Almost 65 years after completing his MBA at Ivey (then Western Business School), Donald K. Johnson stood among students once again – this time in a new Toronto campus made possible by his enduring connection to the School.
The moment marked the start of programming in Ivey’s new Donald K. Johnson Centre, as students and faculty gathered there on April 9 and the building began to come to life ahead of its official grand opening later this month.
All three Executive MBA cohorts – Classes of 2026 and 2027 – came together in the space, creating a unique opportunity for the full program to learn side by side in one place.
The facility expands Ivey’s presence in Toronto, creating a space designed for leadership development, experiential learning, innovation, and closer engagement with Canada’s business community.
Johnson, OC, MBA ’63, LLD ’07, whose $30-million gift enabled the new facility, greeted Executive MBA (EMBA) participants during the day and toured the Centre.
“I feel absolutely fantastic,” he said. “It’s a wonderful, wonderful space.”
Meeting the man behind the name
For many in attendance, the moment was about more than the building itself – it was about meeting the person behind it.
“It’s nice to put things into perspective,” said Maawra Nasir, an EMBA ’27 candidate. “He attended Ivey 65 years ago and is still so involved. A big part of why many of us come here is to build that same relationship with the School.”
Nasir said the environment is already shaping the learning experience, highlighting the natural light in the classrooms, breakout rooms, and shared areas that bring participants together.
“Everyone’s together during meals, and there are so many opportunities to connect,” she said.
A space that shapes the experience
Fellow classmate Tom Mandel said being among the first groups to use the Centre has been a unique experience. He said the integrated technology and breakout rooms stand out as features that support collaboration.
“It’s exciting to be the first, and to think about how many people will come through here after us,” he said.
Kim Miller, an EMBA ’27 candidate and Executive Director of Career Management and Corporate Recruiting at Ivey, said the Centre reflects a strong sense of continuity with the main campus in London.
She pointed to the layout of the classrooms and design elements that echo the look and feel of the Richard Ivey Building.
“It truly feels like the Ivey experience in Toronto,” she said.
Miller added that being downtown creates more opportunities to connect outside the classroom, from informal gatherings to shared experiences across cohorts, complementing the immersive experience of Western University’s Spencer Hotel and Conference Centre in London, where EMBA in-residence programming is also held.
How the environment changes learning
For faculty, the impact of the environment is already evident.
“The quality of the space creates a different kind of conversation,” said Mary Crossan, MBA ’85, PhD ’91, professor of general management and strategy. “When participants feel comfortable and have room to engage, it changes the dynamic of how they learn and interact.”
She said the Centre’s bright, open design and spacious classrooms create a more welcoming environment, moving away from the shoulder-to-shoulder seating of the past. Shared spaces for meals and informal conversation also make it easier for participants to connect.
Crossan said the design also reflects a connection between campuses, with elements, such as stone, inspired by Ivey’s home in London, while adapting to a modern downtown setting.
Seeing Johnson in the Centre added another layer to the experience. Crossan said he has supported Ivey at every turn and recalled an EMBA participant describing it as meaningful to meet “the man behind the name.”
The day also represented a milestone for the EMBA program, with a shared reception that would not have been possible in the previous space. The Centre’s expanded capacity allowed the full community to come together in one place.
Looking ahead to the future of organizations
That sense of connection extended into the evening, where EMBA participants heard from Jaime Tatis, EMBA ’20, Executive Vice-President and Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer at CIBC and an Ivey AI Fellow.
Drawing on his experience leading large-scale AI transformation, Tatis spoke about how leaders can navigate rapid technological change while staying grounded in core business fundamentals.
“AI is not the company strategy. The company strategy is the business strategy,” he said. “AI accelerates a good business strategy – it’s not going to replace it.”
(Photo above) Jaime Tatis speaking with EMBA participant Amy Syed, who moderated the discussion
He said meaningful transformation depends not only on technology, but also on building a culture that is ready to embrace change, as organizations adapt to how roles and ways of working evolve.
“Culture will always trump any technology,” he said.
Tatis added that the future of organizations will depend on how effectively leaders empower people to contribute ideas and adapt to change.
“The best ideas are always all over the company,” he said. “The question is how you empower people to bring them forward.”
While Tatis focused on the future of organizations, the day also highlighted the lasting impact of the Ivey network.
For Nasir, meeting Johnson – and seeing his continued connection to the School decades after graduating – made that future feel more tangible, including the possibility that one day someone in her cohort could be in a similar position, giving back to the School.
“It’s more about possibilities. Today we are the first ones, but who knows, six years from now, maybe someone in this room will be in that position,” she said.
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