A lifetime of giving: the Lougheed legacy

It’s not every day that you have a conversation with a legendary Alberta name. My perfect fall day was amplified through a virtual chat with Dianne Lougheed, ’84 MBA. A woman of leadership, strategy and deeply rooted relationships, Lougheed shares stories about her family and her devotion for the Alberta School of Business.

Some of Lougheed’s earliest memories of the University of Alberta were spent wandering around campus as a small child when she went to visit her grandparents on Saskatchewan Drive. She recalls starting grade 1 when her grandfather went back to university to get his Law degree. Lougheed grew up to know that her maternal grandfather Norman Bradley, ‘25 Engineering, ’59 Arts, ’60 Law, her father Donald Lougheed, ’48 Engineering, and her mother Doreen Lougheed, ’49 Commerce, all received their degrees at the U of A. Lougheed continued the trend — followed by her daughter — to complete four generations of Lougheed’s that had attended the U of A. There’s no telling what her grandchildren will do but that will make for one heck of an alumni photo! 

Lougheed reminisces about her mother attending courses taught by Francis Winspear, ’51 Honorary Degree, with classmates old enough to be her father. “There were some she called Pops,” said Lougheed. 

“At that time there were very few women in the professional faculties.”

With an economics degree, Lougheed started her business career as a consultant with KPMG. Believing that she needed more education, she went on to pursue her MBA in 1980. By the time she finished in ’84 she was the senior manager of the strategy and economics practice on the prairies at KPMG. Following a decade working at the ATCO Canadian Utilities Group for Allan Scott, ‘68 BSc MechE, senior vice president and mentor, as the most senior woman on the team, Lougheed established her own strategy consulting practice in 1996 under the name Dianne Lougheed Keefe Consulting Inc., which she had for 25 years. A certified management consultant, the majority of Lougheed’s consulting work focused on research and technology development. She assisted in the development of Alberta’s information communications and technology (ICT) strategy, a strategic plan for the Alberta Research Council, and the initial strategy for the Alberta Water Research Institute. As well, Lougheed assessed opportunities for energy, environmental and health technologies. What a career! When asked what her experience was like as a senior female leader, Lougheed said that she felt very supported, while adding that her husband was the only male spouse at the annual planning conferences she attended.

“That was a bit odd and strange too,” she said.  

And if she wasn’t busy enough, while raising a family Lougheed was also a member of the International Association for Energy Economics, president for the Edmonton chapter of the Strategic Leadership Forum and served on the board of the Edmonton Chamber chairing both the Economics and Natural Resources Committees. During her tenure in the Chamber of Commerce, Lougheed was invited to participate in the Provincial Treasurer’s pre-budget Consultations. She was also appointed by Jim Dinning, the Treasurer to the Management Employees Pension Board. Lougheed served for two terms and chaired the board.

The relationships that Lougheed built and maintained with the faculty during her MBA  have been with her for over four decades. She’s been at the table with the last five Deans (Ted Chambers, Roger Smith, Rodney Schneck, Mike Percy, and Joseph Doucet) and still keeps in touch with most of them today. Also as a result of her consulting practice, she interacted with the VPs of Research, Deans of Medicine and Science, and Chairs of Departments in the Faculty of Science and leaders of institutes and centres at the U of A and U of C. Lougheed had taught business economics alongside Rick Hyndman, ’66 Arts, and spent 15 years mentoring students in the MBA program. I can’t help but beam at all of the names Lougheed mentions and how they have impacted her life for so long. What a fantastic tribute.

And still, Lougheed has chosen to do more. Growing up with parents who were committed to community service and philanthropy, Lougheed has followed in her father’s footsteps to establish an endowed scholarship through a gift of shares to support students with a background in economics, focusing on strategy in the Masters program. Gifts of Shares and Securities are one of the many philanthropic options for donors to consider at the U of A. 

“I believe that investments in post-secondary education and research are the best investments that Canadians can make to secure future prosperity,” said Lougheed, adding that Canadian prosperity relative to other Organisations for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries has declined as measured by GDP per capita. 

“Even though Canada should be investing in research and development, a lot of individuals aren’t able to make an impact there. What we can do is establish scholarships to increase the educational attainment of our business leaders.”

Dianne, your everlasting impression and generosity will stay with the School forever. You took a four-year experience and turned it into a lifetime of allegiance, inspiring at all levels. We can’t thank you enough for your invaluable contributions to our faculty.

In Lougheed’s final words to our readers: “I encourage every business graduate of the University of the Alberta School of Business to do their part in educating future business leaders in Alberta in Canada.”

You can’t argue with that. 

Sarah Kowalevsky is the associate director of development for the Alberta School of Business.