Mapping the system: Beyond the waitlist

Jonah Crowther, Katie Brooks, Julia Faloon, Anna Streeter and Luke Pound represented the Sobey School of Business at Map the System in the UK

Sobey MBA Team recognized for mapping Nova Scotia’s family physician shortage

Last week, a team of Sobey MBA students received a Systems Mapping Excellence Award in a competition called Map the System (MTS), held at Oxford University, UK. It was the first time a Saint Mary’s University team had entered the competition. Julia Faloon, Anna Streeter, Luke Pound, Jonah Crowther and Katie Brooks analysed and presented on the systems around Nova Scotia’s family physician shortage.

Founded in 2016, the Map the System competition, held at the Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, builds a community of practitioners, educators and students around systems thinking, an approach to entrenched and intractable social and environmental problems that examines both mitigating and exacerbating factors. The competition stands apart from most others in that participating teams are not tasked with building solutions and recommendations. Instead, they are evaluated on how well they have mapped and analysed the contributing factors to a problem, their ability to translate data into a compelling story, and their understanding of root causes and potential leverage points for change.

The team received a Systems Mapping Excellence Award for their analysis of the Nova Scotia family physician shortage

In the SMU team’s analysis, some of the factors were immigration trends, rural versus urban realities, career perceptions of family medicine, public expectations, burnout and isolation. During the analysis, retention of doctors and perceptions about the attractiveness of family medicine as a career option appeared as weaker areas in the system.

In addition to traditional research, Anna said, “We got to listen to a lot of different perspectives throughout our entire project, whether they were from different organizations or different levels within the organization, but they all helped reveal something different about the system we were looking into, which we may have overlooked if we didn't reach out to them.”

Systems thinking in MBA

Annika Voltan teaches an MBA course called Sustainable Change Leadership, where she introduces systems thinking as an essential skill for future leaders. This past winter, students in her class participated in the campus-level Map the System competition.

In reflecting on why she feels that systems thinking and systems mapping are so important, she noted: "In today's busy world, we're often evaluated based on efficiency and productivity measures, which leads us to jump into solutions when faced with problems. But the complex challenges we're facing require deeper understanding of contributing factors, power dynamics and interconnections if we're going to be able to shift toward better outcomes. Systems thinking is increasingly being recognized as an essential skill set for navigating the wicked problems of our time."

Camaraderie and support

The team were impressed by the collegial and supportive atmosphere associated with the competition, all the way through. They received advice and encouragement from several Sobey professors, as well as from staff at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and Executive and Professional Development. MTS assigned the team three judges. Here in Halifax, they connected with a health researcher named Sam Petrie who competed at MTS in 2020. The others were Ishaw Sharma (Toronto) and Mariana Cardenas Marquez (Montreal). Even the judges were supportive, said Katie: “They were rooting for you to succeed in the questioning. They wanted to give you the opportunity to share more, if you missed anything and really show your understanding.”

Jonah added that after complimenting another team on their presentation, that team commented about the SMU team being all MBA students. Jonah said, “I kind of took a step back and thought, wow, they view almost us as the experts.” While the team may not be experts in healthcare, they were the people in the room who knew the most about the Nova Scotia healthcare system, thanks to their research and analysis.

Coming into the competition, Julia noted they had expected it to be intense and perhaps more rigid. “The camaraderie that we all felt, the gratitude that was in the room for everyone being there was super cool to experience.”

The team is excited to share their report findings at Lead With Purpose Day in November

Looking forward

Looking ahead, the team is excited for another SMU team to participate next year so they can share some of what they learned.

“How do you even articulate to the class that comes in next year? Like, how do you get people to feel like we feel right now about it, because we're so in it,” said Katie.  Anna noted they hadn’t expected the breadth or complexity of some of the issues being mapped.

The passion and storytelling of the finalist teams made a strong impression on Jonah. “I think what I really appreciated was not just learning about the issues happening in those countries, but also just seeing the passion they brought when they were presenting on those topics.”

What happens now with the report? They will be bringing it to the PRME research expo at the Sobey School of Business’ Lead With Purpose Day on November 20. Katie says, “You can do a lot with this. So many people in the community now want to read our report and our findings.”

From supporting founders to becoming one: David Campbell BComm’24

David Campbell BComm’24

For David, entrepreneurship wasn't always part of the plan. In fact, he says he never considered himself a naturally entrepreneurial person. But after spending years surrounded by founders and innovative ideas at Saint Mary's University, his mindset began to change.

Today, David works at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, where he supports student founders and helps create entrepreneurship programming. Outside of work, he's building his own startup, Recordium, alongside co-founders Harpreet Jaggi, an experienced B2B sales professional, and Max Mascini, a Dalhousie University master's student specializing in AI ethics, neuroscience and machine learning.

The team recently received a major boost after being accepted into the AI2Market Launch incubator, earning $10,000 in funding to help bring their business to life.

Recordium was born from a real-world problem. After hearing about the challenges Harpreet faced while attending sales conferences, the team realized that many professionals invest significant time and money into events without having the tools to prepare effectively or capture valuable conversations afterward.

David and Harpreet, Co-Founders of Recordium

"There's no real system for remembering who you spoke to, following up or learning from those interactions," David explains.

That's why the team is developing a comprehensive conference assistant that helps users prepare before events, identify the right people to meet and use AI-powered note-taking and CRM updates throughout the day.

For David, building Recordium has reinforced many of the lessons he shares with aspiring entrepreneurs every day.

Working at the Entrepreneurship Centre taught him the importance of validating a problem before investing time into building a solution. Now, experiencing customer discovery, product pivots and pitching firsthand has also made him a stronger mentor for students.

“I’m now able to help students by using my lived experience,” he says.

David’s previous ventures included a drive-thru wood-fired pizza business

His own entrepreneurial journey has included previous ventures, from a drive-thru wood-fired pizza concept to a woodworking business. While neither succeeded in the long term, each experience taught valuable lessons and helped build confidence to pursue his latest venture.

Looking ahead, the Recordium team is focused on getting the platform into the hands of sales professionals who regularly attend conferences and networking events. With support from AI2Market Launch and fresh funding behind them, they're eager to discover where the product can create the greatest impact.

David's advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: talk to people before you build anything.

"The actual problem people are facing starts to emerge quickly when you're having real conversations," he says. "And just start, even if you think the idea is bad or you don't fully believe in yourself yet. What you learn along the way will be well worth it."

Discover how the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre supports entrepreneurs like Recordium. 

Sobey School of Business earns Level 4 “Transforming” designation in Positive Impact Rating

The Sobey School of Business

The Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary's University has been recognized again in 2026 as a Level 4 "Transforming School" in the Positive Impact Rating (PIR).

The PIR is a global tool that evaluates how effectively schools prepare graduates to contribute positively to society and address complex global challenges. The evaluation is conducted by students, for students.

Achieving Level 4 places the Sobey School among a select group of business schools worldwide recognized for embedding positive impact throughout their institutional culture, governance systems and educational activities.

Students cited the school’s energizing culture as a strength, one that the Sobey School is particularly proud of. In their evaluation, students encouraged Sobey to find new and additional opportunities to further embed sustainability across all learning methods.

Rory MacDonald, Sobey Sustainability Society President

Sobey Sustainability Society President Rory MacDonald said, “Our Society respects that the Sobey School measures its sustainability impact based on student feedback and takes action on that feedback. Students are the heart of SMU, and I am proud to attend a school that values each and every person, bringing us together through our differences.” 

The Sobey School is proud to be ranked alongside peer institutions like Esade, Bologna Business School, Maastricht University School of Business and Economics, Bern University of Applied Sciences Business School, IÉSEG School of Management, Monash Business School, Australia, and Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, demonstrating the global reach of PIR recognition.

The Sobey School of Business has been an early North American leader in following the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME), a signatory since 2014 and a PRME Champion since 2021, and accredited by both AACSB and EQUIS. This places Sobey in the 1% of business schools in the world with both accreditations. These, along with the PRME commitment and the PIR, provide regular opportunities to assess and measure the impact and quality of the education and experiences offered to students and alumni.

ICD focuses on Indigenous Governance

Chief Terry Paul addresses Maritime ICD Chapter at day-long event at the Sobey School of Business

Kylar Johnson, the Saint Mary’s University Indigenous Student Advisor, and Cedar Pictou, a drummer and current Arts student, helped open the event.

Many Nova Scotians are aware that in 2021, Clearwater, a major exporter of seafood and one of Nova Scotia’s premier corporations, was acquired by a partnership between Premium Brands and the Mi’kmaq Coalition, comprised of seven Mi’kmaq communities in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. But how many have considered what a shift to Indigenous leadership means, both for the business and for reconciliation?

On May 8, 2026, the Sobey School of Business hosted the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) Maritime Chapter for a special day-long event on Indigenous governance and the Clearwater purchase, and the dimensions of reconciliation that board directors can influence. Academic Director of the ICD-Rotman Directors Education Program, Margaret McKee, has been working with her counterparts at Rotman to draft a case study on the purchase.

The day opened with a blanket exercise led by one of Atlantic Canada’s Most Powerful Women in Business for 2026, Cheryl Copage Gehue. Cheryl is a Mi’kmaw leader and an experienced Indigenous Blanket Instructor with more than 10 years of facilitating learning and dialogue on Indigenous history, perspectives, and reconciliation. Cheryl serves as Director of Indigenous Relations at Clearwater Seafoods, where she helps position economic reconciliation as a measurable driver of business growth, industry change, and community prosperity. She leads the advancement of Clearwater’s Indigenous Strategy, embedding reconciliation into how the company builds relationships, grows its workforce, and creates shared value with Indigenous communities.

Ian Smith, who was the Valedictorian of the most recent cohort of Sobey School ICD-Rotman DEP graduates, co-led the exercise. Ian is the Chief Executive Officer of Clearwater Seafoods. He joined Clearwater in May of 2010, with over 36 years of international experience in the food and consumer products industry. He has been active in maintaining company momentum through the change in ownership.

Participants heard from keynote speaker Chief Terry Paul, who described, with candour and humour, his successes and failures on the path to building the economic success of his home community, Membertou. Taking on the leadership role in the 1970s, Chief Paul quickly realized that his community had a long list of needs that could be achieved through economic development. He implemented transparent financial practices and a corporate business-building approach, pairing them with an Indigenous respect for relationships and nature. From the construction of the Membertou Convention Centre to the Clearwater purchase, the purpose of helping to lift up the community has been central to Chief Paul’s business decisions.

Fiona Kirkpatrick led the final session, discussing board implications of reconciliation. Fiona is a consultant with 40 years of experience and a member of Lac La Ronge First Nation, Treaty 6 Territory, equally proud of her Woodland Cree and Scottish heritage. Her session was informed by her governance experience as the first woman to chair the North American Indigenous Games, NAIG 2023, in Kjipuktuk/Halifax. She also serves on the board of the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business and recently concluded service on the Board of the 2025 Canada Games.

Automating for the future

Michael Toner has a restless drive to streamline and improve data analysis through AI automation

When Michael Toner completed his Screen Arts and Cultures degree at the University of Michigan, he didn’t anticipate that every job he would get would end up being about data.

The Los Angeles native says, “Whether it was ingesting footage for reality TV, mapping demographics for the city, or managing financial accounts at LA Metro, I kept finding myself automating the work and eventually realized that was the part I actually loved.”

He set out to identify a Master’s program that would let him focus on the intersection of business and data. A factor he had to consider was that he did not have a traditional STEM background, something many programs were looking for.

The Sobey Master of Business Analytics (MBAN) program was the right fit for Michael.

“Saint Mary's stood out in a narrow field. Only a handful of universities offer an MBAN program — most institutions go the MBA or Master of Data Science route,” says Michael. He plans to pursue a career in financial automation. He notes, “Financial data is unusually clean and structured compared to most domains, which means someone with the right skills can move fast and have real impact. And the demand is everywhere. Every company has a finance function.”

Testing his mettle

During the program, Michael has enjoyed competition opportunities to explore his enhanced skillset with coding and AI, developing promising innovative solutions for long-term intractable problems like food insecurity and emergency department wait times.

“At RBC Hubhacks, my team built an AI-powered financial engineering solution for food insecurity in Nova Scotia. We did well enough that we were invited to present to Halifax Partnership and then to Feed Nova Scotia directly. At CGI Datajam, we placed third out of 30 teams with an AI screening tool that cut emergency department wait times by roughly two hours per patient.”

Bringing automation to research insights

In January 2026, professor Chantal Hervieux hired Toner to work with the Centre for Leadership Excellence as a research assistant. CLE had built a relationship with a company called TrendAI, which was looking for background and industry research. TrendAI is an AI-powered demand planning and supply chain tool aimed at small to medium fashion retailers in Canada. It was founded by longtime friends, one with a background in textile manufacturing, the other in software-as-a-service.

Michael describes his research assistant role this way: “I ran background research on the Canadian fashion industry to identify TrendAI's best point of entry, surveyed small and medium enterprises, and from that built the product specifications, business model, development roadmap, and pathway to profitability.”

The survey was challenging. Response rates were so low, Michael needed thousands of contacts to reach statistical significance. When databases available through the library were insufficient, he created a solution: “I wrote Python to pull contacts from the Google Maps API and ended up with about 6,500 emails. The takeaway I'll carry forward is to think about response rates and outreach scale upfront, and to reach for technical solutions earlier rather than grinding manually.  Automating outreach was the only way the research worked at all.”

A glimpse of the future

High school students participated in SMU’s AI co-op

Michael shares that there was a surprise for him in the research. “I interviewed three Canadian business owners running operations out of their garages with fewer than five employees. Twenty years ago, that same output would have required a hundred people. The headline finding from the surveys was that AI is acting as an equalizing force for small businesses, not a threat — and these three were proof. That's the future I want to help build.”

He is already working on building the future – last winter, he was one of the MBAN students who taught a cohort of high school co-op students about AI. Michael is currently doing an internship with JD Irving in Saint John while completing his degree. He will graduate next winter.

Meet your Sobey School of Business Valedictorians for Spring Convocation

Lydia Ramsay and Chloe Pobjoy-Ridolfo

Valedictorians Lydia Ramsay and Chloe Pobjoy-Ridolfo will represent the Sobey School of Business at their ceremonies on Wednesday, May 27. Watch the graduation livestream and find the convocation program on our website.

Lydia Anne Ramsay 

Accounting, Finance

Lydia Ramsay, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, entered Saint Mary’s University as a recipient of a Sobey Innovator Scholarship, a significant investment in her leadership and community engagement potential. With her presence on both the Impact Fund and Venture Grade teams, it is fitting that Lydia’s university career is an excellent return on that investment, demonstrating academic excellence, leadership, high achievement, and community engagement.  

This May, Lydia graduates summa cum laude from the Sobey School of Business with a Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in Finance and Accounting.  She co-founded the Women in Business Society and Husky Capital, a mock investment fund structured similarly to the Impact Fund.

She delivered outstanding performances in nearly a dozen competitions over her years at Saint Mary’s, many through her involvement with Venture Grade and the Impact Fund, SMU’s student-led portfolio of $1M assets under management. She immersed herself in campus life, serving as a Residence Assistant, Teaching Assistant, and BComm Student Ambassador.  

Q&A with Lydia

What are some highlights of your involvement in the SMU Community?  

Lydia moderating at the Women in Business conference

I co-founded the SMU Women in Business Society and grew a small group of women into a team of 21 executives and over 300 members. 

I was a co-founder of Husky Capital, where I serve as the CIO (Chief Investment Officer). Husky Capital is designed to teach new and younger students to learn to invest and make investment pitches and financial valuations. Through this, I’ve mentored a cohort of 16 Research Associates. 

As a two-time Residence Assistant (RA) in Loyola Residence, I was recognized with awards for Outstanding Floor Community Development and Exceptional Demonstration of Enthusiasm & Spirit. 

Tell us about some of the competitions you took part in. 

• McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC): My team and I made it to the top 25 finals in Montreal, presenting an asset allocation strategy for a Sovereign Wealth Fund with a focus on biodiversity. We took home a $2,500 prize for the “Best Storytelling Award.” 

• Women’s Stock Pitch Competition: The competition is meant to highlight women in the investment profession. My team and I were the first group from the IMPACT Fund to qualify for the competition in Virginia, USA. 

• CFA research challenge: My team and I from the IMPACT Fund placed second.

• Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC): In 2026, our team earned first place at the VCIC New England in Boston, USA, and in 2025, we earned third place and the Entrepreneur’s Choice Award. After placing first in Boston, we headed to Globals at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School, Chapel Hill, NC, USA, for the very first time in April 2026.

• Atlantic Invitational Case Competition (AICC): I earned the first-place win and Best Speaker award for the Competition held by the Dalhousie Consulting Association.

The IMPACT Fund team at the NYC Game Forum

Lydia’s first place win at the AICC

Which instructor had the biggest impact on you?  

Ross Hallett and Florian Muenkel, the IMPACT Program professors, have made a significant impact in my life. Their mentorship went far beyond the classroom; they challenged me to think critically. Above all, they believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.  

They wouldn’t know this, but when I got chosen for the IMPACT Fund, I couldn’t believe it. I felt I didn’t know nearly as much about the markets as my peers. They saw potential in me, and because of that, I was able to learn to understand the markets and make high-quality pitches. Soon enough, I found my voice and became one of the loudest in the classroom and was never afraid to express my opinions. 

Lydia with Chancellor Emeritus Bob Kelly BComm’75 DComm’97 at the Annual Commerce Dinner

What will you miss about Saint Mary’s? 

I’ll miss the sense of community the most. SMU has a way of feeling both close-knit and full of opportunity at the same time. I’ll especially miss being surrounded by such motivated and supportive people, friends, professors and mentors who constantly pushed me to grow. 

What are your goals for the future? 

I’ve developed a strong interest in working closely with businesses, evaluating opportunities, and contributing to long-term value creation. I’m particularly drawn to the collaborative and dynamic nature of private capital, where you’re not only analyzing investments but also engaging directly with founders and management teams. 

Longer term, I hope to grow into a leadership role where I can mentor others and contribute to building strong, high-performing teams, similar to the environments that had such a meaningful impact on my own development. 

What advice would you give to current students? 

Be a ‘yes’ person. Say yes to opportunities that come your way, even if it puts you outside your comfort zone. Some of the best opportunities come from not knowing exactly what you’re getting into. 

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Chloe May Pobjoy-Ridolfo 

Accounting, Finance

In reflecting on her Saint Mary’s University journey, Chloe Pobjoy-Ridolfo says, “Success is most meaningful when it is shared and used to uplift others.” Whether it has been supporting women’s initiatives with the accounting society or exploring how financial and structural reforms can support and empower communities, Chloe has demonstrated a solid commitment to this ethos. 

Originally from Thorold, Ontario, Chloe Pobjoy-Ridolfo is graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce, summa cum laude, with double majors in Finance and Accounting. 

Throughout her time at the Sobey School of Business, Chloe leaned into the opportunities presented, taking part in many case competitions. She was recognized individually as an MVP at the Atlantic Sustainable Marketing Case Competition hosted by the Sobey School in 2026, and her team placed first.  

Chloe played a key leadership role as Co-Director of Women’s Initiatives for the Accounting Society, where she was instrumental in organizing the first Sobey Strategy Case Competition. And she worked as a teaching assistant and a peer tutor, reflecting her passion for sharing knowledge and helping others succeed.  

Chloe was MVP at the 2026 Atlantic Sustainable Marketing Case Competition

During her studies, Chloe also gained valuable experience through a placement with a non-profit housing organization. This work deepened her interest in addressing systemic challenges in low-income housing and inspired her to explore how financial and structural reforms can better support and empower communities.  

Following graduation, she plans to pursue her CPA and CFA designations, with the goal of building a career at the intersection of finance, accountability and social impact.  

Chloe credits her success to the unwavering support of her family, especially her parents and grandparents, as well as her professors, whose guidance has been pivotal throughout her academic journey.  

Q&A with Chloe

Why did you choose Saint Mary’s University? 

I chose Saint Mary's University because of its strong reputation in business and its smaller, close-knit environment. I was drawn to the Sobey School of Business and the opportunities it offers, but what stood out most was the ability to build meaningful connections with classmates and professors. That sense of community and accessibility created a more personalized and supportive learning experience, which played a significant role in my growth.  

What was your favourite class? 

Financial Management stands out as my favourite class. While it was challenging, it pushed me to develop practical, real-world skills that I will carry forward into my career.  

Which instructor had the biggest impact on you? 

Dr. Mahmoud Moh'd had the biggest impact on me. He consistently challenged me to push beyond my comfort zone and believed in my potential, which played a key role in my confidence and development.  

Did you receive any awards during your time as a student?

I received the Accounting Achievement Award and made the Dean’s List every year,

Did you benefit from any scholarships or bursaries?  

Yes, I had a Renewable Entrance Scholarship for all years and received other awards, including the Veronica Aloyse Corbett Memorial Scholarship, McCurdy Printing Bursary, Harold Beazley Memorial Scholarship, Samuel and Anneliese Jopling Scholarship and a CFA Scholarship.  

What are your goals for the future?  

I plan to obtain my CPA and CFA designations and build a career in accounting and finance, with the goal of contributing to restructuring the low-income housing system and developing more sustainable, accessible communities.

What advice would you give to current students? 

Take advantage of every opportunity, even if it feels intimidating at first. University is a time when so many doors are open to you, and it truly is what you make of it. Put yourself out there, try things you are not sure you are ready for, and trust that you will grow into those opportunities. The more you get involved, the more you will realize that the possibilities are far greater than you initially thought. Build relationships, stay curious, and approach everything with the mindset that the world is yours to explore. 

Pitch perfect

Meet the three unique women who made up the top Stock Pitch team in Canada

Keira Hennigar, Katelyn Abriel, Laura McAleese and coach/faculty advisor Ross Hallett

A team of three Sobey School of Business women are the top stock pitching team in Canada after competing in Virginia, USA, in March.

Laura McAleese graduated from the Sobey School of Business in 2025 with her Bachelor of Commerce in Finance. She “landed at Saint Mary’s after hip-hopping around a bit,” knowing that the Sobey School was where her mother had gotten her accounting degree. She says she toured SMU when she was a little girl and “vividly remembers the Atrium with the plant wall.”  

From her BComm, she applied to the Sobey Master of Business Analytics “on a whim,” although she adds that the future-facing AI-focused curriculum appealed to her.

Laura is an active participant in the Impact Fund program, which deepened her passion for, as she calls it, “the technical aspect of finance.”  Last year, in her first year on the Impact Team, she competed at the Stock Pitch.

Keira Hennigar is a third-year BComm student majoring in finance. She is a member of Saint Mary’s Equestrian Club and the Investment Society. Katelyn Abriel is also a third-year student, majoring in finance and accounting and aiming to get her CPA designation and pursue a career in accounting. Both are current Research Associates with the Sobey School Impact Fund, Keira for real estate investment and Katelyn for consumer staples.

In March, Keira, Katelyn and Laura entered the women-only Bianca Caragliano Stock Pitch Competition.  

So what is a stock pitch competition?

Participants are tasked with choosing the stock that they hope will beat the market over the next year. “After choosing a stock, we basically do equity research on that stock,” says Laura. “We look at the company, we look at its competitors, industries, and then we try to come up with an implied share price for the stock and see whether or not it's mispriced in the actual market. Then, we give a buy or sell recommendation.”

This preparation paid off. The team competed at William & Mary in Williamsburg, against 21 teams from across Canada, the US and beyond. They landed at number four, topping teams from the Ivey Business School, Memorial University, UBC and University of Regina, making them the highest-scoring Canadian team.

First cohort of Sports Business students prepare to launch their careers

Matthew Lloyd is one of the first students to graduate with the Saint Mary’s Certificate in Sports Business

At Saint Mary’s, preparing students to thrive in agile, competitive careers is a top priority for us—and the Sobey School of Business is one of the faculties leading the charge with innovative programming designed for lucrative, high-demand industries.

Working in tandem with the Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health, the recently unveiled Bachelor of Commerce in Sports Business major was launched last year as part of the Sobey School’s program offerings, with students like Van Bernard coming to SMU specifically for the program. As the only sports business program currently available in Atlantic Canada, we’re committed to developing talent right here at home—giving students the opportunity to build an education that supports their goals.  

The BComm in Sports Business didn’t launch overnight. It started as a Certificate in Sports Business in 2024. It’s still available as a certificate option for students interested in adding it to an existing major, and we’ve heard firsthand from students that it’s a fantastic pairing with other Sobey School programming.

Marketing major Matthew Lloyd is one of the first students set to graduate with the certificate in sports business, and he felt passionate enough about his experience in the program to write a profile of it in the SMU Student Journal.

“I had the option to go out of province for a sports business program, but I wanted to stay in the Maritimes. It aligned perfectly—with the sports business certificate, I was able to get sport-specific education while finishing my degree at Saint Mary’s.”

“The courses required for the certificate—like sports marketing and sports data analytics—have given me extremely relevant experience and allowed me to practice applying my marketing education in sports-specific contexts. ”

— Matthew Lloyd

A longtime fan, Matthew is passionate about every aspect of sports. He played basketball in his youth, and he follows hockey and basketball closely. His dream job would be a marketing role with a team like the Toronto Raptors, and he took full advantage of our sports-related programming, taking that first step toward turning his passion into a lifelong career.  

“Marketing and sports business go hand-in-hand, as sports marketing is a key part of the industry. Between sponsorships, event promotions and broadcast opportunities, having sports-related education under your belt when you graduate gives you a competitive advantage when getting your foot in the door in sports marketing.”  

You don’t have to be planning a career in sports to benefit from taking these courses, Matthew says. Each of the sports business courses—Human Resources in Sports and Sports & Sustainability—give students ample opportunity to apply the learning they do to real-world examples through case studies in the sports industry.

“I feel a lot better entering the job market because of my education at Saint Mary’s than I would otherwise. In addition to the education I received, I’m graduating with work experience. With the co-op program I participated in, I have 12 months of experience across three different organizations, so I have projects I can point to on my resume that give me an advantage in a competitive market.”

Matthew will cross the stage with his cohort of Sobey School of Business graduates on May 27 during Spring Convocation. Soon after, he’ll begin his new role with Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax.

With Sports Business now offered at Saint Mary’s, students who want a clear path to a career in the sports industry are able to set themselves up for success. Whether you’re looking to double major, minor, or add a certificate to your education, Saint Mary’s offers flexible opportunities to prepare students like Matthew for a successful start in their chosen field.

Saint Mary’s University to honour two distinguished alumni for leadership and service at home and abroad

Saint Mary’s University will award honorary doctorates at its 2026 Spring Convocation to two distinguished alumni whose leadership, service, and lasting contributions have shaped communities locally, nationally, and internationally.  

Spring Convocation will take place in May on Saint Mary’s campus, bringing together graduates, families, and the university community to celebrate achievement, leadership, and impact. Honorary degrees, which are among the university’s highest distinctions, recognize individuals whose accomplishments reflect Saint Mary’s values of excellence, service, and community engagement.  

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Sanjeev Chowdhury  

Sanjeev Chowdhury BComm’89, a graduate of Saint Mary’s University, has built an accomplished career in Canada’s foreign service, representing the country on the global stage for over three decades.  

Sanjeev Chowdhury 

After earning his Bachelor of Commerce from Saint Mary’s University, where he served as President of the Students’ Association, Chowdhury pursued graduate studies in international management before joining Canada’s diplomatic corps. Over the course of his career, he has served in key postings around the world, including Mumbai, Ho Chi Minh City, Rio de Janeiro, and Bangkok.  

As a Senior Trade Commissioner in Thailand, he played a significant role in advancing Canada’s international trade relationships, ultimately becoming the longest-serving Canadian diplomat at the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok. His diplomatic career also included appointments as Consul General and leadership roles during major international events, including the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  

Chowdhury’s contributions have been recognized with numerous honours, including international medals and Canada’s Foreign Service Officer of the Year Award. His work reflects a sustained commitment to global engagement, public service, and strengthening Canada’s presence abroad.  

He will receive a Doctor of Civil Law, honoris causa, at the Sobey School of Business Convocation on May 27 at 2 p.m.  

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Charles (Chuck) R. Bridges  

Charles (Chuck) R. Bridges 

Charles (Chuck) R. Bridges EMBA’92 is a respected business leader, communications strategist, and long-term contributor to Saint Mary’s University and the broader Nova Scotia community.  

With a career span of more than four decades, Bridges has held senior leadership roles across major organizations, including the Discovery Center and Atlantic Lottery Corporation, where he led corporate affairs, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communications initiatives. Known for his ability to build partnerships across sectors, his work has had a lasting impact on organizational development and community collaboration.  

Bridges dedicated more than 20 years to Saint Mary’s University, serving in progressively senior roles, including Director of Public Affairs, Director of External Affairs, and Vice-President (Associate), External Affairs. During his tenure, he played a central role in advancing the university’s profile, leading a comprehensive branding initiative that strengthened its position as an internationally recognized institution and supporting major fundraising efforts that generated significant philanthropic investment.  

His commitment to community service is equally notable. Bridges has contributed to numerous initiatives at the municipal, provincial, and national levels, including leadership roles with the 2011 Canada Winter Games Host Society, the Halifax Commonwealth Games bid, and United Way Halifax. His contributions have helped strengthen cultural, civic, and economic development across the region.  

Recognized for his integrity, collaborative leadership, and enduring commitment to community, Bridges continues to exemplify the values of service and excellence that define Saint Mary’s University.  

He will receive a Doctor of Civil Law, honoris causa, to be conferred at a future convocation date.

Work that counts — literally

Diem Tien BComm’24, working as co-op student at Sobeys in the Summer of 2023

At one of Canada’s top business schools, co-op now counts toward the degree.

Co-op means paid work terms, career-launching connections and a résumé that stands out. That means students can gain meaningful paid work experience while staying on track to graduate on time. Sobey's co-op program is a valued bridge between campus and career. The model allows students to alternate between academic terms and paid placement.

Saint Mary’s University’s Sobey School of Business will be launching co-op for academic credit within the Bachelor of Commerce program. Eligible students who complete co-op work terms will now earn three credit hours per placement, up to nine credits across three work terms, counting toward elective requirements in their 120-credit degree.

Prospective co-op students being given a tour of the Nova Scotia Power headquarters.

“This is a student-centred change that strengthens our degree without adding barriers,” says Dr. Vurain Tabvuma, Associate Dean, Undergraduate and Professional Graduate Programs. “I want to see students succeed both in and out of the classroom. A business degree should prepare students not just for their first job, but for a lifetime of leadership, adaptability and meaningful work.”

The new model creates dedicated, credit-bearing courses tied directly to co-op placements, with clear expectations, faculty oversight and assessed academic deliverables. Co-op for credit takes effect in 2026–27, with the first credit-bearing course expected in Spring 2027.

Students set goals at the start of their work term, then reflect in depth on what they learned, what they contributed, how they handled workplace challenges and how their coursework supported, or challenged, what they encountered on the job.

Faculty advisors and co-op office staff provide ongoing support, monitor progress and assess the final submission. While the courses are graded pass/fail and do not affect a student’s GPA, they count directly toward degree completion once credit is awarded.

The shift to credit does not change the support structure students already rely on. Saint Mary’s University’s co-op office will continue to provide professional development workshops, one-on-one coaching in résumé writing, interview preparation and workplace professionalism, along with employer coordination and the job-matching support that underpins the program.

Research shows that graduates who complete co-op programs are significantly more likely to secure full-time employment within two years of graduation compared to their non-co-op peers. National data suggests students with work-integrated learning experience have higher starting salaries and a stronger job-education match, landing roles directly related to their field of study.

For international students, co-op is often one of the fastest routes to gaining Canadian work experience and building professional networks while still in school. The credit-bearing model is expected to encourage more students to complete the full co-op sequence, deepening their skills across multiple placements and strengthening the local talent pipeline for Nova Scotia employers.

As the leading business school in Atlantic Canada, the Sobey School of Business has long-standing relationships with industry partners and a robust alumni network across the region and the country. These connections span key areas of business, including accounting, finance and banking, marketing, AI and machine learning, business innovation and human resource management. They have long supported student placements and will provide a strong foundation for the new co-op for credit model.

Those employer relationships can lead to meaningful long-term opportunities for students. Crowe MacKay LLP in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, recently hosted Ananthkrishnan Natesan, a Bachelor of Commerce student majoring in accounting and co-op student, who will complete his third work term with the firm this summer before returning full-time after graduation.

“Ananth is very professional and meticulous in how he approaches his work. He is engaged, excited and eager to learn, always! He received comments from senior management on his first file since returning, noting that he was within budget and very positive. He was challenged with new sections he hadn’t seen before, like AR, Revenues and Investments, and met this challenge perfectly. Well done,” says Crowe MacKay LLP.

The co-op program connects students with employers of all sizes, from large corporations to smaller start-ups. Students may complete placements in Nova Scotia, elsewhere in Canada or internationally. Current co-op students are working in Toronto, Yellowknife and Calgary, and international students may also pursue co-op opportunities in their home countries.

Many graduates of the program also return as alumni employers, creating new pathways for Sobey students to gain experience, build confidence and enter the workforce with a stronger sense of what they can contribute.

Co-op available in every major at Saint Mary’s

The Co-operative Education option allows you to apply your knowledge, develop skills and gain confidence, while you earn money to help pay for tuition. Co-op consists of three, four-months work terms.

Learn more about co-op opportunities at Saint Mary’s.

Same hometown, similar degrees, different pathways

William Cook and Matthew Chapman

Teammates in business

Growing up, they became friends playing sports together. Now, William Cook and Matthew Chapman are engaged in the sport of finance, crushing major competitions in Canada and the USA. It’s been a journey for the two friends from Lunenburg, who now have networks in Toronto, Vancouver, Boston, New York and Montreal.  

“We’ve known each other since we were at least eight years old, through various sports during our junior high days,” said Will. “Our community’s pretty tight in that regard. We got to know each other really well at Park View Education Centre, and then we came here. And after first year, we were like, why don’t we room together, given we had so many similar interests?”

Same town, different families

Will and Matt’s families exposed them to different paths early on.

“My dad’s an entrepreneur who runs the Knot Pub in Lunenburg, and my mom is a nurse practitioner. So, I was partially interested in science because of my mom, but my grandfather ran a TD bank branch for 35 years, and my uncle was a managing director for CI’s private wealth Atlantic division, so that’s where my interest in finance started,” said Will.

“He mentors him as well,” adds Matt.

For Matt, “It was kind of the opposite. My dad has a civil engineering degree and a bachelor’s in physics. I think he wanted me to be an engineer, but I just did not like science. My sister went to Saint Mary’s ahead of me, and she took finance and liked it a lot. So, I was like, maybe that's something I might be interested in.”

Finance and economics proved to be the right combination for Matt. “My father wanted me to get a business degree because he knew that's where my passion lies. It worked out because we have a family construction company, Maritime Homes Ltd. He does the technical side, and I help with the business side.”

Competition successes: Impact Fund and Venture Grade

The two friends have been actively involved on campus since they arrived.

William Cook scored a coveted Research Associate spot with the Impact Fund team in his second year. In the history of the Fund, only one other student in memory has made it onto the team before third year. He completed his two years as a Fund Manager and travelled to Vancouver, New York and Toronto, taking part in competitions as part of the Impact Team. The largest of these competitions were the Rotman International Trading Competition (Toronto), the National Investment Banking Competition (Vancouver), and the Sauder Capital Markets Challenge (Vancouver). Now in his fourth year, he is part of Venture Grade, another student investment program.

Venture Grade Team at VCIC in Boston

Matthew Chapman is a fourth-year Finance and Economics student and is also with Venture Grade. He was part of the undergraduate Venture Grade team, with Lydia Ramsay, Katie Murray, Brennan Campbell and Vaishali Sachdeva, that travelled to Boston in February to compete in the New England regionals. The team took first place, besting prestigious American teams from New York University, Tufts University, and last year’s global champion, Dartmouth College. In late April, they will compete in the global competition.

“Yeah, we won. We were first in every category. The whole trip, we jelled well as a team. We're excited for Worlds.”

The value of competitions

Will and Matt acknowledged that the competitions were important for both building their networks and applying what they learned in the classroom.

“Stressful, but what a great opportunity to meet people from across the world who are doing the same kind of stuff,” said Will. “Competitions, being on new teams, it’s huge for relationship-building.” He notes that students competing in these high-level competitions form their own national network, recognizing one another from past events.

Matt says that after the VCIC competition Saint Mary’s hosted, he invited the other teams to socialize downtown.

“Every team except for one showed up. And that's where you really start to make good connections. The next day, I'm getting LinkedIn DMs saying, ‘that was awesome.’”

Matt also notes that the pressure of competition has helped them feel prepared for the work world.

“Going to these competitions, you know they're going to be tough. But you can come out of it knowing and learning so much more because of the time frame and the pressure you were put under. So that's kind of the trade-off. But it's a good one.” 


Will says, “It's almost like when you hear people talk about these high-pressure jobs. What you learn in those five days might have taken you three months if you had taken it slower. It's a sped-up version of learning for sure.”

The next challenge: launching their careers

With degrees in hand this May, and having trained and tested their skills in competition, Will and Matt are ready to level up as they head into their careers. What is ahead for these high achievers?

Will is headed to Montreal. “I am beyond excited to join Heward Investment Management and learn more about the family office industry. It’s the same place I interned last summer, an asset management firm, which has now transformed into a family office-style firm. I am fortunate that the new CEO, Eric Lapointe, brings an immense amount of industry experience, which is great for someone like me, just starting my career. Montreal is going to be different for me, because I'm from Lunenburg. And now I have to learn French.”


Matt will manage projects for his family’s business. “We are in a unique industry, modular construction. It's been growing in a big way. I'm going to be managing almost all our projects. So, I can get more into the technical side because that's where I'm not as strong. And obviously, Dad's going to help and mentor me there. He loves the sales side of our business. It'll be a good combination.”

Advice for future students

For other students coming to the Sobey School of Business, both say: get involved. The Impact Team is crucial, says Will, for anyone planning to pursue a career in corporate finance. “Because it’s real money, it makes it a little bit more serious. You need to do a full resume, cover letter and interview process to get in, so it's prestigious in that sense.”

And Matthew adds, take part in competitions. With the intensity of preparing and competing, when you get to the work world, “You kind of hit the ground running rather than taking that month or two to learn anything.”

Worlds colliding: Accounting, Science & Arts Interdisciplinary Colloquium

The interdisciplinary forum was held at the Sobey School of Business on April 10

Faculty and researchers gathered to hear from each other and share ideas

If you are an applied science researcher looking for solutions to combat environmental problems like, say, innovative ways to remediate legacy gold mining waste materials, the accounting standard for contaminated sites might not be on your go-to list of tools and methods.

But it could be.

This was the bold premise behind an innovative interdisciplinary event held at Saint Mary’s on April 10, 2026.  Researchers from Saint Mary’s Arts and Science Faculties were invited to share a piece of research they are working on. Professors of Geography, Environmental Science, Engineering and Astronomy and Physics took part: Linda Campbell, Valeria Montes Urrego, Karen Harper, and Athanasios Psaltis.

A team from the Accounting department of the Sobey School of Business then reflected on what methods, approaches and tools academic accounting might offer on the same project. These professors included organizers Vasiliki Athanasakou, Matthew Boland, Amna Chalwati Mohamed Drira, and Ming Liu, as well as Khin Phyo Hlaing.

Innovative insights presented

In the popular imagination, “accountant” is often positioned as an opposite to “creative”, but the presentations required enormous creativity. The event gleaned rich insights, as organizer Dr. Vasiliki Athanasakou pointed out:

“In particular, the vital role of accounting and disclosure in supporting remediation and more complete recognition of environmental liabilities; the importance of accounting and taxation in enabling the economic viability of innovative environmental solutions; the remarkable wealth of natural capital data that remains underexplored in reassessing ecosystem value; and the need to embrace a mix of methods to strengthen the external validity of complex, interdisciplinary phenomena.”

There is a certain kind of power in hearing an accountant speak about the real market values of biodiversity and its effects on GDP worldwide in conjunction with the scientist pointing out the value to the ecosystem.

Panelists call for stable funding and dialogue

The lunchtime fireside discussion engaged practitioners and academics who drilled into the real barriers of tackling long-term problems with evidence-based and practitioner-informed solutions. Panelists expressed frustrations with isolated policy development and implementation while ignoring the experience of practitioners. The gap can lead to unintended consequences or simply policy failure. For their part, researchers recognized the value of the findings brought by application. All agreed that unstable funding did not support long term outcomes.

Dr. Athanasakou noted, “The fireside discussion further emphasized the importance of clarity and certainty in investment projections as a key condition for translating evidence into action; the growing need to bring together scientists, companies, investor representatives and policymakers into shared dialogues; the central role of trust and governance in making those dialogues meaningful; and the importance of policy and governance consistency in supporting sustainable, long-term decision-making.”

Panelists were:

• Adel Merabet, Professor of Engineering, SMU

• Danika van Proosdij, Geomorphologist and Professor of Geography and Environmental Studies, SMU

• Timothy Bachiu, Director of Research at Net Zero Atlantic

• Donald G. LeBlanc, President of RDA Atlantic

• Rob Rashotte, President, Global Training and Education, Cato Networks and student in the Sobey Executive Doctorate of Business Administration program.

• Duncan P. Williams, President & CEO at Construction Association of Nova Scotia

Sparking new creative collisions

Interdisciplinary approaches really shine in an intimate community like Saint Mary's University. The day concluded with a cross-project discussion on opportunities for future research with doctoral students, which was also attended by a dual-credit co-op class of high school students. Interdisciplinary, intergenerational and reflecting a commitment to innovative ways to solve real-world problems.

The Accounting, Science and Arts Interdisciplinary Colloquium was, in many ways, a perfect distillation of the Saint Mary’s University promise of a world without limits.