Momentum - 2023-2028 Strategic Plan

Land Acknowledgement

UBC Sauder School of Business (Point Grey campus) is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam). Our Robson Square campus is situated on the traditional territory of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam), Skwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Selílwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh). We all share an important responsibility for learning with and about our host Nations on their Indigenous lands. We will continue to strengthen these relationships through respect, meaningful interactions, and reconciliatory actions.

Reflections from the new Dean

Message from the Dean

It has been a great honour to serve as the Dean of UBC Sauder over the past year. During this time, a large part of my focus has been listening to our community. I have heard from many of you about how you think the school should evolve and what we should value most. These conversations have helped inspire and shape our new strategic plan.

There is no doubt we’re emerging from a challenging time and the pace of change we’re seeing in society is unlike anything we’ve witnessed before. From rapid technological and climate change to public health issues and societal inequity, we’re being pushed to think creatively and to be even more innovative in our business approaches. At UBC Sauder, we believe we can shape ethical and courageous leaders who possess both emotional intelligence and business skills to contribute new solutions and positively impact society.

At a pivotal time in our school’s trajectory, this new strategic plan serves as our roadmap for how we will leverage our strengths as a world-class institution and a place where everyone can belong. The plan is our North Star, a guide that accelerates our momentum and strengthens our collective efforts towards making the world a better, greener, more prosperous place.

I am proud of the way our community has come together to create a shared vision for our school. I am deeply grateful to all of the students, staff, alumni, and faculty who contributed their perspectives and ideas to this effort, and I look forward to working together as we move into implementation.

Darren Dahl Dean, UBC Sauder School of Business Innovate BC Professor

Our Vision

To build a more just, sustainable, and prosperous world through innovation and responsible leadership.

Our Values

Rigour

We are motivated by our commitment to the rigorous search for truth. We seek deep insights rather than superficial conclusions. We rely on evidence, and our assumptions are open to testing and public debate.

Respect

We are attentive to and conscious of how our words and actions affect others; we learn about traditions, values, and experiences of others so that we are able to understand and appreciate the diversity of perspectives. We are culturally aware and culturally sensitive.

Responsibility

We are active participants in our community who take responsibility for improving and transforming the lives of those around us, both locally and globally. We stand up for our values and principles, and question practices that are unjust or that put future generations at risk.

Our Mission

As part of one of the world’s finest public universities, we pursue excellence in research and learning to inspire and educate responsible leaders who improve business, drive innovation, and advance well-being in British Columbia and throughout the world.

Dr. Kate White Senior Associate Dean, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Sustainability (right)

Dr. Justin Bull Leader, Sustainability and Ethics Group Academic Director, Centre for Climate and Business Solutions (left)

Our Strategic Plan

Building on the foundation of an engaged and collaborative UBC Sauder community, we will execute our responsibility to society through our principal activities of world-class knowledge creation and an exceptional learner experience.

Indigenous knowledge and reconciliation

Lifelong learning Sustainability and climate action

Best practices in teaching and learning

Professionalism and accountability

Responsible leadership learning support services,

Outstanding sta , and infrastructure

Diverse

Talent and high performance

Equity, inclusion, and belonging

Our Cross-Cutting Themes:

Deep alumni relationships

School spirit and giving

Engaged and collaborative UBC Sauder community

The foundation of UBC Sauder is our talented people, who share a deep commitment to achieving excellence while co-creating a culture of equity, inclusion, belonging, and collaboration. We prosper from high standards of transparency and accountability, and leverage our outstanding alumni to influence and support all that we do.

We take pride in the achievements, impact, and generosity of our students, staff, faculty, alumni, and donors, and of our community and business partners. We are united in our purpose to make a difference locally, nationally, and globally.

High performance through talented and empowered employees and best management practices

• Recruit outstanding and diverse employees and support their professional and personal development

• Implement effective management processes that adhere to high standards of transparency and accountability

• Facilitate constructive communication and cooperation across business units

• Develop health and workplace initiatives that promote well-being

• Fund and support cutting-edge information technology systems

Equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging across UBC Sauder’s diverse communities

• Promote and support commitment and capacity for ongoing progress on equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives

• Attract and retain students, staff, and faculty who represent diverse perspectives, experiences, and identities

• Create support structures that meet the unique needs of our diverse communities and that enhance belonging and well-being

• Work to dismantle historical inequities and eliminate barriers to access for all in a way that amplifies the perspectives of our marginalized communities

• Hosted Ü Day, the first UBC Sauder-wide professional development day dedicated to employee growth

Deep and impactful relationships with alumni

• Ensure alumni have an influential voice and stake in the school

• Integrate opportunities for alumni to be meaningfully involved in the school throughout the student and alumni journey

• Offer programming and support to alumni relevant to all stages of their professional and personal lives

School spirit and giving

• Promote and strengthen the UBC Sauder brand by celebrating the achievements and impact of our students, staff, faculty, alumni, and donors

• Leverage the passion and energy of alumni and the UBC Sauder community to increase philanthropic support and volunteerism

• Recognize and enable a culture of giving back

• Launched the RHL Student Ambassador Program, enhancing student ambassadors’ leadership, marketing, and recruitment skills as they engage with prospective applicants and students

• Established the UBC Sauder Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee to lead strategic direction, engagement, and reporting

• Initiated the Founders’ Pledge to bolster UBC Sauder’s entrepreneur network and to engage alumni in future giving

• Welcomed a record level of community engagement at the Homecoming 2022 UBC Sauder Open House

Exceptional learner experience

Through collective and collaborative efforts, our faculty and staff inspire and guide our diverse and motivated students to reach their potential through thoughtful and impactful learning experiences. To empower our students, we provide a deep understanding of business principles, and offer opportunities for students to apply these principles to pressing social and global issues. In the classroom, through rich experiential learning opportunities, and in our wider community, we foster an environment that encourages accountability, professionalism, critical thinking, creativity, and ethical decisionmaking to shape outstanding leaders and difference-makers who contribute to the betterment of our world.

Best practices in teaching and learning

• Foster critical thinking, evidence-based decision-making, and creative problem-solving

• Provide each student with a high-quality experiential learning opportunity

• Bring learning to life through application to business practices and pressing societal issues

• Incorporate Indigenous content and knowledge into the curriculum

• Encourage active learning that recognizes the needs and abilities of all students

• Promote teaching excellence through collaboration, use of best pedagogy, and sustained course and curriculum innovation

Professionalism, accountability, and career success

• Imbue academic integrity into the fabric of student culture

• Encourage students to take ownership and to be accountable for their academic and career journeys by making responsible choices

• Facilitate the professional development of students

• Cultivate quality employment and career opportunities for our graduates

Outstanding staff, learning support services, and infrastructure

• Empower and recognize all staff who support learning

• Ensure instructors have assistance and services to deliver teaching excellence

• Support student well-being and mental health

• Create and sustain state-of-the-art physical and digital learning spaces

Talented and diverse instructors and students

• Recruit students with excellent potential and diverse backgrounds and perspectives

• Attract and retain outstanding instructors

• Launched UBC Sauder Women+ in Finance Training (SWIFT) to provide top-quality career development through education, mentorship, and networking for a more inclusive pipeline of BCom talent in finance

• Introduced an innovative MBA + MBAN Dual Degree, equipping students with expertise in business and the rapidly expanding field of business analytics

• Created 15+ new IBPOC and 2SLGBTQIA+ student awards, fuelled by our community’s generous donations

• Supported student well-being by welcoming an embedded counsellor dedicated to mental health and wellness

• Hired an Academic Integrity Officer to elevate the rigour and quality of learning

World-class knowledge creation

We’re committed to generating high-impact and relevant research that advances academic knowledge, facilitates business excellence, informs public policy, and promotes transformative learning. Our diverse community of exceptional scholars, supported by excellent staff and resources, contributes to the very best academic journals in the foundational business disciplines and collaborates with academic, government, and community partners to solve problems confronting business and society. Our research fosters business innovation by providing tools and principles that underpin a prosperous, sustainable, and just society. We are proud of our contributions, and we are dedicated to pushing the frontiers of knowledge.

Impactful research, with relevance

• Recognize and incentivize high-quality research in top research outlets

• Encourage research on pressing societal topics and challenges

• Disseminate research insights to a broad audience

Productive research collaboration and partnerships

• Advance multidisciplinary research

• Enable researcher networks within and outside the school

• Facilitate research partnerships with businesses, non-profit organizations, and government

Supportive research ecosystem

• Provide resources that support the execution of research

• Facilitate researcher access to cutting-edge data and computing infrastructure

• Support and invest in the next generation of researchers

A diverse community of exceptional researchers

• Implement policies and practices that attract and retain a diverse group of exceptional scholars

• Cultivate a collaborative research culture where scholars continually develop and thrive

• Consistently ranked the number one business program in Canada in research reputation, Maclean’s University Rankings

• Achieved national recognition with recent appointments to the Order of Canada (Professors Emeriti Izak Benbasat, Stanley Hamilton, and Mark Thompson) and to the Royal Society of Canada (Professor Kai Li)

• Recognized in the top 10 worldwide for research productivity in marketing (2013–2022), American Marketing Association

• Received $8.3 million in research awards from Canadian Tri-Agency, 2019–2023

• Provided new research funding to promote responsible business, including the Dhillon Centre’s Business for Social Good Research Grant, the EDI Catalyst Research Grant, and the Montalbano Centre for Responsible Leadership Development Grant

Responsibility to society

We measure our success by what we contribute to society. We develop responsible leaders who are open to a diversity of perspectives and make a positive impact in their professional and personal lives. Guided by truth and reconciliation and the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion, we take actions to promote the well-being of marginalized peoples in our communities. To facilitate professional growth in a rapidly changing business environment, we offer lifelong learning opportunities. We contribute to sustainability and climate action through our research, curriculum, and operations. Firmly believing that they are essential to advance prosperity and well-being, we encourage and enable entrepreneurship and innovation.

Responsible leadership as a core value

• Enhance curriculum prioritizing the values of collective well-being, personal responsibility, and positive societal impact

• Enable co-curricular activities related to ethics; equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI); and societal impact

• Support, incentivize, and disseminate scholarly research that investigates and influences ethical and socially responsible business practices

• Collaborate with the business community, policy-makers, and the public to disseminate knowledge, advance discussion, and share best practices related to responsible leadership

Impactful life-long learning opportunities

• Create and deliver innovative pathways in the pursuit of societal impact

• Strengthen UBC Sauder’s education programs that serve professionals and professional organizations

• Expand Executive Education and Continuing Business Studies programs in the areas of faculty strength and strategic importance, locally, nationally, and globally

Aboriginal Management Program (AMP) graduate Elaine Alec

Photo by: Billie Jean Gabriel Photography

An unwavering commitment to lead entrepreneurship and innovation within the university and beyond

• Centre UBC Sauder in the UBC and BC innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem

• Prioritize the elevation and integration of entrepreneurship education across the school and the university

• Collaborate with university, industry, academic, and government partners to catalyze new entrepreneurial ventures

Honouring the diversity, resilience, and strength of Indigenous cultures and knowledge systems through meaningful reconciliation efforts

• Increase recruitment, retention, and success of Indigenous students, faculty, and staff

• Implement initiatives that support the goals and actions of the UBC Indigenous Strategic Plan

• Strengthen partnerships and collaborations with Indigenous peoples

• Deepen understanding of Indigenous history and peoples and of the legacy of colonization through training, education, and culturally supportive services

Sustainable development and climate action

• Create transformative programs, initiatives, and curriculum that focus on how business can address climate change and promote sustainability

• Support, incentivize, and disseminate scholarly research that investigates how business can address climate change and sustainability

• Foster collective action on climate change solutions by forging partnerships and collaboration across the university and within the business community

• Achieve high energy efficiency and low carbon emissions in our own operations, events, and activities

Diversity of perspectives

• Maintain a steadfast commitment to academic freedom

• Create safe classroom environments where discussion is encouraged and diverse views are heard

• Engage in critical thinking and fact-based debates

• Welcome a range of viewpoints and ideas to help solve societal challenges

• Pioneered a Climate Career Track in the MBA, and developed five new climate courses for undergraduate and graduate students

• Teamed with Métis Nation British Columbia (MNBC) to create and deliver the MNBC Business Management Program

• Expanded Creative Destruction LabVancouver from four to six streams by adding streams for minerals and cancer

• Introduced the Values, Ethics, and Community course to the BCom curriculum

• Partnered with the BC Financial Services Authority to develop and offer mandatory real estate courses on ethics and antimoney laundering

At a Glance

Our Vision

To build a more just, sustainable, and prosperous world through innovation and responsible leadership.

Our Values

Rigour

We are motivated by our commitment to the rigorous search for truth. We seek deep insights rather than superficial conclusions. We rely on evidence, and our assumptions are open to testing and public debate.

Respect

We are attentive to and conscious of how our words and actions affect others; we learn about traditions, values, and experiences of others so that we are able to understand and appreciate the diversity of perspectives. We are culturally aware and culturally sensitive.

Responsibility

We are active participants in our community who take responsibility for improving and transforming the lives of those around us, both locally and globally. We stand up for our values and principles, and question practices that are unjust or that put future generations at risk.

Our Mission

As part of one of the world’s finest public universities, we pursue excellence in research and learning to inspire and educate responsible leaders who improve business, drive innovation, and advance well-being in British Columbia and throughout the world.

Our Plan

Engaged and collaborative

UBC Sauder community

• High performance through talented and empowered employees and best management practices

• Equity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging across UBC Sauder’s diverse communities

• Deep and impactful relationships with alumni

• School spirit and giving

Exceptional learner experience

• Best practices in teaching and learning

• Professionalism, accountability, and career success

• Outstanding staff, learning support services, and infrastructure

• Talented and diverse instructors and students

World-class knowledge creation

• Impactful research, with relevance

• Productive research collaboration and partnerships

• Supportive research ecosystem

• A diverse community of exceptional researchers

Responsibility to society

• Responsible leadership as a core value

• Impactful lifelong learning opportunities

• An unwavering commitment to lead entrepreneurship and innovation within the university and beyond

• Honouring the diversity, resilience, and strength of Indigenous cultures and knowledge systems through meaningful reconciliation efforts

• Sustainable development and climate action

• Diversity of perspectives

Our Cross-Cutting Themes:

Accountability & Professionalism | Collaboration & Innovation | Diversity & Global Citizenship

Cultural Guardians

By: Susan Point

This large-scale sculptural artwork entitled Cultural Guardians was created by Susan Point. Susan was assisted by her sons, Brent Sparrow and Thomas Cannell, as well further assisted by Mervyn Child, along with Ron Denessen, Dave Macdougall, and Scott Macdougall.

The theme of these sculptural art pieces was mainly inspired by the multi-cultural diversity of the student body and faculty of the UBC Sauder School of Business.

UBC Sauder School of Business

2053 Main Mall

Vancouver, BC Canada V6T 1Z2