The Next 36 Alumni (2011)

University of Toronto - Engineering Sciences, Expected Graduation Year - 2011
Shahed Al-Haque is a fourth year Engineering Science student majoring in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto. Shahed leads a student group called Tetra, which designs and builds custom assistive devices for people with disabilities. He is also involved with the Engineering Faculty’s Leaders of Tomorrow program that aims to develop the leadership potential of engineering students. In being a part of the Next 36, Shahed seeks to learn more about entrepreneurship and how to actualize biotechnology research innovations to a point where they will change people’s lives in a positive way.

University of Western Ontario - Honours Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Expected Graduation Year - 2012
Ronen Benin is currently a 3rd year student at the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. Ronen has a particular interest in corporate strategy development and in international trade, which led to him to co-found a venture, Rameco Distribution, in April 2010. Ronen had the honour of coaching National record holders on the Richmond Hill Aquatic Club and Richmond Hill Lifesaving Club, and is an accomplished athlete in having received two silver medals at the National Lifesaving Championships in 2008. Ronen has served as a Residence Advisor at the University of Western Ontario, and is presently the Corporate Strategy Director of Glory Century Inc., a rapidly growing niche furniture importer and wholesaler.

David Berkal is an activist, an entrepreneur, a storyteller, and an educator. He is the Executive Director of Operation Groundswell, a non-profit volunteer travel company. Now in its 5th year, OG will run 20 programs, sending over 200 students all over the globe and raising over $200,000 towards community projects and microcredit financing, all while being a 100% financially self-sufficient social enterprise. David is also the founder of Canadian Roots, which runs exchanges and field schools for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal youth across the country. He is currently completing his undergraduate at the University of Toronto specializing in Peace and Conflict.

Ryan Brideau despises boxes, especially when trying to fit in them. At university he tried to study everything, but mostly physics and economics. Outside of school Ryan has developed a love for photography, art, politics, the universe, and most things in it. His curiousity about the role of, and interaction between, government and the private sector in spurring on economic development has had Ryan spend four months living in Ghana with EWB Canada, a year as a government advocate with the UNB Student Union, and countless others experiences. Ryan has a passion for what he does, and that’s why he does it.

Krista Caldwell is from Deep Cove, BC, and attends Quest University Canada. As a teenager, involvement in the arts led Krista to immersion in both a rich suburban, and neglected urban community.  The contrasting levels of civic engagement of residents in the two regions, the higher level being in the urban region, puzzled her, leading her to question what elements contribute to community involvement. Accordingly, Krista’s current endeavors are aimed at uncovering what structures society and how change happens: she coordinates a large scale public music festival, initiates curricular and co-curricular programs at her university, is part of a panel directing her district’s 2030 Multi-Model Transportation Plan, and works for a local social enterprise.  Krista looks forward to learning more about business and entrepreneurship’s roles in shaping a healthy society. Moreover, she is eager to harness the power of business to make the social, economic, and environmental changes required of her generation.

Emily Dimytosh is the Founder of Practically Green Solutions -  a sustainability consulting firm that helps small to medium sized businesses implement strategies that are as simple and cost-effective as they are environmentally friendly. Since launching in fall 2008, Emily has tackled over 75 engagements and expanded into two new geographic areas. Emily balances operating Practically Green with her studies in the Bachelor of Commerce program at Queen’s School of Business in Kingston, Ontario. Emily’s extracurricular pursuits include co-producing and hosting TvCogeco’s That Green Show and managing the social media strategy for Queen’s Learning Strategies Development. When she’s not working with a client, filming a new episode, or tweeting study strategies, Emily enjoys rock climbing, trampolining, and perfecting new dessert recipes.

Shane Gu is a second-year Engineering Science student at University of Toronto, and he has an ambition to become a global entrepreneur. Besides Shane's high academic achievement, he has continuously sought other opportunities to further enhance and test his abilities. This summer, Shane worked at University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies, directly under his professor on a company’s pilot project on ultra-lightweight aircraft. Shane is currently the VP Events for Galbraith Society and VP Competitions for UTEK Competitions. He also speak Japanese and Mandarin to native fluencies.  "The Next 36” provides the best stage to prove his entrepreneurship potentials.

Prateek Gupta incorporates the motto “live each day to the fullest” into every aspect of his life.  As a second-year student of the ‘Honours Integrated Science’ program at McMaster University, Prateek explores the applications of various scientific disciplines. Coupled with his NSERC-sponsored research in glacial sedimentology, Prateek strives to make a real-world impact.  Also passionate about education and politics, Prateek is creating video-conferencing based outreach programs and conducting pedagogical research for the ‘Scientists in School’ organization. By developing his creative abilities and entrepreneurial spirit from the Next 36, Prateek hopes to become a leader and innovator in the scientific world.

Gideon Hayden is an undergraduate student at McGill University studying Finance, International Business, and Global Strategy. He has extensive work experience within the life science industry,  working for both pharmaceutical companies and cluster organizations in British Columbia and Denmark. On top of these experiences, Gideon has made it a priority to give back to his community through coaching Special Olympics basketball teams and taking a leadership role in raising finances for the Masiphumelele Youth Project, which aims to help a township community in South Africa. Gideon will be joining Deloitte’s Technology Consulting division in Toronto in 2011.

As an artist, Salima has found entrepreneurship allows her to combine her creativity and passion for business. Salima was President of Smile, which won the Junior Achievement North American Company of the Year Award in 2009. She loves passing on the entrepreneurial spark to others, which is evident from her recent work with the Impact Microcredit Competition. A self-proclaimed travel addict, painter, photographer and soon-to-be guitarist, Salima is constantly exploring the world around her looking for new sources of passion and entrepreneurial ideas. In her world, there is no line between work and pleasure - they coexist.

A double major, in Computer Science and Computational Mathematics, Pilwon is in his final year at the University of Waterloo.  He is passionately committed to finance and to mobile and web businesses.  He has experience in mobile application development for iPhone, Android, and Bada OS, and is a member of the Apple iOS Developer Program.  At age fifteen, he set up a web hosting business which he successfully ran for fifteen months until he started another web consulting business.  His new enterprise, Quick.ly, is a personalized online productivity platform focused on the mobile environment, and is due to be released shortly at the VeloCity mobile+media incubator. His internships with Morneau Sobeco, Scotia Capital, and TD Securities, covering Actuarial Consulting, Quantative Finance, and Automated Trading, respectively, have added to an increasing business knowledge, in particular, his deep interest and understanding of Automated Trading, where technology and finance unite.  In 2004, he was National Bronze Medallist in the Canadian Computing Competition.  Pilwon's hobbies are varied: from stock trading, to traveling and Photography to skydiving.

Awarded Western's prestigious President’s Entrance Scholarship, Saumya Krishna holds the title of a Western National Scholar. Saumya is the President of the student group Rebuilding Health in Rwanda, a member of the Faculty of Health Sciences Students' Council, the Production Manager of the Western Undergraduate Research Journal, and a volunteer facilitator for the Violence Prevention Program. She works as a Community Service Learning Leader, responsible for coordinating large scale civic engagement opportunities on campus, and as a Residence Advisor. In high school, Saumya dynamically pursued both her academic and extracurricular interests, earning the Governor General's Academic Medal for the highest graduating average, the Elmwood Golden 'E' Award for Student Engagement and the University of Toronto National Book Award. In 2008, Saumya took part in the Shad Valley program, co-leading her team to develop a product that addressed the water needs of rural communities in Africa. This business plan won the national RBC Shad Entrepreneurship Cup for the Best Overall Project. Saumya enjoys Classical Indian dance, travelling and learning new languages.

Mindy Lau is a student at Columbia University, graduating in May 2011 with a degree in Financial Economics. She is very interested in entrepreneurship and has attempted to start her own venture. In the summer of 2010, Mindy launched Cheese Freeze, a company that sells frozen cheesecakes. She has also attended an entrepreneurial program in high school called Shad Valley, which has given her insight into what it takes to work together in groups and try to develop new product ideas.

Mitchell is a business student at Dalhousie University. He spent 14 months abroad studying International Business in Jönköping, Sweden and Spanish/Eco-Tourism in Costa Rica. Mitchell first tasted entrepreneurship by running a landscaping company for two summers. He is an inventor with a design patent currently awaiting approval and he is a published travel writer. Mitchell also travelled through South and East Africa and attempted Mount Kilimanjaro. Mitchell spent part of last summer living in British Columbia to study photovoltaics. An avid reader, boxer and athletic; Mitchell also completed his first sprint triathlon last summer.

Dan McCann is a fourth year student who has been recognized as a leader with several high impact roles at the Queen’s School of Business.  Outside of school, Dan has played many competitive sports and competed nationally in Dog Agility.  He has a keen interest in international business after studying abroad in Belgium and recently visiting Asia for the prestigious Singapore Management Case Competition.  Professionally, Dan has had internships in marketing, sales and finance; however, his entrepreneurial spirit has driven him to explore less traditional career options. Dan is excited about the Next 36 and thankful for such a valuable opportunity!

Aidan doesn’t let much get in the way of “the real world.” Aidan felt stagnant after his third year at U of T; he didn’t know what he was in it for anymore. As much as he loved Cinema Studies & Psychology, the material felt too disconnected from what Aidan really wanted to do. So he left. And he started his own business. After a year away, Aidan went back, with new-found passion for abstract, conceptual thought… so long as, somehow, it relates back to his core mission: to “cultivate the creation of awesome.”

Parvinder Singh Sachdeva is a second year Business Management Student at Ryerson University’s Ted Rogers School of Management. A Dean’s honour list awardee, he is pursuing a double major in Economics and Management Science (EMS) and Finance. In the last one year, Parvinder established Ryerson Toastmasters - the first Toastmasters club at Ryerson University, as well as the first independently organized TED event at Ryerson University called TEDxRyersonU.  He also plays for the Ryerson Rams Varsity Badminton team and was a 2010 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Academic All Star & a Ryerson University Platinum Athlete.

Holly Smith is currently in her third undergraduate year at the University of Western Ontario. She is pursuing an honours specialization in physiology, and hopes to attend medical school in the future. Holly has developed an interest in medical research, having spent the past two years working with research physicians at Toronto Western Hospital. Through her work she has written several scientific articles that have been published in peer-reviewed journals. An avid musician, she has played piano for the past 12 years and obtained her grade 8 certificate. She also enjoys skiing, soccer, writing, travel, tutoring, and volunteering with children.

Philippe Vennes, a 22 year old student from Quebec City, is currently studying finance at Bishop’s University and is expecting to graduate in May 2011. He is currently the chairman of the SEED Portfolio, a student-run equity portfolio worth approximately $430,000. Philippe is also the current leader of the SIFE*Bishop’s team, a team comprised of 21 highly diversified, dedicated and motivated individuals. He has so far this year alone supervised the development of 13 different projects while coordinating 2 of his own. Last year, Philippe was also one of the two leaders who worked to implement a public rental bike system – like BIXI in Montreal – on the Bishop’s University campus. In addition this year, he is involved in the I.C.B.C case competition, the GIRC challenge, and University’s Business Help Center. Some of golf, soccer, and listen to music while relaxing. Finally, Philippe is currently considering going for a M.Sc degree in Finance as he would like to expand his knowledge and expertise on the subject before entering the workforce.