PhD business students - Gill Graduate School

Richard Tuck, PhD student, and a 2012 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship recipient

We're here to help

Everyone at the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business is dedicated to helping all students at all levels succeed and gain the most from their programs. For doctoral students, the Gill Graduate School PhD Program Office holds a wealth of information and a good starting point for prospective and current PhD students who have questions and/or need assistance.

From a student's perspective - what's the best part of taking a PhD at Gustavson?

• excellent faculty and staff support; everyone is very friendly and easy going and willing to help; faculty and staff have time for you
• faculty is open to suggestions and working with you to make the program work for you
• classes are taught by very passionate people that care about and have expertise in the topic areas
• program is well rounded
• international visiting students provide a wonderful opportunity to expand your knowledge and provide new points of view to challenge your way of thinking
• small class sizes offer a great opportunity to engage with the material

What words of wisdom do students pass along to incoming PhD students?

• Pace yourself, it is normal to feel overwhelmed but don't let that consume you, enjoy the ride!
• Your fellow students are a huge part of your support system so be sure to make time to take a breather, relax, and get to know them.
• If you're in the program you have what it takes, you're smart enough so when things get tough, don't doubt yourself...the only thing you have to do now is not give up!

Current Students

Sarah Easter

Education: Bachelor in Business Administration (Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas, USA, 2006), MBA (Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida, 2008)
Background: Sarah was most recently employed as a Senior Strategy Analyst for a boat manufacturer. She was also a Business Development Advisor for a training and employment center for people with disabilities in Central Vietnam. Research area: Social entrepreneurship seaster@uvic.ca

Anirban Kar

Education: Bachelor of Commerce (St. Xavier’s College, University of Calcutta, India, 1990), Master of Sciences, Management (University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Canada, 2012)
Background: Anirban acquired a CA designation in India post which he worked in steel manufacturing and telecom service businesses in the areas of operational audit, accounts, finance and management. Recently he was also a part-time instructor in the areas of control systems and revenue management. During the last year and a half he worked as a research assistant at the University of Lethbridge. His current research interest is in multi-national enterprise and sustainable development. akar@uvic.ca

Shazia Karmali

Education: BSc Integrated Science – Life Science (UBC 2005), MSc Public Health – Health Services Management (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine 2007)
Background: Former manager in the health sector, recognized expertise in stakeholder engagement, advisor with the World Health Organization, international work experience in Afghanistan, India, East Africa.

Erik Schindler

Education: Bachelor of Arts, Psychology (UVic, 1996), MBA (UVic, 2009)
Background: Erik has most recently been employed with UVic as the Vancouver Employment Development Office for the Gustavson School of Business/Business Co-op and Career Services. Erik has also spent time overseas in Japan as a Teacher and Director of Operations at an English language institute. Research areas: Sustainability, innovation and international business in the developing world. erikschi@uvic.ca

Michael Silla

Education: Bachelor of Business Administration (University of New Brunswick, Canada, 2005) Master of Science, Business Administration (Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, The Netherlands, 2011)
Background: Most recently, Michael worked as a Research Assistant for the Erasmus Research Institute of Management, in the Partnership Resource Center. Michael has a Charted Certified Accountant designation from the UK, and spent 5 years in auditing and finance in Ethiopia for the private industry.Research area: Cross-cultural partnerships to solve equitable economic development using S.I.T. theory and partnering with government/NGO’s to tackle sustainability issues. msilla@uvic.ca

Michal Szymanski

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Accounting (Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland, 2009), Bachelor of Arts in International Relations (University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland, 2010) Masters of Arts in Management (Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland, 2011) Master of Arts in American Studies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland, 2012), Master of Arts in International Relations, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland, 2012), Exchange term at University of British Columbia 2012.
Background: Michal most recently was employed at Deloitte Touch Tohmatsu as a Junior Associate on the Grants and Incentives Team working on logistics, high tech and banking projects.  Michal was a finalist in many competitions including the National EU-Knowledge Olympiad. He has publications in the Journal of Finance and Management Sciences and has also served as a wildland firefighter in Oregon, USA. Research area:  Strategic management in various companies experiencing difficulties due to economic downturn. mikeszym@uvic.ca

Richard Tuck

Video: Vanier Scholarship Award

Education: Honours Bachelor of International Business undergrad (Carleton University 2001), MSc in Corporate Finance (EDHEC Business School, 2010) and MBA (University of Alberta, 2010). Exchange term at Universidad dolfo Ibanez, Chile.
Background: Spent the past few years in Costa Rica and Chile as an independent consultant and director at expeditionary learning schools. Research areas include business and sustainability, strategy entrepreneurship, leadership, focusing on Latin America. rtuck@uvic.ca