Canadian Olympic & Paralympic Committees
Smith is the Official National Business Education Partner of the Canadian Olympic Committee and the Canadian Paralympic Committee.
High-performance Teamwork
Knowledge and skills will only take you so far in today’s business world. To succeed, you need to know how to work in a team. Smith’s team-based learning prepares students for leadership, and who better to have as a teammate during your time at Smith than a Team Canada athlete? These high-performance athletes know how to make a team thrive under pressure, bringing the skills, tools, and mindset of world-class coaching and training to your Smith experience.
When the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) and Canadian Paralympic Committee (CPC) were seeking national business education partners, they chose Smith for its expertise as a world leader in the advancement of team-based learning. Reflecting the way business works today, Smith takes the concept of teamwork to a level of sophistication not found at other schools, supported by its partnership with the COC and CPC.
“Team Canada’s athletes thrive in Smith’s dynamic learning environment and inspire their peers to do the same. The COC and CPC commitment to empower personal growth, work with purpose and principle, and promote equity and diversity aligns with the way business works. We are proud of these valuable partnerships as we train the business leaders of today and tomorrow.”
Dean, Smith School of Business
“Team Canada’s athletes have dedicated their lives to represent our nation on the international stage. We are proud to partner with one of the world’s premier business schools to provide them with opportunities to succeed in life after sport. Smith School of Business, through Game Plan, empowers athletes to transfer and develop their skills to set new goals for themselves. The COC is excited to cheer on each class of Team Canada in their new endeavours.”
David Shoemaker
CEO, Canadian Olympic Committee
“Smith’s support of the Canadian sport community, especially for athletes through Game Plan, has been immense over the past number of years. The CPC is so pleased to be partnering with Smith to help provide athletes, as well as our staff and Paralympic community, with greater opportunities to grow and develop their skills — skills which will benefit them both in their sporting careers and well beyond. Thank you to Smith for their leadership and support.”
Karen O’Neill
CEO, Canadian Paralympic Committee
What’s it like to have a member
of Team Canada in your class?
Engaging in discussions, sharing ideas, and collaborating on projects with Team Canada athletes aren’t typical experiences among most graduate students. Unless you’re at Smith. Here, athletes and classmates learn from one another.
Christine Robinson, MBA’19, who competed at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games as a member of the Canadian water polo team, made an impression on her classmates in Smith’s Full-time MBA program.
“Being an Olympian, Christine Robinson brought a unique perspective to our classroom and exemplified hard work, dedication and leadership,” says Sherry Khuu, MBA’19. “She brought out the best in others and consistently pushed the boundaries of excellence, inspiring us to reach new heights. Her impact was truly indelible, leaving a lasting impression on our class.”
Olympic curling gold medalist Brad Gushue, AMBA’22, made a lasting impact on his classmates during Smith’s Accelerated MBA program.
“It took an athlete like Brad Gushue to teach me that you don’t need to be a world-class athlete to lead at a high level. Whether it’s on a Zoom call, in a corporate boardroom, or out on the ice sheet, effective leaders lead from the front with modesty, compassion and an acknowledgement of the fact that true greatness can only be achieved collectively,” says Connor McCann, AMBA’22.
Claire Carver Dias, EMBAA’21, reached the highest levels of sport, winning a bronze medal in artistic swimming at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Her classmates remember what a unifying force she was during the program.
“Claire Carver Dias’ competitive drive brought the entire class to life, rallying us around various initiatives. She was everyone’s friend, and seeing her Olympic medal made us proud to have her in our class,” shares Eva Szabo, EMBAA’21.
Helping Athletes Plan for Their Post-Athletic Careers with Game Plan
Smith is a founding partner of Game Plan, Canada’s total athlete wellness program, helping athletes plan for success beyond sport. Since 2016, Smith has been supporting active and retired Team Canada athletes to grow their business acumen and expertise for the next phase of their career journeys by providing academic awards across its professional graduate, Certificate in Business and executive education programs.
Learn More about Game PlanWhat the Partnership Provides
- Smith enhances Team Canada through academic awards and non-degree training and development programs
- Smith helps athletes plan for their post-athletic careers through career discovery sessions and workshops
- Smith works with Canada’s Olympic Coaches to add the best practices of Olympic coaching to the Smith approach to team-based learning and coaching
“The transition from sport can be tough and doesn't happen overnight. Once I decided the direction I wanted to go, Game Plan and the Smith MBA gave me the platform to position myself for success in the transition. The MBA provided the opportunity for me to quickly gain experience and learn concepts that would normally take several years. Similar to sport, it was tough at times but the rewards justify the effort.”
Greg Douglas (Olympian, Sailing, London 2012)
Manager, Monitor Deloitte
Smith Full-time MBA
“Smith's MMIE program grew my network, enhanced my confidence and provided me with many helpful tools that I use in my business today. If you're interested in starting your own business, innovating within a company or working in the startup world, this program can offer you some fantastic experiences and tools that will help you thrive in these types of environments.”
Martha McCabe (Olympian, Swimming, Rio 2016)
Founder and President, Head to Head Canada
Smith Master of Management Innovation & Entrepreneurship
“When I retired from Para swimming, I needed to find new goals and objectives. I was quite lucky to have the privilege to participate in this partnership with Game Plan. It was an ideal transition to move from an athletic career to a professional career. I was challenged at a level I never was before and it gave me the tools and resources to accomplish my professional goals.”
Benoît Huot (Paralympian, Para Swimming, Rio 2016, London 2012, Beijing 2008, Athens 2004, Sydney 2000)
Director of Operations, Helios Group; Columnist and Analyst for Radio-Canada
Smith Executive MBA
“This opportunity has really opened my mind to the world outside of sport. It allowed me to further my education and enter a field I might not have ever considered. Being an athlete, it’s easy to feel as though your whole identity is sport. The GDB program pushed me to think about my future career and completely change fields from sport to business. The program is great for those coming out of an undergrad and prepping to move into the corporate world.”
Katrina Cameron (Olympian, Rhythmic Gymnastics, London 2012)
Account Manager, Ritchie Bros. Financial Services
Smith Graduate Diploma in Business