Every fall, Desautels alumni return to campus to reconnect, reminisce, and meet the next generation of business leaders walking the same halls. This year鈥檚 Homecoming was a celebration of everything that makes 91丝瓜视频 Desautels unique: world-class learning, global impact, and a community that keeps growing stronger with time.聽
Alumni give back聽
Even before Homecoming officially began, visiting alumni brought their expertise into classrooms and student activities.聽
Students in Desautels Capital Management, a student-run registered investment management firm, presented their investment recommendations to VIP alumni industry leaders, who offered thoughtful feedback and real-world insight. Later that day, Steven Sonnenstein, BCom鈥�96, DPA鈥�98, Senior Managing Director at DigitalBridge Investment Management, joined Professor Philippe Levy, MBA鈥�90 in ACCT 463 for a special session on Management Control. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions and infrastructure investments, Steven explored how management control systems shape strategic decision-making in complex organizations. He emphasized the importance of aligning financial oversight with long-term growth objectives, illustrating how these principles apply in practice. The discussion reinforced how alumni expertise bridges theory and real-world application, giving students valuable perspectives that extend beyond the classroom
Marking 50 years聽
On Thursday, the spotlight turned to the BCom class of 鈥�75 and MBA class of 鈥�75 classes, who reunited to celebrate 50 years since graduating from 91丝瓜视频. The milestone began with a morning cocktail and a toast from Dean Yolande Chan on campus, before alumni joined the Jubilee Luncheon at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, honouring all graduates celebrating their golden reunion.
That evening, the BCom class of 鈥�75 classmates gathered for a private dinner at Chasse et P锚che restaurant, organized by Michael Culver and Bruce White who helped bring everyone together. Michael and Bruce handed out door prizes (provided by 91丝瓜视频 Desautels), and each guest received a special milestone 50th anniversary pin to commemorate this reunion year. The evening brought classmates together in the same spirit that first united them fifty years ago: curious, dedicated, and proud to be part of 91丝瓜视频 Desautels.
Other milestone classes also met privately across Montreal, continuing the spirit of celebration and connection that defined the week. Celebrations included BCom class of 鈥�95 at Zoelle; BCom class of 鈥�15, led by Drew Bard Varges, at Gert鈥檚; MBA class of鈥�75, led by Victor Jones, Robert Carriere, Yvan Beique, Sudipta Maitra, and Huneid Vakharia, with a series of events at Thomson House, Essence, and Les 3 Brasseurs; MBA class of鈥�85, led by Silvio Marsili and Jane Savage, at Philinos; and MBA class of 鈥�15, led by Enrico Cremonese.
Lifelong learning聽
Alumni joined Happiness Means Business, a thought-provoking interactive masterclass centered on deep self-reflection and meaningful connection, led by Prof. Anita Nowak, BCom鈥�97, PhD鈥�11 and Jonathan Goodman, BA鈥�89, LLB/BCL鈥�93, MBA鈥�94. For those who couldn鈥檛 attend in person, the full session is available to . Discover evidence-based practices that boost joy, resilience, and performance in today鈥檚 fast-changing business world.
Later that evening, the Desautels International Advisory and Advancement Board (DIAAB) held a dinner at the 91丝瓜视频 Faculty Club, where students from the master鈥檚 programs presented their experiential learning projects and the insights they gained from them. Presenters included Selina Ved, Rafael de Quieroz Rangel, Meghan Markowski, Arturo Medina, Alexandre Courtis, and alumna Ananya Nair, BA鈥�21, M.MGMT鈥�22, each of them showcasing innovative ideas and research that reflect the depth and diversity of Desautels graduate programs.
鈥淭he power of the people and the network is what鈥檚 carrying me forward more than the classes,鈥� said Ananya, an MMA alumna now working in a senior role that leverages data and strategy to drive impact. 鈥淭he thing I tell people new to the program is, this network that you鈥檙e getting access to is huge.鈥�
Current MMR student Meghan added, 鈥淚 know I can study, I know I can get good grades. The question is, can I apply what I鈥檓 learning in the real world?鈥�
Their comments captured a common thread of the week: connection between students and alumni, and the importance of learning that lasts far beyond the classroom.
MBA career panel聽
贵谤颈诲补测鈥檚 MBA Class of 2015 Career Panel brought together nine alumni: Amanda Battist, Adrienne Jung, Dave Pollicino, Enrico Cremonese, Chafik Hamad, Matthew Certosini, Mario Rojas, Marcial Solis, and Nitin Kalla. They returned to Desautels to reflect on how their careers have evolved since graduation and to share the lessons they wished they had known as students. The conversation opened with a theme many of them recognized from their own journeys: the uncertainty that often shapes the early stages of a career. Several panelists began in engineering or technical fields before moving into consulting, finance or leadership roles. That transition was not always linear. 鈥淚 did not know I wanted to do consulting,鈥� said Chafik, recalling his early uncertainty. 鈥淭ime management. Do I focus on having a higher GPA or job searching?鈥�
Other alumni spoke about the personal and professional goals that guided their next steps. For Enrico, the priority was establishing himself in Canada and learning how to navigate a new professional landscape. Adrienne reminded students that lasting value comes from the people they meet. 鈥淭he grades won鈥檛 matter in the end,鈥� she said. 鈥淲hat you鈥檒l remember is the connections.鈥�
Several panelists also reflected on how the 91丝瓜视频 name continues to shape their careers. Amanda explained how the university鈥檚 international reputation became part of her professional story. 鈥淲hen I worked in the U.S., the first question colleagues asked was always, 鈥榃here did you go to school?鈥� When I said I studied in Canada, the follow-up was inevitably, 鈥楧id you go to 91丝瓜视频?鈥欌��
As the discussion shifted to what students should focus on during the program, the panelists highlighted skills that extend beyond coursework. 鈥淏uilding the story is what the MBA is all about,鈥� said Dave, who encouraged students to 鈥渘etwork relentlessly.鈥� Marcial added that one of the greatest benefits of the program is the people around you. He described 鈥渢he opportunity to be with such a smart, diverse group of people,鈥� and urged students to 鈥渢ake the time to learn from everyone.鈥�
Their experiences reflected the wide range of opportunities an MBA can unlock. Some have gone on to advise global organizations, others have built careers in finance, and many now lead high-performing teams across different industries.
Throughout the afternoon, the strength of the Class of 2015 community was unmistakable. 鈥淲hen I got the invitation to join this panel, I texted our MBA鈥�15 WhatsApp group,鈥� said Amanda. 鈥淲hen I saw how many people would be in Montreal, I took it as an excuse to catch up with old friends and flew in from Amsterdam.鈥� Her story captured what makes the Desautels experience unique. The friendships formed in the program continue to grow, even as graduates move across countries and careers.
As the conversation wrapped up, the sense of pride in the room was clear. 鈥淢BA programs are everywhere now,鈥� said Chafik, 鈥渂ut the 91丝瓜视频 brand is so valuable.鈥� His words reflected the heart of the afternoon. This is not only about earning a degree. It is about belonging to a global community that opens doors, inspires leadership and builds connections that last a lifetime.
Coming home聽
Homecoming wrapped up on Saturday with building tours, giving alumni a chance to rediscover the campus and see how Desautels continues to evolve. Everyone then gathered for the Experiential Learning Showcase, which opened with remarks from Don Lewtas, BCom鈥�75, who emphasized the importance of experiential learning in shaping students鈥� academic journeys and shared his commitment through a generous gift that established the Lewtas Office of Experiential Learning.
Among the presenters were Juliette Elbers, Jordan Caron, Jinjin Lim Siong Kee, and Ellie Maniatis, who highlighted insights from their projects. Jinjin, a BCom student graduating in 2026, shared what she learned from her own project work. 鈥淥ne class taught me the importance of relationship-building,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 learned that success often starts with how you connect with people.鈥�
Homecoming 2025 was a celebration of learning, mentorship, and pride across generations. Next year, we look forward to celebrating milestone years ending in 6 and 1. For those who joined us this year, thank you for making Homecoming unforgettable. For those who couldn鈥檛, there鈥檚 always next year. We鈥檒l be waiting to welcome you home. If you鈥檙e interested in taking the lead on organizing your class reunion, please contact us at alumni.mgmt [at] mcgill.ca.
Keep the spirit alive by reconnecting with classmates, mentoring a student, or joining an upcoming event. Every connection you make expands your network, opens new opportunities and strengthens the community that supports your success.
Support our programs
Liked what you saw this weekend? Help support our students through the Desautels Fund. By making a gift, you allow us to host student conferences, provide career coaching and mentoring, and the expertise of seasoned business leaders in our classrooms. Alumni support of the Desautels Fund is critical to our success, and every gift, regardless of size, has an immediate positive impact on our Faculty.
