Ideas with Impact
UNB Faculty of Management

When the UNB faculty of management was invited to nominate a student for the Futures Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership, the choice was clear.

Ashlee Morgan, a student in UNB's joint MBA/Juris Doctor program, was selected to represent the faculty and became one of just ten students across Canada to receive the prestigious scholarship.

Established by Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year®, the Futures Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership recognizes business students who have demonstrated exemplary leadership through their academic achievements and extracurricular involvement. Each year, ten Canadian business schools are selected to participate, with each school nominating one student whose leadership, initiative, and impact distinguish them among their peers.

For Ashlee, the award was both a recognition of her accomplishments and an opportunity to learn from some of Canada's most influential business leaders.

Over three days in Toronto, scholarship recipients participated in a unique leadership experience that brought them together with CEOs, mentors, and senior leaders from leading national and international companies.

"I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Toronto and engage with CEOs, leaders, mentors, and partners from organizations such as Deloitte, Caldwell, Canadian Tire, Air Canada, and many other national and international companies," Ashlee said. "The experience was truly exceptional."

The opportunity offered more than networking, it provided experiential learning and direct access to leadership perspectives that students rarely encounter in the classroom. Through conversations with executives and industry leaders, Ashlee gained valuable insights into leadership, career development, adaptability, and the realities of leading large organizations.

One of the highlights was meeting Greg Hicks, President and CEO of Canadian Tire Corporation who was named this year’s Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year®.

"His insights on leadership, career growth, adaptability, and business were both meaningful and inspiring," Ashlee said.

The experience demonstrated that some of the most impactful learning happens through conversation. Whether engaging with senior executives or fellow scholarship recipients, Ashlee was exposed to a range of perspectives that challenged her thinking and broadened her understanding of leadership.

"I also had the privilege of connecting with nine other students from across the country, each bringing inspiring stories, perseverance, and insight," Ashlee said. "The relationships we built will undoubtedly stay with me throughout my career and, I believe, for a lifetime."

Bringing together emerging leaders from across Canada created an environment where students could learn not only from accomplished executives, but also from one another. The exchange of ideas, experiences, and perspectives reinforced the importance of collaboration, community, and lifelong learning.

Reflecting on the experience, Ashlee says the opportunity has left a lasting impact on her personal and professional growth.

"I returned home from this experience a more knowledgeable business student and a more enriched individual," Ashlee said. "This program was, without a doubt, a highlight of my MBA, and I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to represent the UNB Faculty of Management. It was an honour to do so."

Ashlee's selection for the Futures Fund Scholarship is a testament to the leadership, initiative, and commitment to excellence that students at UNB bring to their academic and extracurricular pursuits. Her experience serves as a reminder that leadership begins long before graduation and that curiosity, openness, and a willingness to engage with new opportunities can open doors to remarkable experiences.

Photo: Ashlee Morgan (centre) receives the Futures Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership alongside Fatima Laher (left), Deputy Chair, Deloitte Canada and Senior Partner, and Greg Hicks (right), President and CEO of Canadian Tire Corporation and recipient of Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year® Award.

Learn more about UNB’s faculty of management.