The Gift of Gratitude
Remembering his time at Schulich, Christopher C. Williams (MBA ’94) describes his experience as ‘eye-opening’ in many ways, from the warm welcome he received from faculty and fellow students to the cold Canadian winter he first experienced after leaving his native Jamaica to attend the School.
Chris is grateful to his alma mater for giving him invaluable opportunities to expand his knowledge through the wide-ranging curriculum and innovative programs offered by the School. He also credits Schulich with helping him evolve as a strategic thinker and leader through real world-rooted learning experiences taught by topnotch academics and scholars.
“My best Schulich memory is the amazing faculty; most notably, the bond that I had forged with the late Professor Brenda Zimmerman, with whom I worked as a graduate assistant. Brenda provided me with technical and social guidance during my stay in Canada. Her legacy lives on in all of those students, like myself, that she impacted throughout her illustrious teaching career.”
Coupled with the support from his professors, Chris benefitted from student awards and scholarships that helped him sustain his focus and drive during his studies. In the spirit of giving back, Chris has recently joined the Dean’s Society, the School’s premier leadership-level giving society, with a gift toward student financial aid to help students who are experiencing financial challenges focus more on their studies and goals. “Studying in a foreign country, I’m grateful for the support that I received to help me achieve my dream of attaining an MBA degree. I want to pay it forward for the next generation,” said Chris.
Living by the mantra “be the change that you want to see in the world”, Chris credits his Schulich education for providing him with the foundation that he needed to return home inspired and empowered to help drive changes in the economies of the Caribbean region. When asked to give one piece of advice to the next generation of business leaders, Chris returns to the wisdom of his mother and grandmother: “Don’t blindly accept the status quo. I’d encourage them to jump, kick, break, and think outside the box.”
To find out how you can help Schulich’s next-generation business leaders succeed, click here to learn more about the Dean’s Society: Schulich’s Premier Leadership Giving Association.