without the financial resources to pursue their education and career goals.
Seeds of Change campaign helps Lebanese students in wake of Beirut explosions
When alumnus Jade Dagher (MBA’95) realized the pressure placed on over 300 Lebanese students studying at ۲ݮƵ by the tragic Beirut explosions on August 4, 2020, he moved into action. An active volunteer mentor and guest lecturer, Dagher contacted Desautels senior development officer, Joy Bennett, and jumpstarted a support fund by donating $12,000 and calling on ۲ݮƵ alumni to contribute.
Desautels team reaches semifinal round of impact200
A team of Desautels students and alumni has reached the semifinal round of impact200, ۲ݮƵ’s Bicentennial Sustainability Challenge for students and recent alumni. The winning team, which includes analytics BCom students, Master of Management in Analytics (MMA) students, Desautels alumni, and a software engineer student, created a platform that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance food security in Montreal.
Blending management and analytics on the world stage
The experiential, real-world focus of ۲ݮƵ’s Master of Management and Analytics (MMA) program has catapulted the program to the top of the rankings list, marking it as one of the 10 best analytics programs in the world.
BCom alumnus appointed Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for Nouveau Monde
David Torralbo (BCom’93) was recently appointed to the position of Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary for Nouveau Monde Graphite, a Quebec-based sustainable energy company that provides graphite-based material solutions to the lithium-ion and fuel cell markets. Torralbo moves into his new role with substantial legal experience under his belt, having specialized in corporate and securities issues as the Chief Legal Officer of Atrium Innovations Inc.
EMBA alumna promoted to Senior Vice President role at Autodesk
After two decades at Autodesk, Diana Colella (EMBA’11) has risen through the ranks to become the new Senior Vice President of Autodesk’s Media & Entertainment vertical solutions group, which oversees the collection of tools that video game developers and film and television producers use for visual effects, simulations, and rendering.