First Lang MBA cohort ready for big things

Submitted by aboughen on May 15th, 2019 10:13 AM

Last week, the first MBA cohort under the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics banner will kick off with 45 new students coming to campus for their residential period.

The residential period began with the MBA Honours Night, featuring guest speaker George Foster, the Konosuke Matsushita Professor of Management at Stanford University. Foster is also a member of Lang’s International Institute for Sport Business and Leadership. The event will also include the unveiling of the 2019 MBA Valedictorian, Doug Miller. As the Managing Director of Certification and Technology Services at the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association, Miller is using technology to challenge the status quo. Named one of the top influencers in the Canadian seed industry, he has been recognized domestically and internationally for this digital change initiatives.

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In addition to their coursework, Lang MBA students will be participating in team building exercises at Eagle’s Flight and in an “Amazing Race-style” adventure in Elora, Ontario. Specific classes will also be touring YU Ranch, an industry leader in sustainable agriculture providing local foodservice businesses sustainably fed beef.

The 2019 cohort includes a diverse mix of students from a variety of career levels and industries, bringing together a wide range of experiences.

The 2019 Lang MBA Cohort at a glance:

Demographics:

Class size: 45
Average age: 36
Age range: 24-56
Male: 60%
Female: 40%

Industries represented:

Food and Agriculture: 20%
Education: 18%
Public/Not-For-Profit: 18%
Manufacturing and Energy: 13.5%
Retail: 13.5%
Hospitality and Real Estate: 13%
Finance: 4%

Travelling from:

Nigeria
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Alberta
Saskatchewan
British Columbia

The new cohort will be joined by the 2018 and 2017 cohorts as they complete their second and third residential periods. The 2017 cohort will be completing their capstone course, working on a live case study featuring executives from Hero Certified Burgers, a Toronto based restaurant chain. The capstone course is designed to provide an interactive and rigorous case study that encourages students to think critically, solve a challenging problem and showcase the skills they have developed throughout their MBA.

What Lang MBA alumni say about the program:

"I took the program to be able to take my work to the next level - how can I best contribute to a sustainable surveillance program, and how can I contribute to sustainable careers for the veterinary profession? I'm happy to say that every course I've taken has had elements I could directly apply to work right away, and others that I've added to a larger picture understanding of sustainable commerce. I think being part of the MBA program has given me more tools to expand my viewpoints generally."

- Melanie Barham, Coordinator, Ontario Animal Health Network

"The residential aspect of the MBA program was a vital component in the overall learning experience. Meeting everyone face to face is a critical foundation to the group work in the program. When at the one week residential stays, you really go deep in your connections and in the sharing and bonding between cohort members. The connections happen quickly because everyone is in it together, and the fact that we are on a learning journey provides a very open channel for vulnerability and exploration and sharing between individuals. We had so much fun, too!"

Gayleen Gray
Assistant Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, McMaster University

The Guelph MBA is a hybrid program that blends online learning with on-site programming, designed for experienced business leaders who wish to catapult their careers. The program is designed to take your already extensive business knowledge and skills and enhance them further. The program’s three specializations draw upon the University of Guelph’s strengths in Food and Agribusiness Management, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Sustainable Commerce.

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