Home | William Snyder, PhD(c)

William M. Snyder, PhD(c)

Management Scholar | Sustainability Researcher | Business Educator | Classical Musician

Key Credentials:

Doctor of Philosophy Candidate (PhD)c, Administration, Schulich/York
Master of Business Administration (MBA), University of Ottawa
Master of Music (MMus), Literature & Performance, Western University
One-Year Artist Diploma with Distinction, Western University
Licentiate Diploma (LRCM), Piano Performance, Royal Conservatory
Bachelor of Commerce (Honours), Finance, Toronto Metropolitan University
Associate Diploma (ARCT), Piano Performance, Royal Conservatory
HSK Level 4 Certification in Chinese Proficiency (2020 Version)
Investment Industry: CSC®, CPH®, DFOL®, Canadian Securities Institute

Research Interests:

I engage with some of society’s broadest questions that speak to current debates within the management literature falling under:

Sustainable Finance
Corporate Purpose
Institutional Stewardship
Financial Wellness (Retail)
Business Sustainability
Organizational Ruggedness
Redemptive Entrepreneurship
Marketplace Theology

Teaching Philosophy:

I embody a student-centric teaching philosophy that seeks to incorporate everyday examples in lectures. When I taught piano privately, student testimonials consistently described me as an excellent, patient, encouraging, supportive, engaging, innovative, adaptable, sincere, and challenging teacher of different ages and abilities. Students and parents emphasized my ability to balance strong fundamentals and skill development with enjoyment, while adapting my approach to the individual learner. I have been described as someone who builds confidence, inspires progress, celebrates students, and creates a positive learning experience, while teaching not only the subject itself but also broader life lessons and skills.

Full Biography:

William Snyder is a Canadian business scholar, educator, and multidisciplinary professional pursuing a PhD in Sustainability at the Schulich School of Business. His academic and professional work brings together finance, sustainability, leadership, organizational strategy, and the arts, with a particular interest in how organizations can contribute to a flourishing society. He holds an MBA from the University of Ottawa, a Bachelor of Commerce from Toronto Metropolitan University, and graduate degrees in music from Western University. He was named a Cardus NextGEN Fellow in 2025, recognizing emerging Canadian leaders committed to the common good.

William’s teaching experience spans business, quantitative skills, music, and experiential learning. During his time at the Ted Rogers School of Management, he held several roles within the Dean’s Office, including Finance Consultant, Data Analyst, and Curriculum Advisor of what became the school’s undergraduate bootcamp programming. In this capacity, he taught Excel workshops to more than 600 undergraduate students, translating technical concepts into accessible, practical learning experiences. His earlier work at Toronto School for Strings & Piano similarly developed his ability to adapt instruction to learners of different ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience.

His approach to teaching is grounded in the belief that effective education combines rigour with accessibility, challenge with encouragement, and theory with meaningful application. Student and parent testimonials consistently describe William as an excellent, patient, encouraging, supportive, engaging, innovative, adaptable, and sincere educator who builds confidence while challenging learners to grow. Across both business and music education, he seeks to create learning environments in which students are encouraged to make connections between concepts, develop independent judgment, and discover their own capacity to achieve.

William’s professional background complements his academic and teaching work. He has held positions with CIBC, TD Bank Group, Schneider Electric, and Yamaha Canada, with experience spanning finance, investment management, procurement, data analysis, faculty administration, and organizational operations. His work within the Dean’s Office at Ted Rogers School of Management gave him a particularly close perspective on the administration and delivery of business education, while his corporate experience has allowed him to connect academic concepts with real organizational and financial contexts.

His doctoral work in sustainability at the Schulich School of Business builds upon this multidisciplinary foundation. William is particularly interested in questions surrounding the role of business and financial institutions in advancing societal flourishing, and in how organizations can reconcile financial performance with broader social and environmental responsibilities. His perspective is informed not only by formal study in finance, business, and sustainability, but also by extensive experience in the arts and by his engagement with questions of culture, creativity, leadership, and civic life.

Alongside his business and academic career, William is an accomplished pianist and former registered music teacher with more than a decade of experience. He completed an Artist Diploma with distinction at Western University and subsequent Master of Music Degree focusing on the music of Franz Liszt. He has performed and studied internationally and has maintained an active career as a musician, educator, and arts administrator which complements his academic vocation well. He currently serves as the youngest board member for Music and Beyond Performing Arts.

Testimonials: What are Professionals saying?

“…He had a wide variety of students in terms of their character and ability, and he did a great job of teaching them. He was gentle and encouraging in his approach.” – Julian Fisher, Principal & CEO, Toronto School for Strings & Piano

“Our school serves more than 1,200 students, which makes for a fast-paced and sometimes chaotic atmosphere. William shows resilience and patience in handling a changing environment and is able to both identify problems and come up with creative solutions.” – Carolina Irigoyen, Yamaha Canada Music Ltd.

“Brilliant Student · an absolute pleasure to teach. Impressive program & progress already, in a very short time... His interpretation of Messaien’s Première communion de la Vierge was very impressive, musical, and expressive.” – Stéphan Sylvestre, Associate Professor, Head of Keyboard Studies, Western University

“...you have a natural way of making people feel comfortable around you...” – Dr. Megumi Okamoto, Midtown Music School

“William’s passion for teaching and learning has made him a true asset to this school. His commitment to the students and his position as Facilitator is unquestionable. Based on student feedback and the way in which he relates to students, I only have the highest praise for William.” – Dr. Allen Goss, Associate Dean, Students, Ted Rogers School of Management, Toronto Metropolitan University

“Thank you for all the efforts you have made [in promoting career-relevant skills to TRSM students]. We are very fortunate to have you here. I personally feel very lucky to have you as my T.A. this term” – Dr. Yi Feng, Chair, Finance, School of Accounting & Finance, Toronto Metropolitan University

“I could seriously listen to you all day! No affect, just pure honest music making in the most stylistic way…” – Ian Parker, Canadian Pianist & Adjudicator for the 2021 OMFA Provincial Finals

“…a religious performance of La Chapelle!...” – Aaron Wunsh, Piano Professor, The Juilliard School & Adjudicator for the 2019 GOCAA Intl. Piano Competition

“He is independent, reliable, and respectful of the views of others…” – Dr. John Edward Stowe, Chinese Course Area Head, Toronto Metropolitan University & Visiting Professor & Auditor, Peking University (北京大学)

“...he has a very sincere attitude and a strong desire for knowledge... I have witnessed him being invited as a master of ceremonies from time to time and believe everything is directly related to his language ability and piano talent...” – Dr. Helen Xiaoyan Wu, Associate Professor, University of Toronto.