Business professor Vincent Georgie, program director of the Odette MBA, took two students with him to Los Angeles this past weekend to get a taste of the Academy Awards. The 88th annual gala was televised live Sunday, February 28.

The Oscars are “the Olympics for the entertainment world,” Dr. Georgie says, making a unique experience for MBA students Jesse Tepperman and Kyra Michaeloff.

“The entire global film industry congregates on LA, so it is the most impactful time to see the industry in all its glory,” says Georgie, who also serves as executive director of the Windsor International Film Festival. “Being able to expose Kyra and Jesse to the inner workings of the Oscars and all its ancillary events allows them to deeply understand the business side of the industry.”

He says the film industry poses high barriers to entry.

“It is very private, insular and complicated,” Georgie says. “This (weekend) is an incomparable advantage Kyra and Jesse will have as they begin their own professional pursuits.”

Tepperman agrees, and plans to use the trip as a springboard for a career in the film business.

“Being able to network with top industry players is quite simply the beginning foundation to a successful career in film,” he says. “I am hoping to establish relationships with key Hollywood players, so that upon graduation, I can set myself up for a solid career in the film industry.”

This marks the third time Georgie has brought students to the Oscars ceremony with him, which he cites as a reflection of the type of program Windsor offers.

“The Odette MBA is a boutique program that is interested in providing experiential, unique and impactful learning opportunities to our students,” he says.