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Strong Returns

For the community of donors who make leadership contributions to the Rotman Annual Fund, supporting student success, driving timely research and fuelling the innovative centres and labs that set our School apart is paramount. While each donor has unique reasons for giving, all are united by a desire to make a difference.

January 2019

 

Catherine Graham


“As an entrepreneur, I’m interested in the conversations Rotman is convening in the business community — and I’m glad to support that kind of thought leadership.”

–Catherine Graham, MBA '01


Every year, more than 300 alumni and friends make a gift of $1,000 or more to the Rotman Annual Fund. Their generosity places them among an exclusive group of donors: the Dean’s Society.

(Former) Dean Tiff Macklem draws a direct line between this group of committed donors and the scale of Rotman’s impact, noting that the Annual Fund provides resources that the School can deploy quickly to seize opportunities and test promising ideas. “The initiatives that set us apart today — like the Creative Destruction Lab and Rotman DesignWorks — exist because we’ve had the resources to be creative and nimble,” Macklem explains. “Tuition funds the high-quality degree programs we deliver, but the Dean’s Society empowers us to go further. Support for the Rotman Annual Fund has enabled us to develop the unique projects that have put us on the map globally as a centre for research, entrepreneurship and leadership development.”

Shaping the future

Fariba Anderson, (MBA ’04), Executive Partner at the research and advisory firm Gartner, has supported Rotman at the Dean’s Society level for nearly a decade. 

She’s excited to see Rotman constantly pursuing new forms of impact. “I really believe that Rotman is shaping the future of Canada,” Anderson says. “I’m proud to support that, and have been doing so every year since I graduated in 2004. Plus, Rotman is on my resume for life. Why wouldn’t I want to see its impact and reputation grow?”

In addition to the satisfaction of helping the School create positive change, Dean’s Society members have unique opportunities to engage with the Rotman community — exploring leading-edge research and connecting with dynamic networks of students, scholars and business leaders. Hondy Hung (MBA ’11), Director of Strategy & Partnerships, Customer Insights, Data & Analytics at Scotiabank, joined the Dean’s Society both to thank Rotman for its impact on his career trajectory as an alumnus — and to connect with future opportunities. “This network leads in so many directions: lifelong learning, partnerships, sponsorships,” he explains. “It has a lot of value for me, both personally and professionally. And as I give back I help to advance the Rotman brand.”


“This network leads in so many directions: lifelong learning, partnerships, sponsorships. And as I give back I help to advance the Rotman brand.”

–Hondy Hung, MBA '11


Catherine Graham (MBA ’01), President of RightSleeve, a promotional products agency, also sees shared value in the relationship she sustains with Rotman through the Dean’s Society: “As an entrepreneur, I’m interested in the conversations Rotman is convening in the business community — and I’m glad to support that kind of thought leadership. Rotman’s investment in providing ongoing education has meant that my learning has continued well beyond graduation; the range of speakers and conferences continues to impress.”

Engagement breeds engagement

For several years after he graduated, David Crawford (MBA ’91), a Partner at Hugessen Consulting, wasn’t closely connected to the School. Then he began teaching at Rotman in the Institute of Corporate Directors program. Looking back on what inspired him to join the Dean’s Society, Crawford recalls: “It was as simple as being in the building — seeing the students, the quality of the faculty, the events. There was so much good work happening; I wanted to help maintain that momentum.” Today, Crawford sometimes invites fellow alumni to events at Rotman. “If they come once, I don’t have to persuade them to come back. They’re impressed, and they start paying attention on their own. Engagement breeds engagement.”


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