Instructor bios

Simon Ashbourne

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Title: Adjunct Professor (April 1, 2015-June 30, 2019)
Area: Marketing
Email: simon.ashbourne@rotman.utoronto.ca
Phone: 416-535-5445 x 230
Short Bio:
Degrees:
B.A Hons. Modern Languages,
University of Nottingham, UK.
MBA, University of Toronto

As an Adjunct Professor in the Marketing Department of the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, Simon lends his marketing expertise and teaches in the MBA, One-Year Executive MBA, Omnium Global Executive MBA programs, as well as the Managing in the Global Economy and MBA Essentials for Managers programs. He has been recognized with multiple teaching awards by his students. He is a partner and co-founder of The Marketplace Capabilities Group Inc., a leading sales and marketing consulting firm, specializing in the consumer goods and pharmaceutical industries. His consulting experience spans 15 years and has included client work throughout North America as well as in Europe and the Far East. Prior to consulting, Simon worked in brand management at Procter and Gamble, and Cadbury Beverages in Canada.

J.C. Bourque

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Title: Instructor
Area: Strategic Management,Organizational Behaviour
Email: jcbourque@strategycorp.com
Phone: 647-405-4776
Short Bio:
Degrees: MBA, University of Toronto
MSc, The London School of Economics

J.C. Bourque currently lectures in the area of globalization and capital markets. His professional credentials include a decade of experience in the Ontario political, public policy and business strategy realms and expertise in providing clients with advanced political, public policy, privatization, and business strategy and advice. He is a Senior consultant with StrategyCorp Business Advisory where he offers business strategy experience and rigorous analysis, combined with political and public policy acumen. This skill set offers public and private sector clients in regulated or government-facing industries a needed bridge between business strategy and political and public policy savvy. J.C. also writes for The Globe and Mail on pressing business and public policy topics. He holds a Masters of Science in History of International Relations from the London School of Economics and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management. He is currently a fellow with the Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation.

Peter Constantinou

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Title: Instructor
Area: Marketing
Email:
Phone:
Short Bio:
Dr. Peter Constantinou has an extensive background in the all areas government including provincial and municipal. Prior to joining Seneca College as the director, Government Relations, Peter was the special adviser to the president of UOIT and also served as director, International Projects Durham College. Peter has been a long-time public servant at the federal and provincial levels in numerous capacities, including as a research analyst with the Royal Commission on Electoral Reform and Party Financing; as senior policy adviser and senior advisor, international trade Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy; and as chief of staff and executive assistant, Ontario Ministry of Education and Training. Peter is also a part-time faculty member of the Public Policy and Administration programs at Ryerson University and York University. His PhD thesis focused on government relations at post secondary institutions. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in public policy and administration from York University and McMaster University respectively.

Jim de Wilde

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Title: President JdW Strategic Ventures
Area: Strategic Management
Email: Jim.DeWilde@rotman.utoronto.ca
Phone:
Short Bio:
Throughout his career as an educator and venture capitalist, Dr. Jim de Wilde has focused on the issues of global competitiveness and the commercialization of knowledge through activities in both the private sector and the public sector. Since the early 1990's, Dr. de Wilde has also been involved in venture capital activities as President of JdW Strategic Ventures. In these venture capital activities, Dr. de Wilde currently serves on the Investment Committee of iNovia Capital in Montreal and the Advisory Boards of Enertech Capital (Philadelphia), TandemLaunch Technologies (Montreal) and Walsingham Partners in Toronto. He has a PhD in political science from McGill with a dissertation focusing on the Canadian public policy process and competitiveness in technology sectors. His website is http://www.jimdewilde.net and he can be followed on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/jimdewilde. He lectures at Rotman on Venture Capital strategies (MBA) and Global Capital Markets and New Trends in International Political Economy (BComm). Some of the course materials for the BComm course can be accessed on Twitter at #GCMIPE.

Lib Gibson

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Title: Instructor
Area: Strategic Management
Email: lib.gibson@gmail.com
Phone: 416.972.0424
Short Bio:
Lib Gibson had a successful career in pioneering technology, including as CEO of Canada’s largest Internet media company, and introducing many innovative technology solutions. She frequently speaks on innovation and is co-author of a paper on innovation in Harvard Business Review. She is an active Board Director and holder of certification from the Institute of Corporate Directors. She teaches Managing Innovation, a second year MBA elective.

Teach Managing Innovation

Frank Hayes

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Title: Sessional Lecturer II
Area: Finance
Email: Frank.Hayes@Rotman.utoronto.ca
Phone: 416-445-5252
Short Bio:
FRANK HAYES Frank Hayes has been a Lecturer in Corporate Financing and Financial Management in the Rotman MBA program since 2008. As a Finance practitioner, he is President of Stanley Software Finance Inc., a Toronto based financial consulting firm to Canadian software clients, and is a Managing Partner of PanCanadian Technology Fund ( www.PCTF.com ) . Prior to working with tech companies, Frank gained extensive years experience in Corporate Finance in various industries including heavy equipment, consumer packaged goods, mining, and manufacturing, encompassing roles as Treasurer of Toromont Industries Inc. (TSX:TIH), Business Planning Manger of Cadbury Schweppes Canada, and Corporate/Commercial Account Manager at Bank of Montreal. Frank holds an MBA from the University of Alberta and a BBA from the University of New Brunswick, and is a Certified Management Accountant (CPA, CMA). He is active in various financial and industry associations including Financial Executives International (FEIC), the Canadian Venture Capital Association, and TechConnex / York Technology Alliance.

Zayna Khayat

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Title: Sessional Instructor
Area: Strategic Management
Email: zayna.khayat@rotman.utoronto.ca
Phone: 416-904-4586
Short Bio:
Zayna Khayat has been teaching the 2nd year MBA field application course, Healthcare Consulting since January 2012. At Rotman, Zayna also serves on the Health Leadership Advisory Board, helping guide and shape the school’s strategy and direction in the health and life sciences sector. Dr. Khayat is the Senior Advisor, Health System Innovation at the MaRS Discovery District. Prior to joining MaRS in February 2014, Dr. Khayat was a senior leader with the International Centre for Health Innovation at the Ivey School of Business at Western University, where she currently is an Adjunct Faculty member. From 2010-2012, Zayna was an associate partner with SECOR Consulting/KPMG Canada. There, Zayna worked with medium and large sized public and private health and life sciences organizations in Ontario and nationally on issues of strategy and management. Prior to joining SECOR-KPMG, Zayna was a Principal with the Toronto office of The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a global management consulting firm, where she was a professional from 2001 to 2010. Zayna earned her Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Toronto / Hospital for Sick Children where she was a scholar of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, studying how insulin and exercise regulate blood glucose in the muscle. Zayna completed undergraduate studies in biochemistry at the University of Windsor, where she earned the President's Medal for top all around graduate of the University (1996) and the Board of Governor's Medal for top graduate of the biochemistry department. Dr. Khayat is a senior advisor to Endeavour Volunteer Consulting Netowrk (EVCN), a volunteer based consultancy that provides strategic and management advice to non-profit clients in the GTA.

Jan Klakurka

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Title: Instructor
Assistant Professor, Management & Organizational Studies
Huron University College, Western University; Consultant
Area: Strategic Management
Email: jan.klakurka@utoronto.ca
Phone: 416-454-3306 or 289-644-9941
Short Bio:
Degrees:
B.Comm., University of Toronto
M.B.A., Richard Ivey School of Business, Western University
C.Dir., Chartered Director
C.P.A., Chartered Professional Accountant
C.A., Chartered Accountant
C.M.C., Certified Management Consultant

Jan’s background spans twenty years in consulting and industry, most recently as Director, Corporate Planning & Development. Now as Assistant Professor at Huron University College and long-standing sessional Lecturer at Rotman, Jan’s research interests are directed toward the intersection of strategic planning, lucid foresight, and governance. Having led end-to-end initiatives at Fortune 500 and public-sector clients, Jan energetically shares this holistic experience with strategy students. Jan is a Chartered Director, having completed the Director’s College program, and currently serves as Director and CFO of Corporations for Community Connections and on the finance committee of Mansfield Ski Club. As a wine aficionado, was recently admitted to studies for the Master of Wine designation.

Scott Kress

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Title: President and Founder, Summit Training & Development Ltd.; President, Frontier Group
Area: Marketing
Email: Scott.Kress@rotman.utoronto.ca
Phone:
Short Bio:
Scott is a leadership and team development expert and teaches the Leadership Presence course at Rotman. Scott has been voted professor of the year two times for his work in EMBA programs. Scott has been a full-time trainer and consultant for over 15 years and works throughout North America with many of the fortune 500 organizations. Scott has also gained great insight into the inner workings of leadership and teams through over 22 years of leading climbing expeditions. He has guided and summitted peaks throughout North America, South America, Africa and the Himalayas and is the 51st Canadian to summit Mount Everest. He is an international speaker on leadership and team development sharing the lessons learned from climbing the highest mountains in the world and how to apply this learning to the business world.

Amy Kwan

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Title: Sessional Lecturer
Area: Accounting
Email: amyk.kwan@utoronto.ca
Phone:
Short Bio:
Degrees/Designation:
B.Sc. (Hons), York University
MMPA, Rotman School of Management
CMA, Certified Management Accountant

Amy teaches and assists part-time with a number of courses in the Accounting Department at the University of Toronto. Her primary areas of teaching interest are in Management Accounting and Information Systems/Technology. Amy currently works as a Manager of Finance Operations at PRESTO (a division of Metrolinx), where she manages the finance back-office for the PRESTO (smart farecard) financial system. Amy earned her Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree from York University, and Master of Management and Professional Accounting degree from the Rotman School of Management. She also holds a Certified Management Accountant designation.

Cara Orzech

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Title: Sessional Lecturer II
Area: Rotman School of Management, Commerce
Email: cara.orzech@utoronto.ca
Phone: 416-616-3115
Short Bio:
Cara earned her Bachelors of degree in Economics from Huron University, and Masters of Management and Professional Accounting degree from the Rotman School of Management (University of Toronto). She is a licensed CGA, has completed all three levels of the CICA’s In-Depth Tax Course and is a member of the Canadian Tax Foundation. Cara runs a tax consulting practice focussing on tax planning for owner-managed businesses and individuals. Cara is an accomplished lecturer at the Rotman School of Management (University of Toronto) lecturing in both tax and accounting, and a facilitator for CPA Canada’s In-Depth Tax Course.

Cara Orzech has research interest in Personal and Corporate Taxation.

Dan Richards

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Title: Instructor
Area: Marketing
Email: drichards@rotman.utoronto.ca
Phone:
Short Bio:
Dan has taught at Rotman since 1992 and in 2000 designed Marketing Financial Services at the school’s request. From 2002 to 2004 he served as CEO and led the turnaround and subsequent sale of one of Canada’s largest mutual fund and insurance distribution organizations, with 3500 advisors.
Dan is considered Canada’s leading authority on investor attitudes and on how financial advisors and financial institutions need to position themselves for future success. He writes a twice weekly blog for 25,000 financial advisors, contributes a regular column to the Globe and Mail Report on Business and is a frequent guest on BNN; he also contributes weekly and monthly columns to three leading Canadian and American publications for financial advisors.
Dan has built and successfully sold two start-ups in the financial arena. In 2009, he launched Clientinsights. This new venture takes advisor education to a new level in North America by incorporating Dan’s views on many topics, and personal interviews with top academics, economists and Nobel prize winners.
Dan attended McGill University and has an MBA from Harvard Business School. In 2004 Dan climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and co-chairs an annual fundraising dinner for a childrens’ home at the foot of Kilimanjaro that he visited during his climb.

Scott Rutherford

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Title: Adjunct Professor
Area: Strategic Management,Organizational Behaviour
Email: scottrutherford@rotman.utoronto.ca
Phone: 416-978-8985
Short Bio:
Degrees
B.Sc. Engineering, Queen’s University
M.B.A., University of Toronto

Scott teaches courses in Business Problem Solving, Integrative Thinking, Leadership and Management Consulting, and also works within the Self Development Laboratory as lead faculty.

Scott was previously with McKinsey & Company as a consultant and a Practice Expert within the Leadership Mindsets and Capabilities Practice, and still works with McKinsey and its clients as on topics of Leadership Development, Organization and Top Team Strategy & Alignment.

Other Current Professional Service
Founder, Rutherford Development Strategies
Senior Faculty, Mobius Executive Leadership
Chair, Roots of Empathy
Chair, Impact Consulting

Jeff Rybak

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Title: Instructor
Area: Strategic Management
Email: jeff.rybak@utoronto.ca
Phone:
Short Bio:
Jeff Rybak is a licensed lawyer practicing primarily labour law, representing workers. He is also an experienced corporate director in the not-for-profit sector, having served on a number of boards. Currently he serves as Vice-President of the Board of Harmony Hall Centre for Seniors, and as director and chair of the Governance Committee on the board of YouthLink. He is also a member of the United Way Speakers Bureau. Prior to attending law school, Jeff took an interest in post-secondary issues, most notably publishing a book on the subject titled "What's Wrong With University: And How to Make It Work For You Anyway," (ECW Press). He also wrote on the subject for Macleans, and still speaks occasionally on the topic. In addition to teaching at Rotman, Jeff teaches at the University of Toronto Scarborough, in the Department of Management. He has been teaching for five years, with a focus on business law as it relates to undergraduate study.

Tina Saksida

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Title: Instructor
Area: Organizational Behaviour
Email: tina.saksida@mail.utoronto.ca
Phone:
Short Bio:
Tina Saksida received her H.B.Sc. from the University of Toronto and is now a PhD Candidate at the Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources. Her research interests include individual-, task-, and context-related factors influencing voluntary behaviours, strategic human resource management (HRM), and the impact of employment protection legislation on employer HRM practices. She has previously taught Organizational Behaviour in the Rotman Commerce program and a research methods course (Employment Relations Research and Human Resource Analytics) in the Employment Relations program at Woodsworth College.

Ken Smith

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Title: Sessional Lecturer
Area: Finance
Email: Ken.Smith@rotman.utoronto.ca
Phone:
Short Bio:
Degrees:
MBA, Rotman School of Management
M.Sc., Ph.D. Mathematics, University of Toronto
B.Sc., Mathematics, York University
ICD.D, Institute of Corporate Directors
CMC

Ken Smith is a Sessional Lecturer in Finance at the Rotman School of Management. He is also a management consultant with over 25 years of experience, initially with McKinsey & Company and later with SECOR Consulting, where he was a Managing Partner and Chair. He now practices independently through his own firm Dundee Associates Limited. His practice has focused on industry restructuring, corporate strategy, M&A and corporate governance. Related research has been published widely in the business press, including the Harvard Business Review, Mergers & Acquisitions, Director, Business Week and the major daily newspapers, and in his book The Art of M&A Strategy, with Alexandra Lajoux, McGraw-Hill, New York, 2012.

Ralph Tassone

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Title: Sessional Lecturer
Area: Accounting
Email: ralph.tassone@utoronto.ca
Phone:
Short Bio:
Ralph is a Sessional Lecturer in Accounting at the Rotman School of Management. He is a CPA, CA who has over 13 years of public accounting experience. His focus in public accounting is on advising owner-managed businesses on accounting and tax planning issues. Currently, through his part-time practice, Ralph consults with owner-managed clients and personal high net worth clients on business and tax-related issues. At Rotman, Ralph’s teaching focus is specifically accounting; he has taught several undergraduate courses including Introductory and Intermediate Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, and Management Control. Ralph graduated from the University of Toronto Commerce program in 2000 and subsequently commenced his articling with KPMG LLP. He has recently completed his Master of Education at OISE, University of Toronto.

Luciano Volpe

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Title: Sessional Lecturer/Course Director
Area: Marketing
Email: luciano.volpe@utoronto.ca
Phone: 416 460 5587
Short Bio:
Luciano holds a part-time Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream appointment in the Marketing Area at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and teaches in the Rotman Commerce Program, with a focus on International Business and Marketing. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of SLV International, a Toronto-based company, producing, marketing and distributing Canadian food and non-food brand lines into international markets (including its own brand can-Natur) to South-East Asia, Mexico, South America and the EU. He is a graduate of the Schulich School of Business in Toronto with an International MBA, having studied and worked in Milan, Italy during his Master’s work. Early in his career, Luciano worked in Management Consulting for an international boutique British firm, a retail Consultancy in Toronto and a Marketing Agency in Toronto before moving out on his own in 2007. Luciano is also a co-founding member of not-for-profit Inspire North /Behind Greatness (est. 2011).

Luciano has research interest in International Business, International Marketing, Marketing Management, Principles of Marketing.

Otto Yung

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Title: Instructor
Area: Commerce
Email: otto.yung@utoronto.ca
Phone:
Short Bio:

Otto Yung has 16 years of experience working in a range of sectors including financial services, higher education, telecommunications, hydro-utility, manufacturing and municipal services. He has led multi-million dollar programs and initiatives in: corporate finance, operations, risk management, capital planning, mergers and acquisitions, and enterprise application software.

Several highlights in Otto's career include working for a startup company funded by venture capital. The company (i.e. Multi-channel Communications) was ranked #1 by PROFIT magazine on the "Hot 50" list. Prior to this, Otto conducted due diligence activities on various companies including BRAK Systems (i.e. a company that was founded by current Shark Tank and ex-Dragon's Den cast member - Robert Herjavec).

In 2010, Otto worked on the blueprint design of the Global Risk Institute in Financial Services leading up to the formal announcement by the Federal Minister of Finance. This initiative was coordinated through the Toronto Financial Services Alliance which is a public-private partnership among the three levels of government, financial services sector, academia and professional associations.

Otto is a CFA Charterholder, a Certified Management Accountant and a Professional Engineer. He is also very active in the community, currently serving on CFA Society Toronto's Membership and University Relations Committees as well as judging in annual competitions held by the Chartered Professional Accountants (Canada) and CFA Society Toronto. Otto has completed a Canadian Board Diversity Council Governance Education Program and has also served as a Local Chapter Treasurer for the Professional Engineers of Ontario.

Otto obtained his MBA from Queen's University, Master of Finance from the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management and his Bachelor of Applied Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Waterloo.