The theme of this year’s Annual Report, ‘Innovation,’ celebrates the remarkable achievements of DeGroote’s students, faculty, programs and alumni throughout 2025. From research discoveries to exciting new programming, the DeGroote School of Business continues to demonstrate outstanding impact across Canada and internationally.

DeGroote researchers rank first in Canada for Research Impact (QS 2026).* Our faculty advanced solution-driven knowledge and thought leadership on artificial intelligence and other disruptive technologies. Maryam Ghasemaghaei, Canada Research Chair in EDI Issues in Artificial Intelligence, is confronting the inherent biases of AI. Sash Vaid published new research on AI and sports betting. Manaf Zargoush, faculty lead for the new Data Analytics and AI Hub at the McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery, explains how business education can bridge the AI application gap. And DeGroote partnered with McMaster to offer the Nuclear Renaissance 2.0 conference, which explored Canada’s role in building a net-zero future.

As AI plays an increasingly significant role in business, we launched two new programs: a new part-time Master of Management in Applied AI and Data-Driven Decision-Making and a full-time Master of Management in AI and Analytics.

In response to the rapidly-changing environment of work, we also launched the McMaster Centre for Research on Employment and Work, which brings together 27 researchers from across the university to investigate the impact of new technologies on workers and communities.

But our innovative thinking wasn’t confined to faculty. As ever, our students demonstrated their leadership and ingenuity, making us extraordinarily proud. Throughout 2025, our students triumphed in case competitions and earned national recognition. For the second year in a row, our MBA team placed first overall in the MBA Games. Our undergraduate team took home the School of the Year award at the JDCC competition for the third year running. And during our flagship 24-hr case competition, first-year Commerce students applied their passion and acumen to authentic business challenges.

Our students also whole-heartedly embraced experiential learning opportunities, such as MBA GRIT Week, during which they solved complex problems facing business and society, and learned to collaborate. Meanwhile, our re-imagined 2GR0 Showcase challenged students’ venture design skills through technology-enhanced learning.

As we look ahead to the opening of the McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery in 2026, we are excited about the impact of this transformative space—driving innovation through collaboration across campus, industry and the wider community, and ushering in a new chapter of experiential learning at McMaster. The McLean Centre has already celebrated one important milestone: Tej Sandhu was engaged as the first Entrepreneur in Residence for the Marinucci Entrepreneurial Bridge.

This report showcases some of the best of the year’s many bright ideas. As you read these stories, I am confident you’ll find much to inspire—and many reasons to be proud, as I am, of this extraordinary community.

*This builds on QS subject results that placed McMaster’s Business & Management Studies first in Canada for combined research impact components (H-Index Citations and Citations Per Paper).