AFOA Canada Announces Indigenous Executive Program With Harvard Business School

AFOA Canada Announces Indigenous Executive Program  With Harvard Business School

Calgary, AB-February 9, 2017 – AFOA Canada signed an agreement and Memorandum of Understanding with Harvard University’s Harvard Business School to jointly develop and deliver an executive program called Leading People and Investing to Build Sustainable Communities. The agreement, signed yesterday during AFOA Canada’s 17^th National Conference, commits the two institutions to cooperate to create a world-class learning experience in the areas of Indigenous governance, leadership and investment management.

The first cohort is set to take place May 1^st to May 5^th, 2017. AFOA Canada will send 40 members to attend a 5-day intensive executive program on the Harvard Business School campus in Boston, Massachusetts. The program provides participants with the opportunity to view community investments in a broader context.  While it is important to understand investment tools, strategies, and products, it is equally important to understand how governance practices can shape the management of the investments with a longer-term view toward building sustainable communities.  The skill sets of entrepreneurial finance, negotiations, and change management complement effective governance of community investments.

“Harvard Business School is one of the oldest and most respected business schools in the world.” says Terry Goodtrack, President and CEO of AFOA Canada. “This partnership reinforces commitment to our membership in delivering high-quality education programs and we are excited to work alongside such a prestigious institution.”

“My colleagues and I look forward to pioneering this executive education program, which will bring together at Harvard Business School participants from First Nations People in Canada and Native Americans in the United States.” said David Ager, Senior Fellow and Managing Director of Executive Education and the program’s co-chair. “Addressing issues essential in building sustainable strength and stability, this program will focus on best practices in areas such as investment, governance, leadership, negotiations, and change management to generate insights participants can put into action when they return to their communities. We are delighted that this program marks the beginning of a long-term teaching and learning relationship between HBS and AFOA Canada.”

About AFOA Canada

AFOA Canada is a membership driven organization and was founded as a not-for-profit association in 1999. The organization supports Aboriginal professionals in managing and governing their communities and organizations through a focus on enhancing finance, management and leadership practices and skills. AFOA Canada’s premise is that the key to economic prosperity and creating a better life for Canada’s Aboriginal people is in improving the management skills of those responsible for the stewardship of Aboriginal resources.

AFOA Canada has become the centre of excellence and innovation in Aboriginal finance, management, and leadership. It is the largest and only organization in Canada that focuses on the capacity development and day to day needs of those Aboriginal professionals who are working in all of these areas. Our products and programs are developed by Aboriginal professionals for Aboriginal Professionals.

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Contact:

AFOA Canada Jody Anderson 613-297-5998 janderson@afoa.ca

HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL Chad Gordon 617-496-2900 cgordon@hbs.edu