Staff

Retail Gen AI Hackathon 2025

julie.lapalme@affiliate.mcgill.ca — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 01:56:36 +0000

Want to work collaboratively in a fun yet competitive environment to develop innovative generative AI solutions for the ALDO Group?

Retail Gen AI Hackathon 2024

laura.hope@mcgill.ca — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 14:38:12 +0000

Want to work collaboratively in a fun yet competitive environment to develop innovative generative AI solutions for the ALDO Group?

Retail Innovation Challenge 2025

julie.lapalme@affiliate.mcgill.ca — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 12:51:01 +0000

Theme of the 6th edition of the 91��-BSRM Retail Innovation Challenge: Real-world challenges faced by the food retail sector

Retail Innovation Challenge 2024

laura.hope@mcgill.ca — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 14:45:31 +0000

Theme of the 5th edition of the Retail Innovation Challenge: Business Model Transitions

Reshaping the Future of Retail Conference

julie.lapalme@affiliate.mcgill.ca — Thu, 01 May 2025 18:17:53 +0000

Reshaping the Future of Retail

The Winning Formula - 3rd edition

julie.lapalme@affiliate.mcgill.ca — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 20:37:21 +0000

Third annual conference presented by the Bensadoun School of Retail Management in partnership with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One Team

Building More Resilient, Secure & Smarter Supply Chains with AI & Data

julie.lapalme@affiliate.mcgill.ca — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:43:17 +0000

Building More Resilient, Secure & Smarter Supply Chains with AI & Data

In an era of increasing economic pressures and evolving trade dynamics, Canadian manufacturers and supply chains must adopt AI and data-driven strategies to ensure long-term resilience and competitiveness. This event will bring together industry leaders, academics, and professionals to explore practical, scalable solutions for strengthening supply chains through advanced technology.

Join us to learn how to harness AI and Data to support our Canadian Supply chains during these turbulent times.

Event Highlights

Keynote Address by Michael Gardiner Director of Digital Engineering at Microsoft

Michael Gardiner leads Microsoft’s digital transformation, Industry 4.0, and artificial intelligence initiatives in the North American manufacturing industry. With over 25 years of experience, he has driven digital engineering, manufacturing, services, and sustainability initiatives across global automotive, aerospace, industrial machinery, high-tech, consumer goods, chemical, pharmaceutical, resource, and consulting services industries.

Michael is at the forefront of transforming engineering and product lifecycle management processes through cloud computing and AI. He works closely with customers to develop new digital, data, and AI capabilities that accelerate time to market, manage complexity, enhance product and service growth, and improve quality and new product introduction (NPI). Passionate about driving innovation, he helps organizations optimize their products, manufacturing processes, and service experiences.

By leveraging Microsoft platforms and expertise, along with a trusted ecosystem of partners and manufacturing specialists, Michael ensures customer success in navigating the future of intelligent, connected, and efficient operations.

Presenter

Michael Gardiner, Director, Digital Engineering, Americas Manufacturing & Mobility, Microsoft

Moderator

Saibal Ray, James 91�� Professor, Desautels Faculty of Management, 91��

Panelists

Allan Christensen, Vice President Quality, Pratt & Whitney
Christine Vucko, Vice President AI Solutions, Supply Chain, KPI Digital
Fiona Zhao, William Dawson Professor, Faculty of Engineering. 91��

Panelists Moderator Saibal Ray, James 91�� Professor, Desautels Faculty of Management, 91��

Saibal Ray is the James 91�� Professor of Supply Chain Management and Vice Dean of Faculty Affairs at 91��’s Desautels Faculty of Management and a former member of the Royal Society of Canada’s College of New Scholars. An internationally recognized expert in operations and retail management, his work combines applied AI, analytics, and behavioral insights to address challenges in supply chains, risk management, productivity, and sustainability.

He has been a driving force behind several pioneering initiatives, including 91��’s Retail Innovation Lab and the Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain Management program in Hangzhou, China, developed in partnership with Zhejiang University. A former Vice-Dean and Founding Director of two major academic centers (Bensadoun School of Retail Management and the DataSphere Lab), Professor Ray is deeply committed to connecting research with practice, shaping public discourse, and advising startups and policymakers.

A widely published scholar and award-winning teacher, he is known for his ability to translate complex ideas into practical solutions—mentoring future leaders while helping organizations and communities navigate a rapidly changing world.

BSRM Retail Creative Collab x Nespresso

julie.lapalme@affiliate.mcgill.ca — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 13:15:52 +0000

Nespresso is all about experience.

This will be an inspiring competition designed to promote collaboration and provide participating student teams the opportunity to ideate a creative strategic solution for a leading premium retail brand. Bensadoun School of Retail Management (BSRM) and Nespresso Canada will challenge teams to generate creative, collaborative, and scalable strategy to elevate the Nespresso brand.

What to expect?

Phase 1 Ideation submission requirements:

5-page slide deck
90-second ‘elevator pitch’ video
Mood board

Evaluation criteria:

Creativity and Innovation
Scalability and Feasibility
Impact on business stakeholders and customers
Within project scope

Timeline:

Phase 1 Submission Deadline:
Sunday, January 19th, 2025 at 6pm EST to bsrmcomp.mgmt [at] mcgill.ca

Five (5) finalist teams will be announced:
Friday, January 24th, 2025.

Final Phase

Finalist teams will gain invaluable support by having access to Nespresso experts and resources to take their final presentations to the next level.

Activities include:

Nespresso Virtual Branding Workshop
Mentoring Sessions: each team will be assigned their own mentor from the senior leadership team at Nespresso Canada

Final presentation requirements:

10-page slide deck
10-minute presentation
5-minute Q+A

Evaluation criteria:

Creative and Innovative
Team Collaboration
Scalable and Feasible
Business Impact
Sustainable

Timeline:

In-person final at Nespresso HQ:
Friday, February 21st, 2025. 9:00 am – 11:30 am

Meet the winning teams of our Retail Gen AI Hackathon

julie.lapalme@affiliate.mcgill.ca — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 14:45:28 +0000

Congratulations to our winning teams of the Bensadoun School’s 2nd annual Retail Gen AI Hackathon.

We had 38 student teams register representing diverse faculties across 91��. Over two days, 10 finalist teams hacked creative Gen AI solutions for our title sponsor ALDO Group.

Each team had an AWS mentor and access to support from IVADO Labs and DataSphere Lab team members.

Retail Gen AI Hackathon | Fall 2023

julie.lapalme@affiliate.mcgill.ca — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 12:43:34 +0000

Want to work collaboratively in a fun yet competitive environment to develop innovative generative AI solutions for the ALDO Group’s Data & Analytics Corporate Team?

Participate in the Fall 2023 edition of the Retail Gen AI Hackathon

julie.lapalme@affiliate.mcgill.ca — Fri, 11 Aug 2023 16:22:07 +0000

October 5-13, 2023

Want to work collaboratively in a fun yet competitive environment to develop innovative generative AI solutions for the ALDO Group’s Data & Analytics Corporate Team?

This first edition of the Retail Gen AI Hackathon, powered by ALDO Group, is a unique opportunity to work on a real-life problem, develop a solution in a fast-paced environment, and learn how AI and data analytics can help retailers make better data-driven decisions within their operations.

Integrated Management Student Fellowship (IMSF) at the DataSphere Lab: Shaping Tomorrow's Leaders

julie.lapalme@affiliate.mcgill.ca — Thu, 02 May 2024 15:08:02 +0000

This year, the DataSphere Lab was privileged to welcome two exceptional students through the Integrated Management Student Fellowship (IMSF) program: Chloe You, a third year student studying Finance and Statistics, and Ruo-Ying, a Business Analytics major.

The Winning Formula

julie.lapalme@affiliate.mcgill.ca — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 18:57:49 +0000

The Winning Formula

BSRM Retail Creative Collab x Nespresso!

julie.lapalme@affiliate.mcgill.ca — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 18:33:51 +0000

Join our inaugural Retail Creative Collab x Nespresso!

Nespresso is all about experience. This will be an inspiring competition designed to promote collaboration and provide participating student teams the opportunity to ideate a creative strategic solution for a leading premium retail brand. BSRM and Nespresso Canada will challenge teams to generate creative, collaborative, and scalable strategy to attract the student customer segment to the Nespresso brand.

The Challenge

To unleash Nespresso Canada’s full market potential and drive new customer acquisition in the coming years, it will require creating value and improving its relevance for younger age groups (18+). For this competition, Nespresso would like to focus specifically on students as the target market for the proposed ideas.

What to expect?

Phase 1 Ideation submission requirements:

5-page slide deck
90-second ‘elevator pitch’ video

Evaluation criteria:

Creativity and Innovation
Scalability and Feasibility
Impact on business stakeholders and customers

Timeline:

Phase 1 Submission Deadline:
Monday, January 22, 2024 at 9:00 am EST to bsrm [at] mcgill.ca

Five (5) finalist teams will be announced:
Friday January 26th, 2024.

Final Phase

Finalist teams will gain invaluable support by having access to Nespresso experts and resources to take their final presentations to the next level.

Activities include:

Nespresso Virtual Branding Workshop
Mentoring Sessions: each team will be assigned their own mentor from the senior leadership team at Nespresso Canada

Final presentation requirements:

10-page slide deck
10-minute presentation
5-minute Q+A

Evaluation criteria:

Creative and Innovative
Team Collaboration
Scalable and Feasible
Business Impact
Sustainable

Timeline:

In-person final at Nespresso HQ:
Monday February 26th, 2024. 9:00 am – 11:30 am

Retail Innovation Challenge

julie.lapalme@affiliate.mcgill.ca — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 15:56:52 +0000

Theme of the 4th edition of the Retail Innovation Challenge: Sustainability & the retail circular economy