MScM graduate Tiffany Paquin awarded 2025 TMU Gold Medal
The Toronto Metropolitan University Gold Medal is the university’s highest honour, awarded to students with outstanding academic achievement and exceptional involvement in the university, their profession and their community. The Fall 2025 winner from the Ted Rogers School of Management is Master of Science in Management (MScM) graduate Tiffany Paquin.
Paquin was nominated for the TMU Gold Medal in recognition of her exceptional academic achievement, intellectual curiosity and research contributions. Graduating with distinction and a 4.22 GPA, she produced an outstanding thesis, “Leader Emotion Regulation: A Pathway to Follower Well-Being through Empathy,” which breaks new ground in understanding how leaders’ emotional regulation fosters empathy and well-being in followers.
As a top-of-class student, Paquin excelled in coursework, research and collaboration, demonstrating rigour, originality and generosity toward peers. Her professionalism, leadership and dedication to advancing knowledge mark her as an emerging scholar with a bright future in academia.
Here is what Paquin had to say about her time at TMU, receiving the Gold Medal award and her plans for the future:
What does receiving the TMU Gold Medal mean to you?
I joke that it means I must have done something right, but truly, it’s an incredible honour. For me, it represents the years of work I’ve put into my studies and research projects, and it makes me proud to represent a school I truly value being part of.
What advice would you give students entering their first year?
The first year can feel overwhelming at times, but it’s also the most exciting part of the experience. Once you’re studying subjects you care about, the work feels a lot less like a chore. My biggest advice is don’t put your health or support system on the backburner. And don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your peers, your cohort and your professors want to see you succeed.
Do you have any favourite classes/teachers, and what made them stand out?
This might be biased, but my favourite class right now is one I’m taking with my supervisor, Dr. Kristyn Scott. It’s called Advanced Organizational Behaviour, and it’s run as a seminar. What makes it stand out are the discussions we have on topics such as identity, affect, emotions and emotion regulation. I enjoy hearing different perspectives on the readings, especially when people share how they might have approached a study differently. Those conversations give me new ways of thinking about topics I’m already passionate about.
How did Ted Roger School and TMU support you during your time here?
The strongest support has come from my professors, peers and supervisor. Being surrounded by people who share similar interests has made my time at TMU not only enjoyable, but also more meaningful. I’ve also had opportunities to connect with others in my field, and those experiences have pushed me to grow as both a researcher and a professional.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment during my Master’s was being nominated for the Distinguished Thesis Award. I genuinely loved working on my thesis (not many people get to say that). Researching an interesting topic and creating something out of nothing was such a rewarding process – it almost felt like art.
What are your future plans?
I’m in the first year of my PhD in Management at the Ted Rogers School and have many research ideas and projects I’m excited to pursue. Through my work, I aim to contribute to creating healthier workplaces, with the long-term goal of becoming a professor and an organizational psychology consultant focused on employee well-being.