Biography
Robert Soroka, B.Comm, MBA, Juris Doctor
Business professor Robert Soroka is known to be a dynamic, charismatic professional with significant industry experience. Born in Montreal, Soroka earned his first two degrees locally: a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill and an MBA from Concordia, and discovered a passion for teaching in the years following.
Professor Soroka has a varied background as a criminal lawyer, professor, union executive and grievance officer, marketing analyst, TV and radio personality, conference speaker, consultant, and, as a pastime, actor and playwright. He began his career in industry, working for several years as a marketing and financial analyst for large chain-store retailers and for companies competing in industrial markets. Later, he earned his Juris Doctor degree from the State University of New York, and worked in the area of criminal law in the state of New York.
In addition to teaching at Concordia University, Professor Soroka is currently or has been listed as faculty at McGill University, University of Ottawa, and Universite de Montreal (HEC), and has taught at many CEGEPs. He has taught at various levels: MBA, undergraduate, Continuing Education, and college. At Dawson College, he served as Department Chair and Program Coordinator for 10 years; he is also the founder and past coordinator of the annual Dawson Quebec Case Competition.
His teaching is recognized: he is the 2019 recipient of the President's Excellence in Teaching Award. He was also honoured with Concordia University’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 1997 and the McGill University Management Undergraduate Students’ Teaching Award in 2009.
Currently, Professor Soroka has an active consulting practice; he serves as a private consultant for both public and private organizations, primarily in the areas of retail, health care, marketing/promotion, entrepreneurship, and education.
Professor Soroka wears several hats at Concordia: most notably, he is the President of the Concordia University Part Time Faculty Association (CUPFA), a 1000 member union. He is a faculty member in the Marketing and Management departments at JMSB; he was the most senior faculty member at Continuing Education; he was an active member of JMSB’s Strategic Planning committee; he has sat on several hiring committees (Marketing Department, School of Extended Learning, Marketing Chair, Dean); he was on the Program Appraisal Committee. He sits on the Board of Governors, the Board's Finance Committee, and Senate at Concordia.
Professor Soroka has made more than 1500 national and local television and radio guest appearances, and was the Consumer Cop on Montreal Today (CTV) and the Consumer Correspondent on This Morning Live (Global Television) for 5 years. Professor Soroka appeared many times as a commentator on Canada AM (which was the country’s highest rated television morning show until 2016), CTV Newsnet, Global TV News, Fox News (New York) and CBC News. He previously hosted a local week-in-review radio show for several years. One of Professor Soroka’s passions is theatre; he has authored several plays, all of which have been produced.
Media
Professor Soroka has made more than 1500 national and local television and radio guest appearances, and was the Consumer Cop on Montreal Today (CTV)and the Consumer Correspondent on This Morning Live (Global Television) for 5 years. Professor Soroka appeared many times as a commentator on Canada AM (which was the country’s highest rated television morning show until 2016), CTV Newsnet, Global TV News, Fox News (New York) and CBC News. He previously hosted a local week-in-review radio show for several years.
Professor Soroka has been quoted in the National Post, Globe and Mail, Montreal Gazette, La Presse, Les Affaires, Le Journal de Montreal, and Vancouver Sun, among others.
Conferences
Professor Soroka has been a featured speaker at many local and national conferences focusing on Marketing, Entrepreneurship, and Motivation.
Professor Soroka wears several hats at Concordia: he is the President of the Concordia University Part Time Faculty Association, as well as a faculty member in the Marketing and Management departments at JMSB; he was a faculty member at Continuing Education and has developed and taught several eConcordia courses; he was an active member of JMSB’s Strategic Planning Committee; he has sat on several hiring committees (Marketing Department, School of Extended Learning, Marketing Chair, Dean); he sat on the Program Appraisal Committee (Graduate Business Programs), the University Appraisal Committee, the Terms of Reference Committee, and the Dean's Appraisal Committee. He currently sits on the Labour Relations Committee, and is a member of Senate, Board of Governors, and the Board's Finance Committee.
Professor Soroka was elected President of the Concordia University Part Time Faculty Association in 2016. He has served as union delegate for the following hiring committees: Marketing Department, School of Extended Learning, Marketing Chair, Dean. He has also served as the CUPFA representative for JMSB’s Strategic Planning committee, the Program Appraisal Committee (Graduate Programs), and the University Appraisal Committee. He currently sits on the Labour Relations Committee, the Board of Governors, the Board's Finance Committee, and Senate.
