Congrats to our 2022-23 Scholarships & Award Recipients
Felix Aleobua
Dean's Entrance Award
Imasco Awards in Arts and Administration
Felix holds a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences, B.Comm. in Marketing Management, Master of Marketing (â…” semesters complete) and currently is an MBA candidate specializing in Marketing and Art, Media and Entertainment. Felix is a marketer with 6+ years of combined corporate work experience. He has worked across numerous industries including Advertising, CPG, Pharma, Retail and Travel. Under his creative name, Flex Aleo, he is an advanced certified wine professional and founder of a culture education club called Marvonnay. Under the same creative name, Flex is an international actor and model. His project highlights include Fear Thy Roommate (TV Show), OLG (National TV Commercial), McDonald's (TikTok), and SA Tourism (Billboard). His interests are rooted in increasing the sophistication of humanity through cultural education. He is currently exploring Content Distribution, Film/TV Production, and Licensing in order to create a streaming platform for Marvonnay.
Jessica Bulahan
George Gardiner Award in Arts and Media Administration
Jessica holds a master's degree in business administration with a bachelors in Hotel Restaurant Institution Management. After working as a creative lead in lifestyle apps, she pursued music and became singer/songwriter” Sabu” signed under Warner Music Philippines. She won Favorite New Female Artist at the Awit Awards 2018. In 2021, Jessica was the Creative Director, Producer, and Editor for a kids YouTube show. Post-MBA she hopes get into creative strategy and eventually be a consultant for big labels or put up her own artist management.
Jordan De Biasi
The Joyce & Fred Zemans Scholarship
The Bickell Internship Award in Arts & Media Administration
After completing his BA in Film & Media Production ’13, Jordan worked as a camera operator for independent productions around the GTA. In 2014, he joined an international automotive manufacturer as their Marketing Advisor, creating all B2B promotional material. Shortly thereafter gaining green belt certification in 6 Sigma, he then completed a Graduate Certificate in Global Business Management ’17. In 2017, Jordan accepted a leadership role, within operations, as their material’s supervisor supporting a distribution facility, internal logistics and painter supplier relations. In 2021, he accepted admission to Schulich School of Business to complete his MBA, specializing in Art’s, Media & Entertainment Management, class of 2023. Upon graduation, he aims to pivot back into the entertainment space, as an aspiring producer.
Wayne Deering
The Brian Dixon Founders' Award, The IMASCO Award in Art and Administration, and The Bickell Internship Award in Arts & Media Administration
Wayne holds a B.Mus. from Queen’s University and a M.Mus. in Sound Recording from McGill University. After graduation, Wayne spent time honing his craft at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, the Tanglewood Music Center in Massachusetts, and a studio in New York City before settling in Toronto with his family. Along with freelance recording and editing for music and film, Wayne has worked as an audio engineer and video specialist at the Flato Markham Theatre and as technical producer for several venues and large national conferences. Wrapping up work on his MBA at Schulich this spring, Wayne plans to pursue a career in performance arts management upon graduation.
John Drinkwater
International Student Award
The Stuart McAllister Award
The George Gardiner Award
John holds a Bachelor of Music in jazz trumpet performance from McGill University. Prior to starting the MBA/MA degree at Schulich, he was the lead on music school operations and worked in sales at a US-based music instrument retailer. John currently works in audience services at Toronto theatre company Mirvish Productions while completing graduate school. His academic research focuses on jazz and popular music studies, specifically the relevancy of record labels for avant-garde composition and improvisation; secondary research topics include jazz patronage and how aesthetics interact with consumer buying behaviour. John looks forward to leveraging his MBA/MA degree into a meaningful career in the arts and culture sector.
Raphaël Freynet
The Paul Schafer Founders' Award
Raphaël Freynet studied Multimedia Communications at the Université de Saint-Boniface (MB), and is a prospective 2023 MBA graduate from the Schulich School of Business, with specializations in Arts, Media and Entertainment, as well as in Entrepreneurial Studies. Since 2009 Raphaël has been an active musician and producer, frequently performing across Canada and internationally. He has produced award-winning recordings from his home studio in Edmonton, Alberta. He has also worked in film and television, notably for CBC/Radio-Canada, and has been involved in arts policy and industry development and consulting. Raphaël enjoys finding good coffee shops wherever he is, and is an avid mountain biker.
Andrew Gu
The James Gillies Founders' Award
Andrew holds a BFA in Film and Television Production and is a 2023 MBA graduate of The Schulich School of Business. He experienced 3.5 years in corporate video production at Arc and Crown Media as a content producer, working alongside brands like LG, Samsung, Panasonic, and Scotiabank to create marketing content. His favourite moment was a rare chance to work with producers and editors on a feature film with a live symphony called Mozart Effect, which played across Canada including the Sony Performing Centre. Post-MBA, Andrew is now set to transition to marketing consulting as a senior consultant at Deloitte Digital’s AMC (Advertising, Marketing and Commerce) division.
Song'yi Jin
The Joyce Zemans Award of Achievement
Imasco Award in Arts Administration
Songyi holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Industry Studies from the Conservatory of Music at the University of the Pacific. He has a strong background as an entrepreneur in the music and especially the concert industry. Songyi has successfully ventured and managed NEO SOUL Entertainment, a US-based concert promoter company, where he promoted and presented independent East Asian artists' tours in the US coast-to-coast prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, he quickly pivoted and worked as a consultant for various music industry clients and as a professional artist manager at CAOTAI Music, a Chinese independent record label. At Schulich, Songyi serves as the Marketing VP for the Schulich East Asian Business Association (SEABA) from 2022 to 2023 and is an active member of the AMMC. Through his passion and dedication to the industry, Songyi is determined to continue developing his career in the music and concert industry post-MBA.
Hillary Kaplan
The George Gardiner Award in Arts and Media Administration
Hillary Kaplan holds an MA in Performance Studies, and an MBA specializing in Arts, Media, and Entertainment Management. She is a skilled arts administrator who has worked with organizations such as KasheDance, the Vancouver Fringe Festival, the Richmond Museum, the Queer Arts Festival, Urban Ink, and the Vancouver School of Theology. Hillary is also independently employed as a content creator, and has a keen interest in internet memes as performance epistemology, and modes of embodiment and affect within participatory digital cultural. In her spare time, Hillary enjoys fashion, food science, and music festivals.
Majd Khnouf
The Joyce & Fred Zemans Scholarship
Majd holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering and graduating from the MBA with a specialisation in Arts, Media and Entertainment. She had professional roles within the engineering and IT sectors in several capacities, including human resources consultant, proposals, business development, project coordination, and project management. She takes great pride in Youth for Music Association, a non-profit organization she co-founded with the goal of encouraging the continuity and growth of youth musicians in Jordan. Her art endeavors led her to serve on the board of directors for Toronto Arab Film to continue her passion for bringing Arab art to international audiences. She hopes she can put her skills and experience in project management roles in the arts sector.
Stephanie Leonardelli
Dean's Entrance Award
Stephanie holds both a Master of Business Administration degree and International Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Schulich School of Business, as well as a Master of Journalism degree from Toronto Metropolitan University. Beyond her academic career, she has professional experience in the financial services sector and worked as a television segment producer with Bell Media for CTV’s Your Morning show. She currently works as a Strategist for global media agency, Mindshare. When she’s not working, Stephanie is the Social Outreach and Communications lead for her high school alumni executive team where she organizes and participates in different initiatives to give back to the local community. On her free time, Stephanie loves spending time with loved ones and has a passion for fashion, fitness, and travel.
Melissa Paglialunga
The Joe Green Founders' Award, and The Carol Anne Letheren Women's MBA Award
Melissa holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts & Science with a Combination in Business from McMaster University. She is currently completing the joint JD/MBA degree at Osgoode Hall Law School and Schulich School of Business. Melissa previously worked at University Health Network (UHN) as a Legal Intern for two summers. She has also worked as the Student Recruitment Coordinator in the Admissions Office at Osgoode Hall Law School over the past three years. After completing her degree, Melissa is planning on pursuing corporate law in Toronto. Outside of the classroom, Melissa enjoys Pilates, walking her puppy Bella, and watching musicals.
Lauren Viray
The Robert J. Gemmell MBA/JD Award of Excellence
Lauren holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Economics and Philosophy, along with a Certificate in Law and a Certificate in Business, from Queen’s University. After graduating, she worked at KPMG Canada in Technology Risk Consulting. Lauren is currently in the middle of a joint JD/MBA program at Osgoode Hall Law School and the Schulich School of Business at York University. Her varied summer employment positions include a legal internship at Mount Sinai Hospital, a Research Assistant position related to copyright law, and two summers as a Festival Coordinator with Toronto Summer Music, an annual international classical music festival. In her spare time, Lauren loves watching TV and films, attending concerts and music festivals, and hanging out with her pet hedgehog.