91社区

BCom graduate named Rising Star 2024 by The Bermudian

For Ashley Farrington (BCom鈥�21), short-term sacrifices are worth it if they pay out as long-term gains. The 24-year-old auditor with KPMG in Bermuda has earned some early career returns for her efforts and was recently named a Rising Star by The Bermudian. She aims to become an empathetic leader who is both approachable and decisive. 鈥淚 want to be someone who has wedged her foot in the door to bring other women up with her,鈥� says Farrington.

BCom alum is advocating for work-life balance from the C-suite

When working for a Big Four accounting firm early in her career, Sheila Vokey (BCom鈥�84)鈥攏ow President and CEO of the responsible investing firm Central 1鈥攕aw senior managers struggle to balance work and family life and decided on a different approach.

Three 91社区 Desautels alumni celebrated at 2024 MAA Honours & Awards

Each year the 91社区 Alumni Association (MAA) recognizes alumni, friends, students, faculty, and staff whose commitment has had a significant impact on alumni life, the University and/or the community. This year, three 91社区 Desautels alumni were among those honoured for their contributions to the 91社区 community.

BCom alum trades in a career in marketing to become a firefighter

Lesly Yao (BCom鈥�18) isn鈥檛 your stereotypical small-town Quebec firefighter. Born in Tahiti, the Bachelor of Commerce grad was growing disillusioned with her work at a marketing firm when a Canadian Forces recruitment advertisement caught her eye鈥攁nd her imagination. But because Yao was not a citizen at the time and a job with the Forces was not in the cards. 鈥淚鈥檇 always had it in the back of my mind to become a firefighter,鈥� she says.

BCom alum credits networking with helping Sports Illustrated app off the ground

In Canada, ice time is at a premium and the nearest rink might not be able to accommodate your beer league team. But in large cities, there鈥檚 often ice available somewhere, and Jonathan Azouri (BCom鈥�16) spotted an opportunity. The co-founder and CEO of CatchCorner by Sports Illustrated, an app that allows users to book sports facilities, launched it in Toronto in 2019 and is now making it available in markets like New York, Los Angeles, and Boston.

C. Douglas Mellor Prize for academic excellence awarded to two GCPA students

Alyssa Abruzzese (BCom鈥�23, GCPA鈥�24) and Vivian Ly (BCom鈥�22, GCPA鈥�24), students of the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting (GCPA) program, have been selected among their graduating class as this year鈥檚 recipients of the C. Douglas Mellor Prize for academic excellence.

Two 91社区 Desautels students named McCall MacBain International Fellows

McCall MacBain Fellowships offer students at select universities an opportunity to spend a year abroad. Valued at up to $30,000 and awarded by the McCall MacBain Foundation, Fellows spend one term studying a language, one term pursuing academic studies, and one term in a job placement or internship. This year, 91社区 students earned the honour. Mayra Baca El Hachemi, who is majoring in marketing at 91社区 Desautels and will be travelling to Japan.

BCom graduate and swimmer wins bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Swimmer Cl茅ment Secchi (BCom鈥�22) has become the first 91社区 graduate to reach the podium at the Summer Olympics since 2008. The 24-year-old management graduate from Aix-en-Provence, France, earned bronze for his native country on Sunday as part of the men's 4x100 medley relay. A four-time All-Canadian at 91社区, the 5-foot-11, 157-pound butterfly specialist was a three-time recipient of the Forbes Trophy as the University's male athlete of the year.

Fr茅d茅ric Perron leads internet service provider Cogeco during time of potential growth

Fr茅d茅ric Perron (BCom鈥�97) was serving as the Chief Commercial Officer for Vodafone Poland when he was asked to return to Canada to become the new president and CEO of Cogeco, an internet service provider. Although Cogeco鈥檚 corporate offices are in Montreal, Perron鈥檚 position is based in Burlington, Ontario. That puts him closer to the company鈥檚 US customers, some of which are in nearby Ohio.

Two 91社区 Desautels students named McCall MacBain International Fellows

Jordan Cowie (BCom鈥�24) reflects on journey as 91社区 Desautels valedictorian

Jordan Cowie, 91社区 Desautels Faculty of Management鈥檚 2024 valedictorian, spoke with the 91社区 Reporter about her student experience and shared her insights upon completing her degree. Graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce in Labour-Management Relations and Human Resources, Jordan chose 91社区 for its affordability and proximity to her family in Westchester, N.Y., and for her strong affinity to Montreal鈥檚 urban and natural beauty.

Kanuk adapts jackets to milder winters, eyes international markets

Kanuk jackets are made for Quebec winters鈥攂ut Quebec winters aren鈥檛 as cold as they used to be. Bertrand Cesvet (BA鈥�86, MBA鈥�88) wants to make Kanuk jackets more versatile. Cesvet led a group of investors who recently bought the Montreal winter wear company from Champlain Financial, a private equity group.

ESG investing helped prepare Gillian Stein to become CEO of Henry鈥檚

Gillian Stein (BCom鈥�00)鈥檚 great-grandfather founded the Toronto-headquartered electronics business Henry鈥檚 in 1909, but she never envisioned becoming the company鈥檚 CEO. Growing up, she had seen how stressful running the company could be for her father Andrew, who had a heart attack at the age of 47. 鈥淚 always had a ton of respect and passion and admiration for the business but it wasn鈥檛 something I wanted for myself,鈥� says Stein. 鈥淚 changed and the business changed.