Schulich School of Business Launches BMO Future Leaders Finance Lab
TORONTO, ON – Thursday, April 24, 2025 – The Schulich School of Business at York University today announced the establishment of the BMO Future Leaders Finance Lab, made possible through a generous $1.5 million gift from BMO. This state-of-the-art, 55-seat multifunctional Finance and AI lab will serve as a hub of experiential learning for Schulich’s undergraduate and graduate finance students.
The BMO Future Leaders Finance Lab will provide students with cutting-edge technology and digital finance tools, offering both in-person and remote access to specialized financial and data analysis software, cloud resources, and industry subscriptions. The Lab will facilitate hands-on learning through trading simulations, case studies, and research projects that reflect real-world financial markets.
“The BMO Future Leaders Finance Lab represents the very best in real-world learning,” said Detlev Zwick, Dean of the Schulich School of Business. “With state-of-the-art technology and direct collaboration with industry leaders, the Lab is designed to enrich the student learning experience and equip our graduates with the skills they need to be career ready.”
“We’re extremely grateful for BMO’s support and collaboration in bringing this exciting new initiative to life,” added Zwick.
“BMO is an early and leading adopter of the best technologies in the world, including the power of AI and the potential of quantum computing, to drive solutions and real financial progress for our customers, clients and the communities we serve,” said Mike Bonner, Head, Canadian Personal and Business Banking Distribution, BMO. “The BMO Future Leaders Finance Lab is a testament to our commitment to fostering innovation and empowering the next generation to spark bold ideas and redefine what is possible.”
Under the leadership of Faisal Habib, Director of the BMO Future Leaders Finance Lab, students will have the opportunity to work alongside financial experts, develop financial models, analyze statements, and manage investment portfolios in an environment that mirrors professional finance settings. A dedicated lab administration team will provide strategic direction and support to ensure the Lab’s mission is realized.
The official unveiling of the BMO Future Leaders Finance Lab will take place later today and will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, plaque unveiling, live lab demonstrations, and a fireside chat highlighting the impact of the Lab on student learning and career preparation.
The BMO Future Leaders Finance Lab is the largest BMO gift in Schulich’s history, reinforcing the bank’s commitment to fostering the next generation of financial leaders through innovative education.
About Schulich
Known as Canada’s Global Business School™, the Schulich School of Business in Toronto is ranked #1 in Canada and among the world’s leading business schools by a number of global surveys, including the Financial Times, LinkedIn and QS.
Global, innovative, and diverse, Schulich offers business programs year-round at its state-of-the-art complex at York University and its Miles S. Nadal Management Centre located in the heart of the Toronto’s financial district. The School also has strategic and academic partnerships with a number of the world’s leading business schools in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Schulich offers undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate business degrees that lead to rewarding careers in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, and has more than 36,000 alumni working in over 90 countries. The School pioneered North America’s first ever cross-border Executive MBA degree, the Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA. The School has one of the largest portfolios of one-year, specialized Masters programs of any business school in North America. Schulich’s Executive Education Centre provides executive development programs annually to more than 5,000 executives in Canada and abroad.
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