The Odette MBA: Theory partnered with experience
The new Odette MBA focuses on corporate partnerships. Working in teams of five – each with a mixed complement of academic disciplines, genders and international backgrounds to promote a greater diversity of perspective – our students tackle projects geared toward developing an understanding of business cycles, preparing them to effectively manage new ventures, growth-focused enterprises, and companies in mature markets.
In January, 2009 a team of Odette MBA students met with a number of senior executives from Valiant Machine & Tool Inc., a supplier of equipment to the automotive, aerospace, construction and forestry sectors. In that meeting, product growth options were outlined that the company was considering. Together, the MBAs and Valiant negotiated the parameters of a new venture research project that would drive the next eight months of the MBA program for five students.
Similar meetings were held between MBA teams and six other corporate partners, including: Crayola Canada, Drive Logistics Ltd., BMO Nesbitt Burns, Sellick Equipment Ltd., Rogers Media, CityTV, and the Southwestern Ontario Vintners Association (SWOVA).
“I came here because I was excited about the corporate projects,” explains Jennifer Laba, who was part of the Drive Logistics team. “I have to admit that I found the process challenging at times. But it was worth it.”
