Sam Shaw

CEO, President, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology

Despite his ivory tower credentials, NAIT president Dr. Sam Shaw has displayed an entrepreneur's ability to cut deals, both with the private sector and the Alberta government. The Edmonton-based institution has reduced its dependence on government funding but increased his budget through valuable partnerships with global brands such as Dell Computers, HP, Halliburton, Schlumberger, Caterpillar and Harley-Davidson Motorcycles. Shaw's latest deal-making coup came last year with Microsoft Corp., which provided $8 million in software to the institution's new software manufacturing centre. Shaw, who oversaw NAIT's historic merger with Fairview College that took the school's total enrolment to 65,000 full-time, part-time and apprentice students last year, has expanded the Edmonton-based institution's global reach with innovative distance learning programs that have trained African oilfield and pipeline workers for ExxonMobil and Tawainese opticians. The applied business psychologist, who continues to teach a class in organizational behaviour, was honoured as Alberta Venture's Business Person of the Year for 2004. - WG

Which business, industry or institution would you like to see partner with NAIT?
We're interested in partnering with any market leader.

Who do you think is the greatest Albertan ever?
I can't narrow it down to one person. When you are thinking about people who have forging new frontiers, visionaries, people who are compassionate and caring, people with an attitude of getting it done, this list can be said of every Albertan. Who else would go to work when its -30 C outside? Every Albertan has contributed to the success of this province and will continue to do so over the next 100 years.

In 100 years, will you warrant your own chapter in the history books, a footnote to great events or a single Google hit?
I would say none of those. My legacy will be the students that we impact at NAIT, the students that I teach in my own classes as well as my own daughter and son.