Past Events

The National Bank Initiative in Entrepreneurship and Family Business at Concordia’s John Molson School of Business presents Ulric Jerome, BA 00, a distinguished entrepreneur and investor renowned for his role in building two billion-dollar businesses.

On his return to Concordia University, Ulric tells the story of building two billion-dollar businesses including the challenges and successes along the way.

This event is a cornerstone of the National Bank Initiative in Entrepreneurship & Family Business, designed to ignite passion and provide invaluable insights into the entrepreneurial journey.

Discussion highlights:

• The genesis of a billion-dollar idea: Uncover the origins of Ulric's entrepreneurial ventures and what it takes to conceptualize a billion-dollar business.
• Navigating challenges: Learn about the hurdles Ulric faced on his journey and the resilience required to overcome them.
• Strategies for success: Gain insights into the strategies and business models that propelled Ulric's businesses to achieve exponential growth.
• Visionary leadership: Discover the leadership qualities and decision-making processes that have been crucial to Ulric's success.

The National Bank Initiative in Entrepreneurship and Family Business presented a panel discussion with thought leaders from across industry and academia illuminating the role of entrepreneurial innovation in creating a more resilient future for generations to come.

Speakers:

• Patrick Gagné
  • CEO, Cycle Momentum
• Stéphane Chayer
  • Strategic advisor to the President, PLAN/NET ZERØ, Concordia University
• Sass Peress, BComm 82, MBA 84
  • Serial entrepreneur in the renewable and sustainable energy field
• Sarah Houde
  • CEO, MileBox
• Moderator: Ehsan Derayati, PhD 16
  • Director, National Bank Initiative in Entrepreneurship and Family Business
    Senior Advisor, Innovation and Strategic Research, John Molson School of Business

Presented as part of the Exchange Series, hosted by the National Bank Initiative in Entrepreneurship and Family Business at the John Molson School of Business.

As part of the Researchers-Practitioners Exchange Series, the National Bank Initiative in Entrepreneurship and Family Business at the John Molson School of Business hosted a panel of experts to explore the potential of digital innovation and entrepreneurship in creating sustainable value for the healthcare sector.

Speakers included:

• Dr. Barbara Marcolin, associate professor in the Faculty of Management at the University of British Columbia
• Amir Farzam, CEO of Montmed Inc.
• Timothy Kavanagh, director of professional services at B. Braun Medical Inc.

The speakers led an insightful discussion on the present state of affairs within the healthcare field, growing challenges and future trends that digital innovation could effectively contribute towards.

The event was moderated by Suchit Ahuja, assistant professor in the Department of Supply Chain and Business Technology Management, whose research focuses on digital strategy and ecosystems, frugal digital innovation and community-based innovation. The event was attended by an online and in-person audience who put forward questions to facilitate a thoughtful conversation.

Some of the questions that directed the panel discussion included:

1. What are the major challenges in the healthcare sector today?
2. What steps have been taken to integrate innovation into the healthcare system? What have the main challenges and lessons learnt been for each panellist’s attempt to create such innovation?
3. From a policy and regulatory standpoint, how can the government support entrepreneurship and digital innovation within healthcare?

The National Bank Initiative in Entrepreneurship and Family Business, in collaboration with the Faculty of Fine Arts, brought together a unique panel from the non-profit, commercial and community-based art fields to explore the growing intersection of entrepreneurship and art.

Anne-Marie Croteau, dean of the John Molson School of Business and Annie Gérin, dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts, began by highlighting the impact of cultural industries on the modern economy, as well as the increasing pressure to harmonise entrepreneurial mindsets with creative practice.

Speakers included:

• Megan Bradley, co-owner and director at Bradley Ertaskiran, Ondine Hogeboom, director at Flourishing Startups
• Brigitte LeBlanc, associate vice-president of Creative Industries Group, National Bank of Canada
• Diane Roberts, founding artistic director of the Arrivals Legacy Project

The speakers discussed different aspects of art-driven entrepreneurship, including challenges and opportunities that underscore the status quo. The event coincided with International Women's Day and the all-woman panel provided insights into the future of creative collaboration between the art and business worlds.

The discussion was moderated by Adriane MacDonald, associate professor and Canada Research Chair in Governance and Sustainability in the Department of Management, whose research focuses on cross-sector social partnerships, strategy and corporate social responsibility. The event was attended by an online and in-person audience who, through their thoughtful questions, facilitated an enriching discussion on the subject.

Some of the questions that directed the panel discussion included:

1. How do you interpret the relationship between business, specifically entrepreneurship, and art, including any differences, tensions, and commonalities?
2. How does business affect art, and how does art influence business?
3. Is there an emerging form of art-driven entrepreneurship dictated by the current state of the world?
4. What role do institutions, such as Concordia, play in fostering interdisciplinarity, innovation, and co-creation between business and arts?

The National Bank Initiative in Entrepreneurship and Family Business, in collaboration with the John Molson School of Business, brought together researchers and business practitioners in this third edition, to explore digital entrepreneurship ecosystems across countries and industries. Experts on the panel, Layial El-Hadi – Executive Director at FIntech Cadence, James Povitz – Principal at NA Ventures, and Dr. Abayomi Baiyere – Associate Professor at the Copenhagen Business School, provided insights into the status quo, challenges, and opportunities for entrepreneurs in the digital space. The event was moderated by Dr. Arman Sadreddin, Assistant Professor in the Supply Chain and Business Technology Management department at JMSB, whose research focuses on digital innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-enabled organisational capabilities. The event was attended by an online and in-person audience who, through their thoughtful questions, facilitated an enriching discussion on the subject.

Some of the questions that directed the panel discussion included:

1. What is digital entrepreneurship and who are the key stakeholders within the ecosystem?
2. How does Canada differ from the rest of the world on the digital entrepreneurship front, in terms of regulatory framework, investment opportunities, and consumer markets?
3. What is the role of digital technology in the current era of entrepreneurship?
4. Given current macro trends, what are some of the potential opportunities and future directions for digital entrepreneurs?
    

In our effort to continue fostering the conversation between business practitioners and academics, the National Bank Initiative hosts the second Research-Practitioner exchange series event titled, The future of sustainability and entrepreneurship: addressing drivers and challenges. With an increasing importance for creating a sustainable future, we are pleased to welcome local sustainable entrepreneurs, Anie Rouleau and Jean Paquin, to learn more about their experiences in this area of business. The panel is also joined by John Molson School of Business faculty Dr. Adriane MacDonald, and Dr. Joel Bothello, who both undertake research in fields relating to sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Throughout the discussion the panelists delve into the paradigm shift that is occurring as a result of sustainability, and how this prominent trend is impacting today’s business landscape.
The following questions were also addressed in more detail:

• To what extent is there alignment or tensions between business and sustainability?
• What are some of the drivers promoting how organizations adopt sustainable practices?
• What are the obstacles to sustainability being effectively implemented? How does greenwashing pose a threat?
   

Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic for entrepreneurs by entrepreneurs

The National Bank Initiative in Entrepreneurship & Family Business brings together researchers and business practitioners in their first event with Concordia’s John Molson School of Business. The goal of hosting these Research-Practitioners Exchange Series is to bridge the knowledge gap between what is studied in academic research and what is experienced by entrepreneurs in real-life business contexts. As such, this event brought together a panel of three business entrepreneurs; Sean Arani, Emilia Mattei, and Sarah Takforyan, to discuss their challenges, experiences and lessons learned through navigating the on-going Covid-19 crisis. The panel also included, Matthäus Tekathen, the Chair of Concordia’s Department of Accountancy, and astute academic researcher in related topics, such as; organization risk management and Management Control Systems for Entrepreneur During and After Crises. The event was attended by a live and online audience who were all engaged by the stories of how these entrepreneurs successfully navigated these difficult times.
Throughout the discussion the panelists were probed to answer several questions, including;

• What challenges did you face at the onset of the pandemic?
• What managerial actions did you take to address this crisis?
• After adapting to this crisis, did your company experience any lasting changes to how you operate your business?
   

This event was with its panel of distinguished speakers (Stéphane Achard, Executive VP Commercial Banking and Insurance, National Bank; Geneviève Biron, President and CEO, Biron; Anne-Marie Hubert, Ernst & Young Canada East Leader) discussed how to start up a business in the current business environment, focusing on opportunities, resources and strategies for start-ups in the COVID-19 context.

This event featured a presentation by Louis Vachon, President and CEO of the National Bank of Canada, on the topic of "Entrepreneurship and Transformation."

This event featured a panel discussion around the topic of "Are Quebec businesses facing a talent gap?"

This event was held at the John Molson School of Business and focued on the topic of innovation in family business and entrepreneurship.