William Thomas MBA’76 returned to campus to celebrate Homecoming and speak at the MBA 50th anniversity celebration
For William Thomas MBA’76, the journey that began with an MBA at Saint Mary’s University 50 years ago has never really been about reaching a destination.
It has been about staying curious, taking on new challenges and continuing to learn along the way. Being a lifelong learner has meant remaining open to new experiences, new perspectives and whatever comes next.
William at the Homecoming football game
William was one of just 16 students in the first cohort of Saint Mary’s MBA program, graduating in 1976. This fall, he returned to campus for Homecoming 2026 to celebrate that milestone, reconnect with former classmates and take part in a weekend that included the MBA program’s 50th anniversary celebration of the first graduating cohort, the Golden Grad Luncheon and a Saint Mary’s Huskies football game. He also spoke at the MBA 50th anniversary celebration representing his class.
Reflecting on his return to campus, William says: “Coming back to my 50th reunion was inspiring. I spoke with many MBA students about the lessons from my global experience. Returning to SMU brought back many fond memories from my two years of living on campus”.
His path to Saint Mary’s was somewhat unexpected. While working at a logging camp in northern Ontario, William began exploring MBA options. He considered several universities, but the small size of Saint Mary’s program stood out.
“I talked to a couple of professors, and I said, ‘This feels really good. It just feels good to me.’”
That personal connection became an important part of his experience. He built close friendships with classmates and relationships with professors that he still remembers decades later.
After graduating, William began a career that would take him around the world. He started in marketing and sales before moving into increasingly senior international leadership roles with companies including Procter & Gamble, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Western Union.
At Bristol-Myers Squibb, Thomas moved to Buenos Aires to lead the company’s Latin American business, overseeing 18 countries. “I loved it. I learned a lot,” he recalled. He later joined Western Union, where he moved to Paris to build the company’s international office and eventually grew the business from $800 million to $2 billion in three years.
“I never set out to be a president or CEO or anything like that,” he says. “I just took on the next assignment. And I said, ‘I’m going to do the best I can.’”
That willingness to take on the next challenge became a defining theme throughout his career. It took him from Canada to Thailand, Argentina, France, and the United States, giving him opportunities to work across cultures and gain experience in markets very different from his own.
“I think you learn a lot when you get exposed to different cultures and different ways of doing things.”
After leaving the corporate world in 2007, William kept finding new ways to learn and contribute to his community. He became involved in philanthropy and Rotary International, served on boards, mentored young professionals, and taught university students about leadership.
And then, decades after earning his MBA, he went back to school.
William and Chantal at SMU Homecoming in October 2026
Thomas and his wife, Chantal Jauvin, completed a two-year Master of Science in Sustainable Business Leadership at the University of Leeds, motivated in part by their growing concern about climate change and their desire to better understand sustainability.
For William, returning to school later in life was a natural extension of the way he approached his career and life.
“You’re never done learning,” he said.
That philosophy also shapes his advice for today’s students. While technical and functional skills are important, William believes leadership skills become increasingly important as people take on greater responsibility.
“If you want to move up in an organization and supervise people and lead groups, you need leadership skills. And those are things that you have to get exposure to and practice.”
Fifty years after earning his MBA, William is still doing exactly that — learning, exploring and looking for what comes next.
“I like learning new things. I think it brings a vibrancy to your engagement.”
From a 16-person MBA classroom at Saint Mary’s to leadership roles around the world, William’s career has taken him places he could not have predicted when he first arrived in Halifax. His return to campus for Homecoming offered a chance to celebrate where that journey began, while reflecting on everything he has learned along the way.
For William, learning has no final chapter. There is always something new to discover, another challenge to take on, and another opportunity to grow.