Futures Fund

Canada’s Outstanding CEO of the Year® established the Futures Fund Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership to honour and mentor ten young Canadian university business students each year who have demonstrated exemplary leadership in their academic and extra-curricular initiatives.

The award program provides ten exceptional and deserving students with grants to further their educational ambitions. In addition, recipients will travel (accommodation and transportation are provided) to the Awards Gala to be presented with their scholarships.

Ten business schools are chosen each year to receive the scholarships. Recipients are selected by their school based on their achievements and demonstrated leadership initiatives in their academic and extracurricular activities.

Full-time graduate and undergraduate students in business degree programs are eligible. Interested students should contact their advising office for application instructions.

Futures Fund winners 2024

• Luke Beelen

  University of Toronto
  Rotman School of Management

  Luke is an MBA student at the University of Toronto, who is passionate about leadership in decarbonization and creating a sustainable future for all generations in Canada. Prior to his MBA, Luke completed his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Queen’s University and spent 4 years providing energy and sustainability consulting services to the Canadian commercial real estate industry. Luke helped buildings reduce energy usage, plan decarbonization retrofits, and allocate utility costs. He has been an active member of the Rotman Management Consulting Association and Net Impact clubs. He will be joining the Boston Consulting Group in Toronto as a Summer Consultant to continue to develop his leadership skills.

• Dennis Chen

  Toronto Metropolitan University
  Ted Rogers School of Management

  Dennis is a firm believer in lifelong learning and leaving an environment better than you found it so future generations don’t have to face the same problems. As co-founder of the Ted Rogers Case Team (TRCT), he built an organization that seeks to bridge the gaps in case-cutting resources for all students at the TRSM and ensure the school is well represented on the global stage. Additionally, as a Partner of the Ryerson Consulting Group, Dennis has led several projects ranging in clients from social ventures to for-profits to university career centers. Recently, he spearheaded a gap analysis project aimed at breaking down the barriers to the consulting industry for TRSM students.

• Andre Gagnon

  University of Saskatchewan
  Edwards School of Business

  As an undergraduate at the University of Saskatchewan, Andre pursued a degree in Supply Chain Management. Bilingual in French and English, he has worked in Canada and France, gaining experience in the nuclear fuel cycle and aerospace industries. Andre represented the Edwards School of Business at numerous national conferences and played a key role in reviving the HR Students’ Society as VP Internal. As PD Director for the EBSS, he expanded student opportunities and helped secure funding, manage logistics, and coordinate interviews for Edwards students attending the 2025 Rocky Mountain Business Seminar. He aspires to a global career in supply chain management.

• Alexandre Mador

  Bishop’s University
  Williams School of Business

  As the President of the Bishop’s University Accounting Society (BUAS), Alex and his team organize personal finance workshops, accounting study sessions, and networking events to support the Bishop's community. While completing his BBA with a concentration in accounting, he is actively involved in the Student Representative Council and university academic committees as the Business Student Senator. After noticing multiple student clubs struggling with financial planning for their events, Alex launched a project connecting clubs with business students to provide financial planning advice. This initiative was successfully utilized by several clubs. After graduating in June, Alex is moving to Nova Scotia for a new adventure, where he plans to continue offering personal finance tools and advice to help others.

• Marlow Pfeifer

  University of Alberta
  Alberta School of Business

  Marlow spent his undergraduate degree playing a key role in the establishment of a vibrant extracurricular community at the Alberta School of Business. In his time at the University of Alberta, he served as Co-Chair of the Alberta International Business Competition, and has won accolades in several international case competitions across the world. Working with the School of Business Consulting Group, Marlow drove the development of an interprovincial talent development strategy. He is a passionate student leader, and has mentored over 50 students on how to pursue Bloomberg certifications and CFA studies. He completed internships at Mastercard, Scotiabank, BMO and National Bank, and will be returning to BMO as a Global Markets Analyst in July 2025. Marlow aims to continue exploring a global approach to business in his professional and extracurricular endeavours.

• Anderson Recker

  McGill University
  Desautels Faculty of Management

  Anderson is an MBA candidate at McGill University, passionate about leadership, strategy consulting, and community development. As President of the Graduate Consulting Club, he has led professional development initiatives, case competitions, and industry networking events. Prior to his MBA, Anderson worked as a Technology Consultant at Deloitte, leading strategic initiatives in enterprise strategy and digital transformation. A former varsity football player, he competed for five seasons, earning five Academic All-Canadian honors. He later returned to varsity sports with McGill Rugby, earning 1st Team All-Star and 1st Team All-Canadian honors. As Vice President of the Montreal Irish Rugby Club, he supports recruitment and junior development. Anderson is also an Arbour Foundation Ambassador, helping identify and mentor future fellows. This summer, he will join KPMG’s Management Consulting practice in Toronto, continuing his path toward leadership in consulting.

• Ethan Ruggiero

  University of British Columbia
  Sauder School of Business

  Ethan is a third-year student at UBC Sauder School of Business with a passion for financial services, leadership, and community impact. Intern at CIBC, Ethan works in Talent Development, supporting capital markets professionals in onboarding and training programs. Beyond his professional experience, Ethan is committed to breaking down barriers and fostering inclusivity. He founded Sauder Suits Up, the first Canadian university formal wear rental service for business students, ensuring that financial constraints do not limit students’ ability to participate in professional events. Additionally, as Chair of the Board for UBC Sauder’s Commerce Undergraduate Society, Ethan oversees a $1.4 million budget, directing funding toward initiatives that enhance student experiences. Ethan aspires to build a career in banking or consulting, leveraging his passion for relationship management, strategic financial decision-making, as well as fostering opportunities for others.

• Kunalraj Talampally

  Western University
  Ivey Business School

  Kunal is a student at the Ivey Business School at Western University. He has spent his entire undergraduate degree making business more accessible for fellow students, whether by leading Western’s largest undergraduate business club, or by being an education advisor within first year residence buildings. Kunal grew up watching and playing sports – a passion he continues to build on throughout his university career. ’'s largest undergraduate sports conference, and will be a pro-bono consultant to OSEG’s Charity Arm this summer alongside his internship at the Boston Consulting Group. Kunal is also looking forward to going to Frankfurt, Germany for his exchange in January of 2026.

• Thanh Binh Tran

  Université du Québec à Montréal
  École des sciences de la gestion

  Thanh is an international business student at the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) with a passion for strategy, consulting, and entrepreneurship. As a Senior Consultant with the Bureau de Conseil en Management (BCM), he supported project managers and led teams to optimize business strategies. His leadership played a key role in securing a regional win at the KPMG Ace the Case competition, leading to a national appearance as a representative for the Greater Montreal Area. A driven entrepreneur, he embraces innovation and impact while mentoring peers and providing strategic guidance to non-profits. This summer, Thanh will study in France to expand his global perspective. He aims to build innovative enterprises and drive progress through forward-thinking leadership.

• Lucas Vincze

  Queen’s University
  Smith School of Business

  With a passion for connecting people and as an advocate for mental health, Lucas draws from his involvement with Jack.org to foster awareness and take action. His commitment to supporting others extends beyond advocacy, whether mentoring first-year students at Queen’s University through High School Liaison, or guiding businesses as a Senior Project Manager on CREO Solutions Consulting and Trillium Capital Investing. A firm believer in resilience, he pushes his limits as an Ironman Triathlete, embracing the discipline and endurance that fuel personal and professional growth. His curiosity for unconventional career paths led him to create Connecting the Dots, a podcast dedicated to sharing the unique journeys of those redefining success. Coming off a semester abroad studying in Lisbon, Lucas will join Simon-Kucher this summer as a consulting intern, eager to apply his experiences, expand his skills, and make a real impact in the business world.