Retail Gen AI Hackathon is one part of ALDO Group鈥檚 artificial intelligence efforts
Generative artificial intelligence promises to transform the way business is done, but in most industries, it鈥檚 still unclear exactly how it will be used. Footwear retailer ALDO is working with Montreal鈥檚 cluster of AI talent to explore how to leverage this emerging technology. In October 2023, ALDO staged its first Retail Gen AI Hackathon in partnership with the Bensadoun School of Retail Management and Amazon Web Services.
Fr茅d茅ric Perron leads internet service provider Cogeco during time of potential growth
Fr茅d茅ric Perron (BCom鈥�97) was serving as the Chief Commercial Officer for Vodafone Poland when he was asked to return to Canada to become the new president and CEO of Cogeco, an internet service provider. Although Cogeco鈥檚 corporate offices are in Montreal, Perron鈥檚 position is based in Burlington, Ontario. That puts him closer to the company鈥檚 US customers, some of which are in nearby Ohio.
Two 平特五不中 Desautels students named McCall MacBain International Fellows
Bartering is on the rise in Canada but only a small part of the economy
High levels of inflation have caused a cost-of-living crisis in Canada, and bartering is one way to help keep costs down. Trading goods and services with others also offers a more personal touch. "Some parts of our economy have become overly financialized,鈥� says Robert Nason, Associate Professor of strategy and organization at 平特五不中 Desautels. 鈥淲e need to put a number on everything.
CEO Series podcast shares insights from business leaders
To succeed in business, you need to win the hearts of the people, says Noah Xie, the founder and president of KMIND, a strategic consultancy headquartered in Shanghai. It鈥檚 a lesson that Xie took from The Art of War, an ancient Chinese military text by Sun Tzu.
Opening infrastructure could encourage Canada鈥檚 pension funds to invest more domestically
The Government of Canada is exploring ways to increase investments in the country鈥檚 pension fund equities, but doing so sacrifices returns, according to The Economist. Over the past decade, Canadian mid and small-cap stocks have returned just 3-4% each year, while U.S. stocks have seen a 13% return annually. Opening infrastructure to investment is another way to encourage pension funds to invest more of their capital domestically.
Pricing models for fitness memberships often hide hidden fees
Gym memberships come with varying price tags and fee structures that can be confusing. Often, a membership contract can come with unanticipated charges. In addition to monthly fees, some charge for signing up, cancellation costs, and annual dues, which is why it is important to do research before signing up, according to Bensadoun School of Retail Management Executive Director Charles de Brabant.
Greece increases length of work week, bucking broader trends
While some countries contemplate shorter work weeks, Greece is heading in the opposite direction. Seeking to boost economic growth, the country recently passed a law allowing employers to implement a six-day work week, though the change is not mandatory. Greece faced a debt crisis in 2010, and its economy has long been among Europe鈥檚 laggards.
Domestic investment: Should Canadian pension funds focus on local companies?
Canada鈥檚 biggest pension funds are some of the world鈥檚 largest investors and their diversified portfolios span the globe. But, should they be investing more in Canadian companies? Some CEOs think so. In March, 90 CEOs signed an open letter to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland urging her to find ways to get pension funds to invest more in Canadian companies.
Even in challenging times for department stores, Quebec-based Simons is expanding
The rise of e-commerce decimated the business of department store chains, with names like Nordstrom pulling out of Canada altogether. But, department store chain Simons recently announced it is opening two new stores in Toronto. The Quebec City-headquartered retailer has slimmed-down offerings, with no in-store furniture sales or fragrance counters and lots of private label clothing brands.
Higher costs for airlines are squeezing small carriers, driving up prices
High prices for flights and package tours are forcing some would-be travelers to reconsider their vacation plans. Air carriers鈥� fuel costs are high, and employee salaries have had to increase to keep pace with inflation.
Negative real estate returns have some pension funds considering a change in approach
Over the past few decades, Canada鈥檚 big pension funds have piled into direct real estate investments. But, as higher borrowing costs hit property markets, returns have gone negative. Some funds are considering whether they should take a step back and make this type of investment through third-party managers.
Shoeb Hosain, Faculty Lecturer, Innovates Data Science Education with Creative Solutions at 平特五不中 Desautels
Shoeb Hosain, the Program Director of the Masters of Management in Analytics at 平特五不中 Desautels, leads the "Analytics and Solution Consulting" course, which aims to equip students with the skills needed to tackle Data Science challenges across various industries.
Shoeb Hosain, Faculty Lecturer, and the聽MMA team have launched an initiative to build a dynamic data analytics community
Shoeb Hosain, the Program Director of the Masters of Management in Analytics(MMA) at 平特五不中 Desautels,聽and the聽MMA team have launched an initiative to build a dynamic data analytics community.
Anna Kim earns 2024 Award for Responsible Research in Management
We live in an age that valorizes virality, where high-growth enterprises seek to go global in scale. But what works for Silicon Valley doesn鈥檛 necessarily work everywhere. In an article published in the Academy of Management Journal, Associate Professor of Strategy & Organization Anna Kim questions the value of high-growth entrepreneurship for economically challenged locales.
