At the recent Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Global Conference in Las Vegas, Allan MacKenzie, assistant professor in the W Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology at McMaster University, was honoured with a National Teaching Excellence Award.
This recognition celebrates MacKenzie’s transformative approach to engineering-management education and his commitment to student success. Over the past decade, he has reimagined how engineering students engage with business management concepts — blending innovation, real-world relevance and a passion for teaching.
“Receiving this award is both humbling and profoundly affirming,” MacKenzie reflects. “It acknowledges my lifelong commitment to learning, which began with wilderness guiding at the National Outdoor Leadership School and has evolved into helping shape the next generation of leaders and changemakers in engineering.”
In addition to wilderness guiding, MacKenzie’s diverse background includes entrepreneurship, corporate management and strategic consulting. Over the past 12 years, he’s shared his insights at 31 conferences and published 15 research papers on teaching methods. His unique experiences are instilled into his classroom approach, where a mixture of storytelling and active learning make complex business concepts easier to digest for technically minded engineering students.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced educational institutions online, MacKenzie saw opportunity amongst the unprecedented obstacles presented to teachers and instructors across the globe. Inspired by his consulting experience, he developed a “virtual-hybrid” delivery format, producing nearly 30 custom, studio-quality instructional videos alongside maintaining small-group live sessions.
“During the pandemic, I became acutely aware of the toll on students’ mental health,” MacKenzie explains. “This redefined my role from instructor to mentor, guide and support system — an approach that continues today.”
Students have responded positively to MacKenzie’s approach over the years. Albert Ding, a consultant intern at IBM and a McMaster’s Master of Engineering Design student notes, “Professor Allan’s teaching had a significant impact on how I approach innovation and decision-making in consulting. His feedback was always practical and rooted in real-world insight, helping me move beyond just generating ideas to strategically justifying and presenting them to stakeholders.”
One of MacKenzie’s notable achievements is co-creating the M-Factor Competition, an in-person, elimination-style competition that challenges undergraduate engineering students to showcase their business and management skills. Now in its third year, the competition has grown into an award-winning event, earning both national and international recognition, including an IABC Silver Leaf and Gold MarCom awards.
“It’s incredibly inspiring to watch students rise to the challenge, often discovering talents they didn’t know they possessed,” says MacKenzie of the M-Factor experience. “The most rewarding moments are sitting in the judging room, listening to former students, now successful professionals, return as judges, creating a full-circle moment that reinforces the value of experiential learning.”
Sakshi Jangra, a recent graduate from the Bachelor of Technology (BTech) Degree Completion Program in Manufacturing Engineering program describes the genuine impact of MacKenzie’s mentorship. “Allan’s emphasis on entrepreneurial thinking helped me build confidence to identify and act on opportunities,” says Jangra. “I’m now developing a business case for generative Computer Aided Design tools at work. His supportive style made complex concepts feel practical and empowering.”
MacKenzie’s influence extends beyond the classroom. He maintains connections with graduates through LinkedIn, celebrating their promotions and career achievements. His mentorship has helped students secure positions at leading companies like Tesla and BMW Canada and obtain professional certifications including PMP and CAPM.
Recognition is a milestone, not a destination. It inspires me to continue evolving as an educator, always striving to enhance the role of transformative education in shaping a better future.
Michael Justason, Program Chair for the BTech Civil Engineering Infrastructure Technology program emphasizes MacKenzie’s broader institutional impact: “Allan has turned our technically focused faculty members into strong proponents of our business and management curriculum. His influence on other instructors has been impressive as many have adopted his innovative approaches.”
Professor Hoda Kamel is one of those adopters. “There are so many aspects in my teaching that I’ve learned from him,” she says. “His meticulous attention to detail and caring approach set a standard of quality within our faculty.”
MacKenzie is already setting his sights on what’s next in advancing teaching and learning. He’s researching how students think about their own learning and how AI can enhance education. He’s also working to create partnerships that offer quicker pathways to medical school for McMaster Faculty of Engineering students.
“Recognition is a milestone, not a destination,” MacKenzie says. “It inspires me to continue evolving as an educator, always striving to enhance the role of transformative education in shaping a better future.”