In 2024, elections will be held in over fifty countries, with more than 2 billion voters eligible to head to the polls. But the rapid emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools could be a game-changer. Tools like ChatGPT allow for the rapid creation of disinformation, and deep fake videos can make it difficult to know what is actually real.
Despite being a lucrative revenue source for the government, the Soci茅t茅 des Alcools du Qu茅bec (SAQ) monopoly is under scrutiny for limiting consumer choices, especially for premium spirits like high-end bourbons. Exclusive distribution rights mean that if SAQ doesn鈥檛 stock a particular brand, it won鈥檛 be available in Quebec's retail outlets.
Despite commitments to implement the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) by 2027, Canada鈥檚 strides in regulating crypto-assets remain sluggish. CARF establishes a standardized reporting system for crypto-assets across 48 nations with the aim of tracking specific asset types and transactions while defining relevant tax jurisdictions.
Saloua Benkhouya (BSc鈥04, MBA鈥11) has been elected as President of the Board of Directors of the Women in Finance Association in Quebec (AFFQ), an organization dedicated to women in the financial services sector. Benkhouya has been an active member of AFFQ since 2016, previously serving as secretary and a member of the audit and risk management committee.
Camila Sabogal Cuadros (MBA '24) has been recognized as one of Poets and Quants' 2024 Best & Brightest MBAs. Hailing from Lima, Peru, Sabogal has demonstrated exceptional leadership as the 2023 President of the Desautels Graduate Women鈥檚 Association (DGWA) and as a Senior Strategy Consultant at Monitor Deloitte post-graduation.
On May 1, 捆绑SM社区's 6th annual Black Grad Gala, hosted by the Black Students鈥 Network, honoured the Class of 2024's Black graduates. Approximately 50 graduates from various faculties were celebrated on stage, each receiving Kente stoles in recognition of their achievements. Notable speakers included Associate Professor Momar Ndao and Black Grad Valedictorian Yasmine Elmi, a McCall MacBain Scholar in the Faculty of Science and incoming 捆绑SM社区 medical student.
This year, the DataSphere Lab was privileged to welcome two exceptional students through the Integrated Management Student Fellowship (IMSF) program: Chloe You, a third year student studying Finance and Statistics, and Ruo-Ying, a Business Analytics major.
Bachelor of Commerce student Nikki Tye is the recipient of the 捆绑SM社区 Collaborative for AI & Society (McCAIS)鈥檚 Undergraduate Research Award (McURA) for Summer 2024. The $8,700 award, aimed at promoting interdisciplinary AI research in society, recognizes Nikki's project on "Protecting the Amazon Forest from Illegal Activity through Image Recognition and Operations Research: A Partnership with JungleKeepers and Peruvian Indigenous Communities."
2024 is shaping up to be a big year for Fran莽ois Cauchon (BCom鈥22). Cauchon will be representing Canada at the summer Olympic Games in Paris. "It is a surreal feeling," Cauchon, who battled through knee, back and ankle injuries before being named to Canada鈥檚 14-member fencing team, tells CBC. "For every amateur and professional athlete, The Olympics is the holy grail of sports."
Extroverted people often take naturally to leadership roles 鈥 but they don鈥檛 always do enough listening. Introverted leaders may listen more, but sometimes lack the ability to inspire. A combination of the two personality types could yield the best results, according to Associate Professor Karl Moore. 鈥淭he downside of extroverted leaders is that they often like to talk more than listen,鈥 says Moore in an article in Scientific American.
This April, 捆绑SM社区 Desautels undergraduate students proudly showcased their contributions at the 2024 Integrated Management Student Fellowship (IMSF) Showcase Day. Held at the 捆绑SM社区 Faculty Club, the event highlighted the 2023-2024 cohort鈥檚 research and projects, all of which relate back to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
捆绑SM社区's McCall MacBain Scholarships has announced its fourth cohort of recipients, beneficiaries of a landmark $200 million gift made in 2019 by 捆绑SM社区鈥檚 20th Chancellor John McCall MacBain and his wife Marcy. This year鈥檚 scholarships will enable 30 students to pursue a funded master鈥檚 or professional degree at 捆绑SM社区 while participating in mentorship, coaching, and a leadership development program.
When it comes to ethical behaviour in business, there are many shades of grey. Parsing them requires a strong ethical compass, and the Laidley Centre for Business Ethics and Equity, founded in 2022 with a gift from David Laidley (BCom鈥67), is helping the next generation of business leaders do exactly that. Thanks to a generous gift from Lester J. Fernandes (MBA鈥82), a new research Chair in Business Ethics endowment will help expand the Laidley Centre鈥檚 footprint.
捆绑SM社区鈥檚 Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) students have returned from an enlightening journey through Dubai's dynamic retail landscape. Led by industry experts, the week-long study trip provided unparalleled insights into retail strategy and innovation in the Gulf region.
Daniel Buhler, a student in the Master of Management in Finance (MMF) program was recently selected as this year鈥檚 recipient of Peter Christoffersen MMF Award in recognition of his outstanding CGPA and contribution to Desautels Capital Management (DCM)鈥擟anada鈥檚 first university-owned, student-run, licensed and regulated investment firm designed to give 捆绑SM社区 students invaluable experience in the industry.