Bringing together 38 professionals from engineering to the arts, Ivey’s inaugural Graduate Diploma in Management (GDM) cohort reflects the program’s goal of expanding access to business education for those with non-business backgrounds and the growing demand for leaders with diverse experience.
The class brings together professionals from 38 companies in 10 industries, including financial services, engineering, health care, technology, government, marketing, retail, sales, consulting, and the arts. Academically, the class is just as diverse, spanning disciplines including engineering, life and health sciences, humanities, social sciences, pharmacy, mathematics, and sports management, among others. Women make up 43 per cent of the class.
That breadth is exactly what the GDM was designed to attract – giving university graduates without prior business education a foundation in core business disciplines and leadership, with a pathway to Ivey's Accelerated MBA.
“We are thrilled to welcome the inaugural GDM class and to mark the beginning of something truly special. These students are joining a program designed to prepare the next generation of leaders with the skills, confidence, and perspective to make an immediate impact,” said David Wood, HBA ’97, MBA ’12, Faculty Director of the GDM program. “The GDM also creates a pathway for students to complete their MBA, opening even more opportunities for growth and advancement. We are excited to see all they will accomplish and proud to have them help shape the future of the program.”
A pathway into business education
The Graduate Diploma in Management was created to help graduates from non-business fields build core business and leadership skills while opening a pathway into Ivey’s Accelerated MBA. Martha Maznevski, PhD ’94, Associate Dean, Programs, said that need is only growing as organizations look for leaders with a wider range of perspectives and experience.
“The more complex and volatile the business environment, the more businesses need leaders with a wide variety of backgrounds,” she said. “We’re excited about this pathway to our Accelerated MBA that brings in university graduates from sciences, social sciences, humanities, and other degrees. With the foundation of the Graduate Diploma in Management, they will be able to accelerate their own leadership path and contribute unique perspectives to the AMBA cohort.”
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