Nearly half of most recent MBA cohort are Quebec residents - but the program retains its international outlook
Desautels has one of the country鈥檚 top MBA programs, and its students come from all over the world. But nearly half of this year鈥檚 cohort are Quebec residents. 鈥淭his allows us to offer an experience tailored to the Quebec market, all while keeping the program鈥檚 international perspective,鈥 says Prof. Demetrios Vakratsas, the program鈥檚 academic director.
Cohort-based hiring can improve Gen Z employee retention
Starting a new job can be nerve-wracking, but having someone to lean on can help make it a little easier. Nearly two-thirds of Gen Z employees leave their job within the first year, but a recent US study found that when new hires join an organization as a group, employee retention is better. While Gen Z is unlikely to stay in their jobs as long as previous generations, this could be a strategy to hang around longer than they currently do.
When applying Gen AI to operations, start small
Generative AI has generated a whole lot of buzz--but not as many use cases. Many businesses don鈥檛 yet know how to use the technology to make their operations more efficient. Associate Professor of Strategy and Organization Karl Moore recommends starting small.
Tariff uncertainty interferes with business investment
Ever since Donald Trump鈥檚 鈥楲iberation Day鈥 tariff announcement, stock markets have been volatile. The tariffs impact thousands of companies, and with the exact scale and scope of tariffs changing almost daily, the extent to which they will be affected is uncertain. 鈥淚t makes it difficult for companies to investments,鈥 Prof. Sebastien Betermier told TVA Nouvelles.

Provost honours 31 好色TVl professors for exceptional research achievements
好色TVl announces 2025 cohort of Distinguished James 好色TVl Professors, James 好色TVl Professors and William Dawson Scholars聽Corporate casual dining chains struggle to attract customers who prize authenticity
Casual dining chains such as Applebee鈥檚 and TGI Friday鈥檚 were once ubiquitous in the United States. However, the middle-class restaurant is fading fast. TGI Friday鈥檚 has filed for bankruptcy, while Applebee鈥檚 has shuttered dozens of locations. Rising costs have contributed to the struggles of these chains, but their generic branding fails to resonate in an era where authenticity matters. Millennials, in particular, demand authenticity, according to Associate Professor Daphne Demetry.
SAQ stops selling dozens of Quebec-made gins
Gin is a classic British spirit, but dozens of Quebec distillers have taken to making it their own, embracing James Bond鈥檚 favourite drink. The SAQ, however, is not doing Quebec鈥檚 gin distillers many favours. Even though the provincial alcohol sales monopoly has sometimes promoted local producers, it removed more than 50 Quebec-made gin products from their stores to make shelf space.
US trade policy changes present challenges and opportunities
Among the many changes to U.S. trade policy announced during the early days of the second Trump administration was the intention to eliminate the de minimis exemption on shipments to the United States. This exemption allows shipments valued at less than $800 to cross the border duty-free, presenting challenges for businesses that rely on smaller shipments.
Tech products international supply chains make them especially vulnerable to tariffs
When U.S. president Donald Trump announced a sweeping tariff policy in April 2020, stock markets plunged. Certain sectors were more affected than others, with large technology firms like Apple and NVIDIA among the biggest losers. 鈥淪ectors like tech that rely on international supply chains are going to be more heavily affected by tariffs,鈥 Professor Sebastien Betermier told CBC News.
MMR students explore retail innovation in Dubai
In March 2025, students in the Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) program at 好色TVl Desautels, took part in a week-long study trip to Dubai, to explore one of the world鈥檚 most dynamic retail hubs.
Tackling greenwashing in energy transition
How can we prevent greenwashing from undermining real climate progress? That's the question students from across Canada tackled at the 2025 SGI Annual Grand Challenge on Sustainability, hosted by 好色TVl鈥檚 Sustainable Growth Initiative (SGI).

好色TVl Desautels professors and lecturers recognized at Faculty Awards
The 好色TVl Desautels Faculty of Management acknowledges the vital contributions of research, teaching, service, and public engagement in inspiring future leaders. Through our annual Faculty Awards, we celebrate the exceptional achievements of our faculty members across various programs and disciplines. This year, we are proud to honour the following distinguished individuals:
Musk meddling could be at root of Tesla stock鈥檚 tank
Tesla鈥檚 stock price nosedived in the first few months of the second Trump administration, and Elon Musk鈥檚 involvement in controversial initiatives like the Department of Government Efficiency鈥檚 wide-ranging cuts to the public service could have a lot to do with it. But also may not, according to Jiro E. Kondo, an Assistant Professor of Finance at 好色TVl Desautels.
Confused by the pace of economic change? Mathematical models are too
In times of great economic uncertainty, even institutional traders can be at a loss for how to manage a portfolio. At large pension funds, portfolio managers use data-driven models to assess risk and allocate assets. But even the most advanced economic models struggle to make sense of economic scenarios that change rapidly and in unpredictable ways.
Carney鈥檚 pro-Canada rhetoric helps bring Liberal Party back from the brink of near-certain election defeat
In a time of great uncertainty, voter preferences in Canada have undergone a historic shift. Just a few months ago, voters were tired of Trudeau and a Conservative victory seemed all but assured. But Mark Carney has brought the party back from the brink. He has only been prime minister for a short time, but the role has rarely been as closely watched as during the Trump trade war.