The McGill-HEC Montréal EMBA Program recently welcomed the class of 2021, which includes four experienced leaders who, each in their own way, have a significant impact on their respective communities.  Each of them was awarded a $50,000 scholarship. These scholarships recognize their important work, and reflect the EMBA program’s commitment to diversity.  To encourage diversity, scholarships are offered to managers in non-profit organizations and to managers of indigenous origin.

Scholarships awarded to program participants of Indigenous Origin who make a difference in their community:

Ian Picard

Senior Account Manager – Retirement and Benefits, RBA Financial Group

Ian’s role is to administer group insurance and group-annuity plans and to act as a specialist with regards to financial services and taxation for First Nations as well as their members, employers and organizations. He also supervises and implements the investment policy and monitors performance for the various pension funds.

The RBA Financial Group is a non-profit organization owned and managed by First Nationsfor the past 40 years, to promote and administer pension plans for First Nations. The RBA Financial Group offers clients equitable pension plans adapted to the needs of First Nations through an organization that belongs to them and administers the Native Benefits Plan (NBP), the First Nations Public Security Pension Plan (FNPSPP) and the NBP Defined Contribution Pension Plan.

Kimberly Quinn

Director of School Operations, The Cree School Board

As Director of School Operations since 2011, Kim supervises, coaches, and leadseleven school principals and their teams , in the implementation of effective student programming, continuous school improvement, instructional supervision, research-based literacy and pedagogical practices. Kim and her board, together with other departments and partnerships, focus on results and are pleased to report that  the school board is achieving higher levels of student achievement and success each year.

The Cree School Board (CSB) provides pre-school, elementary, secondary education to over 4700 youth sector students in Eeyou Istchee in Cree, English and French, across its nine communities located in the James Bay territory of Quebec. It also supports Cree students in their pursuit of post-secondary education, continuing education and vocational training. The Board’s mission is to provide life-long learning, while instilling the Cree identity in partnership with its communities,  to allow each student to attain the qualifications and competencies he or she needs to become a successful contributor to the Cree Nation and society at large.

Scholarships awarded to McGill-HEC Montréal EMBA participants who are leaders and managers in non-profit organizations:

Kate Arthur

Founder & CEO, Kids Code Jeunesse (KCJ)

As CEO, Kate steers KCJ’s vision and mission, challenging the status quo and ensuring kids’ education aligns with the reality of global digital disruption.

Kids Code Jeunesse is a Canadian charity, determined to make sure every child is educated with the skills to thrive, the knowledge to make informed decisions, and the tools needed to use technology to make the world a better place. In 2019, KCJ launched #kids2030 , an initiative that will educate over 1,000,000 kids and 50,000 educators on the power and ethics of artificial intelligence and how to use technology to achieve the UN’s Global Goals for Sustainable Development.

Fabienne Colas

Entrepreneur, Actress, Filmmaker, Producer – Founder and CEO of the Fabienne Colas Foundation

In 2018, Fabienne Colas was named one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40 and Personality of the Year (Arts & Culture) by La Presse newspaper. In 2019 she was awarded the  Prix Relève Femme d’exception from Quebec’s Federation of Chambers of Commerce (Les Mercuriades). Fabienne works  passionately to support and promote diversity off and on screen around the globe. Her primary mission is to continue to create platforms that show a diversity of voices, faces and points of view.

The Fabienne Colas Foundation’s mission is to build bridges, support education, and promote diversity through the arts. Through its Youth andDiversity Program, it supports, awards scholarships and promotes independent films and artists who, otherwise, would be invisible. The Foundation also created 7 successful festivals in Montreal, Toronto, New York City, Halifax and Port-au-Prince which have attracted close to 1 million festivalgoers, supported over 2,000 artists and have welcomed top names from Harry Belafonte to Spike Lee.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP

Executives, senior and mid-level managers, professionals and entrepreneurs of indigenous origin and managers from non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply to the McGill – HEC Montréal EMBA program. The selection committee will consider each application, taking into account the following admission criteria:

  • A capacity for leadership;
  • An intellectual curiosity and ability to reflect;
  • An undergraduate degree;
  • At least 10 years of work experience, including five years in management positions.
  • The ability to speak and write in either English or French and to understand and be able to read the other language.

For further information, contact Michel Filion at 514-340-6537 or info@embamcgillhec.ca