Making business education more accessible

For Caitlin Maccuish, Smith’s new scholarship for Indigenous students helped her feel more comfortable returning to school for her MBA. “As a Métis woman in business, I appreciate how vital it is to increase Indigenous representation in business management and ownership,” she says.

In March, Smith announced new scholarships for two equity-deserving groups. The Smith School of Business Scholarship for Indigenous Students and Smith School of Business Scholarship for Black Students are available across the school’s MBA, professional master’s and graduate diploma programs.

“Scholarships like these give under-represented populations in business a much needed seat at the table,” MacCuish says. In 2016, the Calgary native completed her undergrad in history at Queen’s followed by Smith’s Graduate Diploma in Business (GDB). She is now a student in the Full-time MBA class of 2023.

Applicants who self-identify as Indigenous or Black are eligible for the $10,000 scholarships. They will be awarded each year based on academic excellence, community involvement and leadership experience.

“The business world is diverse and the classroom experience should reflect that diversity. Increasing financial award options is one way we are working towards this,” Dean Wanda Costen says.