A winning combination: 50 years of Engineering and Management grads advancing organizations
September 9, 2025 ·
Contributed by: Keiko Kataoka, McMaster University
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It’s a familiar sight: a LinkedIn post or press release announcing a new CEO or senior executive, their bio proudly noting a degree from McMaster University’s Engineering and Management (Eng & Mgt) program. This September marks a milestone worth celebrating: 50 years since the program’s first graduating class. Across generations, alumni, staff, faculty and current students are coming together to reflect on a program that’s helped shape industries, organizations and communities.
What began in 1971 as a bold academic experiment – merging engineering disciplines with core business education – has grown into a powerhouse of leadership development. Initially offered to students in Chemical, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, the program’s early success led to an expansion in 1980 to include Electrical, Computer and Engineering Physics.
The first graduating cohort in 1975 included six students. Today, the alumni network is 3,748 strong with graduates leading transformative initiatives in sectors ranging from tech and finance to infrastructure and healthcare.
“The resilience built over five years of engineering studies made me more prepared than many others to manage high-pressure situations while keeping the big picture in mind.”
–Tom Magyarody (Eng & Mgt ’79, MBA ’82), served as CEO of both the Ontario Dental Association and the Ontario Medical Association
Bridging disciplines while building leaders
The five-year program is designed to do more than teach engineering and business; it equips students to lead. With integrated coursework in organizational behaviour, finance, marketing, accounting and strategy, students learn to navigate both technical complexity and business strategy. They emerge not just as engineers, but as versatile problem-solvers and communicators.
“The Engineering & Management program integrates engineering knowledge with business acumen, providing students with versatile career paths,” says Vince Leung, program co-director and assistant professor in Chemical Engineering.
Paul Snowdon, program co-director and assistant professor in Strategic Management at the Faculty of Business, adds, “We’re building capacity in individuals and teams to achieve strategic goals. Our graduates are equipped to lead, collaborate, and innovate in complex environments.”
A launchpad for leadership
The program’s impact is measurable – and has been since its early days. On its 10th anniversary, a 1980 article in The Hamilton Spectator noted that Eng & Mgt grads were earning up to $1,000 more annually than their peers – a clear signal of the value employers placed on their hybrid skill set.
“When considering the investment of an extra year of school, you’d be challenged to find another option with a comparable high value impact.”
–Lisa Brown (’03, MBA ’10), Vice President, AtkinsRéalis
Fast forward to 2024: a study revealed that Eng & Mgt alumni reach leadership roles faster and in greater numbers than graduates of traditional engineering programs. Thirty years post-graduation, 89 per cent of alumni are in leadership roles and 67 per cent occupy executive-level positions.
Graduates also benefit from an accelerated MBA pathway at McMaster, with the option to complete it in as little as eight months thanks to their solid, undergraduate business foundation.
From program trailblazers to recent graduates
To mark the 50th anniversary, McMaster released 50 Years, 50 Leaders, a commemorative booklet spotlighting alumni who’ve made their mark.
These alumni include Tom Magyarody (Eng & Mgt ’79, MBA ’82) who served as CEO of both the Ontario Dental Association and the Ontario Medical Association. Jane Anders (Eng & Mgt ’84, MBA ’88) retired as Senior Vice President at Estée Lauder Companies after leading global R&D teams. Tom Jenkins (Eng & Mgt ’82) was named Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Chairman of OpenText – a globally renowned AI firm – in August 2025.
“No matter what the situation, I could always use the problem-solving approaches I learned in the program.”
— Jane Anders (Eng & Mgt ’84, MBA ’88), retired as Senior Vice President at Estée Lauder Companies
Stacy Joseph (’93) is President and CEO of Beam Semiconductor; Michelle George (’95) is Senior Vice President and Chief Transition Officer at Enbridge; Lisa Brown (’03, MBA ’10) is VP at AtkinsRéalis; Joshua Wong (’06), a Managing Director at Garnet based out of Toronto and New York, advises tech firms on mergers and acquisitions.
More recent grads are also making waves: Brittany Robertson (’13) is Partner and Director of Development at Crozier Consulting Engineers; and Isabela Ozamiz (’17) is Software Development Manager at Hopper and co-founder of Lynx Learning.
“The program was ahead of its time,” says Heather Sheardown, Dean of Engineering. “It anticipated the need for engineers who could lead and build. Today, that vision is more relevant than ever.”
Looking ahead
As the program enters its next chapter, its mission remains clear: to develop graduates who think and act like both engineers and strategists. In an era defined by AI, digital transformation and global collaboration, the need for such leaders is only growing.
Khaled Hassanein, Dean of the DeGroote School of Business, sees the program as a model for the future of business education.
“We’re reimagining business education to be interdisciplinary and problem-based. Engineering & Management exemplifies this approach—preparing graduates to lead in a world where technology and strategy are deeply intertwined.”
With continued guidance from the Eng & Mgt Industrial Advisory Council, a growing McMaster Engineering and Management Student Society and an engaged alumni base that is generous with their mentorship and time for current students, the next 50 years promise to be just as significant as the program’s first.
Are you an Eng & Mgt alum interested in attending the 50th celebration on September 20? Learn more and register today.
