Advancing leadership diversity

The Ivey Business School has received a $1.75-million gift from Power Corp., Canada Life and IGM Financial aimed at making a long-term investment in developing diverse, visionary leaders

ON WEDNESDAY, POWER Corporation of Canada, Canada Life and IGM Financial announced a $1.75 million contribution to Ivey Business School. The gift is aimed at supporting research and helping to develop visionary leaders who will actively participate in public policy dialogue and contribute to a stronger economic future for Canada.

Through this contribution, each company selected a specific use for their funding in support of this overarching goal.

Power Corporation will support Ivey’s Lawrence National Centre for Policy and Management in creating actionable research that will help policy makers strengthen Canada’s competitiveness and build a more prosperous and inclusive economy. Power Corporation’s contribution will support an eight-year industry or post-doctoral fellow position and a new innovation fund to support emerging research and programming at the Lawrence National Centre. It will also support an annual Power Corporation of Canada Summit as well as a Roundtable Series, bringing together leading industry experts, academics, senior officials and ministers to discuss and develop answers to the major issues facing Canada.

Canada Life will fund two to three student interns per year, who will support the Centre’s research initiatives and the new fellow funded by Power Corporation. With an eight-year fellow position, this will equate to between 16 and 24 fully funded interns in total. These interns will help the fellow with research, data management and other required work to advance their efforts. While all students who are eligible may apply for these positions, preference will be given to women and/or individuals from the BIPOC community, to help bring more diverse voices and perspectives to public policy work. 

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“At Canada Life, we believe the right support can make all the difference in someone’s life,” says Jeff Macoun, president and COO, Canada, for Canada Life. “That’s why we’re so proud to fund these important educational opportunities for so many future leaders, especially those who may have been underrepresented in the past. We hope this opportunity to gain firsthand experience and learn from leading experts is just the beginning of a bright, successful career for each and every intern.”

IGM Financial group of companies, including Mackenzie Investments and IG Wealth Management, will dedicate five scholarships annually for the next eight years to fourth year, honours business administration (HBA) students who self-identify as women. To be considered for the IGM Financial scholarships, students will need to hold a minimum 78 per cent average and have an interest in the financial services industry.

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Altogether, the $1.75-million contribution to Ivey is designed for long-term impact and will be provided over eight years. In addition to Canada Life’s recent $250,000 contribution to Brescia University College, this equates to $2 million in support of Western University’s faculties and affiliated university colleges.

“We’re grateful for this generous gift which will support teaching, research and public policy dialogue on building a more sustainable competitive Canadian society,” says Sharon Hodgson, dean of Ivey Business School. “There has never been a more important time for business, academia and government to work together to strengthen Canada’s socio-economic development.”