Saul Klein, who shepherded the University of Victoria’s Peter B. Gustavson School of Business through significant enrolment growth and developed courses and partnerships that gave it a global reputation, has retired after 11 years at the helm.
Anita Bhappu took over as dean on July 1 from Klein, who will continue as a marketing, strategy and international business professor at the school. Bhappu will serve a five-year renewable term as dean.
Mia Maki, associate dean, external, said the school owes “an enormous debt of gratitude” to Klein for his leadership. “As dean, he inspired innovation, facilitated growth throughout the school and shared his vast knowledge with students. He motivated, encouraged, built bridges and kept us steady through the challenges of a global pandemic. We honour his vision and deep commitment to seeing our school succeed, and are especially thankful that he agreed to stay on for an extra year beyond his original term end date.”
Since becoming dean in 2012, Klein has championed the school’s commitment to responsible-management education, a core value for which the school gained international recognition.
Klein said with a surge in populism, global conflict and the growing impact of climate change, business schools need to shape graduates into the “leaders and decision-makers that a dynamic and changing world demands.”
“Globalization can and should be a force for not only economic benefit but also social benefit by fostering greater understanding between nations and people,” he said.
Preparing students to be innovators, entrepreneurs and responsible business leaders at an international level was Klein’s mission at UVic, where he built Gustavson into one of Canada’s best business schools and saw enrolment increase by 30%.
The school has enjoyed full accreditation from respected third-party accreditors EQUIS and AACSB over the past 10 years, a distinction earned by fewer than 1% of all business schools worldwide.
Klein believes students should have an international perspective, and today about three-quarters of Gustavson business students spend a semester at another university, in a non-English-speaking country.
“This is an incredibly valuable experience for students and shapes their future perspectives as business leaders,” Klein said. “And it’s about much more than just business, trade and economics. It builds the kind of understanding and respect across cultures that challenges the sort of xenophobia and hyper-nationalism we’re seeing around the world.”
Klein has spent most of his academic career studying global business, marketing and strategic alliances. He admits that globalization has not been without cost. Global stability is being challenged by a rise of undemocratic regimes, and divisions are being exploited and exacerbated through new technologies.
But that doesn’t mean we should turn our backs on globalization, said Klein — just that the notion of responsible business in a global economy is changing. “Business needs to be in the room and part of the conversation around finding solutions.”
Klein helped launch the Victoria Forum in 2017, bringing together participants from government, academia, business and civil society to develop solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.
Klein said he is especially proud of a new MBA program in Advancing Reconciliation, the first of its kind in Canada, developed in partnership with the B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres.
The annual Gustavson Brand Trust Index, spearheaded by Klein in 2015, highlights the need for businesses to contribute positively to their communities.
The university said in a statement that Bhappu joins the school from the University of California, Merced, where she most recently served as associate dean for student success and department chair of management of complex systems.
“We are excited to welcome a strong leader with an outstanding record of research and teaching, personal and professional integrity, and commitment to supporting the success of others,” said Elizabeth Croft, vice-president academic and provost and chair of the search committee. “Dr. Bhappu will bring innovative leadership to Gustavson, aligned with our shared values, and will champion UVic on national and international stages.”
