The Associates of the Asper School of Business have generously funded research fellowship awards to recognize and encourage scholarship contributions and business community engagement performed by Asper School faculty members.

Each successful fellowship recipient earns the distinguished title of Associates Fellow, as well as $10,000 per year award, for three years, to support their continued excellence and innovation in research, teaching, and engagement.

“The Asper School of Business thrives as a world-class business school thanks to our connections to the local business community. By investing in Asper-led research, teaching and professional collaboration, the Associates support our mission to lead in knowledge creation and produce scholarship that makes impact on the practice of management. Congratulations to Chi, Sean, Mohammad, and Wei for this well-deserved recognition!”
-Dr. Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business

The two 2025 renewed Associates Fellows are:

Chi Liao – The Associates Fellow in Finance

As an Associate Professor of Finance, Chi Liao’s research focuses on why people make the financial decisions they do, analyzing both individuals and corporations.

Her research interests include household finance and behavioural finance. Broadly, recent studies have analyzed the role of race and the role of ADHD in various financial situations.

Her research has been published in leading finance and entrepreneurship journals including the Review of Finance and the Journal of Business Venturing. She has been interviewed and cited in the Wall Street Journal and CNBC, as well as locally by the Winnipeg Free Press, Global News, and CTV News.

Sean Buchanan – The Associates Fellow in Business Administration

Associate Professor Sean Buchanan studies how organizations and industries engage with contentious social issues amidst rising political polarization.

Recently, he received national research funding for his work investigating how growing political polarization affects the business side of stand-up comedy, and its impact on creative decisions and the public discourse.

His research has been published in Academy of Management Review, Organization Science, Journal of Management Studies, Organization Studies, Human Relations, Journal of World Business, and Organization.

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In addition to awarding multi-year research fellowships, The Associates also generously recognize excellence in the classroom with the Associates Teaching Awards, valued at $5,000 each.

This award distinguishes innovative educators whose work enriches the student experience and strengthens the Asper School’s role in shaping Manitoba’s future business leaders.

Recipients of the Associates Teaching Awards are:

Mohammad Eslami

Mohammad Eslami joined the Asper School of Business in 2024 after serving as an Associate Professor at Jönköping International Business School in Sweden.

At the Asper School he serves as Associate Professor in Supply Chain and Innovation Management. Eslami has taught students to picture the supply chain in fresh perspectives, factoring in critical thought about digitalization, knowledge integration, dynamic capabilities, and uncertainties.

Dr. Eslami’s research pedigree includes publication in journals such as Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, International Journal of Production Economics, Industrial Marketing Management, Journal of Business Research, International Journal of Production Research, and Technological Forecasting and Social Change, among others.

Wei Wang

Wei Wang grew up in a family of teachers, and is a lifelong educator in his heart. Students feel that fact; they praise his genuine, caring attitude, and are impressed by his ability to transform seemingly dry material into engaging lectures.

As The Associates Fellow in Leadership and Ethics, Assistant Professor of Business Administration, and the Co-Director of the Behavioral Management Institute, Wang’s research and teaching interests include organizational behaviour, business ethics, and leadership.

Other awards include 2022 Anne Tsui Dare to Care Research Award, Wang was recognized for the ways in which his work seeks to make a difference in the lives of employees. In 2024 he was awarded a UM Teaching Merit Award.
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Other current Associates Fellows include Nathan Greidanus, Narendra Malagoda, Rajesh Manchanda, Kiran Pedada, Wei Wang, Wenxi Pu, and Shiu Yik-Au.

The contributions of four award recipients, which exemplify Asper values, made for a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Asper’s 43-year relationship with The Associates of the Asper School of Business. Learn more about the Associates here.

Steve Young is the recipient of the 2025 International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA), the highest honour given by The Associates of the Asper School of Business and the University of Manitoba.

This May, Young will share his journey with students here on campus at the IDEATE Student Presentation, sponsored by Princess Auto and held at the Desautels Concert Hall. Invitations are extended to UM students and high school students from across Manitoba.

An inspiration for business students and more

Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business and CPA Manitoba Chair in Business Leadership, expresses the significance of the annual IDEATE Student Presentation and the excitement for Young’s arrival.

“Here at the Asper School, we train students to thrive in business and contribute to the social and economic future of Manitoba. As UM’s connection to the business community, the Asper School is proud to offer all students the opportunity to connect with and learn from real business leaders.”

“We are honoured to welcome Steve Young to our School and host him for this exclusive event made possible by the generous support of The Associates of the Asper School of Business” says Dean Silvestre. “I am excited to learn from Mr. Young’s storied career and commitment to giving back, and I can’t wait to hear the questions and curiosity from a room full of students.”

A career in making plays, giving back, and starting up

Young is the Co-Founder, Chairman, and Managing Partner of Huntsman Gay Global Capital (HGGC), a values-driven, partnership investment firm. He is also the Founder and Chair of the Forever Young Foundation.

Young’s journey from record-breaking student athlete and award-winning NFL quarterback to influential philanthropist and entrepreneur comes with a numerous accolades and achievements.

Completing a fifteen-year NFL career as the quarterback in 1999 with the San Francisco 49ers, Young is a Super Bowl MVP and NFL Hall of Fame inductee. Today, he plays a leading role at HGGC, which has over $8B under management, and he has raised millions for various philanthropic endeavours including the Forever Young Foundation which he has founded.

The Foundation provides millions of dollars annually, supporting primarily mental health awareness and assistance for children and adolescents. Young is also the broadcast host for the Children’s Miracle Network and director on the boards of the Capital Impact Foundation and the Workday Foundation.

An opportunity to meet in person

The 2025 IDEATE Student Presentation invites students to bring their curiosity and questions to the UM on May 21, 2025, to learn from Young’s experiences.

Wondering how team spirit runs through business, sport, and giving? Curious as to how launching a business differs from launching a spiral? Seeking inspiration for career stories not yet written?  

Join the Asper School of Business and The Associates this May to ask questions, hear from Young himself, connect with business leaders and faculty, and enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast.

Event Information

IDEATE Student Presentation with Steve Young

May 21, 2025

9:00 a.m. – Doors open

10:00 a.m. – Program begins

Desautels Concert Hall, 150 Dafoe Rd W, University of Manitoba

• Please register for the IDEATE Student Presentation
• Continental breakfast will be served.

Recognizing the best in entrepreneurship for over four decades

Since 1984, The Associates of the Asper School of Business have presented the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) to illustrious business leaders who have achieved international stature, outstanding entrepreneurial success and have made an exemplary global contribution. IDEA is an internationally recognized, prestigious honour.

Steve Young will be presented with the award at the 41^st IDEA dinner on May 21, 2025, in Winnipeg at the RBC Convention Centre.

A remarkable combination of character, judgement and athletic ability combined with a will to succeed in making the world a better place makes Steve Young a natural pick as the Associates 2025 International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award recipient”. Says IDEA Chair, Paul Soubry and Asper Alumnus.

RBC is IDEA’s platinum partner, celebrating entrepreneurial excellence through the IDEA celebration each year. 

Read more about Young’s remarkable achievements in the official IDEA 2025 announcement.

Each year, the Co-op Student and Employer of the Year are awarded, recognizing excellence in leadership, mentorship, and contributions to learning.

The 2024 Co-op Student of the Year is Priyansh Modi, and the 2024 Co-op Employer of the Year is Treaty One Nations Inc.

2024 Co-op Student of the Year – Priyansh Modi

Nominated by the Government of Manitoba Department of Families, Asper finance major Priyansh Modi is the 2024 Co-op Student of the Year.

Modi served as a Student Policy Analyst, supporting the work of fellow policy analysts, senior management, and the Minister of Families. His supervisors commended his ability to thrive, lead, and grow in a dynamic, high-stakes environment.

Tamsin Collings (Manager) and Joann Correa (Senior Policy Analyst) described how significant Modi’s work was during a time of transformation for the Strategic Initiatives and Program Support unit of the Child and Youth Services Division (Department of Families).

“The work is filled with pressure and high demands, and Priyansh took on the challenge with eagerness and curiosity,” they wrote in their nomination.

For Modi, seeing the impact and real-world application of his work was transformative.

“My co-op placement taught me to translate academic knowledge into meaningful real-world contributions. The impact of my work, which was even used by the Minister, was incredibly meaningful. This experience boosted my confidence in my analytical abilities as I witnessed how my efforts contributed to tangible change,” he wrote of his co-op experience.

Modi, who has since joined the Asper Co-op Student Association as the Director of Finance and the Price Student-Managed Investment Fund, shared how he is taking this newfound confidence into the future.

“Co-op education has taught me to focus on the process rather than the results. This mindset shift has empowered me to set higher goals and embrace challenges, knowing that growth comes from facing the unknown,” he wrote.

2024 Co-op Employer of the Year – Treaty One Nations Inc.

Nominated by Asper MBA co-op student Ryan Nykvist, Treaty One Nations Inc. is the 2024 Co-op Employer of the Year. Jolene Mercer (Executive Director) accepted the award.

Nykvist completed his co-op term as an Environmental Planner at Treaty One Nations Inc., a unique role in which he contributed to the organization’s sustainability initiatives and strategic planning. During his co-op term, Nykvist developed environmental policies, conducted impact assessments, and created a sustainability management toolkit.

In his nomination, he shared that he expected to apply what he had learned throughout his MBA and gain some experience in environmental planning. “But Treaty One surpassed these expectations by providing me with opportunities to lead initiatives, engage with diverse stakeholders, and contribute to high-level strategic planning,” he wrote.

Nykvist described a supportive environment that encouraged learning and a team that allowed him to take the lead but was always there if he needed guidance.

“Treaty One Nations Inc. is an organization where your ideas are valued, and you’re given a real responsibility to make an impact,” he wrote in his nomination. “The work is meaningful, contributing to important goals in sustainability and First Nations economic development.

“Co-op is an excellent opportunity to gain diverse skills, work with passionate professionals, and contribute to significant initiatives.”

Manitoba’s top business co-op program

Accredited by CEWIL Canada, the Asper School of Business Co-op Program is the largest business co-op program in the province. Co-op placements offer students a chance to gain practical experience in the workforce while pursuing their studies.

According to 2023 Asper Employment Report, 89% of BComm co-op students were employed full-time within three months of graduation, bringing their practical experience, strategic insights, and passion into the workplace.

The program is committed to connecting talented Asper co-op students and employers in Manitoba, Canada and around the world. Celebrating Co-op is an opportunity to renew this commitment and honour these connections.

The Co-op Student and Employer of the Year demonstrate the transformative experience of co-op. It’s not just about work experience. Co-op students get to see the impact of their work beyond their team, department, and the organization. Co-op employers connect with top talent, seeing them grow as leaders while making meaningful contributions to their organization.

Connect with the Asper Co-op Program today and learn what experiential learning can bring to your organization.

Young, a decorated student-athlete, an NFL Hall of Fame quarterback, Co-founder and Chairman of private equity firm Hunstman Gay Global Capital (HGGC) and Founder and Chair of the Forever Young Foundation was chosen as an exceptional entrepreneur combining athletic excellence, business success and philanthropic leadership.

If Super Bowl MVP and NFL Hall of Fame inductee aren’t enough, 2025 IDEA recipient Young has torn up the business field as Co-founder and Chairman of HGGC, a private equity firm with over $8 billion under management. In addition to breaking countless NCAA and NFL records, launching a successful private equity firm, he has raised millions for numerous philanthropic endeavors.

“IDEA Co-Chair Ash Modha [BA/98], Co-founder and CEO Mondetta, and I had the opportunity recently to sit down with Steve and what struck us most was how he embodies and personifies all of the hallmarks of an incredible leader and very special person. The Associates are about connecting the world’s greatest entrepreneurs and tapping into their life experience to share and inspire our current business community along with the next generation of leaders in Manitoba,” says Paul Soubry [BComms(Hons)/84] NFI Group Inc. President and CEO, and Chair of IDEA. “With all Steve has accomplished, we were impressed by how humble he was. He is a unicorn – an exceptional athlete, a successful business leader and yet what he seems most proud of is the impact he has and can make for his community and the world.”

Young broke 13 NCAA college football records and was recognized as one of the top five student athletes in the United States. He went on to become a Hall of Fame NFL quarterback who dedicated over fifteen years to professional football, predominantly with the San Francisco 49ers winning three Super Bowls and earning seven Pro Bowl selections. He earned numerous accolades, including being named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXIX and receiving the NFL’s Most Valuable Player awards in 1992 and 1994. He held the record for the highest quarterback rating in NFL history and remains the only quarterback to clinch four consecutive NFL passing titles.

Following his football career, Young transitioned into work as an ESPN analyst and a best-selling author. He evolved again moving into the world of private equity co-founding HGGC Capital, establishing himself as a notable business leader. He also founded and currently Chairs the Forever Young Foundation, an organization involved in supporting children’s charities globally. He is a former International Spokesperson for the Children’s Miracle Network, where more than a billion dollars has been raised to aid children’s hospitals worldwide.

“Imagine scoring the game winning touchdown in every aspect of life – from sport to business to community. Steve Young doesn’t need to imagine it. He lives it,” shares RBC Regional President Kim Ulmer and IDEA 2025 Platinum Partner. “Whether navigating the gridiron, negotiating financial markets, or exploring how to make this world a better place, Steve Young has done so with an excellence, enterprising spirit and a compassionate heart.”

“We are honoured that Steve Young will be on our campus. From a student athlete, a champion in sports to becoming a champion for others in business and philanthropy, he continues to inspire people on and off the field,” says Michael Benarroch, UM President and Vice-Chancellor.

IDEA 2025 will take place on May 21, 2025, at the RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

About the Associates at the Asper School of Business:

The Associates are proud leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs moving the Manitoba economy forward. Comprising 370 senior executives, the Associates have been a driving force since 1982, advancing business education at the I.H. Asper School of Business. The Asper students are linked to the business community through mentorship programs, ongoing networking events and philanthropy. Giving back to the Asper School of Business and business community are the hallmark attributes of the Associates.    ‌

The Associates of the Asper School of Business have generously funded research fellowship awards to recognize and encourage scholarship produced by Asper faculty members. Each successful fellowship recipient earns the distinguished title of Associates Fellow, as well as $10,000 per year, for three years, to support their continued excellence in research, teaching, and engagement.

This year, four new Associates Fellows were named, and two outstanding educators were honoured with Associates Teaching Awards:

Shiu-Yik Au is The Associates Fellow in Finance; Narendra Malalgoda is The Associates Fellow in Supply Chain Management; Kiran Pedada is The Associates Fellow in Marketing and Inclusive Business; and Wei Wang is The Associates Fellow in Leadership and Ethics.

In addition to awarding multi-year research fellowships, The Associates also generously recognize excellence in the classroom with the Associates Teaching Awards, valued at $5,000 each.

Sean Buchanan and Dan Shin each received 2024 Associates Teaching Awards.

The Associates Fellow in Finance – Shiu-Yik Au

Associate Professor in the Department of Accounting & Finance, Au is broadly interested in corporate finance, EDI and finance, financial ethics, finance and innovation, and social finance.

His research takes seriously the maxim that people are what matter most in business and consequently focuses on the impact of intangibles, such as corporate culture, innovation, and ethics on corporate outcomes, showing that a business is much more than the sum of its debt and equity.

With multiple publications in the last five years—appearing in FT 50 journals including Management Science and Journal of Business Ethics—and multiple local media citations (CBC, CTV Winnipeg), Au is a frequent and reliable contributor in both academic and public spheres.

The Associates Fellow in Supply Chain Management – Narendra Malalgoda

Malalgoda, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Supply Chain Management, centers his research on transportation economics, productivity and efficiency analysis, agri-food supply chains, and rural transportation.

He has worked on research projects on public transit efficiency, productivity, and factors influencing transit ridership. Currently, he is focused on agriculture-related projects to improve the efficiency and sustainability of Canadian supply chains. One project optimizes grain movement from farm to elevator to reduce farmers’ costs, while another explores sustainable farm waste management to meet eco-friendly standards. Both projects, funded by Manitoba Agriculture under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP), highlight his commitment to sustainable solutions in agri-food supply chains.

Malalgoda has published and shared his work widely in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, including the Journal of Public Transportation, the International Journal of Public Administration, and Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice.

The Associates Fellow in Marketing and Inclusive Business – Kiran Pedada

As an Assistant Professor of Marketing, Pedada’s research is centered on marketing strategy, with a focus on the financial and social impacts of marketing, marketing strategies for digital environments, and emerging markets.

His research has been featured in public media like Forbes, Fortune, and CNN, local media outlets including the Winnipeg Free Press and CBC, as well as a range of academic publications including the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science (FT 50) and the International Journal of Research in Marketing.

Pedada’s recent work examines the impact of rural women microentrepreneurs on consumer value in India, expanding the discussion to suggest the empowering women through entrepreneurial activities can play a crucial role in driving positive social change.

The Associates Fellow in Leadership and Ethics – Wei Wang

As an Assistant Professor of Business Administration and the Co-Director of the David Dreman Behavioral Lab, Wang’s research and teaching interests include organizational behaviour, business ethics, and leadership.

His research program takes a multi-method approach to study the dynamics of leadership and ethics at work. As the recipient of the 2022 Anne Tsui Dare to Care Research Award, Wang was recognized for the ways in which his work seeks to make a difference int eh lives of employees.

With publications in the Journal of Applied Psychology and the Journal of Management, Wang’s work crosses management and psychological disciplines to understand how leadership and ethics intersect.

The Associates Achievement Award in Teaching – Sean Buchanan

Associate Professor and The Associates Fellow of Business Administration, Sean Buchanan has received an Associates Achievement Award in Teaching in recognition of his outstanding engagement, dynamic instruction, and accessible teaching style in the classroom.

Student testimonials highlight Buchanan’s humour and care, as well as his ability to make complex concepts digestible and create a learning environment conducive to understanding of and enthusiasm for course material. He also received the Commerce Students’ Association Golden Shovel Award this year; for this annual award, BComm students vote to select the professor who has made the most significant impact on them in their final year at the Asper School of Business.

In addition to in-class teaching responsibilities, Buchanan serves as a course coordinator for a core BComm course—a role that often involves training and mentoring new instructors—and he is a committee member for three graduate research students. 

The Associates Achievement Award in Teaching – Dan Shin

Assistant Professor in the Department of Supply Chain Management, Shin has been selected as a recipient of an Associates Achievement Award in Teaching in recognition of his promising contributions to student success and learning since first joining the Asper School in Fall 2023.

In the classroom, Shin combines traditional lectures with case-based teaching to encourage collaborative learning experiences and help students develop real-world presentation and communication skills.

Student testimonials reflect Shin’s willingness to adapt and offer multiple modes of participation for diverse groups of students, with many emphasizing that his choices in the classroom facilitated their learning and demonstrated his investment in their success.

In addition to in-class work, Shin also coached two teams for the 2023-24 Association for Supply Chain Management student case competition, meeting with students regularly and assisting in their preparation for the final presentations. He also worked to coordinate and update a core supply chain course curriculum.

The Emerging Topics Speaker Series: Excellence and relevance in research

Created to support enhanced connections to the business community, contributions to the practice of management and meaningful collaboration between Asper faculty and the business community, The Associates Fellowship Awards have collectively disbursed over $100,000 to the Asper School of Business in pursuit of cutting-edge research projects since the program launched in 2022. Since the program’s inception, nine Associates Fellows have been named.

When named an Associates Fellow, recipients also become featured speakers in the Emerging Topics Speaker Series, an event that invites members of the academic and business community to learn and discuss the Fellows’ research.

This January, The Associates Fellow in Sustainability Rajesh Manchanda will be featured in the next installment of the Emerging Topics Speaker Series. Stay tuned to the Asper Research Events page to learn more.

Gerry Price, 2024 International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) recipient

The annual IDEA Student Presentation, hosted by the Asper School of Business and sponsored by The Associates, is a special event that brings remarkable award recipients to speak with students directly, recounting career success, challenges and stories. Or, as Price himself described it “lessons learned on the path to success.”

After an engaging presentation of Price’s journey from the beginnings of the company to North American expansion and becoming a leader in the market, students had the floor to ask about encouraging innovation, economic growth in a competitive landscape and why Price Industries’ home office lives right here in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

To the last, Price responded, “it’s my home. We support out home.”

He shared the tenets of the Price Way—how he does business—emphasizing that innovation is fundamental, service comes first and people come before profit. “Business is wealth creation where everyone—customers, employees, communities—wins,” he explained.

Above all, he advised students to balance that responsibility to with an unwavering commitment to innovation.

“Don’t shy away from the challenges that might cause a setback. It’s in the setback, the stumble, that you learn. The lessons learned aren’t at the end of the path; they’re on the path,” he said.

As the 2024 IDEA recipient, Price was selected for his impressive business achievements, dedication to philanthropy and steadfast support of student success at the Asper School of Business, the Price Faculty of Engineering and the University of Manitoba.

This year, the fortieth IDEA celebration, is marked by a special focus on the Price Student-Managed Investment Fund (PSMIF). The fund is part of an important campaign to raise $5M to support student success and experiential learning at Asper—an initiative that will have an immediate and lasting impact on students.

Through the PSMIF, Asper students will have the chance to put their knowledge into practice, gaining hands-on investment experience that will prepare them for career success. They will have the opportunity to network with accomplished alumni and industry leaders through the fund’s Board of Directors and Advisory Committee.

Beyond the experience of managing the fund, students benefit from the fund’s distributions, with 4% of the asset value reinvested in the Asper School of Business and going toward additional experiential learning opportunities, scholarships, bursaries and improvements to facilities.

Says Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business, “Today and for years to come, investments in the Price Student-Managed Investment Fund will have a lasting and transformative impact on our students, on the province and the country as we train business leaders of the future. A gift to the fund is an amazing tribute to its namesake, Dr. Gerry Price. As Gerry himself said in his presentation: ‘Business should be for the greater good.’”

Whether in prestigious events and rooms of over 1,600 of Manitoba’s top business executives, to a packed classroom full of 200 eager students, success stories come from connecting and building pathways to success for the next generation, a mission that the Asper School of Business, The Associates and the 2024 IDEA recipient Gerry Price all support.

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Learn more about supporting experiential learning at the Asper School of Business through the Price Student-Managed Investment Fund here.

Despite Gusnoski’s tech-oriented work, her background is in business. Day-to-day, she works with interactive digital media companies and leverages her business expertise to support their goals.

“In the interactive digital media sector, there is exceptional technical and creative talent, but there is also a need for business expertise and opportunities for business professionals in tech companies,” she explains.

She also leads GameBiz Lab, an initiative bringing business education and consulting to Manitoba’s video game community, which has brought guests like Pierre Moisan (who acted as CEO and founder of ArtMedia Studios and producer at Ubisoft) to speak with up-and-coming video game studios.

For Gusnoski, working in interactive digital media means learning something new every day, from what’s hot in the indie game scene to the safety training capabilities of VR technology.

“Being part of New Media Manitoba and meeting with professionals in different fields, I’m always learning, and that is one the best parts of this role. I think for many people, especially early in their career, it can be intimidating how much you don’t yet know, but being open and curious allows you to fill those gaps, ask questions and know more for the future.

“At Asper, I learned to embrace this continuous learning.”

Openness and curiosity have guided Gusnoski since her first day at the Asper School of Business. She joined the program wanting to help people, pursuing majors in human resource management and international business. She also joined with the intent to explore.

“I’m glad that I had that mindset because it allowed me to be flexible and pursue what really interested me. It wasn’t that I saw my career from day one, but I saw Asper as the best path for me to explore.”

Explore she did, as Gusnoski completed three co-op work terms and two international exchanges (Singapore and Sweden), participated in pitch and case competitions and was involved in student action groups, making connections whose impact she could not have imagined at first meeting.

When Gusnoski took on her first post-grad role as a Business Development Coordinator at Economic Development Winnipeg, she worked with a client whom she’d first met during Asper co-op interviews. That same connection recommended her for her current role at New Media Manitoba years later.

Gusnoski didn’t take on a co-op role with this client as a student—she didn’t go on to work for the company after graduating—but she made an impression in the interview that resonated years later.

Connections like this—more investment than transaction—accrue value over time. They evolve with the people that make them. As Gusnoski describes it, there is some practicality to networking, but a network without real connection doesn’t get you very far.

“A big piece of networking is being curious and honestly interested in the other person. It’s more meaningful to get to know someone beyond their ability to offer you work. It’s about making connections not just exchanging business cards.”

For Gusnoski, successful networking is about collaborating across expertise and experience rather than just across levels of seniority, reaching out to peers and emerging professionals. Connecting with CEOs is great, but there is a wealth of knowledge, experience, insight and support in a cohort of young business professionals across sectors.

As Vice-Chair of the Young Associates of the Asper School of Business, the premier network of young leaders, connected to The Associates of the Asper School of Business, she sees this every day.

“When I graduated, I was so consumed by having a new job and wanting to contribute there that I started to feel disconnected from my peers. There was a gap between the community I had at Asper and my work.

“When I joined the Young Associates, I had access to professional development and expert insights, but more importantly, I felt like I was part of a community again, and I had the chance to connect with Asper students, but now as an alum and mentor.”

In her role on the Young Associates and at New Media Manitoba, Gusnoski is making connections: with tech innovators designing the future, with developers crafting your favourite new game and with Asper students learning with openness and curiosity.

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Since 1993, the Young Associates of the Asper School of Business have engaged young professionals through various unique developmental and networking forums, inspired by their mission statement: Learn. Connect. Give Back.

Vice-Chair Corinne Gusnoski shares some advice for recent Asper graduates: “Let people at Asper know that you want to stay involved. The more you say you’re interested, the more you show up, the more people reach out and share opportunities.” Learn more about connecting with the Young Associates of the Asper School of Business here.

How does ADHD impact financial wellbeing and decision-making?

In what ways do gender roles at home predict children’s future investments?

What effect does race-based trauma have on the financial outcomes of Black individuals and communities?

Asper associate professor and The Associates Fellow in Finance, Chi Liao is an expert in behavioural finance, engaging with datasets and psychology, sociology and other social sciences to tackle these questions. She seeks to understand how broader social phenomena affect individual behaviours in financial decision-making and ultimately financial outcomes.

The Associates Fellowship program supports and highlights innovative, impactful work while providing opportunities for Asper researchers to present their findings to the Manitoba business community through the Emerging Topics Speaker Series. Liao presented her work on ADHD, finance and entrepreneurship to members of the Manitoba business and academic community earlier this year.

As she explains, her research supplements what traditional finance might tell us about investing and financial decision making.

“Traditional finance is built on assumptions of ‘rationality,’ meaning that our preferences don’t change over time, that we only care about ourselves, that we only derive utility from wealth, and so on. These assumptions lead to theories predicting, for instance, that everyone should have some of their wealth invested in the stock market,” she explains.

Liao points out that this prediction is far from the truth (in 2005, Statistics Canada reported that Canadians families’ assets comprised only 22.2% stocks and mutual funds/investment funds/income trusts).

“Given this puzzle that traditional finance can’t resolve, a subset of my research investigates the reasons behind low stock market participation despite its importance for wealth accumulation.”

Liao brings this insight into traditional and behavioural finance to the classroom, teaching core courses in both the undergraduate finance major and the Asper Master of Finance program, a CFA Institute University Affiliation Program that prepares students for their CFA designation exams while connecting them with innovative researchers like Liao.

ADHD and financial outcomes

Liao works with secondary data to address compelling gaps in the literature around puzzles like these. In her pursuit of strong data, she finds herself tracing longer histories of neurodivergence and financial decision making. Her work in ADHD and financial outcomes, for instance, draws from data that spans childhood and young adulthood (early twenties), whereas a new project related to ADHD and retirement uses data focused on older adults and retirees. While the range is an important component of credible quantitative research, she points out another implication.

“It goes to show how strongly the effects of ADHD can persist over time.”

Race, trauma and financial decision making

Likewise, as part of her SSHRC-funded work on race and financial decision making, Liao and her coauthors look for links between exposure to race-based trauma and stock market participation, home ownership, retirement savings and wealth accumulation.

In forthcoming work titled “Race, Police Violence, and Financial Decision-Making,” Liao and co-authors Vicki Bogan, Lisa Kramer and Alexandra Niessen-Ruenzi find that African Americans living near a police-involved fatality of another African American experience decreases in home ownership, home equity and defined contribution pension participation compared to non-African Americans. They plan to broaden the focus of this research to explore how race-based historical trauma can be passed down through generations to affect present-day financial decisions and outcomes.

Finding better questions in the data

A quantitative researcher, Liao takes an observation, a gap in the literature—at times a personal connection or an instinct—and works to find reliable data that quantifies behaviour, facilitates causal inference and ultimately offers a clearer understanding of behaviour.

Her research aims to understand the way our humanity and history influence our financial behaviour, staying attuned to systems of power and barriers to success that might exacerbate our inability to live up to traditional finance’s (admittedly unrealistic) expectations for us.

In compiling and analyzing data on financial management among people with ADHD and investigating credible explanations for race- or gender-based financial inequality, she lays groundwork for researchers and practitioners to continue asking better questions.

On May 30, 2024, Gerry Price [BSc/70, MSc/72, LLD/17], the 2024 International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award (IDEA) recipient, will share his impressive career journey, followed by a Q&A facilitated by the Asper School of Business Commerce Students’ Association President, Melani Fernando.

Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business, comments on Price’s legacy as a business leader.

“Gerry Price demonstrates the intent and value of IDEA, recognizing a business leader who has not only seen incredible professional success, but who has also consistently used that success to give back to the Manitoba community. The Asper School of Business is honoured to welcome Gerry to the Drake Centre for this exclusive event. We thank the Associates for giving students this opportunity to connect with an influential leader, philanthropist and innovator.”

The CEO and Chairman of Price Industries, Price began his career as a mechanical engineer, pursuing his Bachelor and Master of Science at UM, before completing a PhD at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania.

Starting in contracting, manufacturing and sales, Price advanced to President of Price Industries Ltd. after only nine years with the organization. Following the “Price way,” he led the growth of the organization from 250 employees and $31 million in sales when he took on the role, to the Price Group today, which comprises 10 companies, more than $1.2 billion in sales and 4,400 employees around the world.

Hosted at the Asper School of Business, the IDEA Student Presentation is an opportunity for UM students to learn from and engage with a top entrepreneur and business leader face-to-face. Students can ask questions and connect with Gerry as he shares stories and lessons learned throughout his distinguished career.  

CSA President Melani Fernando explains why meeting with an icon as a current student is so important.

“When we look at a business professional like Gerry, we can see how successful he is today. Being able to ask him about the stages of his career, that success and see his trajectory, even the struggles, is a really exciting opportunity.

“His transition from engineering into business and leadership will really stand out to students. We know how quickly the business world is changing and that adaptation is a valuable skill. Hearing from someone who made those career transitions will be inspirational and informative.”

Gerry Price is many things—an icon, a prairie powerhouse, a distinguished international entrepreneur, a passionate philanthropist and an inspiration. At the IDEA student presentation, students are invited to meet him as a mentor, a model and, ultimately, a great business leader who was once a UM student himself.

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Event information:

IDEA Student Presentation with Gerry Price

May 30, 2024 | 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Room 343, Drake Centre, 181 Freedman Crescent, Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba

• Please register for the event here.
• Complimentary refreshments will be served.

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Since 1984, the Associates of the Asper School of Business have presented the International Distinguished Entrepreneur Award to illustrious business leaders who have achieved international stature, outstanding entrepreneurial success and have made an exemplary global contribution. IDEA is internationally recognized as prestigious honour and provides notoriety to the University of Manitoba, the Asper School of Business, and the Associates of the Asper School of Business.

Gerry Price will be presented with the award at the 40^th IDEA dinner on May 30, 2024, in Winnipeg at the RBC Convention Centre. RBC is a platinum partner celebrating entrepreneurial excellence through the IDEA celebration each year. 

Read more about Price’s remarkable achievements in the official IDEA announcement here.

Case competitions test students’ business acumen, presentation skills and ability to think quickly. Teams present to judges as their own consulting firms, with strict rules in place to ensure that competitors do not reveal their affiliated school to the judging panel. 

Stellaris Consulting, represented by Asper students Nicole Buckle [BComm(Hons)/21], Tien Nguyen, Sravani Kalva and Pavan Palani took home first place, while Kate Melling, Jennifer Kotadia, Jaiveer Jawandha and Nithya Alagappan won second for the Haskayne School of Business and Abubakar Asif, Akshay Sharma, Anshul Chhahbra and Ajiteshwar Singh brought home third for the DeGroote School of Business.

Represented by Stu Clark Graduate School students, the home team connected with peers from top Canadian business schools and partook in some friendly competition digging into the cutting-edge issues faced by Manitoba businesses today.

Bruno Silvestre, Dean of the Asper School of Business, emphasizes the significance of case competitions to the Asper experience. “Case competitions are an integral part of the Asper School of Business, and a hallmark of our commitment to experiential learning. By giving students an opportunity to apply their in-class learning to real business problems, these competitions inspire creative and agile thinking, diverse leadership styles and innovative approaches to teamwork and collaboration. Through cases, students prepare to face the rapidly changing business environment wherever they study, work and live.”

The competition

In three rounds of competition (the first beginning before teams landed in Winnipeg), participating teams took on a prepared case on WAG-Qaumajuq, a boardroom case on Independent Jewelers (IJL) and a traditional case, complete with public final presentations, on StandardAero.

The cases were as diverse as their solutions, which required creativity and strong collaborative skills to solve. From planning for the national expansion of robust local business Independent Jewelers (IJL) to developing strategies for attracting top talent in the aviation sector to StandardAero, teams worked hard to craft, polish and present their solutions to distinguished judges. WAG-Qaumajuq, whose participation as a case subject was made possible thanks to the generous support of the James W. Burns Leadership Institute, gave students an opportunity to pitch new admission models that would make entry to the gallery free to the community.

Representing StandardAero, Peter Wheatley [BSc(ME)/07, Ext.Ed/10, MBA/15] , Vice President & General Manager, CF34/CFM56, delivered the keynote address at the awards gala on Saturday evening. He shared his career advice for the students in the room that night and commented on the value of businesses participating in these competitions.

“We often imagine a career journey as a straight trajectory forward and up. In reality, that path is made of peaks and valleys, but also opportunities where you need to sidestep and imagine a new path altogether. Embracing those moments is a key part of professional and personal success,” he said.

“At StandardAero, we jumped at the opportunity to participate in the ABCC because by offering our time and a close look at our organization, we benefit from the creativity and perspectives of future business leaders, applying what they’re learning about business today to our aims and goals.”

The community

With over 50 judges, including both alumni and student volunteers, ABCC was truly a team effort. 

As the event’s Platinum Sponsor, The Associates of the Asper School of Business were involved beyond monetary support, with 17 members also serving the competition experience as judges.

Associates Board Chair Denise Zaporzan comments on the importance of ABCC for showcasing Asper across Canada. “We are proud to support the Asper Business Case Competition, allowing visiting students to experience our city’s warm hospitality, collegial business community and innovative spirit. The Associates commend all participants for taking this opportunity to further their business education. It has been an honour to welcome Canada’s future leaders to friendly Manitoba.”

Complete with social activities at The Forks and Festival du Voyageur, the Asper Business Case Competition celebrated business excellence, but also the spirit, creativity and wonder, of Manitoba. The third instalment will take place in February 2025.

More photos of the 2024 event can be found here.

The Asper Business Case Competition is possible thanks to the sponsorship of the Stu Clark Graduate School (Diamond Sponsor), The Associates of the Asper School of Business (Platinum Sponsor), the James W. Burns Leadership Institute (Case Sponsor), IJL (Silver Sponsor), Princess Auto (Bronze Sponsor) and TD (Supporter).