Schulich Celebrates Employer Partnerships at 2026 Appreciation Awards
Behind every internship, recruitment event and career conversation is a partnership that helps connect Schulich students with opportunities beyond the classroom.
The Schulich School of Business recently celebrated those relationships at its 2026 Employer Appreciation Awards, recognizing organizations and industry partners for their contributions to student success and career development.
Hosted by the Centre for Career Design (CCD) at The King York Terrace & Lounge in downtown Toronto, the annual event brought together employer partners, alumni champions, faculty and staff for an evening of recognition and relationship-building.
“You help transform classroom learning into real-world experience,” said Dean Detlev Zwick in his remarks. “You help students build confidence and discover career possibilities.”
The evening featured a keynote address by Professor Luke Zhu, titled Hiring for the AI Era: What Talent Must Actually Be Able to Do on Day One. Zhu explored how artificial intelligence is reshaping workforce expectations and the capabilities employers increasingly seek in new graduates, including adaptability, critical thinking and the ability to work effectively alongside emerging technologies.
The discussion underscored the increasingly important role of collaboration between business schools and employers in preparing students for a rapidly changing workplace. That collaboration was reflected in the scale of Schulich’s employer engagement over the past academic year. More than 570 companies posted full-time roles and internships, while 368 recruitment events were held on and off campus with more than 120 participating organizations. More than 1,200 students also took part in Schulich career fairs across a wide range of industries.
“The thing that really stands out to me is just the sheer passion and curiosity that Schulich students bring to the table,” said Laveen Jose, Senior Campus Recruiter, Eastern Canada at RSM Canada. “They really bring home the strong passion, the spirit, and the great questions that make us better.”
Seven organizations were honoured for their contributions this year: Mondelez International received the Student Success Award; TELUS, the Campus Engagement Award; Teragonia, Outstanding New Recruitment Partner; BMO, Outstanding Contribution Award; the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, Experiential Education Partnership Award; and Panasonic Canada, Professional Development & Experiential Education Internship Award.
The evening also introduced the new Career Rocketship Award, presented by Chris Carder, Executive Director of Schulich’s Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, to Tidal Commerce.
For the CCD, the awards are an opportunity to recognize the people behind those partnerships and their impact on students.
“Every coffee chat, campus visit, mentorship conversation and hiring decision represents someone choosing to invest in our students, genuinely shaping lives and careers,” said Zviko Mhakayakora, Associate Director, Corporate Relations, Centre for Career Design. “This evening is our chance to say thank you and celebrate the impact our partners make every day.”
Through these relationships, Schulich continues to create opportunities for students to build connections, gain experience and prepare for an evolving world of work.
