intouch

Family Ties David Simpson, MBA ‘88, is putting his real-world experience to work in Ivey’s Business Families Centre Tomorrow’s Leaders Does Purity Pay? eement 40015801

A magazine for alumni and friends of the Richard Ivey School of Business / Summer 2007 Publications Mail Agr

Ivey InTouch Magazine | Summer 2007

20 Oasis It’s hard to decide what you envy more – the log chalet in Whistler, the centuries-old villa in Tuscany, or the contemporary paradise in sunny Palm Desert. We visit three alums with magnificent getaway homes – places where they go to refresh and re-energize themselves.

FEATURES DEPARTMENTS intouch SUMMER 2007 4 | Doing Business 32 | Notes from 16 An Ivey alum is named the Near and Far Editor in Chief: Glenn Yonemitsu, MBA ’89 world’s top innovation Check your year, cruise the Editorial Board: Bob Beauregard, MBA ’62, alumnus; Terri Garton, Alumni Relations; The Riskof Purity management scholar, top pictures, and then tell us Mark Healy, MBA ’05, IAA Board of speakers visit the School, Directors; Michael Needham, MBA ’68, More than 20 years ago Michael Porter proposed that about you. Ivey Advisory Board; Rob Way, Marketing and Ivey students strut their stuff, Communications; Jeff Weiss, HBA ’86, MBA firms with pure strategies were more successful than and much more. ’91, alumnus; Glenn Yonemitsu, MBA ’89, those with mixed strategies, and that’s what business 48 | Lives Remembered Advancement Editor: Pat Morden students have been learning ever since. Recently Ivey Fred Metter, MBA ‘73 9 | Alumni in Action Design: Greg Salmela, Aegis (Toronto) researchers took a second look and uncovered some Contributing Writers: Pat Morden; Max Morden; Krista McFadden; interesting new ideas. 50 | Alumni Speak Kevin O’Leary, MBA ‘80 28 | ProfFile Production Co-ordinators: Don Park; Navin John, MBA ‘05 The top Ontario Hockey League Krista McFadden player in 1982, David Simpson chose Research: Erin Jacobi 12 INTOUCH is published by the Department of business over professional hockey. þ | InTouch on the Web Advancement at the Richard Ivey School of Now he heads Ivey’s Business Find more alumni news at Business,The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 3K7 Classof 2007 Families Centre and provides star www.ivey.uwo.ca/alumni INTOUCH welcomes input from all alumni They have big dreams, and the knowledge, power to Ivey’s faculty team. • Monthly e-newsletter for letters to the editor, articles or ideas on themes. Please send all address changes • skills and personal power to make them Ivey Network to Advancement, Richard Ivey School of happen. Meet six recent 30 | Development • Ivey Class Business,The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada N6A 3K7, via e-mail • Ivey grads who are going He built the Jackson Triggs brand Ivey Resources to [email protected] or over the web at into the bestselling wine in Canada. • Quick Links to Homecoming, www.ivey.uwo.ca/alumni. Copyright 2006 – to change the world. Richard Ivey School of Business. Now Don Triggs, MBA ‘68, is sharing Alumni Events and Chapters, Reproduction in whole or in part some of his hard-earned success Investing in Ivey, Headlines, without permission is prohibited. Cover Photo: Brian Hillier with Ivey, endowing a Chair in BIOs, Business Directory, Advertising Sales: Rachel Condie, International Business. Alumni Services and Benefits Ivey Advancement, (519) 661-4101 Centre for Building Doing Sustainable Value Reaches Out Business “We think we understand and embrace cultural The School diversity,” says Professor Tima Bansal, Director of the in the World Centre for Building Sustainable Value, “but the reality is, there are lots of boundaries we have not yet pushed.” That was one of the key messages coming out of the Ivey Conference on Workplace Diversity, Issues on the For the most up to date news at Ivey, Cutting Edge.The sold-out conference, organized by þ visit www.ivey.ca/media Ivey Professor Alison Konrad through Ivey’s Research Centre for Building Sustainable Value, was held at Ivey’s new Toronto campus on March 9. It brought together academic researchers and corporate and government representatives to share ideas, challenges, strategies, and best practices.Themes included workplace issues of gender, disability, cross-cultures, and the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. The day began with an Aboriginal welcoming ceremony, and lunch featured a “Wheelchair Tango.” “It was a fabulous event,” says Bansal. “The Centre will be planning further conferences that deal with issues on the cutting edge, and bring together practitioners and researchers who are really pushing the frontier on these issues.” Bringing practitioners and WHAT IS researchers together is also the BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY? concept behind Ivey’s new Research Business activities Network for Business Sustainability. that balance private More than 150 of the best Canadian and public interests to ensure economic, Health Sector MBA researchers have joined the Network. environmental and Now Bansal is creating a council of social sustainability. in the News practitioners to help frame research questions of importance to private and “As physicians, we’re trained to care for patients, but our training does public sector managers.The Council not extend into the corporate environment and the financial and other already includes 10 major companies 4 business skills needed to make informed health-care management who are leaders in this field, as decisions.” That’s Dr.Fawaz Siddiqui talking to The Toronto Star about well as the federal ministries of the environment, industry, the health-sector MBA program developed jointly by Ivey and the and natural resources. Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western. Students in the “We want to create a program take the usual MBA modules along with six special courses collaborative environment that dealing with clinical trials, intellectual property and licensing, health breaks down the institutional structures sector strategy and marketing, and other topics. “The focus in medical that prevent researchers, practitioners and school is to train good doctors, but part of being a good doctor is being public policy-makers from talking to each other,” says Bansal. “We believe that the Research Network for a good manager,” says Dr. Siddiqi in an article in the Financial Times. Business Sustainability has a huge potential to do that. “It’s having a core understanding of how to work within Ultimately, our vision is to make Canada a leader the context of an organization.” in business sustainability.”. Ivey InTouch Magazine | Summer 2007

Looking Good at L’Oreal E-Strat Final Two Ivey teams won the L’Oreal E-Strategy Challenge National Final in early April. This year, 304 teams from across Canada took part in the competition. After eight weeks of competing in the virtual realm, the top six teams were invited to L’Oreal’s head office to present their business plans to executives. “The two winning teams had impressive presentation skills and convinced us to invest in their company thanks to their strong analysis,” said Dominique Soussan, president of the judging panel and Vice-President of LaRoche-Posay, one of L’Oreal’s brands. A Peek Inside the Executive Suite On March 6, the MBA Women in Management Club hosted “Inside the Executive Suite” with Dean Carol Stephenson. In an intimate question and answer format, Dean Stephenson talked candidly about her career, and the opportunities and challenges unique to women in business. Dean Stephenson said that she found other women to be supportive of each Future other in their careers, and noted that she still keeps in touch with a group of women from her early days. Entrepreneurs Says Alex Yazdani, MBA ‘07, the student organizer of the event, “It was great to be able to interact Take Cross-Enterprise one-on-one with the Dean.” Alum Named Challenge Top Innovation Scholar Twenty-four hours is a short time to come up with a solution to an entrepreneurial business problem, but that’s exactly how long the Dr. Robert Cooper, MBA ‘68, PhD ‘73, was named 300 HBA students competing in the Bruce Dodds Cross-Enterprise the world’s top innovation management scholar in the May 2007 issue of the Journal of Product Challenge had. The HBA students were divided into teams of six, and Innovation Management. given a business problem from one of four entrepreneurial companies. Cooper, a professor at McMaster University’s Each team developed a business solution and then presented it to 5 DeGroote School of Management, invented the “client.” The top three teams were chosen to make a further Stage-Gate, a business system designed to drive new pitch, and the client chose a winner. Susan Kates operates products and technologies to market faster and with better commercial success. In addition to his teaching DinnerWorks, which puts on events to help single professionals and research, Cooper is a partner in Stage-Gate Inc., build their social networks. Her problem? How to do a better job of a consulting company based in Ancaster, Ontario. marketing to men. “The students were incredibly bright, articulate, “It’s great to be recognized by your peers, but

ERDMAN very quick and able to assess a problem and offer clear solutions,” it’s even more gratifying to see the amount of good Kates says. “I was very impressed with their professionalism. It was scholarly work on innovation management that now exists,” said Cooper. “Most importantly however, it is incredibly tough to choose a winner.” Other entrepreneurial companies TIONS: CRAIG that the knowledge in these articles is making a real participating in the Cross-Enterprise Challenge were Life Capture

ILLUSTRA difference to companies around the globe.” Interactive, Better Foods, and Hagerman Fine Art. Corporate Governance Gurus Guess This Year’s Ivey Business Leaders Who Came to Speak? The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan team of Claude strong leadership among corporate leaders is more Lamoureux, President & CEO, and Robert Bertram, important than ever, Claude and Robert stand as an Executive Vice-President Investments, will receive this year’s example to us all.” Ivey Business Leader Award at a gala dinner on October 3, “Claude Lamoureux and 2007. Created in 1991, the Award honours individuals and Robert Bertram together have done Among the top speakers who organizations that have made a significant contribution to more than anyone else to advance presented at Ivey in the advancement of business in Canada and reflect the the cause of shareholder rights recent months: ideals of the School. within corporate Canada and their “We are delighted to honour Claude’s and Robert’s influence is felt beyond our borders Elizabeth May outstanding achievements in business as well as their well into the global community,” Leader of the ongoing commitment to strong corporate governance in says Gilles Ouellette, co-Chair of the Green Party of Canada Canada,” said Dean Carol Stephenson in making the Ivey Business Leader Award Committee, and President and Dave Chilton announcement. “In a time when the need for integrity and CEO of the Private Client Group, BMO Financial Group. Author of The Wealthy Barber

Dr. Kirsty Duncan Organizer of the Millennium Development Sleep Country Canada Goals Tour John Nay Founders Talk Branding U.S. Consul General, Toronto with Ivey Students Robert Noble Consul General of Canada, Detroit On February 14, “Mattress Queen” Christine Magee, HBA ’82, and Stephen Gunn, MBA ’81, shared their Sleep Country Canada success story with over 300 students and alumni at Ivey and via Perrin Beatty CEO of Canadian webcast. The event, made possible the J.J.Wettlaufer Distinguished Visitor Lecture Series for Manufacturers and Leadership, was extremely well-received by students, staff and alumni, who found Magee and Exporters Gunn to be informative and inspirational. During the lecture, the co-founders explained that they Christine Magee, HBA ‘82 and Stephen Gunn, MBA ‘81 used three strategies to dominate each market in which they established Sleep Country Canada: founders of dominant brand awareness; superior in-store service; and quality home-delivery service. Sleep Country Canada “Our sustainable advantage was to win through better execution – Steve Parkhill keep it really simple and execute the heck out of it,” President, Rogers Chocolates said Gunn. Their strategy brought them great success,

Jay Bertram, HBA ‘83 as Sleep Country Canada has grown from just four stores President, in Vancouver in 1994, to more that 120 stores and TBWA Canada 10 distribution centres across Canada. Today, thanks Sonia Labatt Philanthropist and advocate to Magee and Gunn, Sleep Country Canada for the environment is the No. 1 mattress specialist in the country.

Doug Cooper Country Manager (Canada), Intel Corporation Ivey InTouch Magazine | Summer 2007

Christine Magee Jay Bertram and Stephen Gunn President, Doug Cooper Founders of TBWA Canada Country Manager (Canada), Sleep Country Canada Sonia Labatt Steve Parkhill Intel Corporation Philanthropist and President, advocate for the Rogers Chocolates environment 8

I I VE Y A LUMNI A SSOCIATION The Three Pillars P owered by the i vey n e t w o r k For information about the Ivey Alumni Association, visit www.ivey.ca/IAA/IAAmainpage.htm

1 Community 2 Expectations Fostering connections between Establishing clear alumni to build community expectations of alumni

Conservationist Stillin draws a crowd in theMix Living by Ivey’s four Calgary expectations – Calgary Alumni Chapter even in retirement hosts sold-out luncheon WE TALK WITH BOB BROUILLARD, MBA ’66 on climate change FORMER CHAIR, IVEY EUROPEAN ADVISORY BOARD

Over 200 people attended an Ivey Alumni “Mr. Flannery believes that we all can make a A decade ago, Bob Brouillard was heavily entrenched Association Calgary Chapter Luncheon on difference,” said Naylen Sorrell. “Unlike some in heading up Deloitte Consulting’s expansion into Addressing Climate Change at The Petroleum Club other climate change activists, Mr. Flannery is Europe. At the time, he had already worked in various in Calgary on March 9. asking us to make small changes where possible, senior roles with the consulting firm for more than 30 The sold-out event was the first major event such as changing from large SUV’s to smaller cars. years – the entirety of his career after graduating from hosted by the new Calgary Ivey Alumni Association. He also suggested that we could buy our power Ivey with an MBA in 1966 – and was launching a new Organized by Susan Naylen Sorrell, HBA ’95 MBA from companies offering green alternatives, such phase in the firm’s evolution. ’00, the event featured Tim Flannery, the best as companies like Alberta’s ENMAX.” Today, Brouillard has taken a step back from the selling author of The Weather Makers: The History Flannery also provided the audience, business world, by retiring to the picturesque Welsh and Future Impact of Climate Change. primarily leaders and employees of large oil and countryside. And while he claims “retired” means “It was our first major event and we were very gas companies, with an economic reason to focus retired, Brouillard remains quite active as an Ivey alum, pleased that it was a huge success. We have on new green technologies. just as he had been throughout his long, successful received nothing but positive feedback from the career. attendees,” said Naylen Sorrell. “While many Here’s how Brouillard lives up to the Ivey Alumni commented on how well Mr. Flannery’s comments Association (IAA) Board’s four Expectations: were perceived by the audience, our alumni were HOW DO YOU UPHOLD IVEY PRINCIPLES? really impressed to see Ivey host a luncheon on “I think of management consulting as a highly ethical such a timely topic.” field of business, so upholding Ivey’s principles and “We were very pleased to see the response standards is something I’ve always done. It is also from the Calgary business community. Our alumni something all alumni should practice throughout their rallied together to sell tickets and ENMAX, Fraser careers – certainly in today’s public domain, where Milner Casgrain, Lehman Brothers, and RBC Capital business ethics and integrity are such important stepped forward to sponsor our event,” she said. issues. The Ivey Ring Tradition helps to remind Flannery, who is widely recognized as one of “He told the audience that oil and gas us of that.” the leading authorities on global warming, spoke to companies have to keep in front of green energy or the large group about ways to make small changes possibly risk being left with an obsolete asset,” said DO YOU THINK IVEY FIRST? in our daily routines that will have a great impact on Naylen Sorrell. “Mr. Flannery illustrated that green “At one time, I was the Human Resources Director for global warming. technologies can be profitable. He noted that one of Deloitte Consulting in Canada and led the recruiting the wealthiest men in China is making solar team at Ivey for over 10 years. We recruited a lot of panels.” Over one million copies of Flannery’s book, The Weather Makers, have been sold worldwide. After reading The Weather Makers, Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson pledged an estimated $3 billion towards developing sustainable energy. The Ivey Alumni Association shares a mandate with the School to make the alumni network more valuable. To do this, the IAA is focussing on three broad areas:

1. Uphold Ivey Principles. Act honourably, ethically and with integrity in all business dealings. 3 Voice of Alumni 2. Think Ivey First. Consider alumni for recruiting, mentoring or as suppliers. Facilitating two-way communications 3. Be an Ivey Ambassador. Be proud of Ivey, between the School and the alumni encourage others to consider Ivey. community 4. Give Back. Financially; by volunteering; by staying connected.

The MBA Direct Program Reborn Ivey alumni feedback and participation integral in the launch of the AMBA Program

to chair the Board. Over the next couple of years, When the School announced their new strategy in I helped to build the European Advisory Board and September 2005, the most common question from recruited some very good people both in London, many HBA alumni was, “What will happen to the U.K., and from the continent.While I have just retired existing MBA Direct program?” that allows recent as Chair of the European Board, I am still a member HBA grads to complete an MBA in a condensed of the Ivey Advisory Board. In addition to giving time timeframe. The IAA heard this concern, and to the Advisory Board, I have contributed funding to ensured the School listened. the School for a number of years to support Dean Stephenson struck a task force, chaired fellowships and scholarships.” by Professor Chris Piper, MBA ’69, with members to include HBA alumni, faculty and staff to WHAT DO YOU THINK OF IVEY’S FOUR EXPECTATIONS? investigate different options. After months of input “I think they are important. I believe that all of our and discussions, in March 2007, the new alumni can do some or all of these things. “Giving Accelerated Masters of Back” is something we can all do. Even if some of Business Administration Ivey students, about five to six graduates each year. our alumni don’t have the time or are not at the (AMBA) was formally The statistics provided to us by the School told us that stage in their careers where they can be on an unveiled. we were the No. 1 Ivey recruiter at that time. We even Advisory Board, they could do some work with Clearly, this shows produced a small joint recruitment brochure with the regional Alumni Chapters. Everybody can make a the importance and value School. Although we recruited from many schools, we contribution to the School in accordance with his or of our strong voice as really felt that it was an advantage to recruit at Ivey. her individual circumstances. All four Expectations alumni. In this instance, Because we went back to the School to talk to can be applied at every stage of your career.” the School relied on students on such a regular basis, students knew of our alumni feedback, and two- firm and were actively seeking us out.” way communication to not only identify concerns, but refine programming, and ARE YOU AN IVEY AMBASSADOR? strategize on satisfying the HBA demand for a new “Of course, I was a very strong Ivey Ambassador version of our MBA Direct program. when I was active in the firm. Now that I am retired, In September, the School will be pleased to I often speak to potential applicants who are welcome the first AMBA class. For more considering Ivey. I just talked to one person recently information on the Accelerated Masters of Business about the merits of getting a degree from Ivey and Administration program, visit www.ivey.ca/mba/ I have since learned that he chose Ivey.” programs/mbadirect.htm HOW DO YOU GIVE BACK TODAY? “Shortly after my move to the U.K. in 2002, our preceding Dean, Larry Tapp, asked me to help launch the European Advisory Board and invited me As long as we keep producing leaders like these, the world is in good hands. Cl12 ass of2007 Ivey InTouch Magazine | Summer 2007

Terry Anuroop Schultz, MBA Duggal, HBA/BESC After serving as a pastor in Waldheim, A graduate of the unique combined Saskatchewan for four years, Schultz felt the engineering and HBA program, Duggal need to develop his leadership skills. He received Classof was also a member of the winning team the 2006 Thomas P. Howard Award, created to 2007 at the 2007 Citibank Case Competition in recognize an MBA student ‘for whom the Ivey Hong Kong. He is joining Goldman Sachs learning experience has resulted in tremendous in New York. personal transformation.’

Being part of an amazing study team last semester.We were If you had to pick My trip to Hong Kong for the case competition. From a cultural studying for Corporate Financial Reporting and there was a lot of one highlight of your perspective, it was absolutely phenomenal – I had never visited China, complex information to review.The group was made up of top time at Ivey, and I got to meet students from all around the world. And winning students and everybody pulled their weight 100 per cent. The what would it be? made it a little more fun! combination of tough work, a bright, hardworking group, and good attitudes all around made it a pure thrill to work with them.

The most important thing I’ve gained is the ability to manage time In what way Ivey has helped me to look at problems and tackle them in a number and a heavy workload. I’m also better at processing lots of has Ivey left you of different ways. It’s about thinking creatively and then coming to a information to make key decisions.The Ivey MBA program has been a better person? logical conclusion. Ivey has also encouraged me to take more risks, a great challenge. It’s not until you are pushed to run a marathon which is something I value a lot. that you actually develop strength and endurance.

I was surprised by the extent to which my experience as a Pastor What was the most When you come to university, you think of it as primarily an academic gave me some useful skills as a business professional. unexpected thing you exercise, but one thing you learn at Ivey is the importance of people – learned at Ivey? the value of establishing relationships and strong peer groups, and of learning to manage and deal with people on a day-to-day basis.

When you see how rapidly things are changing in Asian countries, What is the most Technology will continue to advance, and that will make the business it’s hard to know what’s coming. With the number and quality of significant change you world an ever more global environment. Technology will also help to graduates coming out of China and India, you know there is rapid expect to see in make us more competitive. Sustainable development and global social change ahead for the global business community. Integrity and a business over the responsibility will hopefully become a more integral part of business. sense of purpose and proper perspective will be very important for next 20 years? business students and leaders in the future.

As a Pastor I struggled with how to help people who didn’t have How will you as a As I move into more senior positions, I will be able to make decisions good job skills and employment. I could help them to some extent business leader that are not only good for business, but also good from a social and but it was a struggle to keep them integrated into the work force contribute to the environmental perspective. and productive. I believe there is great potential for the business society in which you community to cooperate with community organizations and operate? churches to solve this type of problem. I would enjoy being part of a business culture that develops such partnerships and is therefore much more effective in bringing about positive changes in society. 13

I want to be teaching full-time as a professor, equipping people In 20 years time, A job that is continually challenging. From a personal perspective, in both the business and non-profit sectors to be better leaders what do you hope to I hope to have the ability to give back. That’s something that is in their own spheres. I get excited when people catch a vision have achieved? encouraged at Ivey. Even if we’re not able to make a difference now, of the kind of influence they could have as leaders in their just becoming aware of the issues is important. organizations and communities. Simon Meaghen Holmes, MBA Jansen, HBA Holmes, a Vancouver native, Jansen joined the HBA program after two completed an undergraduate degree from years at McMaster University. A finalist in Harvard and then worked for three years Classof both the BCG and Monitor Case Competitions, with Bentall Capital. He is now working 2007 she also chaired the first ever Ivey high with the real estate group at the school case competition. Jansen works with CPP Investment Board. General Mills Canada as a financial analyst.

Experiencing the intelligence, compassion and diversity of my If you had to pick Being part of a fantastic team for the Ivey Client Field Project. classmates. Our class was an extremely tight-knit group.We spent one highlight of your It was an absolutely amazing experience.We consulted with the every day together and the friendships I formed made Ivey an time at Ivey, Fairmont Royal York throughout the year, doing focus groups with extraordinary experience. what would it be? employees and interviewing management so that we got to see the two different perspectives.We got to apply all the skills we’d learned in HBA1, and the team was amazing.

The main benefit has been learning a big picture methodology for In what way Ivey has taught me to be very creative when faced with the unknown. solving business problems. I’ve been trained to analyze each has Ivey left you I’ve learned that you always have to take a holistic approach to anything situation using the cross-enterprise approach, and I’ve learned that a better person? in your life, as there are always networks of relationships that aren’t if a solution seems obvious, it’s probably wrong! In this one year, always obvious. I’ve learned as much as it would take someone several years to learn in a senior management position.

I was pleasantly surprised by how beneficial I found the generalist What was the most That it is humanly possible to get together with a group of complete nature of the Ivey MBA. It seemed as if the subject matter was unexpected thing you strangers and unite very quickly to complete an extensive case analysis definitely secondary to the way of thinking that Ivey imparts. Even learned at Ivey? for the infamous 48-hour report! though I’m returning to a position in real estate investment, I’m confident that the courses I’ve taken in a wide range of subjects will eventually be beneficial.

I see the ever-increasing prominence of large pools of capital such What is the most I expect to see many more firms placing a greater emphasis on social and as pension funds, which will eventually control a major portion of significant change you environmental concerns. Currently firms are realizing that in order to be the corporate and investment landscape in the Western world. These expect to see in financially stable and successful in the future, they have to heed these groups will become increasingly creative and assertive in their business over the various demands.For some companies, it will mean a dynamic shift in search for returns from non-traditional asset types. Related to this,I next 20 years? their philosophies. expect investors to increasingly realize that public equity markets are not the best way to achieve the highest return.

I hope to be in a position where I have the freedom to balance my How will you as a For me, education is extremely important, both on a local and a global career aspirations with other goals such as improving the lives business leader scale. Locally, I would like to be involved in various non-profits in the around me, be it family, co-workers or the general community. contribute to the community to help them achieve their goals. On a global scale, I’d love to work with my fellow business leaders and Ivey peers to help grow 14 society in which you operate? businesses in developing regions.

I hope to have gained the respect of my peers in the investment In 20 years time, I hope to have had many opportunities to mentor and motivate aspiring industry – probably the best gauge of success – through my what do you hope to business leaders to achieve their goals and to help them in any way I investment acumen, my management skills, and the integrity have achieved? can. I would also love to have several scholarship funds set up both at I have demonstrated. On a personal level, whatever the university and the high school level, to motivate students to keep achievements I accomplish will be meaningless unless striving for their dreams and goals. And I’d like to see the non-profits I’m I have a sense of personal satisfaction in what I have done. part of flourish and make a positive impact. Ivey InTouch Magazine | Summer 2007

Roy Martin Betty Tsoi EMBA HONG KONG EMBA An award-winning nuclear engineer, Martin Hong Kong native Tsoi has lived and worked served as Senior Vice President and Chief with Citibank in Canada, Belgium, the U.S., and Engineer of RCM Technologies Canada when Classof Taiwan. She chose the Executive MBA after he started the Ivey Executive MBA. He is now 2007 attending an Ivey Consortium Executive program Director, Boilers and Pressure Vessels and in 2004. She is currently Regional Head of Operating Engineers Safety Program for the Customer Experience & Loyalty for Technical Standards & Safety Authority. Citibank Hong Kong.

It’s not one thing, but rather the entire set of dialogues that went If you had to pick The in-residence two weeks that kicked off the EMBA program in 2005. on in class – the interaction, the ability to bounce ideas off people, one highlight of your It had been a long time since I was required to work so hard with books get their feedback, express opinions, ideas and thoughts. time at Ivey, and assignments and examinations – I had forgotten what it was like to what would it be? study! Fortunately this was also the time when I met many new friends who gave me much-needed support.

It has helped me to be more open to alternate ideas and different In what way I have learned that there is no absolute right or wrong solution to a viewpoints. Since I came from a very structured and highly technical has Ivey left you business situation. The key is to objectively assess the problem from all background, there wasn’t much room for free thinking. The nuclear a better person? angles. And the key to successful execution is taking care of stakeholders’ industry is like the airline industry – you’d prefer that the pilots interests. I have learned that there are other ways that can be, and weren’t debating how they were going to land the plane! should be considered. And the learning never stops.

There were a number of “Aha!” moments – keen insights that have What was the most I learned to use Excel quite well! Seriously, I learned so much from a now become integrated into the way I think. In particular, though, unexpected thing you team of 30-plus talented people who often thought completely there were three questions that our professors often encouraged us learned at Ivey? differently from me. Some of the class discussions were so intense and to ask. “So what?” “It’s Monday morning – what are you going to views so different, it made me think I was in a courtroom! do now?” and “Okay, things didn’t work out as planned – what can you learn and how do you move forward?”

Robotics is going to move to the forefront over the next two What is the most The world is getting smaller, and corporate jobs are getting more decades. As highly versatile robots come into play, I expect a lot of significant change you complex as a result. The information explosion and technological technology-driven production will move back to the higher wage expect to see in advances are raising people’s expectations for a hastened decision countries. Countries like China that are thriving on the wage business over the process. Everyone is becoming more demanding, especially customers. differential will suffer tremendously.We will also be seeing huge next 20 years? One must be forward looking to anticipate, so as to be better prepared. demographic shifts in North America. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Spanish recognized as the official second language in the U.S. during that period.

I would like to advance business toward the solution of real How will you as a By being a role model and sharing my values. Whatever the ethnic, problems, rather than spending huge amounts of effort on problems business leader geographic and cultural differences, these values should always include that don’t affect the real world. I’d like to help lead concrete contribute to the integrity, care for people, and continuous learning. discussions that separate emotion from fact. society in which you operate?

I hope I’ll be able to look back and say that I have had some In 20 years time, Retirement! I hope to have nurtured a number of highly successful influence on a small group of business leaders, helping them to what do you hope to business initiatives and best of breed business leaders. In anticipation of learn how to deal with real problems, and improve their lives, their have achieved? Professor Roger Moore’s questions on the definition of “successful”– company, and their country. It’s not so much what I will do myself, profitable, best of breed, visionary, high integrity, and human. as what I will encourage and support others to do. 16 Ivey InTouch Magazine | Summer 2007

THE RISK OF PURITY

Ivey researchers find that firms with WHEN STEWART THORNHILL AND Rod White, HBA ‘74, teach strategy to pure strategies make more profit, students or practitioners, they want to but tend to die sooner know whether the theories they present are backed up by hard evidence. One of the most widely accepted strategy doctrines is “purity pays,” an idea put forward by economist Michael Porter in the early 1980s. According to Porter, firms are more profitable when they follow “pure” strategies, creating products that are either superior to the competition’s, or cost less. If a firm tries to be all things to all people, then it gets 17 “stuck in the middle” and makes less money. Although there is lots of anecdotal evidence to support Porter’s theory, Thornhill and White felt that existing empirical studies on this question were weak and somewhat ambiguous. “If we were going to teach this stuff, we wanted to know it was right,” says Thornhill. Fortunately, Thornhill had access to a unique and comprehensive data

CHAGALL’S THE FALL OF ICARUS REINTERPETED BY ARTIST JAMES FEDEROV The Strategy Paradox MICHAEL RAYNOR, MBA ‘94, TURNS STRATEGY THINKING THE MESSAGE UPSIDE DOWN WITH HIS NEW BOOK FOR MANAGERS IS SIMPLE... “The next giant step forward in strategy.” That’s just one of the BE AWARE accolades from business and academic leaders for The Strategy Paradox, OF THE RISKS by Michael Raynor, MBA ‘94, recently released by Currency/Doubleday. The paradox is summed up in the book’s subtitle: “Why committing to success leads to failure…and what to do about it.” Raynor, a consultant with Deloitte Consulting LLP, a Deloitte Research Distinguished Fellow, and an adjunct professor at Ivey, is well known in strategy circles as co-author of The Innovator’s Solution with Harvard Business School Professor Clayton Christensen. The Strategy Paradox is a new take on strategy, beginning with the observation that successful strategies often look a lot like failed strategies.That’s because set – the Workplace and Employee Survey the future is anyone’s guess, yet good strategies are based on beliefs (WES) of Stats Canada. In 1999 WES about how the future will turn out. The book, filled with original case began collecting detailed information studies, owes much of its scholarly punch to Raynor’s collaboration with from more than 5,000 companies Ivey professors Stewart Thornhill and Rod White.Their fruitful partnership segmented by industry, size, and area. began with a hallway conversation at Ivey a few years ago. Unlike many academic surveys that Thornhill and White had just finished an important piece of strategy usually get a 10 to 15 per cent response research proving that firms with pure strategies make more profit (see this page). They were puzzled, though, why so many firms chose “in-the- rate, Stats Can, with its army of officials, middle” strategies and lower returns.This gets well over 90 per cent. question was key to the central claim in With this data Thornhill and White Raynor’s book, and the threesome proved, to no great surprise, that Porter embarked on a groundbreaking research was right. In a paper about to be study.The answer, as Raynor suspected, published in the Strategic Management was that firms who pursue pure Journal, they find that firms that follow strategies are more likely to fail. “The pure strategies are more profitable than research we’ve done together is the firms stuck in the middle. “Our results central justification for why my book is show that a pure strategy is always as called The Strategy Paradox,” he says. good as a hybrid strategy, and often “What had been defended largely on the better,” says White. basis of case studies now has a large- But a niggling, yet very important, scale empirical foundation.” question remained. If pure strategies are Resolving this paradox requires a new way of thinking about more profitable than mixed strategies, uncertainty, says Raynor.For example, the role of the CEO should not be why are the majority of firms in the to drive results, but to manage uncertainty by creating options and middle? “That just didn’t make sense alternatives for the future. On the other hand, line managers should not to us,” says Thornhill. “Managers worry about strategic risk, but devote themselves to delivering on aren’t dumb, so why weren’t they all commitments. ”The conventional wisdom is you get these bold following pure strategies and making pronouncements from on high and the rest of the organization has to be more money?” very flexible and agile in figuring out how to implement them. At this point Michael Raynor, MBA My research suggests that we need to stand that on its head.” ‘94, joined the collaboration. A consultant Ivey InTouch Magazine | Summer 2007

with Deloitte Consulting LLP, Raynor Firms in the middle tend to was also teaching part-time at Ivey and be bigger than the purer companies working on his new book, The Strategy on the edge of the strategy spectrum, Paradox (see sidebar). The question of notes Thornhill. He is now interested why so many firms opt for middle-of-the- in why firms move within the spectrum. road strategies was important to the WestJet, for example, began life as ideas he was developing for his book. a pure low-cost airline. Recent “We came up with an explanation that expansionary decisions, such as its move suggested a perfectly rational tradeoff into Toronto Pearson Airport, have between risk and return,” he says. begun moving it more to the centre. PROBING PURITY: Ivey professors Stewart Thornhill (left) and Rod White (right), “We felt that firms at the edge, even This may result in lower profits, but it “If we were going to teach this stuff, though they were more profitable, might also tend to ensure survival. we wanted to know it was right.” might have higher mortality rates than “A shareholder may be willing to take ones in the middle.” higher risk in exchange for the potential Once again Stats Can provided higher return,” he says. “But an four new research centres, launched as a superb data set to test this hypothesis. employee or manager might not want to part of the School’s new cross-enterprise Since Thornhill and White’s first paper, take the same level of risk because the leadership strategy, to foster this kind Stats Can had collected three more years downside is there’s no job any more.” of investigation. “These centres are all of data, enabling them to track survival White is hoping that their recent about bringing together different rates of firms over a five year span. paper will lead to a “major rethink” players, getting them talking about The data proved their hypothesis correct. in strategy, with future research leading different ideas, and stirring well,” “Pure strategy firms are more profitable, to a better understanding of the trade- he says. “Often something really but they also have a significantly higher offs between risk and return. He’s interesting, insightful, and useful failure rate,” says Thornhill. “It turns out excited about the potential of Ivey’s comes out the other end.” that the middle is a safer place to be.” This finding adds a very important piece to the strategy puzzle, by showing that there is a cost to the ‘pure is best’ philosophy. “The message for managers is simple,” says White.“If you go in the direction of pure strategy you

have to be aware of the risks.” ± TION: JAMES FEDEROV The positive correlation between risk and return should not come The as a surprise, says Raynor. “High risk as the price of high Bottom HILLIER | ILLUSTRA returns is obvious to anyone in Line

: BRIAN the finance area. But this is the first • In the 1980s Michael Porter empirical demonstration that risk suggested that “purity pays”19 – and return go together in the strategy firms that follow a pure strategy are more likely to be profitable

PHOTOGRAPHY field as well.” than those “stuck in the middle”

• Ivey professors Stewart Thornhill and Rod White tested the theory empirically using the Canadian Workplace and Employee Survey

• They confirmed that Porter’s theory was true

• Working with Michael Raynor, MBA ’94, they also found that pure strategy firms have higher mortality rates

• Raynor’s book, The Strategy Paradox, is grounded in this research Oasis One thing most Ivey grads have in common: hectic lives. We all need places to relax and recharge – places that refresh our bodies and spirits. In this issue of InTouch, three grads share their special places with us – all magnificent homes in dramatic natural settings, and all very different in look and feel.

A PEACEFUL MOMENT: THE FIRE-PIT OUTSIDE THE HOME OF PAUL HILL, MBA ‘69, AND HIS WIFE CAROL, OFFERING INSPIRING VIEWS OF THE CALIFORNIA DESERTSCAPE 21 THE GUEST HOUSE ACCOMMODATES THE HILL’S FIVE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, WHILE THE ELDER HILLS SHARE A QUIET HOME ON THE UPPER BUILDING PAD.

north, west and east by mountains. a Hill Company, has developed a Sanctuary Palm Springs is the largest community, number of master-planned residential Paul and Carol Hill have and there are several others strung communities in Arizona and Texas. created a tranquil enclave in along the valley. With 350 days of But it was the Coachella Valley Palm Desert, California sunshine a year and winter that called to Hill. “The terrain is very temperatures that range from 50° F similar to the Holy Land,” he says. IT WAS CHRISTMAS 1979 WHEN to 80° F, it’s a popular resort and “Being close to the mountains and the Paul Hill, MBA ‘69 and his family first retirement community. desert is inspirational.” He and his wife visited the Coachella Valley in southern 22 As a Regina native, Paul Hill Carol ended up buying two condos to California. Sitting on a patio in is used to a much harsher climate. accommodate their five children and bright sunshine on Christmas Day, He attended Georgetown University their growing families, along with two they all said they missed the snow in Washington, D.C., completed an sets of grandparents. of their home in Canada. “We got MBA at Ivey, then spent several years Hill had no thought of building over that pretty fast,” chuckles Hill. in investment banking before returning a house until fellow Ivey alum and “We came the next year, and the to Regina to join the family company. close friend Don Anderson, MBA ’70, year after that. It was a way to unify The Hill Companies, which he helped told him about an exclusive new the family because it was just us to grow and diversify, have interests development in the town of Indian for the holidays.” in real estate, manufacturing, Wells. Hill decided to take a look. The Coachella is an irrigated broadcasting, insurance, oil and gas He found a quiet enclave of unspoiled desert valley about an hour east of and surety bonds. It was his impetus desert and mountain terrain, bounded Los Angeles. Some 45 miles long and that led to diversification to the U.S., by nature reserves on two sides. The 15 miles wide, it is bounded on the where today Harvard Investments, location is so quiet, Hill says, he can Ivey InTouch Magazine | Summer 2007

FRAMED BY A TUSCAN-INSPIRED SETTING, THE GREAT ROOM WINDOW REVEALS THE ‘MILLION-DOLLAR VIEW’

hear his feet crunch on the ground are left open so that people in the Hill believes it was fate that as he walks his property. community can share the tranquility. brought him to this magical place. The building lots were assigned Says Hill: “People who work or live “There are times when things by lottery to the 22 founder owners here have told us that they come up happen that you don’t engineer or (who included Bill Gates!). Although to the chapel when they are having orchestrate,” he says. “You simply initially disappointed to get his second a little trouble in their lives, and have to accept them as a gift.” choice, Hill has no regrets now.“We appreciate having a quiet environment have complete privacy,” he says, to reflect and pray.” Shortly after THE HILL’S CHAPEL (BELOW): “BEING CLOSE TO THE MOUNTAINS AND “a grand 360-degree view of the moving in, the Hills celebrated their THE DESERT IS INSPIRATIONAL” 23 entire Valley, and building pads on two 40th wedding anniversary by renewing levels.” He and his wife designed a their vows in the chapel, and two of modest Tuscan-style home on the their grandchildren were christened upper pad with a master bedroom and at the same time. Great Room that capture the “million- On the lower building pad, the dollar view.” Hills have created a five-bedroom guest Sharing the upper building pad house, complete with bunkrooms for is an octagonal chapel, set into a the grandchildren, and a pool and natural grotto and featuring three hot tub.“It works out really well,” T LASSY A

: P huge rock sculptures. With Christian, says Hill.“We are close enough Jewish and Islamic artifacts, the chapel that the kids can come and go, but is designed to be an inclusive and we’re not right on top of

PHOTOGRAPHY welcoming place of peace. The doors one another.” UNDER A TUSCAN SUN: THE VILLA, SET AMONG THE CHIANTI HILLS, WAS ONCE A MONASTERY

hilltop towns, olive groves and it until 2000. At that point he decided Bella Italia vineyards. “The place” is a 500-year- it was time for a changing of the guard, old former monastery called Le Celle, and took a one-year sabbatical. Shlesinger Joe Shlesinger, MBA ’86, escapes surrounded by 50 acres of olive groves is married to Samara Walbohm, a former to a 500-year-old Tuscan villa and woodland. The vista that sold national team rower and academic who IN NOVEMBER 2000, JOE SHLESINGER Shlesinger includes the Protomagno now operates TYPE Books in Toronto. was in Tuscany to take a second look at Mountains to the east and the Chianti Walbohm didn’t see Le Celle until a house he was planning to purchase. hills to the west and south. “The view March 2001, just before they moved

24 On the way back to Florence, his real hasn’t really changed in 500 years,” in for the year, but for her too it was estate agent suggested that they make he says. “In Tuscany there are very love at first sight. one final stop at a property that was soon stringent rules about what you can When people ask Shlesinger how coming on the market. Shlesinger didn’t build and how you build it, so the they spent the year, he’s at a loss. “We think he needed to see another house, landscape and all the houses are exactly walked, talked, traveled all over Tuscany but the agent insisted. “We drove up a as they have been for several hundred and of course drank a lot of good wine. long, long driveway and around behind years.” Only 35 minutes from the We got to know one another really well. the house to park,” remembers Shlesinger. region’s capital, Florence, and minutes It was a very important year for us.” “I could see the view through the from the nearest market, Le Celle Along the way, they also re-did parts of loggia. I turned to the agent and has the peace and timelessness of the house, painted the interior, restored said, ‘This is the place,’ It took about a much more remote location. the exterior, and added an infinity-edge 10 seconds.” Shlesinger co-founded the swimming pool. Tuscany is a region of central Italy, consulting firm Bain Canada in 1989 During the fall, they spent many famous for its ancient mountains, historic at the ripe old age of 27, and ran days picking olives from sunrise to IveyIvey InTInTouchouch MagazineMagazine || SummerSpring 2007 2007

A POOL WITH A VIEW: “THE VIEW REALLY HASN’T CHANGED IN 500 YEARS”

sunset. The property has more than “It’s where we can go as a family But above all, his Italian hideaway 2,000 olive trees and they soon and have no distractions,” says is about a sense of adventure and discovered that just 20 trees provide Shlesinger. “The phone doesn’t ring, spontaneity. “When I’m in Toronto, more than enough oil for their own use. we don’t bump into people we I know before I start basically what Last year, they signed an agreement know or have any commitments. my day – or even my week or with a local producer who will take over We don’t even have a TV. We live month – will look like,” he says. most of their groves and give them a outside.” The family has spent “When we’re in Italy, I don’t know percentage of what he produces. New Year’s in Tuscany in the past in the morning what the afternoon

Shlesinger and Walbohm have two and when the children are older, will hold. Anything can happen.” 25 children, Owen, 2, and Solaia, 4. Solaia, plan to make it part of their Italian for ‘kissed by the sun,’ is actually Christmas tradition. They also enjoy one of Italy’s most sought-after wines, welcoming friends for a relaxed and the vineyard is just a few miles from Tuscan-style visit. Le Celle. Shlesinger said it seemed like a For Shlesinger the perfect name for their first child. Walbohm special feeling of Le Celle is and the children spend the whole summer a combination of natural in Italy, and Shlesinger, who joined private beauty, great wine and food, equity firm Callisto Capital in 2003, and warm, friendly

: ANDREA VENTURINI spends as much time as he can with people – what them. Shlesinger and Walbohm are thrilled he refers to that their children will grow up learning as “all the clichés

PHOTOGRAPHY another language and culture. of Tuscany.” QUINTESSENTIALLY CANADIAN: THE SPRUCE LOG STRUCTURE IS SURROUNDED BY PINE TREES AND APPROPRIATELY FURNISHED

Vancouver from the age of 10. quarter-acre lot. Working with a Coast Like many Vancouverites, he was professional log builder, they cut passionate about skiing and hit the down spruce logs and left them Mountain slopes whenever he could. He was to cure naturally for two years. at Whistler the day it opened in The 3,500 square foot house was High February 1966. He kept skiing framed in 1979 and completed in Now a world-class resort, Whistler while studying engineering and 1981 – one of the first large was a place for hard-core skiers doing his MBA at Ivey, and by the houses to be built in the growing 26 when Terry Lyons, MBA ’74, built mid 70s he and his friends began village. Lyons and his partner did his mountain getaway renting chalets in Whistler. In those much of the work themselves. days, it wasn’t the chi-chi resort it “I crawled around for four months ONCE A SKI FANATIC, ALWAYS A SKI is today. “You went there to ski pulling wires,” he says. “It was a fanatic.That’s probably the best way and to party,” says Lyons, “but labor of love.” to explain Terry Lyons’ love affair with mostly to ski.” Although there The house was designed by his rustic log home in the heart of were lifts most of the way up the and for skiers. Open on the main North America’s hottest ski resort, mountain, the back country was floor, it has a large conversation Whistler, B.C. accessible only by hiking. pit and room for 16 to sit down Lyons, who is Chairman of Eventually he and a partner to dinner. The kitchen, renovated Northgate Minerals Corporation decided it made more sense to buy. eight years ago, is a high tech and TTM Resources Inc. and a past When the local garbage dump was marvel, an interesting counterpoint Senior Vice-President of Versatile transformed into what is now to the countrified comfort of the Corporation, grew up in North Whistler Village, they bought a rest of the house. There’s an Ivey InTouch Magazine | Summer 2007

PARTY CENTRAL: WITH DINNER SEATING FOR 16, THE HOUSE IS PERFECT FOR CASUAL ENTERTAINING

English pub in the basement, While the central reason for The house in Whistler has with a pool table and indoor hot Whistler’s existence hasn’t become an integral part of Lyons’ life, tub to soothe aching muscles. changed, the town has grown and he doesn’t see that changing any The upper floor has a large loft rapidly. Today, it offers world-class time soon. “When I’m there it’s for that can be used for overflow restaurants, nightclubs and one reason – to enjoy skiing and to guests, and five bedrooms. shopping, and hosts millions of enjoy Whistler. And I intend to ski A big mud room provides space visitors. In 2010, of course, it will until I can’t ski any more.” for dozens of pairs of ski boots, host the alpine events of the and there’s a storage room that Winter Olympics. Lyons says he holds an equal number of skis. and other “locals” know how Ideally suited for entertaining, to avoid the crowds on busy the house has accommodated winter weekends. He gets more than 200 people at a up early and skis for time, most memorably for a a couple of hours spontaneous St. Patrick’s Day before the crowds arrive. party that is reputed to be “Because we know the Whistler’s best house party ever. mountain, we can disperse to MOSER Lyons still skis more than areas where the crowds don’t

: TONY 50 days a year, and has passed go, ski the runs that are less the passion on to his 15-year-old well known and then hit daughter Whitney, who has been the restaurants early

PHOTOGRAPHY racing since she was three. for lunch!” Proffile

played football for the Western you were off all day.” He finished his All in the Mustangs and was a junior hockey undergraduate degree on a part-time player in Toronto. Don went on to a basis, returning home each year to do Family diverse career as an educator and summer school. After being in business with his internationalist, serving at one time as a In 1985 his younger brother Craig brother for 15 years, David Simpson, Faculty member and Director of the was drafted by Pittsburgh. The team MBA ‘88, is now Director of the Centre for International Business at Ivey. also bought out Simpson’s contract Business Families Centre at Ivey Dave’s mother qualified for the Olympics with New York so that the two as a sprinter in 1952, but wasn’t allowed brothers could play together. In the to compete because she was only 16. end, however, he was sent to a farm Simpson played every sport in high team in Baltimore and Craig sat on school but shone brightest at the rink. the bench. He had had enough: the In 1982 he established an as-yet- following year he started his MBA. unbroken single season scoring record Simpson loved his time at Ivey. IN 1990, DAVID SIMPSON WAS LIVING with the Junior A London Knights “After being in a hockey environment in Switzerland. A friend of his in the hockey team, posting 155 points and for all those years, I really craved being sports photography business produced 67 goals. That year he won the OHL around 60 bright, outgoing people.” a poster of Canadian sprinter Ben scoring championship and was Unlike most of his classmates, Johnson, who had just been reinstated recognized as the top player in however, he avoided on-campus job after testing positive for steroids at Canadian Junior hockey. interviews and when he graduated, the Seoul Olympics. Track and field Simpson was drafted by the struck out on his own. “I’ve always is a popular sport in Europe, so his New York Islanders in 1980. During had an incredibly independent streak, friend suggested that Simpson help him his first two years of university, he spent and I couldn’t conceive of working for distribute the posters there. Simpson most of the fall term at an NHL training somebody else.” took a large shipment. But just as he camp, while his mother attended his For the next 15 years he invested was about to start selling them, Johnson classes and took copious notes. It in one business after another, most of tested positive for steroid use again. was the glory days for the Islanders: them in partnership with his brother. “I had a warehouse full of posters,” between 1980 and 1984 they won four Craig by this time had been traded he says ruefully, “and I couldn’t consecutive Stanley Cups. Despite being to Edmonton, where he helped win sell a single thing.” the best junior hockey player in Canada, two Stanley Cups for the Oilers. It’s a story that has become Simpson was sent to play for the farm The brothers got involved in a immortalized in “Dave’s Top Ten,” team in Indianapolis. “I loved the restaurant, tennis clubs, golf courses, a tip list that Simpson shares with game,” he says, “but it was an even a chemical company. They also students in his Entrepreneurial incredibly boring life. You practiced cornered the market on parts for the Finance class. Number One on the two hours in the morning and then DeHavilland Buffalo, an aircraft that list: “Don’t forget to do a drug test was no longer being built but was still on all potential partners.” in use in many countries. “Of course, it’s not really about GLORY DAYS: DAVID SIMPSON WAS THE OHL’S Four years ago, Simpson was asked 28 drug tests,” Simpson says. “It’s about TOP SCORER IN 1982. NOW HE LIGHTS UP THE to teach a course on Managing the BOARD AS A MEMBER OF THE IVEY FACULTY Family Business at Ivey. Students enjoyed doing due diligence. For an entrepreneur, HOCKEY TEAM. mistakes are really just positive learning his refreshingly real-world approach and experiences.” Simpson, a former he thrived on teaching. The following professional hockey player and year he was asked to take on the course serial entrepreneur, now shares in Entrepreneurial Finance and get his hard-earned experience as involved with supervising the New a professor and Executive Venture Project. At the same time, Ivey Director of the Ivey Business was approached by the deGaspe Families Centre. Beaubien family, owners of Telemedia, A native Londoner, Simpson to establish a research centre focused on grew up in a remarkably athletic issues relevant to families in business family. His father, Don Simpson, together. It was a natural for Simpson Ivey InTouch Magazine | Summer 2007

It’s time to get rid of the “notion of family businesses as mom and pop shops ”

after 15 years of working with his The purpose of the Centre is to brother. In May 2005 the Ivey Business “enhance family business management

Families Centre was launched. through outreach programs, applied and ± Simpson says it’s time to get rid of academic research and the development the notion of family businesses as “mom of future business leaders.” The Centre, The and pop shops,” marked by nepotism, launched under the aegis of the Institute Bottom inefficiency and family feuds. In fact, for Entrepreneurship, hosts an annual family businesses generally out-perform conference on National Family Business Line any other form of ownership. Family- Day in September. The 2006 event • Born in London to athletic29 controlled businesses in Canada create featured a keynote address by entrepreneur and academic family 45 per cent of GDP, create nearly 70 Donald Cooper, whose family runs the • Established single season scoring record with the per cent of all new jobs, and employ half world’s leading manufacturer of OHL London Knights the work force. Even among the S&P hockey equipment. • Signed by the New York 500, 60 per cent are family businesses Busy as he is, Simpson finds time Islanders and Pittsburgh 9ior businesses where significant blocks to play on the Ivey faculty hockey team. Penguins but never played of shares are controlled by families. Says The year he was hired, the team won in NHL HILLIER Simpson: “Eight out of 10 businesses fail the annual faculty tournament in • Spent 15 year running businesses in partnership : BRIAN in the first five years, and yet 10 per cent Guelph. “I think it’s part of the deal,” with his brother Craig, of family businesses make it to three says Simpson. “I have to play on the also an NHLer generations. I think it’s time we start team every year!” • Began teaching Family PHOTOGRAPHY calling family businesses what they are – Business course at Ivey a tremendous success.” in 2004

• Became Executive Director of the Ivey Business Families Centre in 2005 Development

Triggs’ career began at Colgate- fortune I’ve had, I felt strongly about Raising a Palmolive and included stints with Fisons continuing to support the School.” and John Labatt, where he led the North As Triggs discovered in his own Glass to Global American wine operation. In 1989 he industry, business is by definition global and his friend Allan Jackson, a scientist and success in purely domestic markets Business who had joined Labatt as part of a is no longer enough to guarantee Don Triggs, MBA ‘68, founder National Research Council project to long-term growth. The goal, he believes, of Vincor International, makes improve the quality of Canadian wines, should be to build more companies a generous gift to establish a bought out Labatt’s Canadian wine like Vincor – globally competitive but Chair in International Business interests. In 1992 the two partners housed in and led from Canada. acquired Inniskillin Wines, and the Craig Dunbar, Associate Dean following year, merged with T.G. Bright Faculty Development and Research, to create Vincor. Vincor went public in says the Triggs’s gift will support 1996 and in 2000 began an ambitious both recruitment and retention of IN THE 1970S A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE international expansion, buying wineries outstanding faculty members. The convinced that Canadian wine was an in California, Washington, New Zealand School is hoping to hire 25 per cent oxymoron and the industry had no and Australia. Last year, Vincor was more faculty members over the next future. Don Triggs was not one of them. acquired by Constellation Brands. five to 10 years. “That’s significant “There were a few producers who were The secret of Vincor’s success is growth,” says Dunbar, “and we need starting to plant the right varieties of deceptively simple. “We ran it like a to find a good balance between young grapes,” he remembers. “Some of the business,” says Triggs. A wine lover and faculty and people who have already wines they produced were quite cognoscente himself, he never lost sight developed a reputation. Don’s respectable.” of the ultimate goal– a profitable and support of this Chair will help us Triggs saw an opportunity: growing business. “Wine is just another attract someone of real stature.” with the right viticulture practices and luxury product,” he says. “We set world- Dunbar points out that the School winemaking technology, it might be class standards in everything we did. We already has recognized strengths in possible to produce world-class wines in didn’t compare ourselves to others in the international business, including the Canada. The rest, as they say, is history. wine industry – we compared ourselves presence of Professor Paul Beamish, When Vincor, the public company he to the best in any industry. We set high a Canada Research Chair and Director founded, was sold in 2006, it was the benchmarks and challenged our people of the new Cross-Enterprise Leadership eighth largest wine enterprise in the to be the best, whether it was in Research Centre for Engaging world, worth $1.5 billion. distribution, tax management, sales, Emerging Markets. Triggs grew up on a grain and cattle or any other aspect of the business.” Dunbar says that half of Ivey’s farm in Alberta and studied agricultural Triggs developed a management upcoming fundraising campaign will economics at the University of Manitoba. team he was immensely proud of, built be focused on creating faculty Chairs. By the time he finished university, he had the Jackson Triggs brand into the best “Building our bench strength of decided on a career in business. Among selling wine in Canada, won prizes in outstanding faculty talent is a critical the youngest in his MBA class at Ivey, prestigious international wine shows, part of our strategy. We’re hoping that 30 Triggs says he benefited from the work and generated a 17 per cent return to other supporters will see this gift as a experience of other students. “In effect, shareholders each year for 10 years. model for how they can support us I got 10 to 15 years experience “My only regret,” he says, “is that I in this endeavor.” compressed into two by participating can’t be 30 again, so that I could turn For his part, Triggs hopes his in those classroom and study group around and do it all over!” gift will help build Ivey’s profile and discussions.” He also acquired a basic Recently, Triggs and his wife credibility with prospective faculty business tool kit and a leader’s Elaine made a gift of $1 million to members and students. “The message,” perspective on business strategy. the Ivey Business School to create the he says, “is that Ivey is continuing to “Even in beginning level jobs, I was Donald L. Triggs Chair in International invest resources to develop skills in NOTO

thinking of each situation as if I owned Business. “Ivey had a very pivotal role international business, and will : RINO the company. That was the fundamental in my development,” says Triggs. become the leading institution philosophy instilled by policy professors “It allowed me to paint on the big for the development of international

at Ivey, and it was a gift.” canvas. With the opportunity and good business expertise.” PHOTOGRAPHY Ivey InTouch Magazine | Summer 2007

We set world- “class standards in everything we did. ” ± The Bottom Line

• Born and raised in Manitoba31 • Studied agricultural economics before coming to Ivey

• In 1989 he and a partner bought out Labatt’s Canadian wine interests

• In 1993, they formed Vincor which went public in 1996

• By the time it was sold, Vincor was the eighth largest wine enterprise in the world

• Recently, Triggs made a gift of $1 million to Ivey to create the Donald L. Triggs Chair in International Business

ELAINE AND DON TRIGGS AT THEIR TORONTO HOME Ivey Lives Remembered Merchandising Officer. After operating In Memoriam a small investment company and merchant bank for several years, he Rispah Adala, MBA ’05 Fredrick Ernest joined Hilco Trading Company. Later he worked as a Vice-President with Bank Paul Brent, HBA ’66 Metter, MBA’73 of Montreal and then founded his own Eric Buckberrough, merchant bank. In addition to his Executive Development ’65 DURING AN INTERVIEW JUST BEFORE contributions at Ivey, Fred taught part- his 25th reunion at Ivey, Fred Metter David Butterworth, MBA ’54 time in the business program at Humber remembered his first day at Ivey. The new College. “He really enjoyed being in the Peter Carruthers, HBA ’57 MBA students had all been invited to a classroom,” says his wife Cathy-Ellen. formal afternoon tea. Fred was unnerved Richard Chenoweth, MBA ’78 “It helped him keep a finger on the when several of the professors greeted him pulse. He liked to see the kids with their Raymond Duval, DBA ’51, MBA ’54 by name, and even more so when the whole lives ahead of them, and to feel program manager handed him an Pamela Eden, MBA ’86 that he had a hand in their assignment due the next day. Ross Emmott, HBA ’46 development.” She remembers the broad, easy Robert Galpin, DBA ’61 smile on his face when she dropped him John Gayton, MBA ’60 off at the front door of the Ivey Business School for his ICFP meetings. “Fred Roy Hardaker, MBA ’56 would both challenge and support Robert Hill, MBA ’75 the teams,” says his faculty partner, Richard Jackson, HBA ’73 Professor Rod White.“He was always direct and forthright. If the students Willis Jacques, MBA ’54 were not performing up to his Ben Johnston, DBA ’58 expectation of Ivey excellence he told them in no uncertain terms. But he was Robert Keuleman, HBA ’56 also always there for the teams he was Daniel Knechtel, HBA ’55 mentoring, offering help and advice so Robert Laflamme, MBA ’64 they could do the best job possible.” Fred had a quick wit, an Guy LeBlanc, MBA ’57 unquenchable sense of humor, and a John Lorhan, HBA ’54, MBA ’61 warm, engaging manner. “He took a Donald McKinley, MBA ’61 “... HE LIKED TO SEE THE KIDS WITH THEIR genuine interest in people,” says Cathy- WHOLE LIVES AHEAD OF THEM, AND TO Ellen. “When he talked to you, he wasn’t Robert McMurdo, HBA ’53 looking around the room – you were the FEEL THAT HE HAD A HAND IN THEIR Christopher Meddick, HBA ’79 DEVELOPMENT.” only person he wanted to talk to.” Fred enjoyed a challenge, whether John Misener, DBA ’54, MBA ’70 it was turning around an ailing business, “To me it was very intimidating Kevin Munro, MBA ’87 advising a student, or taking up golf. that everyone seemed to know who He believed strongly in giving back to Myron Needles, HBA ’46 I was,” he said. “My deepest fear was that his community and served as a cook at they also knew I really didn’t deserve to be Arie Peters, MBA ’95 a local Out of the Cold program. In in the program! When classes began my John Smith, HBA ’78 48 addition to golf, Fred and Cathy-Ellen first reaction was to keep my head down enjoyed traveling, attending concerts Alfred Willett, DBA ’49 and my mouth closed. But the lesson and art galleries, and cooking. Fred I learned on that first day was that Robert Willis, DBA ’59 was father to Elana and Mira Metter, I couldn’t run and hide. I would have and stepfather to Richard and Alan to become involved.” Solomon. Alan recently completed his Fred certainly did become involved, second year of university at Western. and it was an involvement that lasted Fred became ill in fall 2006 for decades. In addition to helping plan and died on February 8, 2007. reunions for his classmates, he served on Says Cathy-Ellen: “He was a good, the Ivey Alumni Association Board and as gentle soul, a very genuine and an Executive in Residence with the Ivey dignified man.” Client Field Project. After graduation from Ivey, Fred worked at People’s Jewelers as Chief

Alumni Speak Cross- Enterprise Leadership Navin John, MBA ‘05

LIFE IS DIFFICULT AND PRESENTS A Ivey offers innumerable is half the battle; Career Management series of problems. When we wish to exciting opportunities to participate helps equip a student with the right encourage the growth of the human in international case competitions, to skills to showcase this talent to spirit, we challenge the human capacity consult for real businesses and to teach prospective employers. Help with to solve problems. In the global business cases in other countries. It also making resumes, drafting cover workplace, these problems are diverse gives the chance to be a part of exchange letters, interview practice, organising not only with regard to business programs with other leading business information sessions and seamlessly strategy, functions, and processes, bringing recruiters and Ivey talent but also with being able to work together lead to high placements successfully with cross-cultural teams year after year. and organisations. The Ivey case Ivey’s alumni network, the largest method gave me an extremely effective in the country and spread across tool that provides a disciplined international borders, is accessible approach towards analysing, prioritising to students through the Alumni and solving business problems. Ivey’s Partnership Program. With one case method is a highly enriching in four alumni occupying positions three-tiered learning system. of senior leadership in organisations Ivey creates leaders. The support worldwide, the alumni partnership at Ivey for a student to achieve his programme brings these accomplished or her potential is incredible. My alumni and bright students together peers at Ivey were smart, dynamic to share their insights and benefit individuals who brought in a wealth schools around the world, and to play from their valuable guidance. The of experience and constantly an active role in professional, social and Ivey support is complete with extensive encouraged, challenged and supported sports clubs. The faculty is widely library facilities, and an extremely

50 each other’s capacity to solve problems published, helping Ivey create more dedicated information systems and and realise their potential. This spirit teaching materials for business schools programs services team. was further leveraged by the Ivey MBA around the world than almost any other Ivey’s ‘Cross-Enterprise Leadership’ Association, where as the Vice President school. They serve as real life consultants is both unique and visionary and gives I was privileged to work with dedicated to businesses around the world, are the Ivey MBA graduate the right mix peers from the general student body extremely friendly, readily available of interdisciplinary skills to address who worked tirelessly in their spare and easily accessible after class for help business problems and compete time to further enhance the with coursework and career choices. successfully in a globally diverse Ivey experience. Developing one’s problem-solving ability workplace.

The writer works in the business process consulting practice of one of the two providers of integrated business, technology and process solutions in the world. Prior to graduating from Ivey, he spent seven years in an Indo-German environmental technology consulting firm. Currently he is involved in consulting engagements in both North America and Asia where the Ivey experience has proved to be invaluable.

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY about an issue that’s close to your heart, an unusual experience or an interesting idea? InTouch welcomes submissions to the Alumni Speak column. This is your space to air your views – outrageous or otherwise – to trade ideas, or simply share a good story with fellow graduates. For more information, please contact the Editor at [email protected] Ivey InTouch Magazine | Summer 2007

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