Increasing participation of Black students in the Ted Rogers MBA program
Black professionals have historically been underrepresented in the business world, but a new graduate student group and award in the Ted Rogers MBA program are aiming to change that by encouraging more participation.
Black Business Graduate Student Association
To help support the advancement of Black professionals, the Black Business Graduate Student Association was created by Jessica Nwaluka and other Black students in the Ted Rogers MBA program.
“We formed the Black Business Graduate Student Association (BBGSA) in the heat of COVID and the high-profile deaths of Black people across the world,” Nwaluka explains.
“Given the structural barriers Black students face, we wanted to create an association solely for the advancement of Black MBA students. We hope to provide support where necessary and promote professional development opportunities both internally and externally," says Nwaluka.
The group’s mandate is to help increase the number of Black students in the Ted Rogers MBA program, grow the grants/bursaries available to Black individuals looking to enter the MBA program and expand professional development workshops tailored for the advancement of Black professionals and other minority groups. The BBGSA also strives to create a space where Black business students feel safe enough to share and address barriers that Black professionals face.
“Many Black MBA grads join the corporate world with big goals, ready to make a difference, yet they're met with an unwelcoming culture as they navigate oppressive structures,” says Nwaluka. “These professionals aren't getting a sense of belonging, trust and respect they need to advance.”
The student association hosts a wide range of events such as workshops, innovation seminars, self-care activities and networking and mentoring sessions. In February 2021, the group hosted a workshop called “Dismantling Anti-Black Racism in the Workplace.” The workshop was co-facilitated by MBA candidates Nima Hersi and Dani Gomez-Ortega, and attended by MBA students, staff and faculty.
During the summer, both candidates were invited to bring the "Dismantling Anti-Black Racism in Business" workshop to the Canadian Red Cross, where they presented the session developed by the DEI Bootcamp team to around 50 Canadian Red Cross employees.
While there are currently only a few Black MBA students in the Ted Rogers MBA program, Nwaluka says the BBGSA has hosted several events open to all students in the program where it has extensively discussed allyship.
“Although a lot of students are aware of the racial injustice, some still do not know how they can better support our community and their peers in the MBA program,” she says. “We have received great feedback from our peers and staff regarding the workshops we’ve had so far, creating a stronger, more positive environment.”
Ted Rogers MBA Black Graduate Leadership Awards
To help support Black students on their path towards furthering their education, the Ted Rogers MBA program has created the Ted Rogers MBA Black Graduate Leadership Awards. These awards, which support full-time or flex full-time Black graduate students pursuing their studies at the Ted Rogers School, recognize demonstrated leadership and community involvement, and alleviate some of the financial burden associated with graduate education.
“We were so pleased when students from the Ted Rogers MBA program stepped forward to form the Black Business Graduate Student Association,” says Dr. Donna Smith, Director, MBA Program. “At that juncture, we realized that Black students were underrepresented in our program, which mirrors what is happening in industry.”
“There aren’t enough Black leaders and board members, and Black students need to see themselves represented at the highest decision-making levels in organizations,” explains Dr. Smith.
“We created the Ted Rogers MBA Black Graduate Leadership Awards to try to attract talented Black leaders who aspire to take their education to the next level. We realize that this is a start and we hope to build on this initiative in the future," says Dr. Smith.
There are three awards available in the amount of $10,000 each commencing in the 2022-2023 academic year. Funding for the award will be made available to eligible students in the Fall/Winter terms.
Helping to eliminate obstacles
Celeste Saddler, Co-Chair of TRSM Anti-Black Racism Awareness Committee (a standing committee of Ted Rogers School’s Faculty Council), points out that while it is important to create awareness about the obstacles Black students face, to move the needle we need to go further. “We need to follow up with an innovative, realistic and futuristic action plan to show the steps, how they will be implemented and the measures of success for the students,” she says.
Saddler, who also works as the Academic Program Coordinator in the Retail Management program, says that we need to find pathways to remove the barriers caused by the streaming of Grade 8, 9 and 10 in underrepresented, underfunded and underestimated communities. She notes that financial bootcamps, career preparedness, mental health support, access to housing and the challenge of food security and sovereignty -- which is a huge issue in the Black community, especially in the minority hotspots throughout the GTA -- would also be beneficial.
Saddler adds that having community involvement in all aspects of a Black student’s post-secondary journey is important. “My grandmother always says that it takes a village to raise a child. So, it takes a community to ensure we remove these systemic barriers that Black students face," she points out.
"The streaming that takes place in Grade 9, absence of funding and lack of mentorship opportunities from Black industry professionals are among the many issues which block access to higher education in the Black community," Saddler says. "We have the added responsibility as educators to ensure we are changing the face of education for Black students within our communities.".
“The new Ted Rogers MBA Black Graduate Leadership Awards that have been created mean more Black students can now visualize, perhaps changing the narrative of their future,” she says.
“Having access to post-secondary education directly from high school is a huge accomplishment for most students as they tend to be the ‘first' in their family. However, with access to graduate school, we are changing the trajectory of an entire generation," Saddler explains.
The first consideration application deadline for Ted Rogers MBA Black Graduate Leadership Awards is February 18, 2022. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis past the first consideration deadline based on funding availability. Any questions about this award can be directed to Nikoletta Papadopoulos, Manager, Graduate Student Recruitment, npapad@torontomu.ca.