ASPER SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
From classroom to Churchill: preparing tomorrow’s business leaders Asper MBA students put classroom learning into practice in Canada’s sub-Arctic frontier BY TODD LEWYS
W hen it comes to learning, nothing beats real-life, hands-on experience. That's why experiential learning is a cornerstone of the MBA program at the Asper School of Business’s Stu Clark Graduate School. Alongside classroom learning, students have oppor- tunities to explore businesses firsthand, tackle real-world challenges and see how global organizations adapt and thrive. This past September, 13 Asper MBA students took that learning north to Churchill, Man., for a four-day experience unlike any other. "We've always believed that some of the best learning happens outside the classroom," says Nathan Greidanus, Asper's associate dean of professional programs and executive education. "Churchill offered an incredible opportu- nity to take what students had learned about sustainable business development and see how it plays out in a remote northern community." The course, Sustainable Business in the Arctic Gateway, challenged students to consider what sustainable devel- opment really means in a place like Churchill, a remote port town perched at the edge of Hudson Bay, where the tundra meets the tide and every business decision ripples outward.
much smaller local market, which have very different impact but also create real opportunities." The learning doesn't end with the trip. Each student contributed a chapter to a collaborative research report examining different aspects of Churchill's development, with the goal of sharing useful insights and recommendations with the community. "Knowledge application is what makes experiential learning so valuable," Greidanus says. "The students develop a deeper understanding of complex business challenges and the community learns from diverse perspectives of our students. It’s a win-win." It's all part of Asper's commitment to developing business leaders who can turn knowledge into action. For Asper, developing business leaders means more than mastering theory — it means putting knowledge to work where it matters most. Discover where an Asper graduate business education can take you. Learn more about the MBA, Master of Finance and Master of Supply Chain Management and Logistics programs, and register for the upcoming Stu Clark Graduate School open house at umanitoba.ca/asper/mbusiness ■
In four action-packed days, students toured the Port of Churchill, met with business owners and tourism operators, engaged with the community and even went paddle-boarding with beluga whales. Even sightseeing offered learning opportunities. "Students quickly discovered that business decisions don't happen in isolation," Greidanus explains. "Expanding port shipments, for example, creates economic opportunities but also raises questions about how it affects the beluga whales’ environment, which then impacts tourism. You have to look at the whole system." Students also explored the importance of place — how Churchill's unique geography, Indigenous perspectives, culture and community shape both its opportunities and challenges. For MBA student Luke Lazaruk, the experience offered a new perspective. "What stayed with me most was how quickly Churchill challenged the assumptions I brought from southern Manitoba. Decisions that might seem straightforward in Winnipeg take on a complexity in Churchill,” he notes. "Business development there is shaped by isolation, transportation limits, housing, infrastructure and a
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