George Drazenovic
Since the beginning of 2020, George Drazenovic has been a faculty member at University Canada West (UCW) in Vancouver, BC. He has taught various courses in accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, and corporate strategy. Alongside his academic duties, he served as Chair of the Undergraduate Programs for nearly four years. Before transitioning to higher education, he held leadership positions in the private sector, managing several ventures in the junior public markets.
His professional expertise spans human resources, recruitment, industry collaboration, business development, capital budgeting, financial reporting, compliance, capital markets, strategic analysis, and investment valuation.
Professional Career
Work and Accomplishments at University Canada West (UCW)
George began teaching at UCW in the MBA program and later progressed to the role of Associate Professor. In 2021, he was appointed Chair of the Undergraduate Programs. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Academics, he led the department through a period of rapid growth, with student enrollment and faculty size expanding more than tenfold by the time his term concluded in December 2024. His role included driving curriculum changes, developing governance systems, building industry partnerships, and overseeing strategy, budgeting, and compliance efforts.
George managed three major programs: an Associate of Arts, a Bachelor of Commerce (ACBSP-accredited), and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Communications. These programs supported over 5,500 students and more than 200 faculty members. He held voting positions on several university committees, including Senate, Governance and Strategic Policies, Curriculum, Quality Assurance, Admissions Appeals, and Undergraduate Program development. He also led the consent renewal process for all three programs and played a key role in designing and updating numerous courses.
To support program quality and organizational structure, he introduced roles such as subject leads, co-vice chairs, and associate chairs. His leadership strengthened faculty development and enhanced student outcomes. He facilitated a complete transfer-credit agreement with the CPA Western School of Business, positioning the accounting program among top-tier private institutions in British Columbia. He also introduced technology-oriented, certification-aligned courses that broadened career options and attracted new enrollments.
Operationally, he directed significant improvements, including curriculum modernization, faculty coordination, scheduling efficiency, and a system-wide transition to a new Learning Management System. He mentored faculty, supported diversity and inclusion projects, expanded employer and industry networks, and maintained high teaching standards in the Bachelor of Commerce program, earning strong student evaluations.
George’s engagement extended beyond the classroom. He launched the university’s first Pitch Night, created career-oriented events for CFA and CPA students, and contributed to policy-centered academic work through participation in the McGill Transformative Business Law Summer Academy in Montreal.
Work as an Entrepreneur
Before joining the academic field, he worked as a CFO, CEO, and Director across several public companies. His responsibilities included corporate planning, managing public listing obligations for exchanges such as OTC, CSE, and TSX-V, and overseeing financial reporting and audit filings.
As CEO of a mining exploration company, he led efforts to acquire and finance gold projects in Newfoundland and the Yukon, securing properties with an estimated 2.5 million ounces of inferred gold resources. He also oversaw the completion of a 3,000-metre drilling program in the Yukon as part of the exploration strategy.
In an earlier role, he served as the company’s original CFO during the development of an oral insulin treatment. He secured $2.5 million in funding, executed a Reverse Takeover transaction, and supported the organization during the initial clinical trials and animal testing phases of the product.
A Researcher, Author
George’s academic research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital change, and investment decision-making. He has co-authored peer-reviewed studies examining the influence of AI on business transformation and finance. His written contributions include chapters in scholarly and professional publications, particularly around AI-driven startup growth and digital innovation.
He is a co-author of the book Business Transformation in the Era of Digital Disruption and the author of the foreword for Mainstreaming Cryptocurrency and the Future of Digital Finance. These publications reflect his insights on emerging technologies and their impact on entrepreneurship and the financial landscape.
Education
George holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Notre Dame. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) and a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a member of the Vancouver Society of Chartered Financial Analysts.
Personal Life
In addition to his professional work, he is a certified sommelier and has achieved WSET Level 3 with Distinction in wine and spirits. He enjoys playing soccer, has completed the Victoria Marathon, and has previously run as a federal candidate for Member of Parliament.
George Drazenovic continues to apply his knowledge and experience across academia, entrepreneurship, and research, maintaining a focus on innovation, education, and professional growth.
George Drazenovic 