Global Alpha Capital Management establishes new bursaries for women in finance at Concordia

Sain Godil, BComm 11, MSc 13, was the recipient of several awards and scholarships when he was a student at Concordia, but there is one in particular that he will never forget receiving: the Ron Meisels Scholarship.

“It couldn’t have come at a more perfect time,” says Godil, who is now a portfolio manager and partner at Global Alpha Capital Management.

Recently arrived from Goa, India, Godil was a mature student in the Kenneth Woods Portfolio Management Program (KWPMP), pursuing his dream of a career in investment finance. He was a single parent with little money.   

“I had a child, I was alone and I was trying to figure out how I was going to pay my rent,” he recalls. “When I later met Mr. Meisels, I told him that receiving that scholarship was like Christmas for me.”

A decade later, Godil says it only seems right for him to play a small part in returning that gift to Concordia through a new bursary from his company. 

Established through the Campaign for Concordia: Next-Gen Now, the $30,000 Global Alpha Capital Management Bursaries will support women studying finance at the John Molson School of Business with two annual undergraduate bursaries of $3,000 each over five years.  

‘An opportunity to help change the imbalance’

Giving back is part of Global Alpha’s ethos, says Godil. Founded in 2008, the investment-management company has contributed more than $700,000 to different community causes over the years. Global Alpha team members also regularly volunteer their time at various charities and non-profits.  

When the team got together recently to discuss the next cause they would support, they decided to focus on diversity in finance.

“When you think of the investment profession as a whole, it doesn’t take a genius to realize that it lacks diversity — and that includes women,” he says. “At Global Alpha, we’ve always tried to build a more diverse team because we understand the crucial importance of diversifying a collective skillset and what experiential perspective brings to the table.”

The perspective that women in particular can bring is huge, he adds.

“There is so much research that shows how beneficial it is to have women on your team. It helps with decision making, it avoids group thinking, it reduces biases. This bursary is an opportunity to help change the imbalance a little bit.”

On a more personal note, Godil has two daughters. “This issue is brought even closer to heart for us,” says Godil. “If my daughters want to pursue something in finance, I want to help them do that.”  

‘Help shatter that glass ceiling’

As for why the Global Alpha team wanted to support bursaries at Concordia, it’s a simple answer, says Godil. “We have several Concordia alumni on the team, and we think very highly of Concordia!”

He adds that when he looks back on how far he has come in his career, he owes much of his success to the university.

“Yes, I put in the hard work, but learning what I did from the incredible professionals there, and being able to create an amazing mentorship network through the Ken Woods Program, made all the difference,” says Godil, who was also the KWPMP valedictorian for his graduating year.

Now he and Global Alpha want to see more women have the same opportunity he did at Concordia.

“Let’s be realistic: this is only two annual bursaries,” says Godil. “Still, we would like to see this help empower female talent and help shatter that glass ceiling.”

And like the Ron Meisels Scholarship did for him, Godil also hopes these bursaries provide some inspiration.   

“Ten years down the line, it would be great to hear a similar story from the recipients of how this really helped them,” he says. “I think that would hit closest to the heart.”