Feb. 5, 2015

RBC Foundation invests $750,000 in entrepreneurship education

The RBC Foundation was recognized at an event Wednesday for its sustained commitment to the Haskayne School of Business and its $750,000 investment in the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

The RBC Foundation was recognized at an event Wednesday for its sustained commitment to the Haskayne School of Business and its $750,000 investment in the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

"Investing in education is one of the most important things we can do as an organization," says Pam Somers, regional vice-president with RBC Wealth Management. "Knowledge leads to innovation, and innovation paves the way towards a sustainable and prosperous future. We are thrilled to support the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Haskayne School of Business, encouraging local students to embrace their entrepreneurial spirit."

The funds will support three key initiatives:

The RBC Teaching Professorship in Entrepreneurial Thinking, which is responsible for developing the entrepreneurial thinking curriculum and expanding Haskayne's teaching and learning to cross-campus entrepreneurship education. Derek Hassay, assistant professor of marketing, was recently appointed to this position.
The RBC New Venture Pitch Competition, which serves as the capstone to Entrepreneurship and Innovation 317, a highly experiential course in which students can apply their knowledge, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking skills to develop their own new ventures. The year-end competition offers prize money and business advice to the winning teams.
The Entrepreneur in Residence Program (through Innovate Calgary), which allows the Hunter Centre to engage with Innovate Calgary's Entrepreneurs in Residence program, a value-add learning experience for Haskayne students through workshops and coaching by experienced entrepreneurs.

"We are thrilled to continue to partner with RBC," says Jim Dewald, dean of the Haskayne School of Business. "This investment supports our commitment to experiential learning, entrepreneurial thinking and delivering the most enriching student experiences possible."

RBC, one of Canada's largest corporate donors, is committed to the health and prosperity of their clients and employees, and the communities in which they live and work. One-quarter of annual donations support a wide range of educational programs that help build a more employable, knowledgeable workforce.

The announcement took place as part of the Wayne Henuset Entrepreneurship Speaker Series, an interactive speaker series showcasing Calgary's entrepreneurial leadership. Students, faculty, alumni and professionals can enjoy the opportunity to expand their networks, address real-life entrepreneurial challenges and learn from the personal experiences of business innovators. Clive Beddoe, co-founder and chairman of the board of directors of WestJet, was the featured speaker at the event.

Pam Somers, regional vice-president, RBC Wealth Management

Pam Somers, regional vice-president, RBC Wealth Management