Unique Learning Opportunities
Learning at the Ted Rogers School is not restricted to lectures and textbooks. Students have the opportunity to complement the skills they’ve acquired through traditional means with international conferences, field studies and exchanges abroad, case competitions and co-op placements in different sectors. They also have the chance to hear from industry experts and learn in-demand technical skills to better prepare them for the future.
The French Connection
The French Connection
The French Connection
Paris
Cannes
Grasse
The French Connection: Learning about the luxury market in France
A group of Ted Rogers School students had the opportunity to learn first-hand about the luxury market through an experiential learning trip to France in Spring 2024. The trip was part of the RMG917: Experiential Learning – Travel Study course. Here is what a few students had to say about their experience:
Jana Srajeldin
On our second day, we headed to Neuilly-sur-Seine to meet with PwC. This visit was truly amazing and really enhanced our understanding of consulting and its dynamics. We even tried Apple VR headsets and had deep fakes made of us. The presentations on consulting services and the luxury industry were extremely informational.
The next day we toured Place Vendôme, the epitome of French luxury, and its surrounding streets filled with prestigious retailers like Hermès and Louis Vuitton. Learning about the rich history of these brands and exploring their stores with my new knowledge was fascinating. Later, we met Emma Jounent and Tiffany Alta (a TMU alumna) from Sephora, who gave us a tour of the Champs-Élysées Flagship Sephora store.
Being able to step out of the classroom and see how what I had learned over the last four years applied in real-life settings was amazing.
Marwa Houneini
Our adventure in Lyon started with visiting The Village, a luxury outlet mall. The manager gave us an overview of the mall’s current retail environment and shared plans for future projects. We also had a session with the Paul Bocuse organization, where we learned about their brand and marketing strategies while enjoying a delicious lunch at a Bocuse restaurant. This experience was particularly exciting as we understood the luxury market and explored French culture through its exquisite cuisine.
Another stop was to the Intercontinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu, where we learned about the customer experience in a luxury setting. We explored the operations of this high-end hotel with our hosts. The bar, situated under a magnificent 32-metre-high dome, was a true wonder: it had recently been ranked the best hotel bar in the world. Another highlight was touring the Presidential Suite, which embodied the traditions of Vieux Lyon with its stunning architecture and ambiance.
It was incredible to see what we’ve been learning over the past few years, especially in our RMG917 course, come to life authentically and excitingly.
Tiffany Pham
We headed to Grasse to visit Fragonard Parfumeur, a renowned family-owned perfumery in the world’s perfume capital. We learned about the meticulous techniques the skilled perfumers employ, from the delicate distillation of rose petals to the careful blending of exotic ingredients. We then attended a perfume workshop where we could create our own perfume.
In Cannes, we visited the iconic Carlton Cannes Hotel. In class, we have learned how luxury brands masterfully curate an aura of exclusivity, and the Carlton perfectly embodies said theory. All staff members were highly professional and attentive to small details, ensuring the guests’ experience was elevated. We strolled through the lavish lobby and the garden, admiring the intricate details and imagining the countless celebrities who had graced its halls during the Cannes Film Festival.
Our journey was profoundly enriching. Networking with industry experts and experiencing the opulent retail environments deepened our understanding of the nuances that define luxury.
Opportunity knocks for co-op students
The Ted Rogers Co-op program gives students the opportunity to work in fields ranging from consumer packaged goods and finance to the beauty sector and retail, allowing them to gain valuable hands-on experience.
Here is what fifth-year Global Management Studies student Siyaan Sivasunthararasa had to say about finding his career path through his co-op placement at Interac:
“When I think back to my time in high school, my mind was scattered. I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to pursue. Flash forward a few business courses and an amazing teacher along the way, and I discovered a flame for business. Paired with my acceptance into the Ted Rogers School, a clearer vision of my future appeared.”
Siyaan SivasunthararasaFifth-year Global Management Studies student
Read more about Siyaan's co-op story
Even with the diversity of the Global Management Studies program, I still had no idea where I wanted to end up. Then came the Ted Rogers Co-op program. When applications opened, I jumped at the opportunity.
Through student involvement, coursework and my Career Boost jobs, I was able to sort out my likes and dislikes and ultimately discover that I have passion centered on marketing, communications and community impact. I was able to land a position as a Sponsorship and Corporate Citizenship Intern at Interac Corp., which turned out to be one of the most pivotal experiences of my professional career.
In the first few weeks of my placement, I learned so much. From participating in several sponsorship activations, including those at the Elevate Festival in Toronto and Interac’s TTC Free Rides for a Year contest, I was exposed to a world of marketing that involved working collaboratively with agency partners and pushed my critical thinking. On the citizenship side of the business, I worked internally and externally to ensure Interac’s social impact was notable as an excellent corporate citizen. I took part in planning and executing annual employee engagement campaigns targeted at supporting newcomers to Canada and engaging with local community partners to share their stories.
I was able to return to Interac the following summer in a similar role, this time contributing to the dynamic world of public relations, continuing to expand my knowledge in marketing and communications.
Reflecting on this journey, I realize that each step — every challenge, every success and even moments of doubt — shaped my path. The co-op experience at Interac didn’t just teach me about the corporate world; it taught me about myself. I learned to navigate complex projects, communicate effectively with diverse teams and develop a keen sense of social responsibility.
Simi Olatunji at Africa Business Conference.
Students attend Harvard’s Africa Business Conference
Thanks to the support of donors to the Ted Rogers School’s Dean’s Circle fund, in partnership with TMU Global Learning and the Ted Rogers Students’ Society (TRSS), nine students had the opportunity to attend a conference at Harvard Business School (HBS) to expand their knowledge of business and entrepreneurship in Africa.
The HBS Africa Business Conference is the largest student-run African conference in the world. Held annually over the past 26 years, the conference hosts leaders and experts on Africa to discuss the state of and opportunities across the continent. The event, which took place in February 2024 on the HBS campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, explored Africa’s next chapter under the theme: “Africa Forward: Competing in a Global Era.”
Read more about Harvard’s Africa Business Conference
Attending from the Ted Rogers School were two graduate students and seven undergraduate students. Ted Rogers MBA student Simi Olatunji found the conference both encouraging and inspiring.
“It’s not common here in North America to be surrounded by first- and second-generation Africans who have broken through in their respective industries. My overall most memorable moments were the times spent connecting with like-minded folks from all across the world and finding our common grounds,” says Olatunji.
Samantha Mpiana, a Business Management student, also enjoyed her time at the HBS conference. “I’ve always valued the global connectivity that travelling provides, and being able to attend such a global conference with a mosaic of African cultures was an amazing experience,” she points out.
Due North: Inspiring the next generation of tourism trailblazers
A group of students from the Hospitality and Tourism Management program travelled to the Yukon and Northwest Territories to gain an experiential understanding of how tourism can contribute to sustainable livelihoods. The journey, which took place fall 2023, encouraged students to connect their studies and skills to people, events and issues in local communities and to understand challenges as a way to develop their own careers.
The 10 students from HTT800 Field Studies in Hospitality and Tourism joined Sonya Graci, professor and director of the Institute for Hospitality and Tourism Research, on a journey to northwestern Canada to learn from local leaders about Indigenous issues, policies and ways of life in Canada’s north. The trip provided students with an authentic Arctic experience and insight into the daily life of Indigenous peoples as they examined issues related to reconciliation, climate change, food security and sustainable livelihoods.
Read more about our tourism trailblazers
The journey presented students with a chance to reflect critically on assumptions they may have had coming into the course, and to validate their studies with new knowledge and experiences.
For fourth-year student Sidra Almwisati, the journey was life-changing. “I can’t help but reflect on the profound impact this trip had on me. I am filled with deeper understanding and empathy,” she explains.
Following her return from the northwest, Almwisati plans to pursue work in destination management, to apply sustainable tourism principles to creating immersive experiences for travellers, while growing the competitiveness and sustainability of destinations. “I know now that I’d like to be a part of what destinations are trying to achieve,” she says.
Klondike Valley and the Yukon River. (Photo: Sonya Graci)
Getting real about Artificial Intelligence
To better equip students with the technical skills and credentials they need for the future, the Business Career Hub partnered with CGI, the largest IT and business consulting services firm in Canada, to host a program on one of the top emerging technologies: Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Generative AI is a type of AI that can create various types of content, including text, images and video, and is changing the way we work. During the eight-week Generative AI Accelerator held during the Winter 2024 semester, 60 TMU students learned about the advancements of Generative AI and its impact on industry, applied their knowledge in a case competition and earned Microsoft certifications.
Read more about partnership with CGI
“We are passionate about collaborating with post-secondary educational institutions. Our goal is to integrate technological skills into the academic journey of future generations, preparing them for the challenges ahead,” says Maria Khan, manager, campus recruitment Canada at CGI, and Ted Rogers School alumna (’09).
CGI led industry initiatives in the partnership, which included a panel with senior leadership to discuss advancements of AI, an in-person workshop on networking and recruitment considerations and a case study which was judged. The BCH provided peer support to help students in their journey to get Microsoft Certified in Power Platform Fundamentals (PL-900) and Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900).
“The program expanded my technical skills and sharpened my problem-solving and analytical abilities. It also equipped me with the tools and credentials necessary to excel in the future,” says Finance student Jennifer Ha.
Highlights
Mastering the Alteryx alternative
When a new business technology emerges, the Business Career Hub’s Partnerships team tries to find a partner to help bring that experience to students. The team did just that when they observed the Alteryx platform growing rapidly in job postings in several sectors.
Bootcamps partnered with RSM Canada to host an industry-led masterclass on Alteryx – a data analytics automation tool. Ted Rogers School undergraduate students were the first students to have this training. The Alteryx Masterclass Bootcamp took place in November 2023 at the Bootcamp Lab with approximately 30 students participating in the three-hour long session.
Speakers Corner: Hearing from industry experts
Family and business: A match made in heaven for “Bollywed” stars
Ted Rogers School’s Family Business Institute welcomed the Singh family – owners of Chandan Fashion and stars of the CBC TV family business reality show Bollywed in October 2023. The family also participated in a panel hosted by Dr. Francesco Barbera, academic director of the institute. Students and guests were treated to a lively and insightful conversation about lessons in family business from two generations of the family.
Creative Exchange engages grad students with media and marketing executives
Graduate students from the Ted Rogers MBA and Media Production (MA)/MBA Pathway programs had the opportunity to hear from media and marketing professionals about the AI revolution, influencer insights, digital marketing dynamics and balancing innovation, and risk in marketing and media endeavours at the inaugural “Creative Exchange: Conversations with Media & Marketing Professionals” event in January 2024.
The event featured a panel discussion with industry experts Asma Aziz (director marketing America’s territories, Intel Corporation), Samir Bhatla (sales executive, global partnerships, MLSE), Bassem El-Rahimy (head of marketing, Turo Canada) and Sam Schleifer (development executive, Scripted Television).
London calling: MBA students cross the pond
A group of 20 Ted Rogers MBA students had the opportunity to travel to London to expand their international business knowledge in May 2024. The trip was part of their International Experience Capstone course, which allows students to gain an understanding of a specific cultural, business, political and economic environment impacting businesses.
Highlights from the trip included:
A presentation by award-nominated writer and entrepreneur Olufikayo Adeola on the development of the Disney Channel’s Iwájú animated series.
A stop at the Royal Institution where the Antarctic explorer Ben Saunders re-lived his historic trek to the South Pole, and award-winning TV and content producer Jayne Hancock discussed her work on true crime documentaries.
A visit to Aston Martin Formula One at their Silverstone headquarters where students were hosted by members of the C-suite and had the opportunity to observe the innovation, technology and brand contributions to the Aston Martin brand.
Aston Martin Formula One
Oh, the places you’ll go
Students have the opportunity to apply to an international exchange for a semester or a full year and receive full academic credit. Here is what two students had to say about studying abroad:
Alexandra Myszkowski studied at Jönköping University in Sweden
“What really made this experience special were the skills I gained. I learned to take care of myself, manage my time and adapt to new situations. I was able to work with the student union and joined associations like the Students for Sustainable Action Events Committee and the JIBS International Crew, which focused on making semester exchanges fun for everyone.
We even had a Go Exchange fair where my team got to highlight how cool Canada is by preparing different foods, giving out pins and providing a flag for everyone to sign. I was able to bring the signed flag home with me and I love to reminisce about my time abroad while looking at all of my friends’ signatures and warm wishes.”
Alexandra Myszkowski, Marketing Management
Dean Nina studied at University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain
“During my international exchange, I met so many amazing people, and we all became very close. I always say I loved Pamplona, but what I miss the most are the people and the connections I made. I spent every day with them, going to class, eating, going to the gym, going out and everything in between. It really was an extremely unique and once-in-a-lifetime experience.
I learned so many things during my time there, more than I even realize today. I had the opportunity to challenge myself and develop in various ways. I met and became best friends with people from all over the world. I also experienced an entirely different world, and I truly enjoyed every moment.”
Dean Nina, Global Management Studies
Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University
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The content of this report covers July 2023-August 2024.
In April 2022, the university announced our new name of Toronto Metropolitan University, which will be implemented in a phased approach. Learn more about our next chapter.