Greidanus steps into the role while Dr. Suzanne Gagnon, Associate Dean, Professional Graduate Programs and Executive Education, and Canada Life Chair in Leadership Education is on research leave.

Within the position, Greidanus will be responsible for leading Asper’s professional graduate programs within the Stu Clark Graduate School, which include the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Finance (MFin) and Master of Supply Chain Management and Logistics (MSCM).

He will also oversee the James W. Burns Executive Education Centre, which provides an extensive range of executive training and professional development programs designed to support advanced leadership skills.

Dr. Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business, will work closely with Greidanus to advance the School’s priorities during his term. “I am pleased to welcome Nathan to this role, and I am excited for what he will bring to our leadership team,” he says. “I look forward to collaborating with him as we continue to grow our graduate programs and as we welcome our largest ever MBA intake this fall.”

A skilled and dedicated administrator and educator, Greidanus brings his years of experience serving on the Professional Graduate Programs Committee and teaching MBA and Executive Education courses to this acting role.

He chaired the MBA committee between 2013 and 2015, serving on the ad hoc MBA curriculum redesign committee during this time. The result of this committee work led to a newly designed and even more successful MBA program.

Greidanus also served on the Professional Graduate Programs Committee during the approval phase of Asper’s most recent professional graduate programs: the MFin and MSCM. As academic director for Manitoba’s Director Education Program, he oversees the selection and evaluation of instructors for the Executive Education program while contributing to the cohesion of program content.

His courses at the MBA level all have a strong experiential component giving students opportunities to apply their in-class learning to real-world contexts, with many projects linking students to issues facing companies, not-for-profits, government and First Nations.

Greidanus speaks to the significance of the MBA and Executive Education programs at Asper and his hope for the term.

“For over 10 years I’ve been involved in, and a champion for, our Executive Education and MBA programs. I find teaching in the professional programs is both challenging and extremely rewarding. These programs are also incredibly important to the school as they provide Asper the highest level of connection to the business community,” he says.

With his years of experience, Greidanus’s role as Acting Associate Dean promises to continue strengthening these connections between the School and the business community of Manitoba.

The Asper School of Business welcomes Dr. Nathan Greidanus to this position!

The team at the James W. Burns Executive Education Centre at the Asper School of Business understand the factors to consider when it comes to ongoing professional development at the mid to senior management level. For over a decade the Executive Education Centre has been developing forward-thinking leaders through specially designed executive training programs.

Advanced Program in Management, Leadership and Strategy
One the Centre’s most popular programs is the 10-day Advanced Program in Management, Leadership and Strategy. It provides the critical leadership and strategy skills required to lead at a more senior and strategic level. Participants learn how to apply their strengths to make a greater impact; contribute to their organization’s strategic direction through enhanced strategic thinking; meet challenges with resilience and adaptability; and pursue greater responsibilities or transition into a new role with confidence.

Inspector Greg Hebert of the Brandon Police Service participated in the Advanced Program in 2020 and believes it’s something everyone at a management level could benefit from.

“The instructors were top notch, all different but equally engaging,” said Hebert. “The case studies that were discussed, the syndicate work in class and the projects all built on the information that was taught. I recommended to my supervisor that every executive in our organization attend this course.”

As an additional benefit with the Advanced Program, participants that complete the program earn 4.5 credit hours that can be applied to the Master of Business Administration program at the Asper School of Business. This provides a great head start on an MBA for those considering the program.

Custom programs designed for your organization
The Executive Education Centre also offers the opportunity for organizations to address their specific needs through custom programming. A collaborative process, the Centre works with organizations to design a tailor-made solution that optimizes the learning experience for their team. Additionally, an organization can choose an existing program that can be fine-tuned to suit their requirements.

“Our custom programs are designed to ensure your business sees a return on investment by meeting the unique requirements of your workplace,” said Irene Merie, Executive Director, James W. Burns Executive Education Centre. “We have a dedicated, professional delivery team who are with you every step of the way to ensure things run smoothly so you get the most out of your experience. Our team will work with you to custom design the content to ensure a meaningful learning experience for your teams. We take care of everything from planning through to execution.”

One fundamental advantage to custom programs is that participants get to enjoy learning alongside their peers and can share examples from within their organization, creating a common ground and sense of collective understanding.

How-to register
The next Advanced Program in Management, Leadership and Strategy is a unique retreat session. The first week will be delivered in Winnipeg at the James W. Burns Executive Education Centre in January.  This will be followed by the second week in March at the Lakeview Resort in Gimli, MB. Program cost includes learning materials, meals and accommodations while in Gimli.

To see the complete list of winter 2022 programs, visit Executive Education online.

For questions about all our programs, you can contact the James W. Burns Executive Education Centre by email, execedinfo@umanitoba.ca, or call 204-946-0232.

Dr. Gagnon assumes this role from Dr. David Stangeland who served in this position since 2018. Dr. Stangeland, who played a key role in supporting the expansion and enhancement of the Stu Clark Graduate School during his term, will return to his faculty position in Asper’s Department of Accounting and Finance after a one-year administrative leave.

As Associate Dean, Dr. Gagnon will lead the School’s professional graduate programs. These include three programs within the Stu Clark Graduate School: the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Finance (MFin) and the new Master of Supply Chain Management and Logistics (MSCM), set to launch this fall with its first cohort. Gagnon will also oversee the James W. Burns Executive Education Centre, which provides an extensive range of executive training and professional development programs designed to support advanced leadership skills.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Gagnon to the role of Associate Dean of Professional Programs at the Asper School of Business,” said Dr. Gady Jacoby, Dean and CPA Manitoba Chair in Business Leadership. “Her extensive experience in organizational leadership, leadership development and organizational change will strengthen the quality of our professional graduate programs and her expertise in social diversity and inclusion will play a key role in supporting the Asper School of Business’ commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in our ever-evolving global business community.”

Dr. Gagnon joined the Asper School of Business in fall 2018 as an Associate Professor and the inaugural Director of the James W. Burns Leadership Institute, joining the school from McGill University. She holds the Canada Life Chair in Leadership Education and has successfully overseen the launch of the Institute, working with a community and business-based advisory board to enhance leadership education across the University of Manitoba and the Province of Manitoba. Dr. Gagnon teaches two MBA courses and currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Asper Task Force on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. She is an award-winning scholar in leadership, diversity and inclusion, and holds a number of Tri-Council grants supporting her work.

Dr. Gagnon also spearheaded the addition of the Manitoba hub to the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub and its National Indigenous Lead at the Asper School. In 2019, she facilitated the development of Pursuing our Asper-ations, Asper’s current strategic plan (2019-2024). Dr. Gagnon will continue in her roles at the James W. Burns Leadership Institute alongside her new Associate Dean appointment.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues as we grow our professional graduate programs, augmenting our excellent student body and deepening our impact both locally and globally.”

-Dr. Suzanne Gagnon

With unprecedented access to vast amounts of information about customers, competitors and industry trends, it’s critical for leaders to have the social expertise they need to know where to find key data and how to draw meaning from it.

It’s with this in mind that the James W. Burns Executive Education Centre has launched the one-day virtual Social Media Analytics & Research program. Focused on providing participants with the tools they need to confidently and effectively engage, track and gather crucial data through social media, this program provides the critical skills every leader should have in today’s digital landscape.   

Program instructor Estelle Métayer is an expert in Competitive and Strategic Intelligence. She advises CEOs and boards as they build/improve their strategic decision-making process and competitive intelligence functions to avoid strategic blindspots. “In an era where all companies are undergoing a digital transformation, understanding social media networks as a professional tool is an indispensable skill for managers and executives,” says Métayer.

In one day of immersive learning, participants will explore core and emerging social media networks, uncovering essential components, as well as hidden functionalities they can use to discover strategic insights. By expanding their knowledge of key sources of social media information and how to use them, they’ll be well positioned to capitalize on the power of social media.

The Winter 2021 session of Social Media Analytics and Research is coming up on March 16. Register today by visiting: https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/management/exec_programs/social-media-analytics.html