Our mission to create and mobilize scholarship is aided by five active research centres that are exploring cutting cutting-edge topics in retail innovation, social impact measures, co-operative accounting and management best practices, and economics of immigration, among other topics.

  • The David Sobey Centre for Innovation in Retailing and Services (DSC) is the leading source of expertise in retailing, offers education tailored to the needs of the industry and conducts cutting-edge research in retail innovation and education.  

  • The Atlantic Research Group on Economics of Immigration, Aging and Diversity (ARGREIAD) focuses on the economic significance of immigration, diversity and aging. The centre provides a platform to researchers, policymakers, policy practitioners and business organizations to exchange ideas and conduct research on these issues in a regional, national and international context.

  • The Centre for Leadership Excellence (CLE) has two streams of work: the first is CLE Capacity Building for Innovation (CBI), which contributes to capacity building for innovation and economic development in the global economy, and studies the role of innovation and its effects on the economy and society. The second, Impactlab, aims to foster an environment where emerging models of leadership can be explored and the theoretical and practical value of these models can be shared with stakeholders.

  • The Centre of Excellence in Accounting and Reporting for Co-operatives (CEARC) provides a focal point for policy development, academic and applied research, and critical reflection on industry practices in the area of accounting for cooperatives and credit unions.

  • The International Centre for Co-operative Management (ICCM) is a leader in management education, applied research, and knowledge dissemination for the cooperative, credit union, and mutual sector.

Besides these research centres, the Sobey School of Business is a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) initiative and committed to working on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We are proud to be selected as PRME Champions, a group of PRME signatories who have committed to being leaders in responsible management education, for the 2020-2021 cycles. 

Through this Community Revitalization and Prosperity Network, our research centres have expanded their capacity to engage with the industry, government, and policy makers to help with expert insights as the economy starts to reopen and recover in the post COVID-19 economic climate.  

Featured
Virtual Roundtable Discussions

We’re collaborating with entrepreneurs and industry experts to offer free weekly virtual roundtable discussions to Atlantic Canadian business owners to provide strategies, insight, and guidance during COVID-19.

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FREE virtual coaching sessions to Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs

The Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre is offering free virtual coaching sessions to Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs, to help them identify potential solutions to mitigate some of those challenges.

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Options Youth: Virtual Employment Wage Subsidy Program

Options Youth is a virtual employment wage subsidy program funded by Service Canada and facilitated by the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre.

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Access Ability: Wage Subsidy program

Access Ability is an employment wage subsidy program funded by Service Canada and facilitated by the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre.

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Are you looking to grow your team? RBC Talent Fund is here!

The RBC Talent Fund is a wage subsidy program aimed to benefit entrepreneurial led companies based in the HRM area. In partnership with the SMU Co-operative Education Office, the program can help grow your business by adding bright young talent to your team through the hiring of SMU students.

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Student entrepreneurs to receive more help starting their businesses thanks to new program

Saint Mary’s University is hosting a new program through the Spark Zone that supports student entrepreneurs to bring their business ideas into reality.

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Helpful Tools for Remote Work

Transitioning into remote work can be overwhelming and time consuming. We have put together a list of helpful tools to make the transition as easy and smooth as possible for you and your team. Our team has started to utilize a lot of the tools listed below and we can attest to how simple they have made our switch from office to home.

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Executive-In-Residence

Ian Smith headshot.jpg

Ian D. Smith | Chief Executive Officer

Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership

Ian D. Smith is the Chief Executive Officer of Clearwater Seafoods.  Mr. Smith joined Clearwater in May 2010 and has over 33 years of international experience in the food and consumer products industry.  Prior to joining Clearwater, Mr. Smith held senior leadership positions at the Campbell Soup Company within Canada, the United States and China.  Prior to his time at Campbell’s, Mr. Smith held various marketing, sales and international business development positions with Allergan, Colgate-Palmolive and the Gillette Company.

Mr. Smith currently participates as a director on a number of boards and advisory councils focused on international trade and public policy including; The Business Council of Canada and the Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council of the Asia Pacific Foundation.  He is a graduate of McGill University (BA Economics, MBA), a former Captain in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve and currently serves as Honorary Colonel of 36 Canadian Engineer Regiment located in the Province of Nova Scotia.

Alumni-In-Residence

Wendy Luther | President and Chief Executive Officer

Halifax Partnership

Wendy Luther Proud Sobey School of Business at Saint Mary’s University. EMBA’08

Wendy Luther is a leader in economic and export development, with vast experience promoting Nova Scotia and its assets globally. Halifax Partnership is Halifax’s public-private economic development

organization. Wendy joined as President & CEO in 2019. In 2023, Halifax

Partnership was honoured with four Excellence in Economic Development

Awards from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC)

including Gold for Economic Development Organization of the Year. Prior to joining Halifax Partnership, Wendy was President & CEO of EduNova, a co-operative association of public and private-sector education providers committed to promoting Nova Scotia’s knowledge economy internationally. Under her leadership, EduNova was honoured with the prestigious international PIEoneer Association of the Year Award in 2017. Earlier in her career, Wendy worked in export development with the Atlantic Canada World Trade Centre and Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) where she led trade missions to over twenty countries and has mentored and advised hundreds of Nova Scotian exporters on how to be competitive in international markets. At NSBI, through her role as Nova Scotia’s first Private Sector Liaison Officer (PSLO), she was appointed by the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank to connect entrepreneurs and institutions to opportunities funded by International Financial Institutions. Wendy has served on and led numerous boards and committees including advisory boards for two private sector companies (Canada and U.S. based). Currently, Wendy serves on the Board of Directors and the Management Resources and Compensation Committee of Canadian-owned LED Roadway Lighting; the Board of Directors and as Vice Chair of the Governance Committee of Mitacs, a national not-for-profit organization focused on increasing Canada’s innovation competitiveness; and is Membership Chair on the Executive Committee of the International Women's Forum (IWF) Atlantic Chapter. Born in Vancouver, Wendy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of British Columbia, and an MBA from Saint Mary’s University. She holds a Certified International Trade Professional designation (CITP) and is an alumna of the Caribbean Canada Emerging Leaders Dialogue and Royal Canadian Navy Canadian Leaders at Sea (CLaS) Program. In November 2023, she attained her ICD.D designation through the Institute of Corporate Directors, Director Education Program and is really geeking out on governance! In March 2023 Wendy was honoured with Atlantic Canada's 25 Most Powerful Women in Business award.