Each year, thousands of students and entrepreneurs in 170 countries gather to celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week. In 2018, with the growth of entrepreneurship initiatives across Western University, it was the perfect opportunity for us to join this celebration.
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Western Entrepreneurship Week 2018 brought together students from across campus to inform and inspire them to pursue their entrepreneurial passion. Breaking the stereotypical mould of entrepreneurship, the week hosted a variety of entrepreneurs from corporate, startup and social backgrounds.
Here’s a glimpse of the week’s activities:
Showcasing Western entrepreneurs
The week launched with the Startup Showcase, which provided students and faculty with an opportunity to meet a variety of startups founded by Western graduates. Featured companies included those from Western’s incubator and accelerators, such as STMNT, and Miistro, to more established ventures such as BrainStation, DivaCup and Zomaron.
Jonathan McCain: Charting a different path
Ivey faculty and serial entrepreneur David Simpson, MBA ’88, led a fireside chat with Jonathan McCain, HBA ’07 and CEO of Andover Capital and Northstar Scaffold. McCain spoke about charting his own path as an entrepreneur by acquiring and running businesses. He also spoke about his famous grandfather and father, Wallace and Michael McCain respectively, and the legacy they have created as one of Canada’s most prominent entrepreneurial families in the food industry.
Michael Schmalz: Venturing in a digital world
Western Engineering and Ivey Associate Professor Darren Meister hosted Michael Schmalz of Digital Extremes, who shared his company’s success story and the challenges within the gaming industry. Digital Extremes rose to prominence with the PC game, Unreal, which had a major impact on the popular first-person shooter genre. Digital Extremes’ success in London has led to a boom in gaming startups in the city.
David Wessinger: Disrupting an industry
David Wessinger, BSc'94 (Computer Science), spoke about his journey in establishing PointClickCare with his brother. Together, they created a company he described as, "one of Canada’s least-known successful startups with over $200 million in revenue." PointClickCare provides cloud-based software solutions that have revolutionized the senior care industry in Canada and the United States. The open lecture was hosted by Burns Cheadle, Associate Professor and Director of Science Professionalism and Entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Science.
Take flight: Lightning Round with Western entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs come in all shapes, and the Lightning Round brought together entrepreneurs working in corporate, startup, and social enterprises with a variety of educational backgrounds. It was an inspiring evening where each speaker shared what continues to inspire and drive them to do what they are doing.
Here are some highlights from the evening:
“Big shots are little shots that keep shooting” is a piece of advice from his father during Sam Sebastian’s days as a top university tennis player. It is a quote that continued to shape his journey with Google and now leading Pelmorex Corp. He expounded on the notion with the following three points: There’s no substitute for hard work, the best leaders are the ones that show the rest of us how to lead, and don’t be arrogant. Sam Sebastian, Pelmorex Media Inc., and formerly Vice President, Google and Managing Director, Google Canada.
Shannon Kamins started brewing Kombucha at home, a fermented tea that she describes as her canvas to express herself. Today, she produces more than 4,000 litres of Kombucha a week. Shannon Kamins, Booch Organic Kombucha, Western Bachelor of Health Sciences.
"Don't get caught in thinking your mousetrap is better. Build the business and execute well," said Kevin Sullivan, GMP Securities, who has worked with thousands of startups during the last 20 years. He holds a Western Bachelor of Arts (Social Science) and Western LLB.
"Run your own race, work all the way to the finish line and know why you are doing what you are doing," said Jenessa Olson of STMNT, a social entrepreneur tackling the negative impact of fast fashion. She holds a Western Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) and an MSc in International Business from Ivey.
"You are unique and significant, just like the crystals I work with," said Liana Louzon of Rocking Vibe, who encouraged students to embrace who they are and the unique qualities and gifts they bring to the table. Louzon has a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology.
"Know yourself, feed yourself, connect yourself," said Stephanie Ciccarelli of Voices.com (Western Bachelor of Music), as she broke down the essentials of being a successful entrepreneur.
