Developing ethical business leaders

January 24, 2012

From  UToday

A major $9.5-million initiative at the Haskayne School of Business aims to empower the next generation of business leaders with the creation of the Canadian Centre for Advanced Leadership in Business.

The centre, which is expected to launch in the fall of 2012, is being funded by four founding donors with a vision to create a national leadership centre that will set the bar in ethical business standards education and leadership training for up-and-coming business leaders.

“Our vision is to be an internationally recognized centre of excellence in business education, research and outreach,” says Leonard Waverman, dean, Haskayne School of Business. “Beginning with leadership education for undergraduates, extending this to graduate students and generating new research fulfills our principle mission.”

The founding donors of the centre are Mac and Susan Van Wielingen and their family through the Viewpoint Foundation, ARC Resources Ltd. led by CEO John Dielwart, ARC Financial Corp. led by CEO Kevin Brown, and Kevin and Nadine Brown through the Brown Family Foundation.

Mac Van Wielingen, a founder of both the Calgary-based energy investment firm ARC Financial, and leading oil and gas company ARC Resources, was instrumental in moving this project forward, motivated by his extensive experience and what he sees as a clear need in society for a higher level of leadership in the business sector.

"Calgary is one of the most enterprising cities in Canada, even globally, and it is fitting that we have a leadership centre at the forefront of leadership development and education,” says Van Wielingen.

“Through this initiative, we can contribute to the success of leadership through education. We can provide innovative, proven and progressive experiences to students, bring relevant financial resources to these efforts, and reach out to the dynamic business community of Calgary through the Haskayne School of Business.”

“This new centre puts the University of Calgary at the top of its class,” says Elizabeth Cannon, university president and vice-chancellor. “We are drawing on the expertise and experience of the many world-class leaders in our community—in particular, the visionary founding donors to this new centre—to fuel the University of Calgary’s pursuit of excellence in research, industry partnerships, community contributions, and in our efforts to foster and support the many talented emerging student leaders in our midst.”

Visit the Canadian Centre for Advanced Leadership in Business website.