MIPC asks students to devise decumulation strategies for an inflationary environment
For its 7th edition, the 2023 McGill International Portfolio Challenge (MIPC), as part of McGill’s Sustainable Growth Initiative (SGI), gathered over 80 teams from 27 countries to address retirement challenges amidst inflation. Participants tackled the task of developing decumulation strategies for the fictional Maple Leaf Pension Plan, simulating real-world data.
Avoiding simple mistakes can help you manage your money
In a recent video interview with 24 heures, Benjamin Croitoru, Associate Professor of Finance and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs at McGill Desautels, shared valuable insights on navigating financial challenges amidst the economic uncertainties of 2024.
Local bakery works with the Bensadoun School of Retail Management to guide move to check-out automation process
The pandemic hit many businesses hard, and the artisanal bakery and café Mamie Clafoutis was one of them. Their seven locations in Montreal and Ottawa were forced to reduce their hours to one shift per day. As they’ve emerged from the storm, they have sought ways to keep their costs low, and one of them is by automating checkout.
Theatre piece brings awareness to humanitarian efforts
Art occupies an important place in the life of the former international president of Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Joanne Liu (MDCM'91, IMHL'14, DSc'16).
The pandemic pushed tipping too far, but customers can push back
A recent video sharing one woman’s New Year’s resolution to no longer tip has gone viral, proving that, for many consumers, tipping has become excessive. Just a few years ago, diners often ponied up 15% on a restaurant bill or bar tab. As restaurants were forced to close during the pandemic, tip prompts creeped up to 18%, 20%, or even 30%. Tip prompts were also added to many other services where tipping had never been customary – like drive-thru windows and even deli counters.
Maxime Cohen and Saibal Ray named Top Retail Experts for 2024
Two faculty members of the Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM) have been named to Rethink Retail’s Top Retail Experts (TRE) list for 2024, one of the most prestigious global accolades in the Retail and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry.
Universities must go beyond the ivory tower
The ivory tower sits on a solid foundation, but it could use a little shaking up, writes Professor Henry Mintzberg in a University World News article co-authored with his daughter Susan Mintzberg, a doctoral candidate in social work at McGill University. They argue that an overemphasis on a few top journals is one of the issues of the current model.
Unionization is having a moment, but reaching initial contract agreements is proving challenging
In 2022, employees at a Trader Joe’s grocery store in Massachusetts successfully voted to unionize. However, almost two years later, the company has yet to present any contract proposals. Despite the company's initial dismissal of a $30-an-hour wage proposal, they failed to provide a counter-offer, contributing to a broader trend of extended negotiations for new unions' inaugural contracts.
Pension funds can drive greater returns by participating more directly in value creation
Pension funds manage enormous amounts of capital, but they don’t create as much value as other players in the financial sector. Entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and private equity funds all play a more direct role in launching projects and creating value.
A McGill MBA alumnus is integrating the latest technology into supply chain management
Bachir Sentissi (MBA’98) wants to make it easier to access the Internet of Things (IoT). After completing his MBA, Sentissi worked with Canadian National Railway, and became interested in how organizations collect and process information.
Economic uncertainty will continue in 2024, and businesses can benefit by planning for it
Last year was one of economic uncertainty – and a challenging year for many small businesses. Despite this, small business owners demonstrated remarkable resilience, ingenuity and leadership, and looked for ways to turn obstacles into new opportunities, writes Don Ludlow (MBA’01) in CanadianSME Business Magazine.
MMR student shares how L'Oréal Brandstorm led to internship
Last year, after months of hard work and 'brandstorming', two McGill Desautels teams took the podium at the 31st annual L'Oréal Brandstorm competition, competing against top teams from across Canada! Madison Laxer and her fellow Master of Management in Retailing (MMR) teammates, Aditi Bali and Supreet Kaur, took third place.
McGill Desautels leads the way in McGill Workplace Sustainability Certifications
This winter, the sustainability efforts of 13 University offices were recognized by the rigorous Sustainable Workplace Certification program hosted by the McGill Office of Sustainability, with nearly half coming from McGill Desautels.
‘Buy now, pay later’ loans are not covered by existing consumer protection laws
Buy now, pay later technology offers loans to consumers to pay for purchases in instalments over time. A soft credit check verifies eligibility, and can extend credit to users who might not otherwise have access to credit products. These loans claim to improve the financial inclusion of lower-income young people, but should be approached with caution, writes Vivek Astvansh in The Conversation.
This holiday season, shoppers are spending more and getting less
Christmas is just around the corner, and even with inflation slowing down, gift prices are higher than ever. Canada’s Consumer Price Index is at an all-time high of nearly 160 points, Associate Professor Vivek Astvansh tells CTV News Montreal. “Consumers are feeling the pinch, and while they want to buy stuff, they are resisting purchases,” says Astvansh.
