George Drazenovic
Entrepreneur and Gold Bug
Since early 2020, George Drazenovic has been a faculty member at University Canada West (UCW) in Vancouver, BC. He has taught a range of subjects, including accounting, finance, entrepreneurship, and corporate strategy. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he served as Chair of the Undergraduate Programs for nearly four years. Before joining the academic sector, he held leadership roles in the private industry, leading multiple ventures in the junior public markets.
His professional background includes expertise in human resources, recruitment, business partnerships, financial reporting, capital budgeting, strategic planning, investment valuation, regulatory compliance, and capital markets.
Professional Career
Work and Accomplishments at University Canada West (UCW)
George began his academic career at UCW as an instructor in the MBA program and later advanced to the rank of Associate Professor. In 2021, he took on the role of Chair of the Undergraduate Programs. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Academics, he oversaw significant growth in enrollment and faculty, with both increasing more than tenfold by the time his term ended in December 2024. His responsibilities included curriculum development, governance planning, industry engagement, strategic initiatives, budget oversight, and ensuring compliance with academic regulations.
George led the delivery of three academic programs: the Associate of Arts, the Bachelor of Commerce (ACBSP-accredited), and the Bachelor of Arts in Business Communications. These programs supported over 5,500 students and involved more than 200 faculty members. He participated as a voting member in several key committees, including University Senate, Governance and Strategic Policies, Quality Assurance and Standards, Curriculum, Admissions Appeals, and Undergraduate Program Working Committees. He completed consent renewals for all three programs and directed the development and revision of numerous courses.
To strengthen academic leadership and program quality, he introduced structural roles, including subject leads, co-vice chairs, and associate chairs. He facilitated complete transfer-credit alignment between the accounting program and the CPA Western School of Business, enhancing the program’s reputation among private institutions in British Columbia. He also led the introduction of technology-aligned, certification-based courses that expanded students' career paths and increased enrollment.
George implemented several operational improvements, including modernizing the curriculum, aligning faculty, optimizing scheduling, and successfully transitioning to a new Learning Management System. He mentored faculty for leadership roles, promoted DEI-focused initiatives, expanded relationships with industry partners, and received strong teaching evaluations in the Bachelor of Commerce program.
Beyond the classroom, he introduced new student engagement activities, including the university’s first Pitch Night. He also organized career development events tied to CFA and CPA pathways and contributed to academic dialogue through participation in the McGill Transformative Business Law Summer Academy in Montreal.
Work as an Entrepreneur
Before entering academia, he held executive roles, including CFO, CEO, and Director, at several public companies. His work involved strategic business planning, meeting public listing obligations on exchanges like OTC, CSE, and TSX-V, and managing financial reporting and audit processes.
As CEO of a mining exploration company, he negotiated the acquisition of gold properties in Newfoundland and the Yukon, totaling an estimated 2.5 million ounces of inferred gold resources. He also led the completion of a 3,000-metre drilling program in the Yukon.
Previously, as the founding CFO of a pharmaceutical company focused on oral insulin, he secured $2.5 million in financing, executed a Reverse Takeover, and supported early clinical and animal trials for its insulin pill.
A Researcher, Author
George's research interests include artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and investment strategy. He has co-authored peer-reviewed work examining the impact of AI on decision-making and organizational change. He has also contributed chapters to academic and professional publications focused on innovation and startup development in the digital economy.
He is the co-author of Business Transformation in the Era of Digital Disruption and the author of the foreword to Mainstreaming Cryptocurrency and the Future of Digital Finance, reflecting his broader perspective on emerging technologies and their influence on finance and entrepreneurship.
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 also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a member of the Vancouver Society of Chartered Financial Analysts.
Personal Life
Outside of his professional commitments, he is a certified WSET Level 3 Sommelier with Distinction in wine and spirits. He is also active in soccer, completed the Victoria Marathon, and ran as a federal candidate for Member of Parliament.
George Drazenovic continues to contribute to academia, entrepreneurship, and research, with a focus on innovation, education, and professional leadership.