STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT  

DeGroote mourns passing of Paul Snowdon

January 22, 2026 ·

Contributed by: DeGroote School of Business

Paul Snowdon, an assistant professor of Strategic Management and co-director of the Engineering and Management Program at the DeGroote School of Business, passed away on January 19, 2026 after a two-year battle with cancer. A beloved teacher, colleague and friend to many across McMaster, Snowdon will be remembered for his brilliance and generous mentorship.

“Paul was not only a respected and dedicated faculty member, but also a cherished colleague, mentor and friend,” said DeGroote School of Business Dean Khaled Hassanein. “His commitment to excellence in teaching and his passion for helping students understand the complexities of strategy has left an indelible mark on our School.”

Snowdon joined DeGroote in 2022, bringing more than 25 years of professional experience as an engineer, change agent and entrepreneur to the role. At DeGroote, Snowdon focused on capacity building in individuals, teams and organizations. One stream of his research looked at collaboration, trust, psychological safety and emotional intelligence in teams enabled with artificial intelligence tools. His goal was to discover why some groups achieve their goals while others do not, and to help leaders and organizations become more successful while also improving their quality of life at work.

“Paul was an exceptional teacher and a deeply committed member of our university community,” says Nick Bontis, chair, Strategic Management. “He cared profoundly about his students. Paul’s priority was always their learning, their growth and their futures. The long line of students outside his door was a testament to the time and energy he generously invested in supporting them.”

“Paul’s leadership on the business side of Engineering and Management made a profound difference in the experiences of our students,” says Heather Sheardown, Dean of Engineering. “When he spoke at the program’s 50th anniversary in September, you could feel how meaningful the Engineering and Management program was to him and how deeply he cared about student success.”

Prior to joining DeGroote, Snowdon’s career included senior leadership positions at major organizations including PricewaterhouseCoopers, Softchoice and General Electric. As a global consultant, his work spanned multiple countries including the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, the U.S. and the UAE across industries such as government, financial services, technology and manufacturing. He was also an entrepreneur and served as founder and CEO of Working Theory and founding partner of The Sensei Group.

He also taught at Huron University College and the University of Toronto’s School of Continuing Studies.

He held a Doctor of Business Administration from Henley Business School and dual bachelor’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and History from the University of Waterloo.

In an interview soon after his appointment at DeGroote, Snowdon said, “I chose to come to the DeGroote School of Business because I wanted to be part of a team that transforms the thinking and doing of tomorrow’s business leaders.”

He lived up to that commitment every day in the classroom and through his mentorship.

In November 2024, when Snowdon took a leave of absence for cancer treatment, a Kudoboard was created to share the news with students and capture their messages of support. The outpouring of affection and respect was overwhelming.

“As the semester approaches its end, I want to express the privilege of having you as my professor,” wrote one student. “Your passion goes beyond teaching and fills every lesson with wisdom that inspires us to grow, not just as students but as future leaders! Your ability to connect with us, through playing music, chatting with us during breaks, and sparking engaging class discussions has made every session feel less like a lecture and more like a mentorship. Your support and energy have truly brought out the best in me, and for that, I am deeply grateful.”

This article will be updated with celebration of life details.

 

It is devastating to lose a member of McMaster’s family. As a reminder, the University provides resources for staff, faculty and students who need support: